1997 Pontiac TRANS AM: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
12 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
Not available median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1997 model year. Data snapshot: . 0 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood is the most frequently named component, appearing in 2 of 12 complaints (16.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 2 | 16.7% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 8.3% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood | 2 |
| Exterior Lighting:Headlights | 2 |
| Air Bags | 1 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 1 |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Fuses And Circuit Breakers | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 1 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Carburetor System | 1 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 1 |
Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood: 2; Exterior Lighting:Headlights: 2; Air Bags: 1; Air Bags:Frontal: 1; Electrical System:Wiring:Fuses And Circuit Breakers: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 1; Fuel System, Gasoline:Carburetor System: 1; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 1
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 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
No usable failure mileage is recorded. 12 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 | 8 |
| 2001 | 2 |
| 2002 | 2 |
2000: 8; 2001: 2; 2002: 2
Pattern summary
Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 2 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 552995 · 2000-07-12 (July 12, 2000)
WHILE TRAVELING AT 55 MPH, A ROCK HIT PASSENGER SIDE "T" TOP TEMPERED GLASS SHATTERING IT TO PIECES WHICH SPREAD THROUGOUT THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. YH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 552995 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 724054 · 2000-06-15 (June 15, 2000)
THE GLASS IN THE "T" TOP PASSENGER SIDE WHEN STRUCK BY A PROJECTILE FROM A TRUCK EXPLODED INTO PIECES CARRIED BY THE WIND BLAST THROUGHTOUT THE VEHICLE. I THOUGHT STANDARD NO. 205 INDICATES ALL GLASS IN THE DRIVERS FACE MUST BE A TYPE OF SAFETY TYPE THAT DOES NOT ALLOW THE BROKEN GLASS TO FLY ABOUT THE VEHICLE.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 724054 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 724225 · 2000-06-19 (June 19, 2000)
WHEN CAR GETS WET, THE SES LIGHT APPEARS, ENGINE VIBRATES. DEALER SERVICED (5) DIFFERENT TIMES COULD NOT FIND PROBLEM. INCONVENIENT TO KEEP MAKING SO MANY TRIPS WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 724225 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 724227 · 2000-06-19 (June 19, 2000)
INTAKE MANIFOLD LEAKS OIL, ETC... AT 39,000 MILES. THE OIL IS CHANGED EVERY 3,000 MILES. WELL TAKEN CARE OF. SHOULD NOT HAVE OIL LEAKS. DEALER STATED NOT RESPONSIBLE 3,000 MILES OUT OF WARRANTY. NOT ACCEPTABLE TO ME.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 724227 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 731593 · 2000-09-15 (September 15, 2000)
I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 35 MPH , I WENT TO PASS A CAR TRANSMISSION DROPPED DOWN TO A LOWER GEAR ,AS THAT HAPPENED MY BODY WEIGHT PUSHED BACK IN THE SEAT , THE HEAD REST THEN SUDDENLY RELEASED WHICH ALLOWED MY HEAD TO FLING BACK.THERE WAS CONSIDERABLE PAIN IN MY NECK THEREAFTER.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 731593 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 735754 · 2000-11-05 (November 5, 2000)
THE SEALED-BEAM HEADLIGHTS SUPPLIED BY THE PONTIAC FIREBIRD TRANS AM MODEL DOES NOT LIGHT THE ROADWAY SUFFICIENTLY. THIS HAS ENDANGERED MYSELF AND OTHERS IN MY CAR SEVERAL TIMES AND REQUIRES EYE STRAIN AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. NO RECALL OR TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN HAS BEEN ISSUED TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM, NOR HAS GMC RETURNED LETTERS OR E-MAIL SENT IN CONCERNS TO THIS PROBLEM. USING THE HIGH-BEAMS ON THE HIGHWAY (WHEN CLEAR ENOUGH TO DO SO), BARELY SUPPLIES LIGHTING EXPECTED BY THE LOW-BEAMS. LOW-BEAMS ARE VIRTUALLY USELESS TO THE DRIVER AND SER…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 735754 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 735843 · 2000-11-06 (November 6, 2000)
HIGH BEAMS SHINE LIKE LOW BEAMS SHOULD. LOW BEAMS ARE TO DIM THAT THEY DONT ILLUMINATE THE ROAS ENOUGH. FORCING ME TO ALWAYS USE MY HIGH BEAMS. THIS IS DANGEROUS AND SHOULD NOT HAVE TO HAPPEN.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 735843 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 751324 · 2001-08-29 (August 29, 2001)
WHEN THE CAR GET WET IT WILL MISFIRE AND GO DEAD, BEEN IN SHOP 69 TIMES SAME PROBLEM, THE CAR WILL LOOSE ALL POWER, SUNRISE PONTIAC WOLFCHASE SAYS THEY REFUSED TO WORK ON IT BECAUSE THEY DONT KNOW WHY IT HAPPENING, THE CAR IS PRESENTLY AT SUNRISE COVINGTON PIKE. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 751324 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.