1999 Pontiac Trans Sport Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1999 Pontiac Trans Sport, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Engine531.3%
- Seat belts318.8%
- Interior & seats212.5%
- Fuel system16.3%
- Exterior lighting16.3%
- Body & structure16.3%
- Visibility16.3%
- Brakes16.3%
- Electrical16.3%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
WITH RESPECT TO MY 1999 PONTIAC TRANSPORT VAN, OCTOBER OF 2003 THE ENGINE STARTED OVERHEATING AND WE DISCOVERED THAT THE COOLANT WAS LOW. WE ADDED COOLANT AND SOME TYPE OF SEAL INTO THE COOLANT BECAUSE WE WERE TOLD BY SEVERAL GM MECHANICS THAT IT WAS PROBABLY THE HEAD GASKET AND THIS SEAL WOULD HELP TO GET US BY UNTIL WE COULD HAVE IT FIXED. I CALLED THE COMPANY WHERE I PURCHASED THE VAN (2ND HAND) AND THE VAN WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY (OVER BY 4,000 MILES AT THE TIME). I DID PURCHASE THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. WE PRICED AROUND FOR THE COST TO HAVE THE HEAD GASKET REPAIRED/REPLACED AND FOUND THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO SPEND BETWEEN $800 AND $1,000 TO GET IT FIXED. OUR VAN IS NOW SITTING IN A GARAGE BEING TORN APART AND THE HEAD GASKET WAS THE PROBLEM. PRIOR TO OCTOBER 2003 WE HAD THE COILS CHANGED AND THE #5 PLUG WAS SHOWING A MALFUNCTIONING PROBLEM WHICH WAS SHOWING UP ON THE COMPUTER. WHEN WE BROUGHT IT TO THE GARAGE THEY REPLACED THE PLUGS. WE WERE TOLD BY THE MECHANIC WHO IS CURRENTLY WORKING ON THE GASKET THAT THE COOLANT WAS LEAKING OUT ON THE #5 GASKET AND THIS WAS THE PROBLEM PREVIOUSLY WHICH WAS NOT PICKED UP ON BY THE PAST MECHANIC. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM FOR US SINCE ABOUT JUNE OF 2003.*AK
PROBLEMS WITH THE SLIDING DOOR, HEADLAMP FELL OFF, AUTOMATIC LOCKS/WINDOW AND ETC. *PH THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THE VEHICLE HAS A COOLANT LEAK. THE FUEL MODULATOR AND SPARK PLUGS WERE REPLACED. *JB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE WENT OFF THE ROAD AND STRUCK A TREE. WHEN THIS OCCURRED, THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE SEATBELT SHOULDER STRAP DID NOT LOCK. THE DRIVER HIT THE STEERING WHEEL CAUSING MINOR CHEST INJURIES, THEN THE AIRBAG DEPLOYED. ALSO, THE MIDDLE ROW DRIVER SIDE SEATBELT CAME UNLOCKED. THIS CAUSED THE OCCUPANTS LEG TO BE CRUSHED, RESULTING IN SURGERY. THERE WAS A POLICE REPORT TAKEN AT THE SCENE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A SALVAGE YARD AND INSPECTED BY THE MANUFACTURER, BUT IT WAS DETERMINED NOT TO BE A DEFECT.
RETRACTOR MOUNT NOT SECURED TO UPPER PANEL, TOP THREADS INTO PILLAR NOT DONE, INSTALLED MISSING BOLT IN SEAT BELT MOUNT.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
PROBLEMS WITH THE SLIDING DOOR, HEADLAMP FELL OFF, AUTOMATIC LOCKS/WINDOW AND ETC. *PH THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THE VEHICLE HAS A COOLANT LEAK. THE FUEL MODULATOR AND SPARK PLUGS WERE REPLACED. *JB
WHILE IN DRIVEWAY WAS ADJUSTING FRONT SEAT AND VEHICLE STARTED SMELLING LIKE SMOKE. CONSUMER LOOKED UNDER SEAT, AND ONE OF THE WIRES WAS COMPLETELY BARE. CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER DID REPAIRS. BUT, WIRES WERE STILL HANGING FROM UNDER SEAT. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
PROBLEMS WITH THE SLIDING DOOR, HEADLAMP FELL OFF, AUTOMATIC LOCKS/WINDOW AND ETC. *PH THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THE VEHICLE HAS A COOLANT LEAK. THE FUEL MODULATOR AND SPARK PLUGS WERE REPLACED. *JB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Exterior lighting
Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.
From owner reports, verbatim
PROBLEMS WITH THE SLIDING DOOR, HEADLAMP FELL OFF, AUTOMATIC LOCKS/WINDOW AND ETC. *PH THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THE VEHICLE HAS A COOLANT LEAK. THE FUEL MODULATOR AND SPARK PLUGS WERE REPLACED. *JB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE EXITING A PARKING LOT, THE REAR SLIDING DOOR OPENED, THE DEALER FOUND THAT A BENT BRACKET IN THE DOOR MOUNTING WAS THE APPARENT CAUSE OF THE DOOR FAILING TO LATCH PROPERLY. NLM
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
PROBLEMS WITH THE SLIDING DOOR, HEADLAMP FELL OFF, AUTOMATIC LOCKS/WINDOW AND ETC. *PH THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THE VEHICLE HAS A COOLANT LEAK. THE FUEL MODULATOR AND SPARK PLUGS WERE REPLACED. *JB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE ENGINE HAS BEEN MAKING A CLICKING SOUND OR DRUMMING SOUND FOR QUITE A WHILE NOW. I HAVE TAKEN THE VAN INTO THE DEALER ON A NUMBER OF OCCASSIONS. I HAVE SINCE LEARNED THAT MY VAN IS NOT THE ONLY VAN TO MAKE THIS NOISE, AND THAT SOME VANS HAVE HAD THE ENGINE REPLACED BECAUSE OF IT. SOMETHING ABOUT THE PISTONS AND WALL CHAMBER. THE VAN HAS ALSO QUITE RUNNING WHILE I WAS DRIVING W/CHILDREN, AND WHEN BRAKING, AN AWFUL LOUD NOISE COMES, SOUNDS LIKE THE CAR IS FALLING APART. I REFUSE TO TAKE THE VEHICLE BACK, AND AM HAVING LOADS OF PROBLEMS DEALING WITH THIS. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
PROBLEMS WITH THE SLIDING DOOR, HEADLAMP FELL OFF, AUTOMATIC LOCKS/WINDOW AND ETC. *PH THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THE VEHICLE HAS A COOLANT LEAK. THE FUEL MODULATOR AND SPARK PLUGS WERE REPLACED. *JB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
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.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .