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1993 Pontiac Trans Sport Owner Complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full

Data refreshed

Complaints on fileComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
61
Latest Jun 5, 2013
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
8
Filed in the last 12 monthsReports filed with NHTSA in the trailing 365 days. Recent volume reflects attention and vehicle age as much as anything else.
0
Reports on file since Apr 20, 1995

What this page shows

Our database holds 61 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1993 Pontiac Trans Sport. 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.

Complaints, most recent first

Showing 1–25 of 61 · page 1 of 3

Visibility
Filed Jun 5, 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 PONTIAC TRANSPORT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE WIPER MOTOR FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000. *TR

NHTSA ID
10515363
Incident
Jan 15, 2013
Mileage
98,000 mi
Other / unspecified
Filed Sep 1, 2010

1993 PONTIAC TRANS SPORT, LOST RIGHT FRONT WHEEL FROM HUB. WHEEL STRUCK FRONT FENDER CAUSING DAMAGE. THE RIGHT FRONT HUB STRUCK THE PAVEMENT. *BF ACCORDING TO THE POLICE REPORT, ONE LUG STUD INTACT WAS BENT ON THE HUB. FOUR STUDS WERE SHEARED OR BROKEN OFF. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT # 10-0476-90)*JB UPDATED 09/13/10*BF

NHTSA ID
10354265
Incident
Jul 20, 2010
ElectricalEngineFuel system+1 more
Filed Jan 7, 2005
Crash reportedFire reported

THIS IS A CONTINUAL PROBLEM SINCE I TOOK OWNERSHIP IN MARCH 2000. IT STARTED W/ THE "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" LIGHT OCCASIONALLY TURNING ON. AFTER HAVING THE VEHICLE LOOKED AT - THEY COULD FIND NO PROBLEM. AS TIME PASSED, THE LIGHT CAME ON MORE & MORE FREQUENTLY. THE ENGINE THEN BEGAN TO IDLE HIGH AND WOULD GO INTO A "SUPER IDLE" WHERE I WOULD HAVE TO NEARLY STAND ON THE BRAKE PEDAL TO STOP THE FORWARD MOTION AT A STOP. OW THE "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" LIGHT IS COMING ON CONSTANTLY AND THE VEHICLE STALLS CONSTANTLY. I DRIVE A TOTAL OF 10 MILES TO WORK & THIS VEHICLE WILL NOW STALL A MIN. OF 5X EACH WAY. I EXPERIENCE POWER DRAIN, THE BATTERY INDICATOR WILL SHOOT UP TO BETWEEN 18 + 15, LIGHTS WILL DIM, HEATER WILL GO OUT, & VEHICLE WILL STALL. HE AIR CONDITIONER HAS NEVER WORKED. WE ATTEMPTED TO RE-CHARGE, BUT HAS STILL NEVER OPERATED. THE WINDOW CONTROLLERS HAVE BEEN REPLACED. THE BATTERY HAS BEEN REPLACED 2X AND THE ALTERNATOR REPLACED 1X. THE REAR WIPER'S SOLVENT SYSTEM DOES NOT WORK. UPON OCCASION, THE FRONT WIPERS WILL NOT WORK. THEY (FRONT WIPERS) WILL WORK IF YOU GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE & FORCE THEM TO MOVE, THEN THEY WILL ENGAGE. ONE TIME, DURING A HEAVY DOWNPOUR, I MANAGED TO GET THEM WORKING BY TURNING ON THE BLINKERS - OTHERWISE YOU MUST GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE & MANUALLY MOVE THEM TO ENGAGE SYSTEM. THE HORN ALSO DOES NOT WORK - AND NEVER HAS. THE FUEL GAGE IS OFF BY 1/4 TANK. THE GAGES WILL READ THAT I HAVE 1/4 TANK OF GAS LEFT - WHEN IN FACT, IT IS ON EMPTY.*AK

NHTSA ID
10105912
Incident
Jan 7, 2005
Electrical
Filed Sep 30, 2004
Fire reported

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER PULLED OVER AND NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE HOOD. VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. NO INJURIES REPORTED. VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND TOTALED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. *AK

