2002 Pontiac TRANS AM problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
32 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
25,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2002 model year. Data snapshot: . 23 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 4 of 32 complaints (12.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 4 | 12.5% |
| Steering behavior | 3 | 9.4% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 3.1% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 3.1% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 4 |
| Exterior Lighting:Headlights | 2 |
| Exterior Lighting:Turn Signal:Switch | 2 |
| Seat Belts:Front | 2 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 2 |
| Structure | 2 |
| Tires | 2 |
| Unknown Or Other | 2 |
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 4; Exterior Lighting:Headlights: 2; Exterior Lighting:Turn Signal:Switch: 2; Seat Belts:Front: 2; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 2; Structure: 2; Tires: 2; Unknown Or Other: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 11 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 7 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 3 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 11; 25,000 to 49,999: 7; 50,000 to 74,999: 3; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (11). 9 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2002 | 3 |
| 2003 | 8 |
| 2004 | 4 |
| 2005 | 3 |
| 2006 | 4 |
| 2007 | 4 |
| 2008 | 2 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2014 | 2 |
| 2017 | 1 |
2002: 3; 2003: 8; 2004: 4; 2005: 3; 2006: 4; 2007: 4; 2008: 2; 2010: 1; 2014: 2; 2017: 1
Pattern summary
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 4 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 3 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 1 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10067677 · 2004-04-22 (April 22, 2004)
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 …
Owner-reported narrative. 20,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10067677 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10153036 · 2006-03-09 (March 9, 2006)
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
Owner-reported narrative. 9,861 miles reported. Look up ODI 10153036 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10074262 · 2004-05-25 (May 25, 2004)
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
Owner-reported narrative. 5,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10074262 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10185489 · 2007-03-19 (March 19, 2007)
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
Owner-reported narrative. 30,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10185489 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10663226 · 2014-12-09 (December 9, 2014)
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.
Owner-reported narrative. 5,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10663226 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10152327 · 2006-03-09 (March 9, 2006)
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…
Owner-reported narrative. 5,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10152327 at NHTSA ↗