AI Damage1999 Pontiac Trans Sport: common problems
Owners of the 1999 Pontiac Trans Sport filed 10 complaints with NHTSA, most often about engine and cooling and seat belts. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 10
- involving a crash
- 1
What fails most often
- 1 Engine and cooling 50% of all complaints
- 2 Seat belts 20% of all complaints
- 3 Child seat 10% of all complaints
- 4 Electrical system 10% of all complaints
- 5 Exterior lighting 10% of all complaints
- 6 Fuel system 10% of all complaints
- 7 Latches, locks, linkages 10% of all complaints
- 8 Seats 10% of all complaints
- Engine and cooling: 5 complaints (50% of all).
- Seat belts: 2 complaints (20% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Child seat: 1 complaints (10% of all).
- Electrical system: 1 complaints (10% of all).
- Exterior lighting: 1 complaints (10% 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 cyl
- automatic, 4-speed
Drive: FWD
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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine and cooling | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Seat belts | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Child seat | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Exterior lighting | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Latches, locks, linkages | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Seats | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility | 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.
When this occurred, the front driver side seatbelt shoulder strap did not lock. The driver hit the steering wheel causing minor chest injuries, then the airbag deployed. Also, the middle row driver side seatbelt came unlocked. This caused the occupants leg to be crushed, resulting in surgery.
Problems with the sliding door, headlamp fell off, automatic locks/window and etc. The consumer believed the vehicle has a coolant leak. The fuel modulator and spark plugs were replaced.
With respect to my 1999 pontiac transport van, october of 2003 the engine started overheating and we discovered that the coolant was low. We added coolant and some type of seal into the coolant because we were told by several gm mechanics that it was probably the head gasket and this seal would help to get us by until…
Transmission failure caused by antifreeze in transmission. Corrosion of radiator causing antifreeze to mix with transmission fluid. Now is overheating caused by intake manifold gasket leaking allowing antifreeze to get into crankcase. Potentially fatal for engine.
Retractor mount not secured to upper panel, top threads into pillar not done, installed missing bolt in seat belt mount.
While exiting a parking lot, the rear sliding door opened, the dealer found that a bent bracket in the door mounting was the apparent cause of the door failing to latch properly. Nlm
While in driveway was adjusting front seat and vehicle started smelling like smoke. Consumer looked under seat, and one of the wires was completely bare. Consumer contacted dealer, and dealer did repairs. But, wires were still hanging from under seat.
The buckle part of the seat belt seems to come out to far from the seat allowing a large gap so the child seat can not fit tightly into any of the 3 seats in the second row. It is my understanding a carseat should not move anymore then an inch after it is buckled in. And when the carseats are in.
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 Sport has 61 complaints (16 years in the data). This year has 10, below average.
What to check before buying
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
- Seat belts. Belt pretensioners after airbag deployment, SRS codes.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- 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 1997236 sources
- Trans Sport 1998227 sources
- Trans Sport 20013 sources
- Trans Sport 20033 sources
- Trans Sport 99993 sources
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 1999 Pontiac Trans Sport?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: engine and cooling, seat belts, child seat. Total complaints: 10. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: overheating, coolant loss (30%), seat belts (30%), engine failure or replacement (10%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 1999 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 1999 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 1999 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.