Pontiac TRANS AM problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
112 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
39,101 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1969 to 2002 model years. Data snapshot: . 43 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip is the most frequently named component, appearing in 7 of 112 complaints (6.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 19 | 17.0% |
| Steering behavior | 10 | 8.9% |
| Transmission and shifting | 6 | 5.4% |
| Engine operation | 3 | 2.7% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 3 | 2.7% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 1.8% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 7 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 6 |
| Exterior Lighting:Headlights | 5 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 5 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 4 |
| Structure:Body:Roof And Pillars | 4 |
| Unknown Or Other | 4 |
| Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls | 4 |
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 7; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 6; Exterior Lighting:Headlights: 5; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 5; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 4; Structure:Body:Roof And Pillars: 4; Unknown Or Other: 4; Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls: 4
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 16 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 10 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 6 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 4 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 5 |
| 150,000 and above | 2 |
Under 25,000: 16; 25,000 to 49,999: 10; 50,000 to 74,999: 6; 75,000 to 99,999: 4; 100,000 to 149,999: 5; 150,000 and above: 2
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (16). 69 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 |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 22 |
| 2001 | 8 |
| 2002 | 16 |
| 2003 | 14 |
| 2004 | 14 |
| 2005 | 10 |
| 2006 | 7 |
| 2007 | 6 |
| 2008 | 4 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 2 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2014 | 3 |
| 2015 | 3 |
| 2017 | 1 |
2000: 22; 2001: 8; 2002: 16; 2003: 14; 2004: 14; 2005: 10; 2006: 7; 2007: 6; 2008: 4; 2009: 1; 2010: 2; 2012: 1; 2014: 3; 2015: 3; 2017: 1
Pattern summary
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 19 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 10 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 6 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 566737 · 2002-07-24 (July 24, 2002)
CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE HANDBRAKE, CONSUMER FOUND A RECALL FOR 1982 FIREBIRDS 91V055 AND IS WONDERING WHY THIS VEHICLE ISN'T UNDER RECALL, CONSUMER WAS PREVIOUSLY INFORMED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS WITH THE REAR BRAKE CALIPER ADJUSTING MECHANISMS. *SLC
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 566737 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10468435 · 2012-07-31 (July 31, 2012)
THE BRAKE PEDAL SUDDENLY FELL TO THE FLOOR WHILE I WAS TRYING TO BRAKE THE CAR FOR A RED LIGHT AT 40 MPH WITH OTHER TRAFFIC DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF ME. THE BRAKE LINE TRAVELING ALONG THE BOTTOM OF THE CAR HAD RUSTED THROUGH DUE TO CORROSION CAUSING THE BRAKES TO FAIL. IN ADDITION, ALL OF THE FUEL LINES WHICH CARRY FUEL AT HIGH PRESSURE AT APPROX. 48PSI ARE ALSO BADLY CORRODED AND LIKELY TO FAIL WITH CATASTROPHIC RESULTS (E.G., FIRE, EXPLOSION, ETC.). THESE BRAKE AND FUEL LINE SAFETY DEFECTS STEM FROM THE FACT THAT GENERAL MOTORS USED INFERIOR …
Owner-reported narrative. 120,158 miles reported. Look up ODI 10468435 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10311072 · 2010-02-16 (February 16, 2010)
1979 PONTIAC TRANS AM 10TH SILVER ADDITION-CRASH, STEERING FAILED AND STRUCK TREE, PERSON DRIVING RECEIVED C6 SPINAL CORD INJURY. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10311072 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10715643 · 2015-05-11 (May 11, 2015)
TILT STEERING COLUMN LOOSE HAS SHUT OFF THE CAR WHILE MAKING LEFT HAND TURN.
Owner-reported narrative. 75,417 miles reported. Look up ODI 10715643 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10008849 · 2003-02-20 (February 20, 2003)
THE TRANSMISSION LOCKED UP WHICH CAUSED THE REAR TIRES TO LOCK UP, WHICH MADE THE VEHICLE DIFFICULT TO CONTROL.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10008849 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 784393 · 2000-01-03 (January 3, 2000)
LEFT FRONT WHEEL BEARING FAILED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STALL. YH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 784393 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10605640 · 2014-06-24 (June 24, 2014)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 PONTIAC TRANS AM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNIN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS ISNPECTED BY THE CONTACT. THE CONTACT STATED THE REAR PARK BRAKE LEVER RETURN SPRING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 296,493.
