1997 Pontiac TRANS SPORT problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
180 owner complaints analyzed
5 distinct recall campaigns
86,507 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1997 model year. Data snapshot: . 58 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Exterior Lighting:Headlights is the most frequently named component, appearing in 24 of 180 complaints (13.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 35 | 19.4% |
| Braking behavior | 13 | 7.2% |
| Transmission and shifting | 11 | 6.1% |
| Engine operation | 5 | 2.8% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 5 | 2.8% |
| Fuel system concerns | 3 | 1.7% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Exterior Lighting:Headlights | 24 |
| Structure:Body:Door | 21 |
| Steering:Rack And Pinion | 16 |
| Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch | 12 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 11 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System | 9 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 9 |
| Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls | 9 |
Exterior Lighting:Headlights: 24; Structure:Body:Door: 21; Steering:Rack And Pinion: 16; Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch: 12; Engine And Engine Cooling: 11; Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System: 9; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 9; Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls: 9
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 4 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 18 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 19 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 14 |
| 150,000 and above | 3 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 4; 50,000 to 74,999: 18; 75,000 to 99,999: 19; 100,000 to 149,999: 14; 150,000 and above: 3
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (19). 122 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 | 25 |
| 2001 | 32 |
| 2002 | 30 |
| 2003 | 35 |
| 2004 | 26 |
| 2005 | 16 |
| 2006 | 4 |
| 2007 | 5 |
| 2008 | 4 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2021 | 1 |
2000: 25; 2001: 32; 2002: 30; 2003: 35; 2004: 26; 2005: 16; 2006: 4; 2007: 5; 2008: 4; 2011: 1; 2012: 1; 2021: 1
Pattern summary
Exterior Lighting:Headlights leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 35 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 13 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 11 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 10000858 · 2003-01-09 (January 9, 2003)
DAY BEFORE I WAS GOING TO HAVE MY 97 PONTIAC TRANSPORT REPAIRED FOR A LEAKING INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET I WAS COMING HOME AND THE VAN SHUT DOWN ON ME, LEAVING ME WITH POOR STEERING AND HARDLEY NO BRAKES. AFTER LEAVING IT SIT FOR ABOUT A HOUR IT RESTARTED. I DID SOME CHECKING ON THE INTERNET AND READ ABOUT THE SAME THING HAPPENIG TO OTHER PEOPLE WITH LEAKING MANIFOLD GASKETS.I CALLED GM ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND THEY SAID THEY NEVER HEARD OF ANY PROBLEMS LIKE THIS. THE OLDSMOBILE GARAGE THAT TOLD ME WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS SAID THIS HAPPENS ALL THE TIME, …
Owner-reported narrative. 57,841 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000858 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10006865 · 2003-02-10 (February 10, 2003)
NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE REGARDING THE RECALL FOR THE STEERING RACK AND PINION.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10006865 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10054118 · 2004-01-15 (January 15, 2004)
THE BRAKE LOCKED UP AND THE PEDAL BECAME HARD TO PRESS TO DECELERATE THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER ALSO HEARD A LOUD CLICKING NOISE COMING FROM THE BRAKES. THE DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 51,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10054118 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10014389 · 2003-04-14 (April 14, 2003)
1997 PONTIAC TRANSPORT TRANSMISSION FAILURE UNDER 70,000 MILES $2,500.00 REPAIR FAULTY INTAKE VALVE GASKET UNDER 70,000 $650.00 REPAIR. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 65,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10014389 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10070158 · 2004-01-15 (January 15, 2004)
OUR 97 PONTIAC TRANSPORT WAS FINE UNTIL LAST YEAR. NEW TRANSMISSION (70,000 MILES, O.K.) THEN A FEW MONTHS LATER IT BEGAN OVERHEATING--NEW THERMOSTAT, WHICH WORKED FOR A FEW WEEKS, THEN NEW RADIATOR, WHICH WORKED FOR A FEW WEEKS, THEN, WHEN THE MECHANIC SAID IT PROBABLY NEEDED A HEAD GASKET ($2000 OR MORE) WE DECIDED TO GET RID OF IT. BUT WE WERE NOT EVEN ABLE TO USE IT AS A TRADE IN, BECAUSE IT OVERHEATED SO BADLY. THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM HAD ALWAYS BEEN QUIRKY, BUT LIVABLE (I.E. THE GAS GAUGE HAD NEVER WORKED, THE WINDOWS WERE VERY SLOW AND …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10070158 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10012129 · 2003-03-19 (March 19, 2003)
THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A COOLANT LEAK, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STALL. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10012129 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10016501 · 2003-04-25 (April 25, 2003)
MY 1997 PONTIAC TRANSPORT ONLY HAS 54000 MILES ON IT AND THE ENGINE INTAKE MANIFOLD HAS GONE UP ON IT. AFTER LOOKING INTO IT I HAVE FOUND THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH GM CARS AND TRUCKS WITH A 3.4L ENGINE. THERE SEEMS TO BE A FAULTY DESIGN TO THE GASKET. I HAVE TAKEN CARE OF THIS VAN DOING ALL MAINTENANCE ON SCHEDULE. GM WILL DO NOTHING TO FIX THIS PROBLEM EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE WELL AWARE OF THIS HAPPENING. THEY HAVE EVEN ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN TO DEALERS ON HOW TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM QUICKLY (TSB#02-06-01-014). WHEN THE GASKET GOES THERE I…
Owner-reported narrative. 54,902 miles reported. Look up ODI 10016501 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10105638 · 2005-01-03 (January 3, 2005)
VEHICLE HAS THE LOAD LEVELLING SUSPENSION WITH AIR COMPRESSOR. THE COMPRESSOR GOES ON INTERMITTENTLY TO RELEVEL THE SUSPENSION DUE TO LEAK IN LOAD LEVELLING SUSPENSION HOSE. THIS KILLS THE BATTERY. HOSE HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE OVER 7 YEARS. PROBLEM HAS RE-OCCURRED ABOUT EVERY 2 YEARS.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 115,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10105638 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10021322 · 2003-06-10 (June 10, 2003)
FUEL PUMP STOPPED RUNNING, CAUSING ENGINE TO QUIT. HAPPENED THREE TIMES. FOUND CONNECTOR CONTACTS AT BOTH ENDS OF FUEL SENDER HARNESS SEVERELY CORRODED. CONTACTS IN FUEL TANK END OF HARNESS FELL OUT WHEN UNPLUGGED. DEALER HAS HAD OTHER CUSTOMERS WITH SAME PROBLEM. HARNESS IS ON BACKORDER.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 37,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10021322 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10070686 · 2004-01-15 (January 15, 2004)
AT 51000 MILES THE 3.4L ENGINE HAD LOWER INTAKE GASKET FAILURE IN WHICH THE DEX-COOL ANTI FREEZE DUMPED INTO THE CRANKCASE MIXING WITH THE OIL. THIS ONLY HAD ONE WARNING A COUPLE MONTHS EARLIER AS THE LOW COOLANT LIGHT CAME ON AND I ADDED 1/2 GALLON DEX-COOL WITH NO SIGNS OF LEAKAGE. NEXT TIME IT HAPPENED WAS WHEN MY WIFE WAS TAKING DAUGHTER TO SCHOOL AND TEMP. LIGHT CAME ON. VAN WAS NOT DRIVEN OVER 2 MILES TO DEALER, AS LIGHT WENT OUT. DEALER SAID EXTREME MIXTURE IN BOTH CRANKCASE AND RADIATOR. RECOMMENDED REPLACE RADIATOR, WATERPUMP, INTAKE…
Owner-reported narrative. 39,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10070686 at NHTSA ↗