AI Damage1998 Pontiac Trans Sport: common problems
Owners of the 1998 Pontiac Trans Sport filed 227 complaints with NHTSA, most often about engine and cooling and exterior lighting. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 227
- involving a crash
- 17
What fails most often
- 1 Engine and cooling 23% of all complaints
- 2 Exterior lighting 13% of all complaints
- 3 Steering 11% of all complaints
- 4 Air bags 9% of all complaints
- 5 Structure 9% of all complaints
- 6 Service brakes 7% of all complaints
- 7 Powertrain 7% of all complaints
- 8 Latches, locks, linkages 7% of all complaints
- Engine and cooling: 52 complaints (23% of all).
- Exterior lighting: 30 complaints (13% of all).
- Steering: 26 complaints (11% of all).
- Air bags: 21 complaints (9% of all), 9 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Structure: 21 complaints (9% of all).
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 227 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine and cooling | 52 | 0 | 0 |
| Exterior lighting | 30 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 26 | 0 | 0 |
| Air bags | 21 | 9 | 0 |
| Structure | 21 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 17 | 1 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 16 | 2 | 0 |
| Latches, locks, linkages | 15 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 14 | 0 | 0 |
| Seat belts | 10 | 1 | 0 |
| Visibility | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| Seats | 7 | 2 | 0 |
| Suspension | 7 | 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.
Tl*- the contact stated that while driving the 1998 pontiac transport with 183,000 failure mileage)at 55 mph the driver's side front tire blew out without any warning. The contact lost control of the vehicle, and the vehicle hit a culvert on the left passenger side. Upon impact, the airbags did not deploy.
My vehicle was rear-ended while I was stopped. There was no visible damage, however the 3rd row right side seat's front latches became unhooked from the floor and the seat was left in a reclined position. The back floor latches were still secured.
While driving at 57mph and involved in an accident air bags did not deploy.
Since 1973, I've driven a series of 8 cars (about 20-24,000 miles per year) in all kinds of weather, and never hydroplaned until purchasing transsport in 1998. I've hydroplaned 3 times in it, in shallow water, but managed to get control of car and avoid accidents.
Consumer was traveling 35mph on highway and vehicle shifted by itself into park. Prior to this incident, mechanic told her that dirt got into transmission axle, and a bearing broke which cause turbine shaft to lock up,resulting in vehicle locking up. She couldn't go forward or backwards.
While driving driver passed out andhad a direct frontal impact into a brick building, in which driver's and passenger's airbags did not deploy, and did not protect the driver or passenger in this crash. The front end was totaled. Passenger collapsed and was hospitalized .
The vehicle was hit from the rear at 40 mph and one of the middle seats anchors broke and separated the seat from the track, injuring a passenger. Dealer has seen vehicle. Vehicle totaled.
The seatbelt adjuster came off in an accident in which the shoulder belt bruised the neck of the restrained child. Please provide further information.
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 1,783 of 36,659 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 227, above average.
What to check before buying
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
- Exterior lighting. Headlamps, leveling, sensors and mounts after a frontal hit.
- Steering. Steering play, power assist, rack and tie rods after a wheel impact.
- Air bags. Check the SRS light, stored codes and airbag/curtain status after any impact.
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 1997236 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 1998 Pontiac Trans Sport?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: engine and cooling, exterior lighting, steering. Total complaints: 227. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: headlights and tail lights (10%), overheating, coolant loss (5%), steering or power steering problems (5%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 1998 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 1998 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 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.