Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full
Data refreshed
Our database holds 32 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2002 Pontiac Trans Am. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Showing 1–25 of 32 · page 1 of 2
CAR BEING PAINTED BY CHANLLORS COLLISION WARNER ROBINS GA. WHENEVER THE TOP (HALO) IS PAINTED, GLUE OR OIL CAUSE PAINT TO BUBBLE THROUGH. UNABLE TO PAINT TOP OF CAR. AFTER CHECKING THERE IS A RECALL.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2002 PONTIAC TRANS AM. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 95 MPH IN FOURTH GEAR, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A GUARDRAIL AND DROVE DOWN AN EMBANKMENT. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY AND THE SEAT BELTS FAILED TO RETRACT. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WERE TWO INJURIES REPORTED THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
THERE IS BUBBLES COMING THROUGH THE PAINT ON THE ROOF PANEL. IT IS KNOWN BY GM THAT ITS THE GLUE BLEEDING THROUGH THE FIBERGLASS PANEL AND PAINT. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 PONTIAC TRANS AM. WHEN SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, SHE NOTICED THAT HER VEHICLE HAD A GASOLINE LEAK. THE MECHANIC DIAGNOSIS LOCATED THE FAILURE AS THE GASOLINE TANK LINER WHICH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 50,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 PONTIAC TRANS AM. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR PANEL SEPARATED FROM THE FRAME. HE IS CONCERNED THAT THE DOOR WILL FALL OFF WHILE DRIVING. THE MANUFACTURER SENT HIM TO THE GMC COLLISION CENTER AND THEY STATED THAT THE REPAIR WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 49,000.
TIRE SEPARATION -- OF 4 TIRES WITH THE SAME DOT 3 EITHER SHOW SIGNS OF SEPARATION OR SEPARATED AND CAUSED AN ACCIDENT.*TR
SENSING DIAGNOSTIC MODULE COMPLAINT. CONSUMER STATES THAT HE FOUND OUT THAT GM WAS PUTTING EVENT DATA RECORDERS ON THEIR VEHICLES. HE STATES THESE RECORDERS WILL NOT BE ACCURATE IF THE CONSUMER CHANGES THINGS SUCH AS TIRE SIZE. *KB THE CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WHICH RESULTED IN 2 PEOPLE IN THE SECOND VEHICLE BEING KILLED. THE EDR/SDM THAT WAS INSTALLED IN THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE RECORDED HIS SPEED OVER 100 MPH. THE CONSUMER STATED HE MADE MODIFICATIONS TO THE VEHICLE THAT COULD HAVE AFFECTED THE DATA. *JB
I OWN A 2002 PONTIAC TRANS AM. THE SAIL PANEL BETWEEN THE T-TOPS AND THE REAR WINDOW IS DEFECTIVE. THERE ARE BUBBLES THAT LOOK LIKE RUST SPOTS IN THE PAINT GOING IN A STRAIGHT LINE ACROSS THE SAIL PANEL. GM IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND HAS EVEN ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN TO IT'S DEALERS ON HOW TO FIX THE PROBLEM. HOWEVER, THE DEALERSHIPS WILL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM AND OWNERS ARE FACED WITH PAYING OUT OF POCKET TO HAVE THE PROBLEM FIXED. IF GM KNOWS THERE IS A PROBLEM, IE. THE EPOXY USED IS CAUSING AIR BUBBLES THROUGH THE PAINT, THEN THEY SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL ON THE VEHICLES TO HAVE THEM FIXED. ALSO, THE RECALL ON THE 2002 FIREBIRDS RELATING TO THE STRUCTURAL DAMAGE, I HAVE NEVER RECEIVED NOTICE OF THIS RECALL. *TR
BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT FRONT TURN SIGNAL LAMPS, SOCKETS AND LENS HOUSING FAILED DUE TO HIGH TEMPERATURES GENERATED BY THE FRONT LAMP POSITION LIGHTS REMAINING ON DURING OPERATION OF VEHICLE. *TR
TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS WHILE DRIVING THE 2002 PONTIAC TRANS AM WITH 30000 FAILURE MILEAGE AND 59100 FAILURE MILEAGE AT 50 MPH, SHE B LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHO DETERMINED THAT SHE NEEDED TO HAVE THE RACK AND PINION STEERING TIGHTENED UP. THE RACK AND PINION HAD BEEN TIGHTENED UP ON MAY/2005 AND MARCH 2007. ALSO, THE VEHICLE JERKED AFTER PRESSING ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 60,088.*AK
