1998 Pontiac Trans Sport Engine Problems

AIR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10593566

Incident

Aug 7, 2013

AFTER I HAD THE RADIATOR REPLACED $350 JOB THE INTAKE GASKET SPRUNG A LEAK. THEREFORE I HAD TO HAVE NOT ONLY THIS REPLACED BUT THE VALVE COVER GASKET AS WELL WHICH COST A TOTAL OF $867. I ALSO HAD TO RENT A CAR FOR 3 DAY WHICH COST AN ADDITIONAL $30 PER DAY. MY MECHANIC SAID THAT THE RECOMMENDED DEXCOL COOLANT USED IN THIS MODEL CAR, OVER A PERIOD OF TIME, WILL EAT THRU THE GASKET THUS THE LEAK. I NEED TO KNOW IF THERE WAS A RE-CALL REGARDING THIS PROBLEM AND IF I CAN BE COMPENSATED. I AM A HARD WORKING INDIVIDUAL WITH LIMITED RESOURCES. I HAVE ALWAYS MAINTAINED REGULAR MAINTENANCE ON MY VEHICLES NOT FORESEEING THIS ISSUE THAT AROSE. PLEASE GET BACK IN TOUCH WITH ME AS SOON AS POSSIBLE REGARDING HIS MATTER. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

10434040

Incident

Oct 4, 2011

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 PONTIAC TRANSPORT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE'S INTAKE MANIFOLD IS LEAKING INTERNALLY AND EXTERNALLY IN BETWEEN THE INTAKE AND THE BLOCK. HE HAS NOT CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER DUE TO PRIOR ISSUES WITH THE TRANSMISSION. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE CONSUMES A LARGE AMOUNT OF COOLANT WHICH CONTAMINATES THE OIL. THE ENGINE SIZE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 65,150 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000. UPDATED 06/08/07 *TR

NHTSA ID

10190639

Incident

May 1, 2007

Mileage

65,000 mi

FAILED HEAD GASKET. *NM

NHTSA ID

10175639

Incident

Dec 8, 2006

Mileage

17,700 mi

1998 PONTIAC TRANSPORT SPIKED THE TEMPERATURE LIGHT AND WAS SHUT DOWN. PROBLEM CAUSED BY CRACKED HEAD. REPLACED ENGINE AT 70,000+ - WITH USED ENGINE WITH 30,000 MI. NOW AT 80,000 MI. ENGINE HAS BLOWN HEAD GASKET. VAN NOT WORTH ANOTHER ENGINE REPAIR BILL. *NM

NHTSA ID

10174603

Incident

Oct 15, 2006

Mileage

70,000 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING AND WOULD NOT RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP, WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THE PLASTIC HEAD CRACKED AND THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.

NHTSA ID

10173852

Incident

Nov 20, 2006

Mileage

150,000 mi

1998 TRANSPORT INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET FAILED CAUSING LEAKAGE OF THE ENGINE COOLANT. *TS THIS FAILURE OCCURRED TWICE. *NM

NHTSA ID

10153038

Incident

Jan 24, 2006

Mileage

117,858 mi

ON 12/26/05 I SMELLED COOLANT WHEN EXITING MY VEHICLE. AFTER INVESTIGATING, I FOUND THAT COOLANT WAS LEAKING. I TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC, AND HAD THE INTERNAL GASKET REPLACED FOR $575. THE NEXT DAY I SAW THAT IT WAS STILL LEAKING COOLANT. I TOOK IT BACK, AND HAD THE WATER PUMP REPLACED FOR $166. THE NEXT DAY I SAW IT WAS STILL LEAKING, AND I HAD NO HEAT. I TOOK IT BACK TO THE MECHANIC, WHO TOLD ME THAT IT IS LEAKING AT THE TIMING COVER, AND THE LACK OF HEAT COULD BE DUE TO AN AIR BUBBLE, OR I MAY NEED MY HEATER CORE REPLACED. HE GAVE ME ROUGH ESTIMATES OF $900-$1500 FOR THE LEAK, AND PROBABLY ABOUT $400-600 IF MY HEATER CORE NEEDS REPLACED. GM NEEDS TO RECALL THIS VEHICLE FOR THIS PROBLEM. *NM

NHTSA ID

10148064

Incident

Dec 26, 2005

Mileage

130,775 mi

SEAT BELTS "STICKING", STEERING MAKING LOUD "POP" NOISES WHEN TURNING WHEEL, TRANSMISSION SHIFTING VERY HARD FROM PARK TO REVERSE ON A ANGLE. NOW MY ENGINE LOCKED UP, WAS HESITATING WHEN ACCELERATING. *JB

NHTSA ID

10144488

Incident

Dec 2, 2005

Mileage

88,000 mi

INTAKE GASKET LEAKING AND REPLACED IN JANUARY 2005 AT A COST OF OVER $600. CAM SHAFT SNAPPED IN HALF IN APRIL 2005 RESULTING IN TOTAL ENGINE FAILURE AND REPLACEMENT - COST OF $3400. THIS SHOULD BE RECALLED BY GM AND ANYONE THAT HAS HAD THIS OCCUR REIMBURSED.

