2002 Pontiac TRANS AM: complaints, problems and recalls
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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10015360 · 2003-04-07 (April 7, 2003)
THE SEAT BELT FAILED TO RETRACT, AND AS A RESULT THE CONSUMER WAS NOT HELD SECURELY IN THE SEAT. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND COULD NOT DUPLICATE OR CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10015360 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10021492 · 2003-06-12 (June 12, 2003)
I HAVE A KNOCK IN MY ENGINE APPEARING TO BE COMING FROM THE NUMBER 1 PISTON AND CYLINDER AREA. ONE DEALER CALLS IT PISTON SLAP, WHICH I HAVE READ UP ON AND IT SAYS THAT IT GOES AWAY AFTER IT WARMS UP, MY KNOCK CAN BE HEARD AT ALL TIMES OF ENGINE OPERATION. GM SAYS THERE ARE TEFLON COATED PISTONS AVAILABLE ONLY FOR THE CORVETTE LS1 ENGINE AND NOT MY TRANS AM LS1 ENGINE. I HAVE DEALT WITH ONE DEALER IN OAK HARBOR WA THAT IS BOTH A CHEVY AND PONTIAC SERVICE CENTER. I REFUSE TO USE THIS DEALER EVER AGAIN BECAUSE THEY TRY TO PAWN IT OFF AS PISTO…
Owner-reported narrative. 8,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10021492 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10026049 · 2003-07-14 (July 14, 2003)
FOUR TIMES THIS MORNING, MY THROTTLE WENT WIDE OPEN MID-SHIFT. WHEN I PRESSED THE CLUTCH, THE CAR REDLINED, AND WOULD NOT COME DOWN. I HAD TO TURN OFF THE CAR AND COAST TO A SAFE LOCATION EACH TIME. TWICE, ON RESTART, THE CAR REDLINED. THERE WAS NOTHING INTERFERING WITH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, CRUISE CONTROL WAS OFF, AND UPON OPENING THE HOOD AFTER THE FOURTH TIME, THE THROTTLE BODY WAS CLOSED.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 16,095 miles reported. Look up ODI 10026049 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10030341 · 2003-07-29 (July 29, 2003)
CLUTCH PEDAL RETURN SPRING SNAPPED, VERY LOOSE CLUTCH PEDAL.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 18,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10030341 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10031816 · 2003-08-01 (August 1, 2003)
CONSUMER STATES WHEN ACCELERATING ENGINE LOOSES POWER. CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK WHEN CONSUMER ATTEMPTS TO PASS A VEHICLE, THE RPM GOES DOWN. THE ENGINE WOULD DIE DOWN TO 50 MPH FORCING THE CONSUMER TO PULL BEHIND THE VEHICLE HE TRIED TO PASS. SINCE DEALER COULDN'T DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM, VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE REPAIRED. *PH
Owner-reported narrative. 3,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10031816 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10033513 · 2003-08-26 (August 26, 2003)
ENGINE KNOCK; PISTON SLAP. CONTINUOUS TAPPING SOUND FROM THE ENGINE THROUGHOUT THE TEMP RANGE. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10033513 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10044597 · 2003-10-20 (October 20, 2003)
DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW LEAKS. *MR *SCC *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10044597 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10046436 · 2003-11-06 (November 6, 2003)
THE TIRES ARE THE WRONG SIZE FOR THIS VEHICLE ACCORDING TO THE OWNER'S MANUAL. THE CONSUMER HAS FALKEN 225/50R/16 M+S TUBELESS TIRES, WHEN THE OWNER'S MANUAL STATES THAT THE TIRE SIZE SHOULD BE 245/50/16. THE CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10046436 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.