Model year record

1992 Pontiac Trans Sport recalls & problems

The 1992 Pontiac Trans Sport has 2 safety recalls and 76 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is seat belts (25 complaints).

Recalls2safety recalls

Complaints76filed by owners

Crashes · fires2 · 2reported in complaints

Injuries · deaths1 · 0reported in complaints

Safety recalls

Power trainJan 23, 1996

Automatic transmission › Cooling unit and lines

Recall 96V015000585,182 vehiclesopened after NHTSA action (ODI)

Problem: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM AUGUST 1991 THROUGH JULY 1995. THE TRANSMISSION OIL COOLER LINE CAN SEPARATE WHEN THE VEHICLE IS OPERATED IN LOW TEMPERATURES IN COMBINATION WITH HIGH TRANSMISSION LOADS.
Risk: VEHICLE FIRES CAN OCCUR DUE TO THE SPILLAGE OF TRANSMISSION FLUID.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION OIL COOLER LINES.

Seat beltsJan 4, 1994

Rear/other

Recall 94V027000157,740 vehicles

Problem: VEHICLE FAILS TO CONFORM TO FMVSS NO. 209, "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES." THE SAFETY BELT OF THE LEFT THIRD ROW SEAT ON THE SIX PASSENGER VAN AND THE CENTER SECOND ROW SEAT OF THE SEVEN PASSENGER VAN MAY LOCK UP AND CANNOT BE WITHDRAWN FROM THE RETRACTOR.
Risk: CONSEQUENCE OF NON-COMPLIANCE: THE OCCUPANTS OF THESE SEATS WILL NOT BE ABLE TO USE THE AFFECTED BELT. IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, UNBELTED OCCUPANTS ARE AT INCREASED RISK OF INJURY.
Fix: OWNERS ARE BEING ASKED TO INSPECT THEIR VEHICLES TO DETERMINE IF THE SUSPECT RETRACTOR EXHIBITS A LOCKUP CONDITION. BASED ON THIS INSPECTION, DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SAFETY BELTS IF THE BELT LOCKS UP. REPLACEMENT OF THE SUSPECT SAFETY BELT WILL BE AVAILABLE TO CONSUMERS FOR THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE.

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.

Crash test ratings

1992 Pontiac Trans Sport.

OverallNot Rated

Frontal crash	Not Rated
Side crash	Not Rated
Rollover	Not Rated

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program). Ratings are comparable only between vehicles of similar size and weight, and ratings from 2011 on use tougher tests than earlier years. Photos: NHTSA.

Fuel economy

Trans Sport 2WD

18mpg combined

City / highway	16 / 21 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

3.1 L · 6 cyl · Automatic 3-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,700/year to fuel

Trans Sport 2WD

17mpg combined

City / highway	15 / 22 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

3.8 L · 6 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,950/year to fuel

EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.

What owners report

Problem area	Complaints	Crashes	Fires	Injuries	Typical mileage*
Seat beltsFront › Retractor; Front › Anchorage	25	0	0	0	—
Service brakes, hydraulicAntilock/traction control/electronic limited slip; Foundation components › Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings	24	0	0	0	—
StructureBody › Door; Frame and members	9	2	0	1	—
VisibilityWindshield; Windshield wiper/washer › Motor	7	0	0	0	—
Electrical systemWiring › Front underhood; Ignition	6	0	2	0	—
SeatsFront assembly › Head restraint; Front assembly › Recliner	6	0	0	0	—
Power trainAxle assembly; Automatic transmission	4	0	0	0	—
TiresTread/belt	3	0	0	0	—
Engine and engine coolingEngine › Gasoline; Cooling system	3	0	0	0	—
WheelsLugs/nuts/bolts/studs	2	0	0	0	—
SuspensionFront › Control arm	2	0	0	0	—
SteeringGear box (other than rack and pinion)	2	1	0	0	—

*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.

