Model year record

1996 Pontiac Trans Sport recalls & problems

The 1996 Pontiac Trans Sport has 2 safety recalls and 61 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is visibility (15 complaints).

Recalls2safety recalls

Complaints61filed by owners

Crashes · fires5 · 2reported in complaints

Injuries · deaths5 · 0reported in complaints

Safety recalls

Fuel system, otherMar 12, 2007

Storage › Tank assembly › Pressure relief devices

Recall 07E021000742 vehicles

Problem: CERTAIN DELPHI FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS, P/NOS. FP10020-11B1, FP10026-11B1, AND FP10027-11B1, SOLD AFTER JANUARY 9, 2007, AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE UNIVERSAL PRESSURE REGULATORS (UPR) WERE PRODUCED WITHOUT AN O'RING AND RETAINER.
Risk: FUEL MAY LEAK, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A FIRE.
Fix: DELPHI WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE UPR FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 23, 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT DELPHI AT 877-411-8770.

SteeringNov 4, 2002

Rack and pinion

Recall 02V2860001,159,156 vehiclesopened after NHTSA action (ODI)

Problem: 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.
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.

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

1996 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

19mpg combined

City / highway	17 / 23 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

3.4 L · 6 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,550/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*
VisibilityWindshield wiper/washer; Windshield wiper/washer › Motor	15	0	0	0	59,538 mi
Engine and engine coolingEngine › Gasoline; Engine	14	0	2	1	92,000 mi
SteeringRack and pinion; Linkages	8	1	0	0	95,028 mi
Service brakes, hydraulicFoundation components › Disc › Rotor; Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip	6	1	0	0	—
Electrical systemHorn; Wiring › Interior/under dash	5	0	0	0	—
StructureBody › Door	5	0	0	1	—
Power trainAutomatic transmission; Transfer case (4-wheel drive)	4	0	0	0	—
Air bagsFrontal	3	2	0	3	—
Unknown or other	3	0	0	0	127,900 mi
SeatsFront assembly › Recliner	2	1	0	2	—
Latches/locks/linkagesDoors › Latch	2	0	0	0	—
Tires	2	0	0	0	—

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

Recent owner complaints

Engine and engine cooling › EngineFire
1996 PONTIAC TRANS SPORT, MOTOR SEIZED UP AND BEGAN TO SMOKE, MOTOR CAUGHT FIRE. *BF PRIOR TO THE FIRE, THE DRIVER NOTICED THE VEHICLE WAS LEAVING SOME TYPE OF FLUID BEHIND. ACCORDING TO THE POLICE REPORT, THE ENGINE WAS LEAKING OIL. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT # 10-0409-90)*JB UPDATED 08/05/10 *BF
Jun 21, 2010
Engine and engine cooling
1996 PONTIAC TRANSPORT VAN WITH LEAKING INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKETS. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE INTERNAL MANIFOLD LEAKED FILLING THE OIL PAN UP WITH WATER WHICH IN TURN FROZE THE MAIN BEARINGS TO THE CRANKSHAFT, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO LOCK UP AT 50 MPH. HE SENT IN PREVIOUS LETTER ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM ON ANOTHER VEHICLE. *KB THE CONSUMER NOTICED A SMELL OF ANTI-FREEZE, BUT COULD NOT LOCATE THE PROBLEM, BECAUSE IT WAS INTERNAL NOT EXTERNAL. *JB
Jan 1, 1901
Structure › Body › Door1 injury
WHILE CLOSING THE SIDE DOOR MY GRANDSON'S THUMB WAS CAUGHT IN IT. HE WAS SCREAMING AND THERE WAS NO EMERGENCY WAY TO STOP THE DOOR FROM CLOSING. THE DOOR HAD TO COMPLETE THE COURSE OF CLOSING BEFORE IT COULD BE OPENED TO GET HIS THUMB OUT. I THANK GOD IT WAS ONLY HIS THUMB!! *TR
Oct 21, 2007
Engine and engine cooling › Cooling system
COOLANT MIXING INTO ENGINE OIL DUE TO DEFECTIVE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET,WHY IS THERE NO RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM?*JB
Apr 20, 2004
Unknown or other
DT: THE CONTACT STATED WINTER WEATHER CONDITIONS CORRODED THE CABLE THAT HELD THE SPARE TIRE ON THE VEHICLE. THE CABLE SNAPPED AND RELEASED THE SPARE TIRE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DRIVEWAY. UPON INSPECTION BY THE CONTACT, THE CABLE SIMPLY CORRODED THEN RELEASED THE SPARE TIRE UNDER PRESSURE OF THE WEIGHT OF THE TIRE. *AK UPDATED 2/13/2006 - *NM
Jan 5, 2006 · 127,900 miles
Unknown or other
COMPLAINT #1- WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULDN'T WORK IN THE RAIN. DEFECTIVE CIRCUIT BOARD HAD TO BE REPLACED. COMPLAINT # 2- TILT STEERING COLUMN CAME OFF. THE WHOLE COLUMN HAD TO BE REPLACED. COMPLAINT #3- BLACK PAINT OVER THE CAB FLAKED OFF. *NM
Jun 9, 2005 · 160,000 miles
Vehicle speed control › Cruise control
1996 PONTIAC TRANSPORT ACCELERATED TO 85 WHILE SET IN CRUISE CONTROL AT 65 MPH.*MR WHEN THE CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO SLOW THE VEHICLE DOWN TO 65 MPH, IT WOULD ACCELERATE TO 85 MPH ON ITS OWN. *JB
May 2, 2005
Engine and engine cooling › Cooling system
VEHICLE STARTED EATING COOLANT, WITHIN 4 DAYS OF COOLANT LEAK HEAD GASKET HAD COMPLETE FAILURE DUMPING CONTENTS OF RADIATOR INTO OIL PAN. UPON EXAM FOUND THAT DEXTROL COOLANT HAD TURNED CORROSIVE AND EATEN THREW GASKET CAUSING FAILURE. REPLACE ALL TOP END GASKETS AND REBUILD TOP END. PRAY THAT LOWER END WILL BE OK ONCE FLUSHED COMPLETELY. HAVE KEPT OLD PARTS FOR FURTHER EXAM. *NM
Oct 1, 2004 · 75,000 miles

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