IllustrationI WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT 65 MILES PER HOUR WHEN MY TIRE STARTED GOING FLAT. AFTER TAKING IT OFF, THE CORDS ON THE INNER SIDE OF THE TIRE WERE SHOWING. THESE TIRES WERE ONLY ABOUT A YEAR OLD.( DOT NUMBER: )
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 reportsA HEADLIGHT SWITCH FAILED CAUSING EXCESSIVE HEAT WITHIN THE WIRING HARNESS. THIS FAILURE CREATED SUCH HEAT THAT MANY OF THE WIRES WITHIN THE WIRING HARNESS ACTUALLY MELTED. THUS CAUSING SEVERAL OF THE VEHICLES ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS TO FAIL, INCLUDING THE TAILLIGHTS. THIS VEHICLE HAS A LONG HISTORY OF ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS INCLUDIN…
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A HEADLIGHT SWITCH FAILED CAUSING EXCESSIVE HEAT WITHIN THE WIRING HARNESS. THIS FAILURE CREATED SUCH HEAT THAT MANY OF THE WIRES WITHIN THE WIRING HARNESS ACTUALLY MELTED. THUS CAUSING SEVERAL OF THE VEHICLES ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS TO FAIL, INCLUDING THE TAILLIGHTS. THIS VEHICLE HAS A LONG HISTORY OF ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS INCLUDING WINDSHIELD WIPER FAILURE DURING HEAVY RAINS. THE ELECTRICAL SIDE DOOR HAS BEEN REPAIRED AT LEAST 5 TIMES.
TURN INDICATOR (IN HALF)BROKE WHILE SIGNALLING FOR A RIGHT HAND TURN WHERE THE HANDLE JUTS AT AN ANGLE IN THE MIDDLE; CAN NO LONGER GET THE HIGH BEAMS TO TURN ON;THE WIRE FOR THE CRUISE CONTROL HANGS/ CAN'T GET THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS TO TURN OFF-IT TAKES SEVERAL TRIES-THEY MIGHT TURN OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WINDSHIELD/ THW WINDO…
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TURN INDICATOR (IN HALF)BROKE WHILE SIGNALLING FOR A RIGHT HAND TURN WHERE THE HANDLE JUTS AT AN ANGLE IN THE MIDDLE; CAN NO LONGER GET THE HIGH BEAMS TO TURN ON;THE WIRE FOR THE CRUISE CONTROL HANGS/ CAN'T GET THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS TO TURN OFF-IT TAKES SEVERAL TRIES-THEY MIGHT TURN OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WINDSHIELD/ THW WINDOW HAS BECOME STUCK WHILE CLOSING--I TRY NOT TO OPEN IT, BUT SOMETIMES A KID DOES--YOU WAIT A LITTLE BIT AND IT INCHES UP SOME MORE UNTIL IT HAS CLOSED.
WHILE IN A DRIVE THROUGH LINE AND IN "DRIVE" POSITION, VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO REV UP AND HIT VEHICLE IN FRONT. DRIVER TURNED WHEEL TO KEEP FROM THE HITTING THE VEHICLE IN FRONT. BUT VEHICLE STILL ACCELERATED. DRIVER HAD TO PLACE VEHICLE IN THE "PARK" POSITION, AND VEHICLE STOPPED. LATER T…
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WHILE IN A DRIVE THROUGH LINE AND IN "DRIVE" POSITION, VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO REV UP AND HIT VEHICLE IN FRONT. DRIVER TURNED WHEEL TO KEEP FROM THE HITTING THE VEHICLE IN FRONT. BUT VEHICLE STILL ACCELERATED. DRIVER HAD TO PLACE VEHICLE IN THE "PARK" POSITION, AND VEHICLE STOPPED. LATER THAT NIGHT, OWNER DROVE VEHICLE TO A DEALERSHIP. BUT DID NOT EXPERIENCE THE PROBLEM AT THAT TIME. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
IF CONSTANT CARE (AND COST) IS NOT PAID TO THE REAR BRAKE ADJUSTERS, THE FRONT CALIPERS APPLY GREATER PRESSURE TO THE FRONT ROTORS, CAUSING WARPING!!!*AK
NO SUMMARY LIKSTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK
WINDSHIELD WIPERS EITHER WON'T WORK OR QUIT WITHOUT WARNING. EASIEST SOLUTION IS TO APPLY RAIN-X TO WINDSHIELD. UNABLE TO DEPEND ON WINDSHIELD WIPERS. *AK
HORN IS DIFFICULT TO LOCATE IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION DUE TO THE AIR BAG. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
WHENEVER THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ARE USED DURING RAIN, THEY WOULD CUT OFF. WOULD CAUSE THE DRIVER TO HAVE HAZARDOUS DRIVING & POOR VISIBILITY. HAS HAPPENED TWICE SO FAR. HAD TAKEN TO DEALER & MECHANIC COULD NOT LOCATE CAUSE OF PROBLEM. *AK
INTERMITTENTLY THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS BECOME INOPERABLE ,CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY. A RECALL HAS BEEN ISUED ON VARIOUS MAKES AND MODELS, HOWEVER THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED. *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.