Model year record
1999 Pontiac Trans Am recalls & problems
The 1999 Pontiac Trans Am has no safety recalls on file with NHTSA, and 16 owner complaints. The most-reported problem area is structure (5 complaints).
Safety recalls
No safety recalls have been filed for the 1999 Pontiac Trans Am.
Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.
What owners report
| Problem area | Complaints | Typical mileage* |
|---|---|---|
| StructureBody › Door; Body | 5 | — |
| Power trainDriveline › Differential unit; Automatic transmission | 4 | — |
| Service brakes, hydraulicFoundation components › Disc › Rotor; Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip | 3 | — |
| SuspensionRear | 3 | — |
| Engine and engine coolingEngine › Gasoline; Engine | 2 | — |
| SteeringLinkages › Tie rod assembly | 2 | — |
| Unknown or other | 1 | — |
| Seat beltsFront › Retractor | 1 | — |
| SeatsFront assembly › Recliner | 1 | — |
| Electrical system | 1 | — |
*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.
Recent owner complaints
- Suspension
BOTH OF MY SUN VISORS HAVE FALLEN OUT WITHOUT THE ABILITY TO PUT BACK IN PLACE. THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL TIMES I HAVE NEEDED THESE VISORS TO DRIVE SAFELY WHEN THE SUN IS COMING UP OR GOING DOWN. I FEEL THIS COULD LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT IN THE FUTURE. *TR
- Power train › Automatic transmission
WHILE DRIVING AT NORMAL HIGHWAY SPEEDS AFTER VEHICLE IS WARMED TO NORMAL OPERATING TEMPERATURE, THE VEHICLE LOSES POWER UNEXPECTEDLY. MOTOR REVS DURING EVENT, ALMOST AS IF CAR IS BEEN SUDDENLY SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL. NO ENGINE LIGHTS COME ON, VEHICLE SIMPLY LOSES FORWARD MOMENTUM. TRANSMISSION GUY SAYS EVERYTHING IS FINE, FOUND NOTHING WRONG. *TR
- Engine and engine cooling › Engine
TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER TO HAVE OIL CHANGE. WAS TOLD THAT THEY FOUND NEEDLE BEARINGS IN OIL PAN. CAR CANNOT BE DRIVEN BECAUSE NEEDLES MAY ENTER THE ENGINE AND CAUSE ENGINE TO SEIZE UP OR COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE. THEY HAD TO REPLACE 16 ROCKER ARMS, DRAIN MAGNET,R AND R OIL PAN TO CLEAN,CHANGE OIL AND FILTER. I BELIEVE THESE ROCKER ARMS FAILURE IS DUE TO A DEFECT IN THE VEHICLE AS MY CAR ONLY HAS 16480 MILES AND IS STORED FROM OCT. THROUGH MAY. CAR IS ONE OWNER,ME AND HAS BEEN TAKEN FOR OIL CHANGES BEFORE DRIVING IN SUMMER AND AGAIN BEFORE STORING FOR WINTER. THIS IS THE 30TH ANNIVERSARY NUMBERED EDITION CAR AND MEANS A LOT TO ME SO I TAKE EXTREME CARE OF THE CAR. *NM
- Power train › Driveline › Differential unit
I BOUGHT MY 1999 PONTIAC TRANS AM BRAND NEW, 8/23/99. IT NOW HAS 31,310 MILES AND BOTH MY DOOR PANELS HAVE CRACKS, ABOUT 1/4 WAY BACK. ALSO, I HAD A GROWLING NOISE IN MY REAR BEARINGS AND I HAD TO HAVE A NEW PINION BEARINGS, CARRIER BEARINGS, RING AND PINION GEAR SET INSTALLED. I WAS TOLD BY THE TECHNICIAN WHERE I TOOK IT TO BE FIXED IT LOOKED LIKE IT HAD BEEN DRIVEN HARD. MY CAR HAS BEEN DRIVEN APPROX. 10 MILES A DAY EVERYDAY SINCE I GOT IT AND HAS BEEN ONLY ONCE, TO LOUISVILLE, ABOUT 100 MILES AWAY. IT HAS BEEN IN THE GARAGE EVERY NIGHT SINCE I'VE HAD IT. *JB
- Structure › Body › Door
THERE ARE CRACKS DEVELOPING IN THE DOOR PANELS OF MY 1999 TRANS AM. THE CRACKS ARE IN THE SAME LOCATION ON EACH DOOR PANEL. (TOP OF PANEL AT EDGE, BACK 1/3 OF PANEL.) THIS PROBLEM IS EXTREMELY COMMON AMONG TRANS AM OWNERS WITH 1998-2002 MODELS. *AK
- Power train › Driveline › Differential unit
REAR DIFFERENTIAL WHINING UNBEARABLY LOUD. TOOK TO LOCAL GM DEALER TO DIAGNOSE, THEY SAY IT NEEDS REPLACED. WARRANTY I BOUGHT IS INSPECTING TO SEE IF THEY ARE GOING TO PAY FOR IT. THIS AFFECT'S THE COMFORT, RELIABLITY, AND SAFETY OF THIS CAR. I WILL UPDATE WHEN MORE INFO IS RECIEVED FROM THE GM DEALER. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION ONLINE, THIS IS HAS HAPPENED TO A LOT OF OTHER LS1 POWERED F-BODY OWNERS WITH THIS GM REAR DIFFERENTIAL.
- Electrical system
HEADLIGHTS FLIP UP AND DOWN AND MAKES GRINDING NOISE WHEN CAR IS TURNED OFF. SAME OCCURS WHEN FACTORY INSTALLED ALARM IS ACTIVATED. DEALER REPORTS ACTUATOR BAD. SAME PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED 4 TIMES SINCE 2000. ALONG WITH THAT, THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW MOTOR HAS BURNED OUT TWICE ALONG WITH THE ACTUATOR. REAR END OF VEHICLE RATTLES NEAR SPEAKERS. DRIVER SIDE INTERIOR DOOR PANEL LOOSE. *JB
- Steering › Linkages › Tie rod assemblyCrash
THE TIE ROD SNAPPED AND CAUSED CAUSING THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL TO TURN TO THE EXTREME LEFT OR RIGHT WHICH RESULTED IN A CRASH. *NLM
Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.