IllustrationTIE ROD BROKE CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL RESULTING IN ACCIDENT.
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 reportsWHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH, THE DEFECTIVE BRAKING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING THE BRAKING PEDAL TO GO TO THE FLOOR AND EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE WHICH CAUSED AN ACCIDENT 2 TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED PRIOR TO THE FIRST ACCIDENT. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE PROBLEM. *AK
HORN BUTTON IS LOCATED UNDER THE COVER OF THE STEERING WHEEL AIR BAG. THE BUTTON IS DIFFICULT TO LOCATE AND REQUIRES FIRM PRESSURE AT A PRECISE LOCATION TO BLOW THE HORN. IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY WHEN THE HORN IS NEEDED, THE DRIVER MAY NOT BE ABLE TO LOCATE IT. *AK
TRANSMISSION SLIPPED FROM OVERDRIVE INTO NEUTRAL WHILE VEHICLE WAS ACCELERATING AT 55 MP TO ENTER A HIGHWAY. *AK
VEHICLE SHIFTED INTO GEAR WHILE IGNITION WAS OFF AND FOOT WAS NOT ON THE BRAKE. *AK
NO DEPLOYMENT OF DRIVER'S AIRBAG DURING ACCIDENT.
TRANSMISSION FAILED
WHEN APPLYING THE ABS BRAKES IN WET WEATHER, THE REAR BRAKES LOCK UP. *AK
AUTOMATIC SLIDING DOOR LEAKS, WHEN CLOSING THE DOOR IT DOES NOT CLICK OVER. TOOK DEALER AND THEY SAY IT IS A NORMAL CONDITION. *AK
WHILE DRIVING, NOTICED ENGINE SURGING, THEN HEARD PUFF SOUND, SUDDENLY SMOKE CAME OUT OF ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE.*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.