Owner-reported narrative. 296,493 miles reported. Look up ODI 10605640 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10112096 · 2005-02-24 (February 24, 2005)
OUR PROBLEM CONCERNS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. WHEN WE PURCHASED THE CAR ALMOST 4 YEARS AGO WE NOTICED THE TAILLIGHTS WERE LEAKING. THEY HAD CORRODED THE TAIL LIGHTS AND THEY SHORTED OUT. THIS CAR WAS BARELY 7 YEARS OLD AND HAD NO WORKING TAIL LIGHTS. WE BROUGHT THIS UP TO GM AS IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND A DEFAULT OF A FAULTY TAIL LIGHT AND THEY TOLD US THEY HAVE A SPECIAL GLUE MAN THAT WORKS THROUGH GM AND HE WILL COME OUT AND GLUE THE SEAL BUT REFUSED TO REPAIR THE LIGHTS. WE WERE ANGRY ABOUT THIS BUT HAD THEM SEND THE MAN OUT TO DO THE REPAIR. I…
Owner-reported narrative. 17,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10112096 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 728417 · 2000-08-19 (August 19, 2000)
FACTORY INSTALLED VEHICLE ANTI-THEFT ALARM SOUNDS WHEN VEHICLE GETS WET. DOME LIGHTS WON'T SHUT OFF. RESERVE POWER IN VEHICLE SHUTS DOWN WHEN IGNITION SHUT OFF. OPENED DOOR "DING" SOUNDS WHEN KEY IS PLACED IN IGNITION/VEHICLE NOT RUNNING/KEY NOT TURNED ON. ALL HAPPENS WHEN VEHICLE GETS WET. HAPPENS REPEATEDLY FOR UNDETERMINED AMOUNT OF TIMES. INTERRUPTS SLEEP OF OWNER/NEIGHBORS. INTERRUPTS WORK OF OWNER @ WORK. CAN'T LOCK VEHICLE WHEN GOING INTO STORE. ALARM GOES OFF IF VEHICLE WAS WET OR DRIVEN ON DAMP ROADS. HAS TO LEAVE VEHICLE UNL…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 728417 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10051562 · 2004-01-03 (January 3, 2004)
FUEL LINE LEAK. HIGH PRESSURE FUEL RETURN LINE LEAK FROM PINCH/CHAFING 9 INCHES FROM FUEL SENDER (HIGH VOLUME LEAK ABOVE FUEL TANK AND MUFFLER).*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 68,447 miles reported. Look up ODI 10051562 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10093903 · 2004-10-10 (October 10, 2004)
BOTH THE DRIVER SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE POWER WINDOWS WILL NOT OPEN OR CLOSE. ENGINE WILL NOT START DUE TO FUEL PUMP PROBLEMS. CAR WILL SHUT OFF WITHOUT NOTICE WHILE DRIVING. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 33,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10093903 at NHTSA ↗
Recalls by model year
All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.
Recall campaigns
Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1986 | 0 |
| 1987 | 0 |
| 1989 | 0 |
| 1992 | 0 |
| 1994 | 1 |
| 1995 | 0 |
| 1996 | 0 |
| 1997 | 0 |
| 1998 | 0 |
| 1999 | 0 |
| 2000 | 0 |
| 2001 | 0 |
| 2002 | 0 |
1986: 0; 1987: 0; 1989: 0; 1992: 0; 1994: 1; 1995: 0; 1996: 0; 1997: 0; 1998: 0; 1999: 0; 2000: 0; 2001: 0; 2002: 0
Year-by-year records
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Change in recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1969 | 1 | 0 | Not available |
| 1979 | 1 | 0 | Not available |
| 1980 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1982 | 1 | 0 | Not available |
| 1984 | 1 | 0 | Not available |
| 1986 | 5 | 0 | Not available |
| 1987 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1989 | 1 | 0 | Not available |
| 1992 | 3 | 0 | Not available |
| 1994 | 2 | 1 | Not available |
| 1995 | 5 | 0 | -1 |
| 1996 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 1997 | 12 | 0 | 0 |
| 1998 | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| 1999 | 14 | 0 | 0 |
| 2000 | 11 | 0 | 0 |
| 2001 | 10 | 0 | 0 |
| 2002 | 32 | 0 | 0 |