AI Damage1997 Pontiac Trans Sport: common problems
Owners of the 1997 Pontiac Trans Sport filed 236 complaints with NHTSA, most often about steering and engine and cooling. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 236
- involving a crash
- 10
What fails most often
- 1 Steering 23% of all complaints
- 2 Engine and cooling 18% of all complaints
- 3 Structure 16% of all complaints
- 4 Exterior lighting 15% of all complaints
- 5 Visibility 11% of all complaints
- 6 Latches, locks, linkages 7% of all complaints
- 7 Service brakes 7% of all complaints
- 8 Powertrain 6% of all complaints
- Steering: 54 complaints (23% of all), 4 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Engine and cooling: 42 complaints (18% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Structure: 37 complaints (16% of all), 2 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Exterior lighting: 36 complaints (15% of all).
- Visibility: 25 complaints (11% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 3.4 L · petrol · 6 cylnamed in 4 complaints
- automatic, 4-speed
Drive: FWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 236 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steering | 54 | 4 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 42 | 1 | 0 |
| Structure | 37 | 2 | 0 |
| Exterior lighting | 36 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility | 25 | 1 | 0 |
| Latches, locks, linkages | 17 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 17 | 1 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 14 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 13 | 0 | 0 |
| Seat belts | 10 | 1 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| Air bags | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| Seats | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension | 4 | 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.
I received a serious concussion in a rear end/front end collision due to the fact seat belt failed to hold me in place. I hit the sunvisor and then hit the back head rest so hard I broke the seat.
Steering wheel locked up during curve, unable to turn wheel, van crached into canal. Is considered totaled by insurance.
While making a turn steering wheel locked, causing a collision which totalled the vehicle.
While driving about 40 mph consumer's vehicle crashed into another vehicle that crossed the line. Damage was from the front to dashboard, and the air bags did not deploy.
Recall 98v072000; the stopping distance hasn't gotten any better since the recall work has been performed, and when turning on the windshield wipers the radio failed. There had been an crash before and after the recall work had been performed because of stopping distances of the brakes.
Driving in rush hour traffic, on congested freeway, at 55 mph the brake pedal went to the floor without any warning. The traffic in front of me was slowing down and I almost rear ended the car in front of me.
Of 2007 I was having a problem with my van overheating and was losing engine coolant but could not see where it was going. I later found out that I had a faulty intake manifold gasket, which cost me over 800.00 to repair.
The power window controls pop loose of the driver's door and the windows fail to operate. The rear door lock fails. The blinker and cruise control lever snapped off the steering column so the blinker doesn't work. The window wiper control module failed.
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 1,716 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 5% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Trans Sport has 61 complaints (16 years in the data). This year has 236, above average.
What to check before buying
- Steering. Steering play, power assist, rack and tie rods after a wheel impact.
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
- Structure. Rails, pillars, panel gaps, signs of pulling or welding.
- Exterior lighting. Headlamps, leveling, sensors and mounts after a frontal hit.
Other years of this model
- Trans Sport 199045 sources
- Trans Sport 199136 sources
- Trans Sport 199276 sources
- Trans Sport 199361 sources
- Trans Sport 199498 sources
- Trans Sport 1995113 sources
- Trans Sport 199661 sources
- Trans Sport 1998227 sources
- Trans Sport 199910 sources
- Trans Sport 20013 sources
- Trans Sport 20033 sources
- Trans Sport 99993 sources
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 1997 Pontiac Trans Sport?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: steering, engine and cooling, structure. Total complaints: 236. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: steering or power steering problems (14%), headlights and tail lights (13%), door locks, latches, handles (5%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 1997 Pontiac Trans Sport?
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 1997 Pontiac Trans Sport 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 1997 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.