1998 Pontiac Trans Sport Problems

AIR. *TR

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

PONTIAC TRANS SPORT 1998 --EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS VISIBILITY EXTREMELY POOR. OWN VEHICLE SINCE 2005. *TR

PROBLEM: LAST FALL I NOTICED THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULD TURN OFF WHEN I USED THE TURN SIGNAL? SLOWLY I LOST THE 'TRIP COMPUTER' THEN THE TURN SIGNALS WOULD FLASH QUICKLY WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. I ASSUMED THAT THERE WAS A BAD BULB SOMEWHERE WITH THE BRAKES AND TURN SIGNALS. I WOULD ALSO NOTICE THAT THE CLOCK ON THE RADIO WOULD DIM WHEN THE TURN SIGNALS AND BRAKES WERE USED. LONG STORY- SHORT, MORE AND MORE THINGS SEEMED TO BE FAILING OVER TIME. I WAS STARTING TO THINK IT WAS RELATED TO THE ALTERNATOR. SOLUTION: I PULLED THE TAILLIGHTS AND TOOK A CLOSER LOOK. I PULLED THE PLUGS ON THE TOP OF THE LIGHTS AND I FOUND MELTED CONTACTS ON ONE OF THE SIX CONTACT POINTS. I WAS GOING TO TIN THE CONTACT POINTS PUT THAT DIDN'T WORK VERY WELL. I TOOK A SCREW DRIVER AND REALIGNED THE SOCKETS AND SCRAPPED OFF THE MELTED PLASTIC ON THE PINS. TESTED THE LIGHTS AND THEY WORKED PERFECTLY! ALL THE OTHER PROBLEMS WENT AWAY! :) WHAT I FIND STRANGE IS THIS IS THE SECOND GM VAN THAT I HAVE SEEN MELTED CONTACT POINTS EITHER ON THE PLUGS OR ON THE SOCKETS OF THE BULBS. SEEING THERE IS N O RECALL ON THIS I HOPE THIS INFO HELPS SOMEONE ELSE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM! *TR

WHILE DRIVING MY 1998 PONTIAC TRANS SPORT MONTANA, MY STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP AND WOULDN'T TURN TO THE LEFT, ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. WHEN I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR INSPECTION, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT IT WAS A RACK AND PINION STEERING GEAR ASSEMBLY. *JB

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

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO UNLOCK THE RIGHT SLIDING DOOR WITH THE MANUAL CONTROL OR THE KEYLESS ENTRY THE DOOR WOULD NOT UNLOCK. THE DEALER WAS ALERTED.

CONSUMER COMPLAINT CONCERNING PONTIAC MONTANA POWER SLIDING DOOR INTERIOR HANDLE. *TS ***NAR*** THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO INDICATED THAT THE DOOR WAS OPERATING AS DESIGNED. THE AUTOMATIC DOOR BEGAN TO OPEN AND THE CONSUMER'S ELDERLY MOTHER GRABBED THE DOOR HANDLE. THE DOOR CONTINUED TO OPEN AND PLACED AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF PRESSURE ON HER ARM. LUCKILY HER ARM WAS ONLY BRUISED/SORE AND NOT BROKEN. THE CONSUMER IS REQUESTING THAT THE DOORS MECHANISM BE REPLACED WITH ONE THAT AUTOMATICALLY REOPENS IF OBSTRUCTED. *NM UPDATED 12/07/06.*JB

PAINT ON HOOD OF VAN IS PEELING AND COMING OFF RIGHT DOWN TO THE METAL. I'VE SEEN THE VERY SAME ISSUE ON MANY OTHER VANS LIKE MINE THE SAME YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL. THIS IS A FACTORY PAINT PROBLEM AND PONTIAC SHOULD FIX THIS. *TR

I HAVE A 98 PONTIAC TRANSPORT. THE PASSENGER SIDE SLIDE DOOR OPENS ON ITS OWN, AND IT WILL ONLY OPEN MANUALLY. THE SLIDING DOOR STOPPED OPENING WITH THE CONTROL ABOUT THREE MONTHS AGO. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 PONTIAC TRANS SPORT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A COMPLETE STOP, THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED INADVERTENTLY AND WITHOUT ANY IMPACT TO THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED MINOR BRUISES AND SWELLING TO THE RIGHT ARM. THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 117,000.