Recent owner complaints

Power train › Automatic transmission › Torque converter
I AM ASE CERTIFIED IN BRAKES STEERING AND SUSPENSION. MY 1992 PONTIAC TRANSPORT HAS DEVELOPED NUMEROUS PROBLEMS. ONE ( BRAKES WILL FAIL TO ENGAGE FOR NO APPARENT REASON WITH VIBRATION IN THE PEDAL. DOES NOT DO THIS ALL THE TIME ONLY FREQUENTLY. AND TWO. IT ALSO WILL VIOLENTLY START SHUTTERING AT SPEEDS OF 40 TO 60 MPH. I HAVE REPLACED BOTH BALL JOINTS, BOTH TIE RODS(INNER AND OUTER), BOTH WHEEL BEARINGS, ALL 4 STRUTS AND MOUNTS, BOTH ROTORS, TRANS VACUUM SHIFT MODULE, TRANS COOLER LINES, ENTIRE REAR BRAKE SYSTEM, ALL LINES (STEEL AND RUBBER) RADIATOR AND BOTH CV SHAFTS. I AM TIRE OF PUTTING MONEY INTO THIS PIT AND IT DIDN'T EVEN HAVE 100,000 MILES ON IT WHEN IT STARTED AND I HAVE INVESTED…
Mar 3, 2006 · 120,000 miles
Electrical system › Wiring › Front underhood
THE WIRING HARNESS THAT FEEDS THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS, HVAC BLOWER MOTOR AND OTHER THINGS IS MELTING & SHORTING OUT. I FIND WHEN I LOOK IN SALVAGE YARDS FOR THIS ITEM, ALL THE ONES THAT WOULD FIT THIS VEHICLE ARE MELTED IN THE SAME WAY. THEREFORE, THIS MUST BE A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT AND SHOULD BE REPLACED. *LA
Dec 15, 2003
Seat belts
I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE 4 OF THE 6 SEAT BELT RETRACTORS SINCE JULY OF 2000. THE FAILURE MODE IS THE RETRACTOR SPRING BREAKING OR PULLING OUT OF SEATBELT MOUNTING SHAFT. EACH REPLACEMENT RETRACTOR COSTS $130. REPLACEMENT PARTS LOOK LIKE THEY WILL FAIL IN THE SAME MANNER, VERY POOR DESIGN.
Jun 15, 2003 · 80,000 miles
Steering › Gear box (other than rack and pinion)
WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH STEERING BROKE. THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD MOVE FREELY BUT WOULD NOT CONTROL THE MOVEMENT OR DIRECTION OF THE VEHICLE.*AK
Oct 23, 2003
SteeringCrash
WHILE PULLING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY STEERING UNIT FAILED, CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO LOSE STEERING POWER, AND VEHICLE FELL INTO A DITCH. TWO MAJOR BOLTS HOLDING THE FRONT END OF THE CHASSIS BROKE LOOSE, CAUSING THE STEERING TO COLLAPSE. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. MANUFACTURER AND THE DEALER WERE NOTIFIED. *AK
Sep 21, 2003 · 15,000 miles
Visibility › Windshield wiper/washer › Motor
WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK INTERMITTENTLY. WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK MOSTLY WHEN WEATHER IS WARM, PER CONSUMER.*AK
Sep 10, 2003 · 150,000 miles
Wheels › Lugs/nuts/bolts/studs
WHILE DRIVING, THE STUDS ON THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE BROKE, CAUSING THE TIRE AND RIM TO COME OFF.(OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT)*JB
Jul 6, 2002
Engine and engine cooling › Engine
ENGINE MOUNT BOLTS RUSTED, AND BROKE CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING WHILE DRIVING.*AK *YH
May 25, 2002

Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.

NHTSA defect investigations

ENGINE CRADLE SEPARATIONClosed
IN APRIL 1997, GM NOTIFIED ODI OF A REAR ENGINE CRADLE BOLT DEFECT IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR (MY) 1990-91 U VANS AND MY 1988-91 W CARS THAT COULD RESULT IN SEPARATION OF THE STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT FROM THE STEERING GEAR.GM IDENTIFIED THE PROBLEM AS EXCESSIVE CREVICE CORROSION OF THE ENGINE CRADLE RETAINER AFTER YEARS OF EXPOSURE IN A SEVERE CORROSIVE ENVIRONMENT.THE RECALL COVERED APPROXIMATELY 680,000 VEHICLES REGISTERED IN 14 RUST BELT STATES; INCLUDING ALMOST 70,000 MY 1990-91 U VANS.THE RECALLED VEHICLES RECEIVED NEW REAR CRADLE BOLTS AND RETAINERS. GM CHANGED THE MATERIAL COMPOSITION OF THE RETAINERS IN THE MY 1992 U VANS TO PROVIDE IMPROVED CORROSION RESISTANCE.THE MY 1992 RETAINERS ARE ALUMINIZED STEEL WITH A 2.5 MM PROTECTIVE COATING OF ZINC/CHROMATE ORGANIC.THERE HAVE BEEN ONLY FIVE (5) FAILURES IDENTIFIED IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES AFTER MORE THAN 10 YEARS OF EXPOSURE.BASED ON…
RQ03003 · opened Jan 8, 2003 · closed Apr 10, 2003
FRONT BRAKE HOSE FAILUREClosed
There is no summary currently available
PE96002 · opened Jan 5, 1996 · closed Apr 16, 1996
TRNSAXL OIL HOSE SEPARATESClosed
There is no summary currently available
PE94070 · opened Sep 15, 1994 · closed Jan 18, 1995
APV FUEL LINE FIRESClosed
There is no summary currently available
EA92035 · opened Oct 30, 1992 · closed Nov 30, 1993
APV FIRESClosed
APV FIRES
DP92012 · opened Jun 9, 1992 · closed Jun 25, 1992
APV FUEL LINE FIRESClosed
There is no summary currently available
PE92052 · opened Jun 4, 1992 · closed Oct 30, 1992