NHTSA ID
10094756
Incident
Sep 30, 2004
Visibility
Filed Aug 13, 2003

WINDSHIELD WIPERS INTERMITTENTLY QUIT WHILE IN USE. THIS HAS BEEN OCCURING SINCE PURCHASING THE VAN IN 1998. OTHER GMC VEHICLES HAVE BEEN RECALLED FOR THIS PROBLEM BACK TO 1994. NUMEROUS TIMES I HAVE TO PULL OVER DURING A STORM BECAUSE OF THE FAILURE.*AK

NHTSA ID
10032781
Incident
Jan 1, 1999
Mileage
100,000 mi
Seat belts
Filed Oct 4, 2002

NHTSA# 94 V 027 000/SEAT BELT LAP REAR: CONSUMER STATES THAT THE DEALER, LONG PONTIAC IN CHATTANOOGA, TN. PHONE# 423/756-4501 REFUSED TO HONOR THE RECALL NOTICE. DEALER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE VIN# WAS NOT COVERED. *MRTHE SEAT BELT LOCKED UP AND IT WILL NOT RETRACT. DEALER STILL WILL NOT HONOR THE RECALL. *JG

NHTSA ID
8020174
Incident
Sep 10, 2002
ElectricalSeat belts
Filed Sep 16, 2002

SEAT BELTS:EVERY SEAT BELT IN THIS VEHICLE HAS BECOME "NON-FUNCTIONING" BETWEEN 7/01/97 AND PRESENT. SEAT BELT RETRACTORS NOT WORKING, AND THE LOCKING MECHANISM AT SUDDEN STOPS DOES NOT FUNCTION, MAKING EACH SEATBELT IN THIS VEHICLE USELESS AND ENDANGERING PASSENGERS. DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN CONTACTED SEVERAL TIMES, AND DENIES THEY HAVE ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR REPAIRS. MANUFACTURER CLAIMS THERE ARE NO "OPEN" RECALLS ON THIS VEHICLE, ALTHOUGH THEY CANNOT VERIFY IF THE RECALLS LISTED HAVE IN FACT EVER BEEN COMPLETED. ALTERNATOR:HAVE HAD MAJOR ALTERNATOR/BATTERY PROBLEMS, SEVERAL REPLACEMENTS TO THE ALTERNATOR, LOW VOLTAGE AND GRADUAL LOSS OF POWER, UNSTEADY VOLTAGE METER...HAVE HAD THE FUSEABLE LINK REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES, CONTINUES TO BE A PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ID
767240
Incident
Jul 1, 1997
Visibility
Filed May 16, 2002

CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW ROLLED DOWN ON ITS OWN, SECONDS LATER SMOKE STARTED SEEPING OUT OF THE CONTROLS.*JB

NHTSA ID
8010023
Engine
Filed Oct 14, 2001

AT SPEEDS OF 15 TO 25MPH THE ENGINE WILL LOSE ALL OIL PRESSURE UNTIL DRIVING STRAIGHT AGAIN. *AK

NHTSA ID
753207
Incident
Oct 10, 2001
Seat belts
Filed Aug 20, 2001

MOST DISTURBING IS GM REFUSAL TO ADMIT SEAT BELT RETRACTOR PROBLEM AND FIX IT. THIS IS SAFETY EQUIPMENT WHICH SHOULD LAST THE LIFE OF THE CAR, WAS REPLACED ONCE UNDER WARRANTY AND HAS FAILED AGAIN. WHY SHOULD I HAVE TO PAY $350 + LABOUR COST WHEN IT IS SO OBVIOUSLY A DEFECTIVE PART? DEALER EVEN LIED TO ME, CLAIMING THERE HAD NEVER BEEN A SEATBELT RECALL ON TRANS SPORT VANS, WHEN I HAD THE RECALL NOTICE IN FILE AT HOME! I HAVE OWNED A FORD MUSTANG FOR 9 YEARS WITHOUT SEATBELT PROBLEM, FOLLOWED BY A CAMARO FOR 16 YEARS WITHOUT SEATBELT PROBLEMS. I AM THE ONLY DRIVER OF THIS VAN, SO IT'S NOT LIKE THERE ARE TOO MANY FOLKS ADJUSTING IT... RETRACTOR IS OBVOIUSLY POOR QUALITY. I DO NOT HAVE THE MONEY TO FIX IT, SO EVERY TIME I DRIVE MY LIFE IS AT RISK. GUESS GM DOESN'T CARE ABOUT MY LIFE ANY MORE THAN FORD CARED ABOUT DRIVERS OF EXPLORERS. IS THERE SOME REASON, WITH ALL THE COMPLAINTS POSTED ON NHTSA WEBSITE ABOUT TRANS SPORT SEAT BELT RETRACTOR FAILURE, THAT THERE HAS NOT BEEN AN EFFORT TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM? I DIDN'T KNOW THE EXTENT OF THIS CRISIS UNTIL TODAY, BUT IF I KEPT DRIVING UNSAFELY, HOW MANY OTHERS ARE OUT THERE? (I KNOW OF SEVERAL).*AK

