Model year record

1994 Pontiac Trans Sport recalls & problems

The 1994 Pontiac Trans Sport has 4 safety recalls and 98 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is power train (17 complaints).

Recalls4safety recalls

Complaints98filed by owners

Crashes · fires4 · 12reported in complaints

Injuries · deaths4 · 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 beltsMay 24, 1994

Front › Webbing

Recall 94V1000005,294 vehicles

Problem: THE SECOND ROW, RIGHT HAND SHOULDER BELT CAN BECOME "PINCHED" BETWEEN THE SEAT AND THE DOOR FRAME PILLAR TRIM. THE SHOULDER BELT MAY NOT RETRACT PROPERLY, WHICH DOES NOT COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 208, "OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION." THE 1994 VEHICLES HAVE AN OPTIONAL INTEGRAL (BUILT IN) CHILDSEAT INSTALLED NEXT TO THE POWER SLIDING SIDE DOOR. THE 1993 INVOLVED VEHICLES HAVE STANDARD SEATS IN THAT SAME POSITION.
Risk: IMPROPER SHOULDER BELT RETRACTION DOES NOT PROVIDE ADEQUATE PROTECTION TO THE SEAT OCCUPANT IN THE EVENT OF A SUDDEN STOP OR COLLISION.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE DOOR FRAME PILLAR TRIM PANEL WITH A REDESIGNED TRIM PANEL. ALSO, A CAUTION LABEL WILL BE APPLIED TO THE CHILD SEAT ADVISING THE OWNER NOT TO INSTALL THE SEAT TO THE PASSENGER SIDE OF A VEHICLE WITH A POWER SLIDING SIDE DOOR.

Seat beltsJan 21, 1994

Front › Retractor

Recall 94V01500022,862 vehicles

Problem: THE THIRD ROW SAFETY BELT RETRACTORS MAY BE INSTALLED INCORRECTLY AND MAY LOCK-UP WHEN THE VEHICLE IS ON SLOPES OF LESS THAN 15 DEGREES, WHICH DOES NOT COMPLY WITH FMVSS NO. 209, "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES."
Risk: CONSEQUENCE OF NON-COMPLIANCE: PASSENGERS SEATED IN THESE POSITON MAYBE UNABLE TO EXTRACT AND FASTEN THEIR SEAT BELTS UNTIL THE VEHICLE IS MOVED TO A MORE LEVEL SURFACE. UNBELTED OCCUPANTS ARE MORE AT RISK OF INJURY IN THE EVENT OF A COLLISION THAN THOSE USING SAFETY BELTS.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REMOVE THIRD ROW SAFETY BELT RETRACTORS AND REINSTALL THEM PROPERLY.

Seat beltsDec 13, 1993

Rear/other

Recall 93V2120001,238 vehicles

Problem: THE SAFETY BELT RETRACTORS FOR THE REAR CENTER POSITION ARE MISSING A PAWL SPRING AND IN CASE OF AN ACCIDENT, WILL ALLOW THE SAFETY BELT WEBBING TO EXTEND BEYOND THE MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 208, "OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION."
Risk: IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT THE SAFETY BELT WOULD NOTRESTRAIN THE OCCUPANT, SUBJECTING THE OCCUPANT TO INCREASED RISK OF INJURIES.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE SAFETY BELT RETRACTOR ASSEMBLY AND REPLACE THE RETRACTOR IF THE PAWL SPRING IS MISSING.

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

1994 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	17 / 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

18mpg combined

City / highway	15 / 23 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

3.8 L · 6 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,700/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*
Power trainAutomatic transmission; Automatic transmission › Cooling unit and lines	17	1	4	1	—
Seat beltsFront › Retractor; Front › Webbing	16	0	0	0	—
StructureBody › Door; Body › Tailgate	14	0	0	0	—
VisibilityWindshield wiper/washer; Glass, side/rear	14	0	0	0	90,000 mi
Electrical systemWiring › Front underhood; Wiring	13	0	4	0	—
Engine and engine coolingEngine › Gasoline; Engine	11	0	2	0	—
Latches/locks/linkagesDoors › Latch; Hatchback/liftgate › Lock	8	0	0	0	—
Fuel system, gasolineStorage › Tank assembly; Fuel injection system	5	0	4	0	—
SeatsFront assembly › Recliner	4	3	0	4	—
WheelsLugs/nuts/bolts/studs	4	0	0	0	—
Service brakes, hydraulicFoundation components › Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings; Foundation components › Disc › Rotor	4	0	0	0	—
Vehicle speed controlCables; Accelerator pedal	3	1	0	1	—