NORMAL MAINTENANCE REQUIREMENTS MAINTAINED ON THIS LOW MILEAGE CAR. ENGINE COOLANT (LISTED AS 5 YEAR/150,000. MILE COOLANT) BROKE DOWN AND TURNED TO BROWN FOAMY SLUDGE AT 39,000. MILES (LESS THAN 4 YEARS). I WILL BE HAVING MY LOCAL SERVICE CENTER FLUSH THE COOLING SYSTEM AND REPLACE THE LONG LIFE COOLANT. *JB
2002 TRANS AM JERKS WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED. MECHANIC DETERMINED THE ROTORS WERE WARPED. *TS THE DEALER STATED THE CALIPERS ARE HARD HITTING WHICH WARPS THE ROTORS. IT IS A KNOW PROBLEM AND A DEFECT. THE WINDOW MOTOR WAS REPLACED AND THE INSIDE LIGHT ABOVE THE HANDLE WAS INOPERATIVE. *JB
CAR STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS AFTER BEING PURCHASED TWO MONTHS BRAND NEW. MULTIPLE ELECTRIC PROBLEMS, FUSES CONSTANTLY BURNING OUT AND ARE REPLACED, ALL POWER OPTIONS FAILED, CRACKLING NOISE FROM UNDER THE DASH, GROANING/GRINDING NOISE FROM UNDER ENGINE COMPARTMENT, WHEEL BALANCE ISSUES, LEFT BLINKER CONSTANTLY MALFUNCTIONS, RIGHT HEADLAMP ALWAYS BURNING OUT, BATTERY ACID LEAKED ALL OVER AFTER ONLY HAVE THE CAR A FEW MONTHS, WAS GETTING 30+ MILES TO A GALLON, NOW GETS <8 MILES TO A GALLON, INTERIOR DOOR PANEL SPLIT, POOR CUSTOMER SERVICE, ISSUED A COMPLAINT WITH GMC - THEY NOTED ME AS A DISSATISFIED CUSTOMER, DEFOG VENT DOES NOT WORK IN DRIVER'S SIDE A-PILLAR. THERE IS MORE, BUT I DON'T HAVE MY LOG AND RECEIPTS WITH ME. *JB
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE GUIDE THAT HOLDS THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT SHOULDER STRAP BROKE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THE GUIDE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED. THIS CAUSED THE SEAT BELT TO RIDE UP\ ON THE DRIVER'S NECK. IF AN ACCIDENT OCCURRED THIS COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A BROKEN NECK OR STRANGLING THE DRIVER . MANUFACTURER TOOK REPORT OVER THE TELEPHONE, BUT DEALER DID NOT SHOW CONCERN. *AK
DRIVER SIDE REAR WHEEL BEARING MALFUNCTION CAUSING ME TO WREAK MY CAR INTO A MAILBOX. STATE FARM INSURANCE WOULD NOT FIX WHEEL BEARING SAID THAT IT WAS A DEFECT FROM PONTIAC. CONTACTED PONTIAC THEY WOULD NOT HELP PAY FOR THE REPAIR SINCE I TOOK IT TO A STATE FARM SERVICE FIRST LOCATION WHICH WAS A DODGE DEALERSHIP. I HAVE HAD BAD DEALINGS WITH THE WIESE (GM) DEALERSHIP. BUT THIS WAS A PLACE THAT THE STATE FARM CASE WAS DELT WITH SO THEY HAD TO INVESTIGATE AND PONTIAC WOULD NOT HELP. SECOND TIME PONTIAC WOULD NOT HELP ME OUT. I WILL TRADE MY CAR IF THIS IS NOT SOLVED. *NM
DT: THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN THE CONSUMER STARTED IT AND COULD HEAR AN EXPLOSION SOUND COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. WHEN LIFTING THE HOOD COULD SEE OIL COMING FROM ALL OVER. WHEN SHE TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP, THEY VERIFIED THAT THE MAINTENANCE HAD BEEN KEPT UP. THEY TOLD HER THAT THEY WOULD REPLACE THE MOTOR WITH A USED MOTOR. THE CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED THAT THE SAME PROBLEM WILL HAPPEN AGAIN. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, THEY UNDERSTOOD HER CONCERN AND STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT HELP HER BECAUSE HER WARRANTY WAS WITH SOMEONE ELSE. THERE HAVE BEEN NO PREVIOUS PROBLEMS WITH THE ENGINE. *AK
REQUEST FOR FEDERAL OR STATE INVESTIGATION OF EDR / SDM ACCURACY.*MR CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION THAT RESULTED IN AN AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT AND TWO FATALITIES (2002 PONTIAC TRANS AM MODIFIED TO FIREHAWK BY SUPERLEGAL PERFORMANCE). *BF THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THE INFORMATION FROM THE EDR/SDM USING THE VETRONIX SOFTWARE WAS INCORRECT/INACCURATE. THE CONSUMER REQUEST A FULL INVESTIGATION DETERMINE THE ACCURACY OF THE EDR/SDM IF MODIFICATIONS ARE MADE TO THE VEHICLE AFTER THE FACTORY BUILT SPECIFICATION ARE MADE. *NM
LOSS OF TURN SIGNALS AND HIGH/LOW HEADLIGHTS CAUSED BY FAILURE OF WHAT IS CALLED THE "WIND SHIELD WASHER SWITCH ASSEMBLY" LOCATED ON THE STEARING COLUMN. PART NUMBER 26098535 SWITCH,WS 10 163.*AK TO CORRECT, REQUIRED TEARDOWN OF STEARING COLUMN.
