IllustrationTHE CONSUMER WAS PULLING INSIDE OF THE PARKING LOT AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING BOTH AIRBAGS DEPLOY. THE DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. TS
1997 Pontiac Trans Am
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Trans Am years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 0 of 12 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Electrical System. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Air Bags. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Exterior Lighting. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
0 crash reports1 fire reports1 injury reports
What owners actually said
12 reportsTHE LEAD CONTACT POINTS FOR THE BRAKE LIGHTS ARE MELTING AFTER APPROXIMATELY TWO WEEKS OF USE. THE ACTUAL FILMENTS ARE STILL INTACT AND THE FUSE DOES NOT BLOW. THE TAIL FIN BRAKE LIGHT STILL WORKS BUT THE ACTUAL BRAKE LIGHTS DO NOT WORK AFTER THE LEAD CONTACT POINTS MELT.*AK
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE WHILE DRIVING, TOTALLED VEHICLE. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD, HE PULLED OVER OPENED THE HOOD AND THE ENGINE WAS ON FIRE.*SLC
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
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
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 LETTE…
Read full complaint
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 SERVE ONLY TO SHOW APPROACHING CARS I AM ON THE ROAD.*AK
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
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
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.
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.
Official recalls
0No recalls in this snapshot.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.