NHTSA ID

10121138

Incident

Apr 23, 2005

Mileage

87,000 mi

VAN STOPPED SUDDENLY ON EXPRESSWAY. DEALER TOWED IT AWAY AND DIAGNOSED PROBLEM. HE SAID THAT CAM SHAFT WAS SEIZED OR BROKE. ALL FLUID LEVELS WERE OK. CAR HAD NO LEAKS . FOUND NO EVIDENCE OF SLUDGE IN THE MOTOR. FOUND THAT VAN WAS PROPERLY MAINTAINED BY OWNER. QUOTED NEW ENGINE COST OF $4693. *AK

NHTSA ID

10116914

Incident

Sep 6, 2003

Mileage

82,152 mi

WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH CONSUMER HEARD LOUD NOISE, AND THEN THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY STALLED. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO CONSUMER'S HOME. A MECHANIC CAME TO CONSUMER'S HOUSE TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE, AND INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE VEHICLE HAS A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. THIS PROBLEM CAUSES THE CAM SHAFT TO SEIZE. DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED.*AK

NHTSA ID

10113248

Incident

Feb 24, 2005

Mileage

80,000 mi

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK. THE TEMP GAUGE WENT UP AND THE ENGINE HAD NO POWER. SHE PULLED OVERHAND PARKED. AFTER THE CAR COOLED DOWN I TRIED STARTING IT AND THE TEMP STAYED DOWN SO I DROVE THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP. I FELT ALL THAT WAS WRONG WAS THE THERMOSTAT STUCK. THEN I GET A CALL THAT THE HEAD GASKETS HAD FAILED AND THAT THE DAMAGE WAS GOING TO COST ME $2400 AT LEAST THAT BECAUSE OF THE GASKET FAILURE ALL KINDS OF DAMAGE WAS DONE. *JB

NHTSA ID

10112238

Incident

Feb 25, 2005

Mileage

90,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AND REMAINED ON. VEHICLE HESITATED WHILE DRIVING. DRIVER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE HEAD GASKET, VALVES, AND LIFTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10111334

Incident

Feb 10, 2005

WHERE DO I START? SAME COMPLAINTS AS ALL OTHER PONTIAC MINIVAN OWNERS. SINCE ORIGINAL PURCHASE IN 1998, HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY FAULTY, ABS WARNING LIGHT MALFUNCTION, AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT MALFUNCTION, AND MALFUNCTIONING (STILL) PASSENGER AUTOMATIC SLIDING DOOR. RECENTLY HAD HEAD GASKET REPLACED DUE TO ANTIFREEZE LEAK, AS WELL AS FRONT LEFT WHEEL HUB. THIS IS THE WORST (AND MOST COSTLY) VEHICLE I HAVE OWNED WITH RESPECT TO MAINTENANCE.*AK

NHTSA ID

10100050

Incident

Nov 13, 2004

Mileage

5,262 mi

WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH CONSUMER PROCEEDED TO ACCELERATE. VEHICLE LOST POWER COMPLETELY STALLING OUT. INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET LEAKED AND COOLANT MIXED IN WITH THE ENGINE OIL. CONSUMER WAS AWARE OF OTHER COMPLAINTS IN CONJUNCTION WITH THIS ENGINE. *AK

NHTSA ID

10087863

Incident

Aug 13, 2004

INTAKE MANIFLOLD GASKET LEAKING ANTI FREEZE, DEX COOL. IT COST 1010.27 TO REPAIR THE ENGINE BUT NOW MY OIL PRESURRE LIGHT IS FLICKERING WHEN ENGINE IDLES SO THERE MAY BE SOME BEARING DAMAGE. ( CAM, ROD OR MAIN BEARINGS ) THE OIL PRESURRE SENDING UNIT WAS REPLACED TO SEE IF IT HAD FAILED STILL DOES IT. ANTI FREEZE MIXING WITH OIL CAN DAMAGE BEARINGS AND CAUSE ENGINE TO LOCK UP BRACKING CAMS AND OR CRANKSHIFTS. THIS CAN STRAND US ON BUSY HIGHWAYS.*AK

