1996 Pontiac TRANS SPORT: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
40 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
95,514 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1996 model year. Data snapshot: . 16 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer is the most frequently named component, appearing in 6 of 40 complaints (15.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 5 | 12.5% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 5.0% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 2.5% |
| Braking behavior | 1 | 2.5% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer | 6 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 4 |
| Steering:Rack And Pinion | 4 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 3 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 3 |
| Unknown Or Other | 3 |
| Electrical System:Horn | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System | 2 |
Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer: 6; Engine And Engine Cooling: 4; Steering:Rack And Pinion: 4; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 3; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 3; Unknown Or Other: 3; Electrical System:Horn: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System: 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 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 3 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 7 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 4 |
| 150,000 and above | 2 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 3; 75,000 to 99,999: 7; 100,000 to 149,999: 4; 150,000 and above: 2
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (7). 24 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 |
|---|---|
| 1996 | 2 |
| 2000 | 8 |
| 2001 | 2 |
| 2002 | 1 |
| 2003 | 14 |
| 2004 | 6 |
| 2005 | 2 |
| 2006 | 2 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2010 | 1 |
1996: 2; 2000: 8; 2001: 2; 2002: 1; 2003: 14; 2004: 6; 2005: 2; 2006: 2; 2007: 1; 2008: 1; 2010: 1
Pattern summary
Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 5 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues 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 10006281 · 2003-02-04 (February 4, 2003)
VEHICLE CAN NOT BE DRIVEN AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS DO TO THE VEHICLE VIBRATING SO HARD. TOOK TO MECHANIC, AND THEY STATED THE DRIVESHAFT NEEDS REPLACING. PH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10006281 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10007770 · 2003-02-18 (February 18, 2003)
DEFECTIVE PRODUCT. DEFECTIVE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKETS ON 1996 PONTIAC 3.4 LITER ENGINE 79,000 MILES. GASKET LEAKS ENGINE COOLANT INTERNALLY AND EXTERNALLY. COOLANT CAN MIX WITH ENGINE OIL, CONTAMINATING OIL, CAUSING ENGINE FAILURE WHILE OPERATING VEHILCLE. COOLANT CAN LEAK FROM ENGINE, CAUSING ENGINE TO OVERHEAT AND SEIZE.
Owner-reported narrative. 78,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10007770 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10011649 · 2003-04-04 (April 4, 2003)
THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO EXPERIENCE PROBLEMS WITH THE STEERING AFTER THE RECALL WAS PERFORMED ON THE RACK AND PINION, HOWEVER PRIOR TO THE RECALL THE OUTER TIE RODS WERE REPLACED, BUT THAT DID NOT RESOLVE THE STEERING PROBLEMS, ALSO THE FRONT ROTORS WERE RESURFACED. *TS *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 95,028 miles reported. Look up ODI 10011649 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10014505 · 2003-04-17 (April 17, 2003)
FAULTY INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET ON 1996 PONTIAC TRANSPORT. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 115,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10014505 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10015364 · 2003-04-07 (April 7, 2003)
THE VEHICLES SLIDING DOOR DIDN'T CLOSE PROPERLY WHICH CAUSED THE INDICATOR LIGHT ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL TO ILLUMINATE INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10015364 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10015866 · 2003-04-23 (April 23, 2003)
THE CONSUMER WAS CHARGED FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE STEERING RACK AND PINION, EVEN THOUGH A RECALLED WAS ISSUED. THE LOWER PINION BEARING, TIE ROD ENDS AND PRESSURE HOSES WERE REPLACED. MR *TS *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 58,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10015866 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10017635 · 2003-04-28 (April 28, 2003)
THE RACK AND PINION FAILED, PRIOR TO THE RECALL BEING PERFORMED. RECALL # 02 V 286 000. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 90,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10017635 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10019273 · 2003-05-25 (May 25, 2003)
COOLANT IN OIL DUE TO MANIFOLD INTAKE GASKET..HAD GASKET REPLACED AND IS BACK IN THE SHOP AGAIN FOR SAME PROBLEM. IN BETWEEN THESE TWO TOWINGS, I HAD TO HAVE THE VALVE SPRING REPLACED BECAUSE IT BROKE. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 96,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10019273 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
02V286000 · Steering:Rack And Pinion
Reported: 2002-11-04 (November 4, 2002)
CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES AND MINI VANS HAVE LOWER PINION BEARINGS IN THE POWER RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLY IN WHICH THE RETAINER TABS WERE NOT CRIMPED PROPERLY. THESE AND SOME OTHER RETAINERS USED IN VEHICLES ASSEMBLED BETWEEN JANUARY 1, 1996 AND OCTOBER 31, 1997, COULD FAIL AND PERMIT THE BALL BEARINGS TO ESCAPE.
Consequence: IF THIS OCCURS, THE PINION SHAFT CAN BE FORCED UPWARD DURING LEFT TURNS AND BACK DOWN AS THE STEERING WHEEL IS MOVED BACK AND TO THE RIGHT. IF THE PINION SHAFT MOVES FURTHER, THE DRIVER WILL NEED TO EXERT MORE EFFORT TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL, SIMILAR TO A VEHICLE WITHOUT POWER ASSISTED STEERING. IF THE PINION SHAFT MOVES EVEN FURTHER, THE DRIVER WILL REQUIRE MUCH HIGHER EFFORT TO TURN LEFT AND MAY NOT BE ABLE TO TURN THE WHEEL AS MUCH AS INTENDED. WITH THE MAXIMUM PINION SHAFT MOVEMENT, WHICH REQUIRES INTERNAL GEAR COMPONENT DAMAGE, THE DRIVER CAN ENCOUNTER HIGH RESISTANCE TO TURNING LEFT, FOLLOWED BY UNINTENDED POWER ASSIST TO THE RIGHT. IN ANY OF THESE CONDITIONS, A CRASH COULD OCCUR.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW LOWER PINION BEARING UNLESS INSPECT OF THE EXISTING BEARING INDICATES THAT REPLACEMENT OF THE GEAR ASSEMBLY IS NECESSARY. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JANUARY 24, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-222-1020, PONTIAC AT 1-800-762-2737, OR OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-442-6537.
NHTSA campaign record ↗