ABS-ANTI LOCKING BRAKES ARE FAULTY AND LIGHT COMES ON FOR NO REASON. ALSO THE AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY. *TR

ABS-ANTI LOCKING BRAKES ARE FAULTY AND LIGHT COMES ON FOR NO REASON. ALSO THE AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY. *TR

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED CONSTANTLY. THERE WAS ALSO A DELAY IN THE ACTIVATION OF THE ABS WHEN THE BRAKE WAS DEPRESSED IN A NORMAL BRAKING SITUATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE REPAIR SHOP, WHERE THE SHOP DETERMINED THAT THE ABS MODULE WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THERE WERE NO REPAIRS TO THE ABS SYSTEM. THE CONTACT ALSO EXPRESSED THAT THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION DID NOT SHIFT GEARS AT THE CORRECT RPM LEVEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SEPARATE PRIVATE REPAIR SHOP, WHERE THE TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS CHANGED, AND THE HEAD GASKET REPLACED. THE REPAIR DID NOT COMPLETELY FIX THE PROBLEM.

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

CONSUMER STATED SEAT BELTS BEHIND PASSENGER AND MIDDLE BACK SEATS LOCKED UP. THEY DID NOT WORK. ALSO, AIR BAG LIGHT KEPT COMING ON. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO MECHANIC TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT, BUT AIR BAG LIGHT STILL CAME ON.*AK

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 PONTIAC TRANS SPORT. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO SHIFT INTO DRIVE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE GEAR SHIFTER WOULD NOT RESPOND AND HE WAS UNABLE TO REMOVE IT FROM THE PARK POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED AND THERE WERE NO REPAIRS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WAS 110,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 PONTIAC TRANSPORT. WHENEVER THE CONTACT SHIFTS FROM SECOND TO FOURTH GEAR, REGARDLESS IF SHE IS UPSHIFTING OR DOWNSHIFTING, THE VEHICLE BEGINS TO JERK DURING ACCELERATION. PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, SHE NOTICED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS FIRST STARTED, IT BEGAN TO VIBRATE. THE FAILURE OCCURS VERY INCONSISTENTLY AND THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE SPEED WAS NOT A FACTOR. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 139,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 136,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 PONTIAC TRANS SPORT. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE ABS, AIR BAG AND CHECK ENGINE WARNING LAMPS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 119,317.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 PONTIAC TRANSPORT. THE CONTACT EXITED THE VEHICLE AND WHEN HE RETURNED, THE VEHICLE WAS ENGULFED WITH WHITE SMOKE. THE CONTACT ROLLED DOWN THE WINDOWS TO RELEASE THE SMOKE. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS THE RESULT OF FAULTY WIRING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 149,000.

DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW OPENS BUT WILL NOT CLOSE PROPERLY. THE GLASS WILL NOT GO UP STRAIGHT. THE AUTOMATIC REAR WINDOWS WILL OPEN SEPARATELY OR NOT AT ALL. ONCE OPEN IT TAKES SEVERAL TRIES TO GET THEM TO CLOSE. *AK

DRIVER\\'S POWER WINDOW WAS INITIALLY SLOW TO CLOSE, AND THEN WOULDN\\'T CLOSE ALL THE WAY. EVENTUALLY, IT BEGAN CLOSING ERRATICALLY, WITH THE GLASS ASKEW. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS A FAULTY POWER WINDOW CONTROL MODULE; THE PART IS APPROXIMATLEY $450 AND THE LABOR IS $250. GM HAS REFUSED TO REPAIR THE PART, DUE TO LACK OF WARRANTY HISTORY ON THE CLAIM. THEY DO HAVE AN OUTSTANDING SERVICE BULLETING FOR AN ALLIED PROBLEM, OF STICKY WINDOW TRACKS, WHICH PROBABLY LED TO THE INITIAL SLOWNESS OF THE WINDOW CLOSING. THAT PROBABLY LED TO A FAILURE OF THE MODULE IN QUESTION. IN AN EFFORT TO SAVE MONEY, I TRIED HAVING IT REPAIRED AT A LOCAL AUTO GLASS REPAIR FACILITY, HOPING THEY COULD JUST REPOSITION THE WINDOW. THEY CAME BACK WITH THE SAME DIAGNOSIS. CURIOUSLY, THEY INDICATED THAT THEY CONTACTED AT LEAST 20 SOURCES FOR THE WINDOW MODULE, AND THAT THEY WERE TOLD THE PART IS ON A NATIONAL BACK ORDER. AND YET GM DENIES A PROBLEM WITH THIS PART!