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

Recent owner complaints

Structure › Body
PAINT IS PEELING ON THE TOP OF VAN. OTHER TRANSPORTS I HAVE SEEN HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. IS THERE A RECALL ON THE PAINT? THE PAINT ON THE REST OF THE VEHICLE IS GOOD WITH NO APPARENT DEFECTS. *TR
Jun 5, 2005
Seat belts › Front › Retractor
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE FRONT DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDE SEAT BELTS WILL NOT RETRACT. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL, # 93V212000, 94V10000 AND 94V015000, REGARDING THE SECOND, THIRD AND FOURTH ROW SEAT BELT. THE VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL; HOWEVER THE RECALL DOES NOT INCLUDE THE FRONT SEAT BELTS. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN ALERTED.
Mar 20, 2006 · 65,000 miles
Seat belts › Front
FRONT DRIVERS SEAT BELTS ON ALL YEAR (93,94,95,96) CHEVY LUMINA,PONTIAC TRANSPORT, OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE. I HAVE OWNED THEM ALL
May 31, 2005
Visibility › Windshield wiper/washer
I OWN A 1994 PONTIAC TRANSPORT, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOP AND RESUME AT WILL, SOMETIMES THEY ARE INACTIVE FOR AS LONG AS HOURS. TWICE THIS ALMOST LED TO AN ACCIDENT. I UNDERSTAND THAT IN CANADA THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL AND A FIX FOR THIS PROBLEM, HOW COME NOT IN THE US? IF THE SAME COMPONENT IS BEING USED THERE WILL BE THE SAME OUTCOME!*AK
Aug 1, 2002
Tires › Tread/belt
THE TIRE TREAD (ON A TIRE WITH 50% USABLE TREAD REMAINING) SEPARATED CAUSING APPROXIMATELY $1,500 DAMAGE TO MY VEHICLE. BFNT RESPONDED TO MY CLAIM BY CLAIMING THE SEPARATION WAS DUE TO LOW TIRE PRESSURE. THEY HAVE NOT PROVIDED EVIDENCE TO BACK THIS ASSERTION.
Jun 27, 2003 · 130,600 miles
Latches/locks/linkages › Doors › Latch
1994 PONTIAC TRANSPORT ELECTRIC SLIDING DOOR DOES NOT STAY SHUT. IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL AN INSERT WAS PUT IN WITH INSTRUCTIONS TO REMOVE FUSE FOR TAILLIGHT AND REPLACE. THIS WORKED INITIALLY BUT NO LONGER TAKES CARE OF THE PROBLEM.*AK
Apr 1, 1997
Service brakes, hydraulic
STALLS WHEN GETS WARM. ABS BRAKING LIGHT COMES ON EVERY NOW AND THEN. I WAS ROLLING UP WINDOW IT HAS ELECTRIC AND WINDOW SHATTERED IN SIDE DOOR. I HAVE PUT A NEW MODULE IN AND A NEWROTOR CAP AND THE NEW COIL. THE OLD COIL CAUGHT ON FIRE WHEN THE VAN STALLED ON ME. NOW IT HAS NO SPARK. I HAD IT IN SADLERS MOTORS AND THEY TOLD ME THE MODULE WAS BAD. I PUT IT IN. IT STUDDERS GOING DOWN THE ROAD WHEN IT GETS WARM GAS QUIT COMING OUT OF INJECTORS THEN WHEN I PUT MODULE ON INJECTORS WORK NOW I WAS WONDERING IF THERE WAS RECALLS ON ANY OF THAT STUFF I BAUGHT THE VAN USED. WARRANTY DOESN'T COVER ANY OF THIS. THEY SAID THE WARRANTY WAS IN WITH THE PRICE OF THE VAN BUT TO FIND OUT THEY CHARGED US FOR…
May 15, 2003
Power train
TRANSMISSION - WHEN YOU START THE VAN, AND PUT INTO GEAR, IT TAKES AT LEAST 10-20 SECONDS BEFORE IT WILL ENGAGE INTO FORWARD AND REVERSE. DRIVERS SIDE SEATBELT- WOULD NOT RETRACT, HAD TO REPLACE, IT COST $100.00 REPLACED 2 ALTINATORS, 1 STARTER AND 4 BATTERIES. HAD TO RE-SEAL INTAKE TWICE. LIFTER TICK, DONUT SEAL REPLACED. VACUMM LEAK REPAIRED. COOLANT LEAK, HAD TO REPLACE HEAD GASKET TWICE. COOLANT IS LEAKING AGAIN. DOOR HANDLE, DRIVERS SIDE BROKE TODAY.
Jan 15, 2003

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

PASSENGER SIDE DASH FIRESClosed
There is no summary currently available
PE95062 · opened Dec 9, 1995 · closed Apr 10, 1996
TRNSAXL OIL HOSE SEPARATESClosed
There is no summary currently available
PE94070 · opened Sep 15, 1994 · closed Jan 18, 1995