Total Complaints
3 filings
PONTIAC TRANS AM · model year
1987 PONTIAC TRANS AM
3 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1987PONTIACTRANS AM carries 3 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1987 TRANS AM is power train with 1 filings, followed by service brakes (1) and fuel/propulsion system (1). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.
NHTSA currently has 17 investigation files overlapping the 1987 TRANS AM. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
3
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
0 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| POWER TRAIN | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES | 1 |
| FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20120731POWER TRAIN
THE BRAKE PEDAL SUDDENLY FELL TO THE FLOOR WHILE I WAS TRYING TO BRAKE THE CAR FOR A RED LIGHT AT 40 MPH WITH OTHER TRAFFIC DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF ME. THE BRAKE LINE TRAVELING ALONG THE BOTTOM OF THE CAR HAD RUSTED THROUGH DUE TO CORROSION CAUSING THE BRAKES TO FAIL. IN ADDITION, ALL OF THE FUEL LINES WHICH CARRY FUEL AT HIGH PRESSURE AT APPROX. 48PSI ARE ALSO BADLY CORRODED AND LIKELY TO FAIL WITH CATASTROPHIC RESULTS (E.G., FIRE, EXPLOSION, ETC.). THESE BRAKE AND FUEL LINE SAFETY DEFECTS STEM FROM THE FACT THAT GENERAL MOTORS USED INFERIOR BRAKE AND FUEL LINE PARTS (E.G., ORDINARY RUST PRONE STEEL) INSTEAD OF SLIGHTLY COSTLIER STAINLESS STEEL PIPING FOR BRAKE AND FUEL LINES. IN ADDITION, THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION OIL COOLER LINES ARE ALSO BADLY CORRODING DUE TO GM USING ORDINARY STEEL INSTEAD OF STAINLESS STEEL FOR THESE LINES. NOW, I HAVE TO HAVE ALL OF THESE BRAKE AND FUEL LINES REPLACE DUE TO GM USING INFERIOR RUST-PRONE STEEL PARTS INSTEAD OF SLIGHTLY MORE COSTLY CORROSION R
Mileage: 120,158
20120731SERVICE BRAKES
THE BRAKE PEDAL SUDDENLY FELL TO THE FLOOR WHILE I WAS TRYING TO BRAKE THE CAR FOR A RED LIGHT AT 40 MPH WITH OTHER TRAFFIC DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF ME. THE BRAKE LINE TRAVELING ALONG THE BOTTOM OF THE CAR HAD RUSTED THROUGH DUE TO CORROSION CAUSING THE BRAKES TO FAIL. IN ADDITION, ALL OF THE FUEL LINES WHICH CARRY FUEL AT HIGH PRESSURE AT APPROX. 48PSI ARE ALSO BADLY CORRODED AND LIKELY TO FAIL WITH CATASTROPHIC RESULTS (E.G., FIRE, EXPLOSION, ETC.). THESE BRAKE AND FUEL LINE SAFETY DEFECTS STEM FROM THE FACT THAT GENERAL MOTORS USED INFERIOR BRAKE AND FUEL LINE PARTS (E.G., ORDINARY RUST PRONE STEEL) INSTEAD OF SLIGHTLY COSTLIER STAINLESS STEEL PIPING FOR BRAKE AND FUEL LINES. IN ADDITION, THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION OIL COOLER LINES ARE ALSO BADLY CORRODING DUE TO GM USING ORDINARY STEEL INSTEAD OF STAINLESS STEEL FOR THESE LINES. NOW, I HAVE TO HAVE ALL OF THESE BRAKE AND FUEL LINES REPLACE DUE TO GM USING INFERIOR RUST-PRONE STEEL PARTS INSTEAD OF SLIGHTLY MORE COSTLY CORROSION R
Mileage: 120,158
20120731FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
THE BRAKE PEDAL SUDDENLY FELL TO THE FLOOR WHILE I WAS TRYING TO BRAKE THE CAR FOR A RED LIGHT AT 40 MPH WITH OTHER TRAFFIC DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF ME. THE BRAKE LINE TRAVELING ALONG THE BOTTOM OF THE CAR HAD RUSTED THROUGH DUE TO CORROSION CAUSING THE BRAKES TO FAIL. IN ADDITION, ALL OF THE FUEL LINES WHICH CARRY FUEL AT HIGH PRESSURE AT APPROX. 48PSI ARE ALSO BADLY CORRODED AND LIKELY TO FAIL WITH CATASTROPHIC RESULTS (E.G., FIRE, EXPLOSION, ETC.). THESE BRAKE AND FUEL LINE SAFETY DEFECTS STEM FROM THE FACT THAT GENERAL MOTORS USED INFERIOR BRAKE AND FUEL LINE PARTS (E.G., ORDINARY RUST PRONE STEEL) INSTEAD OF SLIGHTLY COSTLIER STAINLESS STEEL PIPING FOR BRAKE AND FUEL LINES. IN ADDITION, THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION OIL COOLER LINES ARE ALSO BADLY CORRODING DUE TO GM USING ORDINARY STEEL INSTEAD OF STAINLESS STEEL FOR THESE LINES. NOW, I HAVE TO HAVE ALL OF THESE BRAKE AND FUEL LINES REPLACE DUE TO GM USING INFERIOR RUST-PRONE STEEL PARTS INSTEAD OF SLIGHTLY MORE COSTLY CORROSION R
Mileage: 120,158
Compare 1987PONTIACTRANS AM to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1987 PONTIAC TRANS AM have?▼
The 1987 PONTIAC TRANS AM has 3 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1987 PONTIAC TRANS AM?▼
The most-complained component for the 1987 PONTIAC TRANS AM is POWER TRAIN with 1 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SERVICE BRAKES and FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM.
Is the 1987 PONTIAC TRANS AM safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Vehicle Safety Guides
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.