STABILIZER BAR BROKE ON DRIVERS SIDE WHILE ENTERING MY DRIVEWAY. IT APPEARS THAT IT HAS RUSTED FROM THE INSIDE OUT AND BROKE. THE PASSENGER SIDE WAS ABOUT TO BREAK IN THE SAME MATTER. I PURCHASED A NEW ONE FROM THE LOCAL DEALER AND INSTALLED IT MYSELF. *JB

A BRACKET THAT SECURED THE REAR AXLE BROKE. *PH WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE THE CONSUMER REAR AXLE MOVED TO THE RIGHT REAR PASSENGER WHEEL AND SLAMMED AGAINST THE REAR QUARTER PANEL BRING THE VEHICLE TO AND ABRUPT STOP. THE CONSUMER FELLS THAT VEHICLE HAD A FAILED COMPONENT AND GM SHOULD REIMBURSE THEM FOR THE COST OF REPAIRS. * CB

I HAVE GOODYEAR ASSURANCE CMFTRD 97T 80,000 MILE TIRES ON MY 98 PONTIAC MONTANA VAN. THEY HAVE LESS THAN 30,000 MILES ON THEM AND TWO OF THEM STARTED LEAKING AIR OUT OF THE SIDEWALLS WHICH ARE FULL OF DRYROT TYPE CRACKS. TWO TIRE STORES TOLD ME THEY LOOK LIKE DEFECTS. I TOOK THEM BACK TO THE STORE WHERE I BOUGHT THEM AND THE DEPTH WAS GREATER THAN 3/32 OF AN INCH. I AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE, BOUGHT A FREE REPLACEMENT/ROAD HAZARD CERTIFICATE THAT IS GOOD FOR ONLY THREE YEARS AND THE TIRES ARE NOW FOUR YEARS OLD. BECAUSE OF THE TIRE AGE THEY WANT TO PRORATE THESE UNSAFE TIRES AND CHARGE ME $65.00 @ FOR NEW ONES. WHY IS IT THAT THESE 80,000 MILE TIRES ARE NOT ANY GOOD AFTER 30,000 MILES AND MUST BE REPLACED. THIS VAN IS OUR SECOND CAR AND DOES NOT GET DRIVEN ENOUGH TO GET 80,000 MILES IN THE THREE YEARS THAT THE REPLACEMENT CERTIFICATE IS GOOD FOR.WHEN I BOUGHT THEM I WAS TOLD THESE WERE ONE OF THE BEST AT THAT TIME AND I WAS SURE TO GET A LOT OF MILES ON THEM. I AM VERY VERY UPSET THAT THESE TIRES HAVE PROVEN TO ME THAT THEY ARE VERY UNSAFE BECAUSE SIDEWALL LEAKS CANNOT BE REPAIRED AND I AM NOT NOW DRIVING THIS VAN BECAUSE I CANNOT TRUST THESE TIRES OR THEIR SAFETY. YEARS AGO, WHILE TRAVELING 700 MILES FROM HOME I HAD A BLOWOUT WITH, A TIRE THAT WAS ONE OF THEM FIRESTONE 500 TIRES. AT 70 MPH MY WHOLE FAMILY COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED AS A RESULT OF THIS AND TO THIS DAY I TAKE TIRE SAFETY VERY SERIOUSLY. WHAT CAN I DO ABOUT THIS POTENTIALLY LIFE THREATENING SITUATION? I CANNOT JUST GO OUT AND BUY NEW TIRES BECAUSE THESE ARE JUNK. AN 80,000 MILE TIRE SHOT AT 30,000 MILES DOES NOT COMPUTE. THEY REPLACED ONE TIRE AND CHARGED ME ONLY FOR A NEW REPLACEMENT/ROAD HAZARD CERTIFICATE.THEN I TOOK ANOTHER TIRE BACK TO THEM AND THEY CHARGED ME $93.00 FOR THE TIRE. MOUNTING ,BALANCE AND REPLACE CERTIFICATE. ONE FREE ONE AND ONE FOR A FEE AND I STILL HAVE TWO MORE OF THESE BAD TIRES. I COULD PARTIALLY UNDERSTAND THE PRO RATION IF THEY WERE NOT DEFECTIVE TIRES BUT THEY ARE. WHAT NEXT? *TR

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

THE GAS GAUGE IS CONSTANTLY INCORRECT AND NEVER REGISTERS THE CORRECT AMOUNT OF FUEL IN TANK. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS THE FUEL PUMP AND HAS REPLACED PUMP 3X. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS.