NHTSA ID
750800
Incident
Aug 11, 2001
Seat belts
Filed Jan 25, 2001

THIRD SUDDEN FAILURE OF BELT RETRACTOR WITHIN 18 MONTHS OUT OF SIX ORIGINAL ASSEMBLIES IN VEHICLE. DEALER CONTACTED UPON ALL 3 OCCURRENCES, QUOTED COST OF REPLACEMENT. DEALER INDICATED THAT NO SERVICE BULLETINS, SPECIAL WARRANTIES, OR RECALLS APPLIED TO THIS OUT-OF-WARRANTY VEHICLE. OPTED TO PURCHASE REPLACEMENT ASSEMBLY ON FIRST TWO OCCURRENCES, AND REPLACED MYSELF. UPON THIRD (MOST-RECENT) FAILURE OF YET ANOTHER ORIGINAL RETRACTOR, DECIDED TO CONSULT NHTSA WEB SITE. FOUND NO OFFICIAL OPEN CASE, BUT MANY REPORTS OF SAME PROBLEM FOR THIS VEHICLE THROUGH THE 1995 MODEL YEAR. CONTACTED DEALER AND PONTIAC CUSTOMER SERVICE, WHO APOLOGIZED, BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. DISCOVERED WHEN OBTAINING PRICE QUOTE FOR PART THAT THE ORIGINAL PART WAS DISCONTINUED IN 1995, REPLACED WITH A NEW DESIGN AND PART NUMBER. FIND THIS LOGICAL, AS THE COMPLAINTS TO NHTSA DROP DRAMATICALLY DURING AND SINCE 1995. HAVE HAD MANY VEHICLES NEW AND USED IN MY LIFETIME, AND HAVE NEVER HAD A PROBLEM WITH SAFETY BELTS IN ANY OTHER. I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT ANY OF MY REMAINING ORIGINAL BELTS ARE TRUSTWORTHY IN A SUDDEN STOP OR COLLISION, BASED UPON THE SUDDEN FAILURES OF THE FIRST THREE WHILE SIMPLY PULLING THE BELT OUT OF THE RETRACTOR TO FASTEN IT. SPRING IN RETRACTOR FAILS, LEAVING ALL BELT LENGTH UNWOUND, AND THUS, THE SEATING POSITION UNPROTECTED UNTIL THE RETRACTOR IS REPLACED. I CONSIDER THIS A SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM, BUT WILL BE FACED WITH A $700.00 EXPENDITURE IF I DECIDE TO HAVE THE DEALER REPLACE THE CURRENT FAILED BELT AND THE REMAINING ORIGINAL THREE THAT I EXPECT TO FAIL SOON. EVEN THOUGH THIS VEHICLE WAS SOLD IN LIMITED QUANTITY, I URGE FURTHER INVESTIGATION OF THIS PROBLEM, WHICH I SUSPECT AFFECTS A LARGE PERCENTAGE OF UNITS STILL ON THE ROAD. I PLAN TO APPEAL AGAIN TO PONTIAC IN AN ATTEMPT TO GET SOME MONETARY RELIEF WITH REPLACING THE CURRENTLY-FAILED AND REMAINING THREE ORIGINAL BELTS.*AK

NHTSA ID
739937
Incident
Jul 1, 1999
Seat belts
Filed Sep 28, 2000

FRONT PASSENGER AND SECOND ROW RIGHT SEAT BELTS FAIL TO RETRACT, CONSUMER REQUESTS DEALER REPLACE DEFECTIVE PART. *SLC

NHTSA ID
555613
Seat belts
Filed Sep 25, 2000

DRIVER SHOULDER BELT FAILS TO RETRACT. INSPECTION REVEALED THAT LOCKING. *AK

NHTSA ID
732462
Incident
Aug 15, 2000
Transmission
Filed Sep 22, 2000
Fire reported

