IllustrationSTEERING COLUMN, THE TWO PINS THAT HOLD THE STEERING WHEEL TOGETHER AT THE HINGED PART SO THE ADJUSTABLE WHEEL CAN UP AND DOWN, WORK THEIR WAY OUT AND CAUSE THE STEERING TO BECOME VERY DANGEROUS. *JB
1998 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 11 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.
- Power Train. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
1 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports
What owners actually said
11 reportsWHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WITH NO WARNING VEHICLE WILL JERK, AND THEN ENGINE LIGHT WILL COME ON AND WILL STAY ON THE REMAINDER OF TIME THAT VEHICLE IS BEING OPERATED. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK
WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE, VEHICLE WENT INTO A SPIN, STEERING WHEEL DID NOT RESPOND. VEHICLE HIT A BARRIER. NO INJURIES, VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.*AK
CONSUMER STARTED SMELLING GAS FORM THE OUTSIDE OF CAR. CONSUMER MENTIONED TO DEALER WHEN IT WAS TAKEN IN FOR WARRANTY WORK, DEALER DID NOT CHECK IT AT THAT TIME. CONSUMER INSPECTED VEHICLE AND FOUND RETURN VAPOR LINE HAD POPPED COMPLETELY OFF. CONSUMER SNAPPED IT BACK TOGETHER AND SO FAR IS NOT HAVING ANY PROBLEM. ONCE IT WA…
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CONSUMER STARTED SMELLING GAS FORM THE OUTSIDE OF CAR. CONSUMER MENTIONED TO DEALER WHEN IT WAS TAKEN IN FOR WARRANTY WORK, DEALER DID NOT CHECK IT AT THAT TIME. CONSUMER INSPECTED VEHICLE AND FOUND RETURN VAPOR LINE HAD POPPED COMPLETELY OFF. CONSUMER SNAPPED IT BACK TOGETHER AND SO FAR IS NOT HAVING ANY PROBLEM. ONCE IT WAS TAKEN BACK TO SHOW DEALER WHERE PROBLEM WAS, SERVICE TECHNICIAN STATED IT MUST BE OKAY NOW. *AK *SLC
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK
I DON'T FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS CAR. THEY REFUSED TO GIVE ME A NEW CAR IN THE BEGINNING WHEN THEY HAD TO WELD THE PILLAR POST TO THE FRAME. MY CAR HAS OVERHEATED MANY TIMES UNTIL THEY FOUND THE BROKE RADIATOR. THE TRANSMISSION HAS GONE OUT AND WAS JUST FIXED AND THE CAR NOW HAS A FIREWALL RATTLE. THE BRAKES ROTORS WERE WARPED. TH…
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I DON'T FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS CAR. THEY REFUSED TO GIVE ME A NEW CAR IN THE BEGINNING WHEN THEY HAD TO WELD THE PILLAR POST TO THE FRAME. MY CAR HAS OVERHEATED MANY TIMES UNTIL THEY FOUND THE BROKE RADIATOR. THE TRANSMISSION HAS GONE OUT AND WAS JUST FIXED AND THE CAR NOW HAS A FIREWALL RATTLE. THE BRAKES ROTORS WERE WARPED. THEY WOULD NOT STAND BEHIND THEM. IT WOULD BE MY COST TO REAPIR THEM. THEY ARE STILL WARPED. THIS CAR HAD TO HAVE A NEW WINDSHIELD PUT IN ALSO. 4 RADIO, TWO REAR SPEAKERS, BELT TENSION PULLEY,OIL LEVEL SENSOR, U JOINTS,ALTERNATOR, RADIATOR CAP,LUMBAR SUPPORT REPAIRED 5 TIMES. THIS CAR HAS OTHER PROBLEMS ALSO. IT IS IN THE SHOP MORE THAN I HAVE IT. I AM DISABLED AND BOUGHT THE CAR TO HAVE A NICE LOOKING DEPENDABLE CAR. I BOUGHT A JUNK THAT HAD A STICKER PRICE OF 28-29,000. THANK YOU FOR YOU HELP. CHRIS GALLAGHER 770 719-9754
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK
WHILE DRIVING AT 15MPH VEHICLE SUDDENLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY ACCELERATED . THE DEALER WAS NOT ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM, HOWEVER THEY REPLACED THE COMPUTER. *AK
TICKING NOISE FROM ENGINE, DIFFERNTIAL LEAKING GEAR OIL, SES LIGHT COMES ON FOR NO REASON, ROTORS WARPED, DRIVESHAFT POPS WHEN SLOWING DOWN OR CHANGING GEARS.
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.