STRAP/ SUPPORT THAT HOLDS GAS TANK IS MOVING, CAUSING A DULL THUMP, AND COULD POSSIBLY RUPTURE TANK.TSB OUT TO PUT IN NEW STRAP. *AK

DRIVING DOWN A HIGHWAY 65 MPH, I TURNED ON THE CRUISE CONTROL AND SET IT FOR 65 MPH. AFTER A MINUTE, I NOTICED I WAS GOING 75, THEN 85. GOING UP HILL THE VEHICLE WAS NOW APPROACHING 95 MPH. I TRIED TOUCHING THE BRAKE, BUT THAT DID NOT TURN OFF THE CRUISE CONTROL. I THEN TURNED OFF THE CRUISE CONTROL VIA THE SWITCH AND THAT DID NOT WORK. I TRIED PUTTING THE VEHICLE INTO NEUTRAL, AND BRAKED UNTIL THE VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP. THE ENGINE WAS ROARING AT FULL SPEED. I TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE AND PUT IT INTO PARK. WHEN I TURNED ON THE VEHICLE I HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. I THEN TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE AND WAITED A LONGER TIME. THIS TIME THE CRUISE CONTROL STOPPED. THEY TOLD ME AT THE SHOP THE CRUISE CONTROL MODULE FAILED. IT IS PRESENTLY DISCONNECTED. THIS IS A BAD MODE OF FAILURE. I SHOULD ALWAYS BE ABLE TO DISENGAGE THE CRUISE CONTROL BY TOUCHING THE BRAKE. THE VEHICLE IS: 98/PONTIAC/TRANS SPORT/4DR SE EXT WG MONTANA VAN. VEHICLE ID # [XXX]. *JB UPDATED 07/24/2012 INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

MY 1998 PONTIAC TRANS SPORT, WITHOUT WARNING, DEVELOPED A BROKEN ACCELERATOR CABLE AND ACCELERATED FULL SPEED OUT OF CONTROL. I WAS LUCKY TO GET IT STOPPED WITHOUT A SERIOUS ACCIDENT.*AK

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 55 MPH RIGHT REAR TIRE BECAME DISATTACHED FROM VEHICLE DUE TO LUGS: NUTS SHEARING OFF. HAD BEEN THE SECOND TIME THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED.*AK *JB

DEALER STATES TIRES HAVE NEVER BEEN REMOVED BY THEM AND WHEELS WERE TORQUED TO TIGHT .SOUNDS LIKE SMOKE TO ME MAYBE YOU HAVE A MORE SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH YOUR DESIGN!

CONSUMER PULLED A CAR FAX REPORT ON SEPTEMBER 11,2001 THE ODOMETER READING ON THE VEHICLE WAS 30586 ON SEPTEMBER 1, 2000 AS VERIFIED BY CALIFORNIA DMV, ON NOV 14,2000 THE ODOMETER READING WAS 30582 AS VEIIFIED BY THE CA INSPECTION STATION, THE DEALER ADVERTISED THE VEHICLE ON THEIR WEBSITE AS HAVING 33558 MILES ON IT, CONSUMER STATES THE DEALER INDICATED THEY HAD THE VEHICLE FOUR MONTHS SO THE MILEAGE DECREASED FROM SEPTEMBER 2000 TO NOVEMBER 2000 AND ONLY ACQUIRED 3000 MILES FROM NOVEMBER 2000 TO AUGUST 2001.*JB

DEALER STATES TIRES HAVE NEVER BEEN REMOVED BY THEM AND WHEELS WERE TORQUED TO TIGHT .SOUNDS LIKE SMOKE TO ME MAYBE YOU HAVE A MORE SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH YOUR DESIGN!

A/C FAILED.