WHEN DRIVING ON HIGHWAY CONSUMER WAS ALERTED THAT VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER THEN DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL WITH NO RESPONSE. GOT VEHICLE TO STOP AND NOTED THAT TRANSMISSION WAS ON FIRE WITHIN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS. CONSUMER WAS UNAWEAR OF THE RECALL. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

NHTSA ID
871273
Seat belts
Filed Sep 12, 2000

DRIVER SHOULDER BELT FAILED TO RETRACT. INSPECTION REVEALED THAT THE LOCKING MECHANISM IN THE RETRACTOR ASSEMBLE FAILED, THE SEAT/SHOULD BELT WOULD NOT RESTRAIN THE DRIVER IN CASE OF AN ACCIDENT, REPLACEMENT PART IS DIFFERENT FROM THE ORIGINAL PART, PART IS AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION

NHTSA ID
554585
Incident
Aug 15, 2000
Seat belts
Filed Sep 7, 2000

FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE SEAT BELT AND SECOND ROW PASSENGER'S SIDE SEAT BELT WOULD NOT RETRACT. VAN WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP. REPAIRS WERE MADE AT OWNER'S EXPENSE. ENTIRE SEAT BELT MECHANISM HAD TO BEL REPLACED FOR BOTH BELTS. *AK THIS VEHICLE HAD TWO PREVIOUS SEAT BELT RECALLS. *YH

NHTSA ID
869883
Incident
Jun 6, 2000
Other / unspecified
Filed Aug 31, 2000

SPARE TIRE CABLE RUSTED THROUGH, CAUSING TIRE TO SEPARATE FROM VEHICLE.*AK

NHTSA ID
869224
Interior & seats
Filed May 30, 2000

SLIDING DOOR CAME OPEN INTERMITTENTLY. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM. DEALER STATED THAT THERE WERE TOO MANY MILES ON VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
862710
Incident
Jul 7, 1997
Other / unspecified
Filed Apr 20, 2000

WHILE THE DRIVER WAS GOING AT 63 MPH, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE CAME OFF (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT). YH

NHTSA ID
552213
Seat belts
Filed Mar 23, 2000

FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT SHOULDER HARNESS NO LONGER RETRACTS RESULTING IN THE SHOULDER HARNESS BEING TOTALLY DISABLED.

NHTSA ID
720533
Incident
Nov 1, 1999
Body & structure
Filed Jan 11, 2000

OUTSIDE DOOR HANDLES HAVE BROKEN ON THE DRIVER SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE DOORS, CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK *ML

NHTSA ID
854864
Incident
Nov 1, 1999
Brakes
Filed Oct 25, 1999

ROTORS HAVE TO BE TURNED EVERY 34,600 MILES. WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES, BRAKE PULSATION OCCURS. DEALERSHIP HAD INSPECTED BRAKE SYSTEM AND CERTIFIED THAT IT IS WORKING PROPERLY. CONSUMER CONCERNED THAT SEVERE VIBRATION COULD LEAD TO LOSS OF CONTROL. *AK *ML

NHTSA ID
851672
Incident
Oct 25, 1999
Filed Oct 25, 1999

MOST TRANS SPORTS I SEE OF THIS AGE ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE CLEAR COAT FAILING ON THE PORTION OF THE ROOF PAINTED BLACK. COST TO FULLY REPAIR IS $800. SINCE IT IS A UNIVERSAL PROBLEM ON THE VAN, I SUGGEST THAT IT IS A FAILURE BY THE MANUFACTURE TO PROPERLY PAINT THIS PART OF THE VEHICLE. THE NON-BLACK PART OF THE VAN'S PAINT IS JUST FINE.

NHTSA ID
713809
Incident
Jan 1, 1999
Brakes
Filed Aug 24, 1999

THE ABS SYSTEM FAILED ON TWO OCCASIONS DUE TO FAULTY SPEED SENSOR ON THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL. MJS

NHTSA ID
548136
Incident
Sep 1, 1997
Body & structure
Filed Jun 30, 1999

VEHICLE SLIDING DOOR FELL OFF ALMOST CAUSING INJURY, HANDLE FAILED AND REQUIRED REPLACEMENT. *YC

NHTSA ID
546489
Incident
Mar 1, 1999

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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