AI Damage1998 Pontiac Trans AM: common problems
Owners of the 1998 Pontiac Trans AM filed 11 complaints with NHTSA, most often about powertrain and engine and cooling. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 11
- involving a crash
- 1
What fails most often
- 1 Powertrain 36% of all complaints
- 2 Engine and cooling 27% of all complaints
- 3 Service brakes 27% of all complaints
- 4 Electrical system 18% of all complaints
- 5 Steering 18% of all complaints
- 6 Structure 18% of all complaints
- 7 Vehicle speed control 18% of all complaints
- 8 Exterior lighting 9% of all complaints
- Powertrain: 4 complaints (36% of all).
- Engine and cooling: 3 complaints (27% of all).
- Service brakes: 3 complaints (27% of all).
- Electrical system: 2 complaints (18% of all).
- Steering: 2 complaints (18% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 11 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Powertrain | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Structure | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Exterior lighting | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility | 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.
While driving 55 mph consumer lost control of vehicle, vehicle went into a spin, steering wheel did not respond. Vehicle hit a barrier. No injuries, vehicle was totalled. Please provide additional information.
Steering column, the two pins that hold the steering wheel together at the hinged part so the adjustable wheel can up and down, work their way out and cause the steering to become very dangerous.
While driving at any speed and with no warning vehicle will jerk, and then engine light will come on and will stay on the remainder of time that vehicle is being operated. Dealer notified.
Consumer started smelling gas form the outside of car. Consumer mentioned to dealer when it was taken in for warranty work, dealer did not check it at that time. Consumer inspected vehicle and found return vapor line had popped completely off. Consumer snapped it back together and so far is not having any problem.
My car has overheated many times until they found the broke radiator. The transmission has gone out and was just fixed and the car now has a firewall rattle. The brakes rotors were warped. They would not stand behind them. It would be my cost to reapir them. They are still warped.
While driving at 15mph vehicle suddenly and unexpectedly accelerated . The dealer was not able to duplicate the problem, however they replaced the computer.
Ticking noise from engine, differntial leaking gear oil, ses light comes on for no reason, rotors warped, driveshaft pops when slowing down or changing gears.
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 10,521 of 36,659 model years in the NHTSA data (top 29% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Trans AM has 6 complaints (22 years in the data). This year has 11, above average.
What to check before buying
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 1998 Pontiac Trans AM?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: powertrain, engine and cooling, service brakes. Total complaints: 11. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: knocking, grinding or other noise (18%), jerking, harsh shifts (9%), overheating, coolant loss (9%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 1998 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 1998 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 1998 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 2026-11-06.