AI Damage1986 Pontiac Trans AM: common problems
Owners of the 1986 Pontiac Trans AM filed 10 complaints with NHTSA, most often about seat belts and engine and cooling. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 10
- involving a crash
- 1
What fails most often
- 1 Seat belts 40% of all complaints
- 2 Engine and cooling 10% of all complaints
- 3 Fuel system 10% of all complaints
- 4 Latches, locks, linkages 10% of all complaints
- 5 Powertrain 10% of all complaints
- 6 Tires 10% of all complaints
- Seat belts: 4 complaints (40% of all).
- Engine and cooling: 1 complaints (10% of all).
- Fuel system: 1 complaints (10% of all).
- Latches, locks, linkages: 1 complaints (10% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Powertrain: 1 complaints (10% of all).
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 10 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seat belts | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Latches, locks, linkages | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Tires | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 1 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
Mfr's report date: may 04, 1990 nhtsa campaign id number: 90v105000 ea90001 nhtsa action number: ea90001 component: seat belts:front:buckle assembly potential number of units affected: 1500000 summary: plastic components of seat belt buckle assemblies do not contain an ultra violet stabilizer, and exposure to direct…
Kelly springfield tires 245/5016r hugger gt-d. Inner treadwall has separated approx 1/2 above rim, completely around tire. Tire is still inflated, but had a failure of front right tire in 1/2007. Did not see tire prior to replacement of tire by family member.
I tried to bring in my 86 pontiac trans am to the local gm dealership (mike smith auotplaza) and they refused to fix a recall that was put out for defective seatbelts on my car. They said time had ran out for me to get the work down and my car was too old for the recall.
The transmission locked up which caused the rear tires to lock up, which made the vehicle difficult to control.
Noticed top of tank was soft & was becoming rusty due to water accumulation. Fuel tank needed to be replaced.
Driver side and passenger side shoulder belt anchors do not work properly, consumer can't pull the seat belts out.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 10,921 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 30% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Trans AM has 6 complaints (22 years in the data). This year has 10, above average.
What to check before buying
- Seat belts. Belt pretensioners after airbag deployment, SRS codes.
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
- Fuel system. Fuel smell, leaks, rough running, fuel-system codes.
- Latches, locks, linkages. Door, hood and tailgate latches, especially near the impact.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 1986 Pontiac Trans AM?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: seat belts, engine and cooling, fuel system. Total complaints: 10. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: seat belts (30%), door locks, latches, handles (10%), rust, corrosion (10%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 1986 Pontiac Trans AM?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 1986 Pontiac Trans AM from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 1986 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.