HEADLIGHTS INTERMITTENTLY SHUT OFF BUT, COME RIGHT BACK ON. DEALERSHIP SAID THAT THE RUNNING LIGHTS SHUT OFF TOO, BUT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO.*AK
WHEN DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND THEN SLOWING DOWN, THE STEERING WHEEL SHOOK VIOLENTLY. THE DEALER DETERMINED THAT THE ROTORS WERE WARPED. THE OWNER HAD THE ROTORS TURNED AT LEAST FOUR TIMES. *NM
I HAVE HAD TWO VEHICLES OF DIFFERENT YEAR MODELS WITH THE SAME ISSUES. HE FIRST WAS A 1999 PONTIAC TRANS AM HEAVY BRAKE SHUDDER AFTER ONLY 20000 MILES.THE DEALERSHIP STATED THE ROTOR WAS WARPED AND "TURNED" IT.*AK THE PROBLEM RE OCURRED AFTER APROX 20K MORE MILES BUT BY THEN WAS OUT OF WARRANTY.I ALSO HAD ISSUES WITH THE REAR WINDOW DEFROSTER, THE DEALRSHIP ATTEMPTED TO REPAIR IT 3 TIMES WITH NO SUCCESS. I TRADED THAT VEHICLE IN FOR A 2002 FIREBIRD FIREHAWK. 22K MILES AND GUESS WHAT, THE BRAKES SHUDDER. TOOK IT TO THE SAME DEALERSHIP, THEY SAID ROTORS ARE WARPED AND TURNED THEM, EVEN AFTER I EXPLAINED TO THE SERVICE REP. THAT I HAD PREVIOUS ISSUES AND THE REPAIR DIDNT LAST. I ALSO SHOWED HIM THE DEFROSTER ISSUE BUT TOLD HIM I WOULD NOT ALLOW THEM TO TOUCH IT DUE TO THEIR FAILURE AT REPAIRING IT ON THE 1999, AND THAT THOSE ATTEMPTS RESULTED IN A DAMAGED CONSOLE. HE OFFERED TO WASH MY CAR "NEXT" TIME I WAS IN. THERE WONT BE A NEXT TIME AT THAT DEALERSHIP I FIND IT HARD TO SWALLOW THAT THERE ARENT ANY SERVICE BULLETINS ON THESE TWO MATTERS AFTER OWNING TWO DIFFERENT YEAR MODELS WITH THE SAME ISSUES
THE TIRES ARE THE WRONG SIZE FOR THIS VEHICLE ACCORDING TO THE OWNER'S MANUAL. THE CONSUMER HAS FALKEN 225/50R/16 M+S TUBELESS TIRES, WHEN THE OWNER'S MANUAL STATES THAT THE TIRE SIZE SHOULD BE 245/50/16. THE CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP. *AK
DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW LEAKS. *MR *SCC *JB
ENGINE KNOCK; PISTON SLAP. CONTINUOUS TAPPING SOUND FROM THE ENGINE THROUGHOUT THE TEMP RANGE. *NLM
CONSUMER STATES WHEN ACCELERATING ENGINE LOOSES POWER. CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK WHEN CONSUMER ATTEMPTS TO PASS A VEHICLE, THE RPM GOES DOWN. THE ENGINE WOULD DIE DOWN TO 50 MPH FORCING THE CONSUMER TO PULL BEHIND THE VEHICLE HE TRIED TO PASS. SINCE DEALER COULDN'T DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM, VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE REPAIRED. *PH
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
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