NHTSA ID

10082649

Incident

Jul 15, 2004

Mileage

64,198 mi

A NOISE HAD BEGUN SOUNDING LIKE THE ENGINE WAS NOT RECEIVING OIL. HOWEVER WHEN THE OIL WAS CHECKED IT WAS FULL SO THE MECHANIC DID NOT PURSUE FURTHER. TWO DAYS LATER THE ENGINE STOPPED WORKING WHICH RESULTED IN A TOWING OFF A MAJOR HIGHWAY AND A REPLACEMENT OF THE ENGINE $4000.00. IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE OIL PUMP HAD FAILED AND THERE WAS NO INDICATIONS OF THE ENGINE NEEDING SERVICE FOR LACK OF OIL OR THE OIL PUMP NEEDING REPLACEMENT. *LA

NHTSA ID

10081015

Incident

Jul 10, 2003

COOLANT LEAKING INTO ENGINE THROUGH INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET.*AK

NHTSA ID

10073054

Incident

May 19, 2004

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE OVERHEATED. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT FLASHED AND THEN VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER TRIED TO RESTART VEHICLE BUT WAS UNABLE TO DO SO. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC REPLACED THE WATER PUMP DUE TO MIXTURE OF ANTIFREEZE AND CORROSION. *AK

NHTSA ID

10072307

Incident

May 7, 2004

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE OVERHEATED AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT FLASHED. THEN, VEHICLE SHUTDOWN. CONSUMER TRIED TO RESTART VEHICLE BUT WAS UNABLE TO DO SO. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC REPLACED THE WATER PUMP DUE TO MIXED ANTIFREEZE CORROSION. *AK

NHTSA ID

10072299

Incident

May 7, 2004

1998 PONTIAC MONTANA WITH A GM (GENERIC) 3.4 LITER ENGINE EVENTS LEADING TO FAILURE WERE NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS AND REGULAR MAINTENANCE. THE FAILURE IS THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. THE CONSEQUENCES CURRENTLY ARE EXTERIOR LEAKING COOLANT. *AK THE PROBABLE FUTURE CONSEQUENCE PER THE DEALER, IS COOLANT LEAKING INTO THE CRANKCASE CAUSING THE FAILURE OF THE CRANK BEARINGS. WHICH DOCUMENTED CASES HAVE RESULTED IN ENGINE FAILURE WHILE DRIVING WHICH CAN CAUSE A UNSAFE SITUATION. WHAT WILL HAVE TO BE DONE IS TO REPLACE THE INTAKE GASKET AT A COST OF $500-$700.

NHTSA ID

10067750

Incident

Apr 9, 2004

DIAGNOSED WITH INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET FAILURE ON 1998 PONTIAC TRANS SPORT WITH 3.4 V6 ENGINE. OIL AND ANTIFREEZE MIXED AND FIXED BY DEALER AT COST OF $890. WITH NO ASSISTANCE FROM GENERAL MOTORS. ALL TO COMMON PROBLEMS ON THIS ENGINE AND THE 3.1 V6 WITH SPECULATION THAT THE DEXCOOL ANTIFREEZE DETERIATES GASKET. COULD POSSIBLY BE TRUE SINCE GASKET IS NOW MADE OUT OF A DIFFRENT MATERIAL. AT THIS TIME IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT NHTSA FORCES GENERAL MOTORS TO RECALL THESE ENGINES AND REIMBURSE ALL OWNERS WHO HAVE PAID OUT OF POCKET FOR REPAIRS. THIS VEHICLE IN QUESTION WAS WELL MAINTAINED AND ITEMS WERE CHANGED WAY ABOVE RECOMMENDED SERVICE SCHEDULE. VEHICLE ALSO DEVELOPED A ROUGH IDLE WITH NO OBVIOUS CAUSE WITH POSSIBLE EXPLANATION OF INTERNAL ENGINE DAMAGE. THESE INTAKE GASKET FAILURES COULD BE THE REASON FOR NUMEROUS ENGINE FIRES WITNESSED ON THE HIGHWAY. ALSO I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER. THANK YOU . *AK

NHTSA ID

10066327

Incident

Mar 24, 2004

Mileage

76,197 mi

UPON EXITING THE VAN CONSUMER SMELLED ANTI FREEZE. DEALERSHIP INSPECTED THE VAN, AND NOTICED ANTIFREEZE WAS LEAKING INTO THE ENGINE FROM A CRACK IN THE INTAKE GASKET. *AK

NHTSA ID

10063392

Incident

Mar 17, 2004

Mileage

95,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE REACHED HIGH TEMPERATURES DUE TO INTAKE MANIFOLD FAILURE. DEALER REPLACED THE CRACKED INTAKE MANIFOLD AT CONSUMER'S EXPENSE. *AK *MR

NHTSA ID

10058017

Incident

Feb 12, 2004

Mileage

73,000 mi