Illustration1996 PONTIAC TRANS SPORT, MOTOR SEIZED UP AND BEGAN TO SMOKE, MOTOR CAUGHT FIRE. *BF PRIOR TO THE FIRE, THE DRIVER NOTICED THE VEHICLE WAS LEAVING SOME TYPE OF FLUID BEHIND. ACCORDING TO THE POLICE REPORT, THE ENGINE WAS LEAKING OIL. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT # 10-0409-90)*JB UPDATED 08/05/10 *BF
1996 Pontiac Trans Sport
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1996 Pontiac Trans Sport do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 36.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Trans Sport 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: 16 of 61 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.
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 13 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Visibility. Review the 13 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Steering. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
5 crash reports2 fire reports4 injury reports
What owners actually said
61 reports1996 PONTIAC TRANSPORT VAN WITH LEAKING INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKETS. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE INTERNAL MANIFOLD LEAKED FILLING THE OIL PAN UP WITH WATER WHICH IN TURN FROZE THE MAIN BEARINGS TO THE CRANKSHAFT, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO LOCK UP AT 50 MPH. HE SENT IN PREVIOUS LETTER ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM ON ANOTHER VEHICLE. *KB THE CO…
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1996 PONTIAC TRANSPORT VAN WITH LEAKING INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKETS. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE INTERNAL MANIFOLD LEAKED FILLING THE OIL PAN UP WITH WATER WHICH IN TURN FROZE THE MAIN BEARINGS TO THE CRANKSHAFT, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO LOCK UP AT 50 MPH. HE SENT IN PREVIOUS LETTER ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM ON ANOTHER VEHICLE. *KB THE CONSUMER NOTICED A SMELL OF ANTI-FREEZE, BUT COULD NOT LOCATE THE PROBLEM, BECAUSE IT WAS INTERNAL NOT EXTERNAL. *JB
WHILE CLOSING THE SIDE DOOR MY GRANDSON'S THUMB WAS CAUGHT IN IT. HE WAS SCREAMING AND THERE WAS NO EMERGENCY WAY TO STOP THE DOOR FROM CLOSING. THE DOOR HAD TO COMPLETE THE COURSE OF CLOSING BEFORE IT COULD BE OPENED TO GET HIS THUMB OUT. I THANK GOD IT WAS ONLY HIS THUMB!! *TR
COOLANT MIXING INTO ENGINE OIL DUE TO DEFECTIVE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET,WHY IS THERE NO RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM?*JB
DT: THE CONTACT STATED WINTER WEATHER CONDITIONS CORRODED THE CABLE THAT HELD THE SPARE TIRE ON THE VEHICLE. THE CABLE SNAPPED AND RELEASED THE SPARE TIRE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DRIVEWAY. UPON INSPECTION BY THE CONTACT, THE CABLE SIMPLY CORRODED THEN RELEASED THE SPARE TIRE UNDER PRESSURE OF THE WEIGHT OF THE TIRE. *AK UPDATE…
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DT: THE CONTACT STATED WINTER WEATHER CONDITIONS CORRODED THE CABLE THAT HELD THE SPARE TIRE ON THE VEHICLE. THE CABLE SNAPPED AND RELEASED THE SPARE TIRE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DRIVEWAY. UPON INSPECTION BY THE CONTACT, THE CABLE SIMPLY CORRODED THEN RELEASED THE SPARE TIRE UNDER PRESSURE OF THE WEIGHT OF THE TIRE. *AK UPDATED 2/13/2006 - *NM
COMPLAINT #1- WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULDN'T WORK IN THE RAIN. DEFECTIVE CIRCUIT BOARD HAD TO BE REPLACED. COMPLAINT # 2- TILT STEERING COLUMN CAME OFF. THE WHOLE COLUMN HAD TO BE REPLACED. COMPLAINT #3- BLACK PAINT OVER THE CAB FLAKED OFF. *NM
1996 PONTIAC TRANSPORT ACCELERATED TO 85 WHILE SET IN CRUISE CONTROL AT 65 MPH.*MR WHEN THE CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO SLOW THE VEHICLE DOWN TO 65 MPH, IT WOULD ACCELERATE TO 85 MPH ON ITS OWN. *JB
VEHICLE STARTED EATING COOLANT, WITHIN 4 DAYS OF COOLANT LEAK HEAD GASKET HAD COMPLETE FAILURE DUMPING CONTENTS OF RADIATOR INTO OIL PAN. UPON EXAM FOUND THAT DEXTROL COOLANT HAD TURNED CORROSIVE AND EATEN THREW GASKET CAUSING FAILURE. REPLACE ALL TOP END GASKETS AND REBUILD TOP END. PRAY THAT LOWER END WILL BE OK ONCE FLUSHED …
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VEHICLE STARTED EATING COOLANT, WITHIN 4 DAYS OF COOLANT LEAK HEAD GASKET HAD COMPLETE FAILURE DUMPING CONTENTS OF RADIATOR INTO OIL PAN. UPON EXAM FOUND THAT DEXTROL COOLANT HAD TURNED CORROSIVE AND EATEN THREW GASKET CAUSING FAILURE. REPLACE ALL TOP END GASKETS AND REBUILD TOP END. PRAY THAT LOWER END WILL BE OK ONCE FLUSHED COMPLETELY. HAVE KEPT OLD PARTS FOR FURTHER EXAM. *NM
THE OWNER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR THE LOWER PINION BEARING AND POWER STEERING GEAR. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICING AND THE WORK WAS COMPLETED. NOW THE VEHICLE IS PULLING TO THE RIGHT. THIS OCCURRED ONLY AFTER HAVING IT WORKED ON FOR THE ORIGINAL RECALL. NOW THE DEALERSHIP IS TELLING THE CONSUMER THAT THE DEF…
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THE OWNER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR THE LOWER PINION BEARING AND POWER STEERING GEAR. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICING AND THE WORK WAS COMPLETED. NOW THE VEHICLE IS PULLING TO THE RIGHT. THIS OCCURRED ONLY AFTER HAVING IT WORKED ON FOR THE ORIGINAL RECALL. NOW THE DEALERSHIP IS TELLING THE CONSUMER THAT THE DEFECT THAT IS CURRENTLY BEING EXPERIENCED IS NO FAULT OF THE WORK THAT WAS DONE FOR THE RECALL. THE DEALERSHIP IS NOT WILLING TO REPAIR THE CURRENT PROBLEM UNLESS THE OWNER PAYS OUT OF POCKET. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB
WINDSHIELD WIPERS EITHER QUIT OR DO NOT WORK AT TIMES, IF YOU TURN THEM TO HIGH SPEED THEN USE WASHER FLUID THEY MAY CONTINUE TO WORK. THE PROBLEM CAN NOT BE DUPLICATED BY DEALER. ONLY KNOWN REPAIR IS REPLACEMENT OF WIPER MOTOR BY DEALER, "THAT SHOULD FIX IT". DRIVER NEVER KNOWS IF WIPERS WILL WORK WHEN NEEDED. MANY SIMULAR CO…
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WINDSHIELD WIPERS EITHER QUIT OR DO NOT WORK AT TIMES, IF YOU TURN THEM TO HIGH SPEED THEN USE WASHER FLUID THEY MAY CONTINUE TO WORK. THE PROBLEM CAN NOT BE DUPLICATED BY DEALER. ONLY KNOWN REPAIR IS REPLACEMENT OF WIPER MOTOR BY DEALER, "THAT SHOULD FIX IT". DRIVER NEVER KNOWS IF WIPERS WILL WORK WHEN NEEDED. MANY SIMULAR COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN MADE TO YOUR AGENCY! *AK
Official recalls
102V286000 · Steering:rack And Pinion
Nov 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 & remedy
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.
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.