Total Complaints
64 filings
PONTIAC TRANS SPORT · model year
1990 PONTIAC TRANS SPORT
64 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1990PONTIACTRANS SPORT carries 64 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 1 fire, 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 1990 TRANS SPORT is structure:frame and members with 10 filings, followed by seat belts:front:retractor (5) and engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline (5). 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 1990 TRANS SPORT. 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.
64
Complaints
0
Crashes
1
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 |
|---|---|
| STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS | 10 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR | 5 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 5 |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 5 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR | 4 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY | 3 |
| SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER | 3 |
| VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER | 3 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 2 |
| EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER | 2 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE | 2 |
| STEERING | 2 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 2 |
| VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD | 2 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20051031STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
DT: THE CONTACT WAS SLOWING DOWN TO MAKE A TURN WHEN THE ENGINE CRADLE MALFUNCTIONED DUE TO RUST. THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION NEARLY FELL OUT OF THE VEHICLE. WHEN THIS HAPPENED THE STEERING LINKAGE DISCONNECTED AND THE STEERING WHEEL KEPT TURNING AROUND. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. HE CONTACTED GM, AND THEY OFFERED NO FREE REMEDY TO THE PROBLEM. THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM PREVIOUSLY. HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN. *AK
Mileage: 80,000
20051031STEERING:LINKAGES
DT: THE CONTACT WAS SLOWING DOWN TO MAKE A TURN WHEN THE ENGINE CRADLE MALFUNCTIONED DUE TO RUST. THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION NEARLY FELL OUT OF THE VEHICLE. WHEN THIS HAPPENED THE STEERING LINKAGE DISCONNECTED AND THE STEERING WHEEL KEPT TURNING AROUND. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. HE CONTACTED GM, AND THEY OFFERED NO FREE REMEDY TO THE PROBLEM. THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM PREVIOUSLY. HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN. *AK
Mileage: 80,000
20010619STRUCTURE
IN REGARDS TO THE RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE #97016 OR ALLDATA # 97VO58000: MY REAR CRADLE BOLTS WENT OUT THE OTHER DAY. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A PRIVATE SERVICE STATION THAT INFORMED ME THE PART WAS UNDER RECALL AND I NEEDED TO CALL THE DEALERSHIP. I CALLED THEM AND RECEIVED NO HELP(THEY TOLD ME THEY HADN'T HEARD OF A RECALL FOR IT) AND GAVE ME THE NUMBER TO PONTIAC. I CALLED PONTIAC AND TOLD THEM THE SITUATION. THE LADY I SPOKE WITH INFORMED ME THAT "TECHNICALLY, MY VEHICLE WAS UNDER THE RECALL SINCE IT WAS MANUFACTURED IN NY" BUT SHE WOULD NEED TO GET THE REGIONAL GUYS APPROVAL BEFORE I COULD TAKE IT IN AND WOULD CALL ME BACK IN 2-3 DAYS. SHE CALLED BACK AND SAID THAT THEY WERE NOT TAKING RESPONSIBILTY FOR ANYTHING AND I WOULD HAVE TO HAVE IT TOWED IN ON MY OWN AT MY COST AND THEY WOULD LOOK AT IT WHEN THEY GOT AROUND TO IT. SHE CALLED ME AGAIN ON THURSDAY AND SAID THAT SHE HAD SPOKEN WITH THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THEY WOULD PROBABLY GET AROUND TO LOOKING AT IT ON MONDAY TO SEE IF
20010419SEATS
MOUNTING BOLT FOR DRIVER'S SEATBACK SHEARED OFF, CAUSING SEATBACK TO COLLAPSE. I HAVE THE DAMAGED BOLT AND WILL PROVIDE IF REQUESTED.*AK
20010411STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
FRONT END WAS WOBBLING IN STEERING. CONSUMER HAD AN ALIGNMENT SHOP TO ALIGN VEHICLE, BUT AS THE MECHANIC EXAMINED VEHICLE, HE SAW SUBFRAME ON RIGHT SIDE WAS RUSTED. BEFORE CONFIRMING WORK, CONSUMER CONTACTED PONTIAC TO SEE IF ANY RECALLS WERE ON VEHICLE. PONTIAC WAS POLITE IN SAYING THAT VEHICLE WAS TOO OLD, THERE WAS NO WARRANTY AND NO RECALL. ALIGNMENT SHOP REPLACED ENTIRE FRONT SUBFRAME , LEFT SIDE WAS LIKE NEW.*AK *SLC
20010109SEAT BELTS:FRONT
SEATBELTS IN FRONT SEATS HAVE GONE LOOSE. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT NTSA SHOULD BE CONCERNED WITH. SEATBELTS ARE MANDATORY IN MANY STATES INCLUDING MINE. PONTIAC REFUSES TO REPAIR AS A RECALL EVEN THOUGH IT IS A HAZARD AND NOT A WEAR AND TEAR ISSUE. SEATBELTS SHOULD NOT BREAK, ESPECIALLY THE 2 FRONT SEATBELTS. *AK
20000822UNKNOWN OR OTHER
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
19991031VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER
WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOP WHEN EVER. VERY VERY DANGEROUS. 3 REPLACEMENT PARTS TO NO AVAIL.
19991005VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
NO ACCIDENT, I BOUGHT FROM BACH MOTORS, A USED VAN, 1990, 140,000 MILES, MANY FAULTS, DID NOT REALIZE. WINDSHIELD WITH TWO CRACKS, BROKEN LATCH ON DRIVER'S DOOR, BROKEN SEAT BELT, DRIVERS SIDE, ONE CYLINDER FAULTY, STRUTS WEAK ALL AROUND, AND BRAKES WEAK
19990930ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL (97V058000), REPAIRS COULD NOT BE DONE. *YC
19990826VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER
WIPERS STOP WHILE DRIVING IN RAIN. REPLACEMENT PART DOES SAME THING. AUTO SHOP SAID DEFECT IN DASH, BAD WIRING
19990721VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
ONGOING PROBLEM WITH SPOT(CLOUDY) APPEARS TO GROW ON THE WINDSHIELD WHICH AFFECETS THE VISIBILITY. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUME RTHAT THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. INSURANCE COMPANY INFORMED CONSUME RTHAT IT WAS A MANUFACTURER'S DEFFECT WHICH WAS NOT COVERED BY INSURANCE. CAN NHTSA HELP IN THIS MATTER.*AK
19990414ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
NO SUMMARY. *MJS
19990408SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
THE PLASTIC COVER HOLDING THE RETRACTING SPRING HAS BECOME DEFORMED ON MORE THAN ONE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR. ALLOWING THE SPRING TO DISCONNECT AND THE BELT TO PULL FREE. MORE THEN ONE BELT RETRACTOR SHOWS SIGNS OF DEFORMING AND POSSIBLE FAILURE. I BELIEVE ALL SIX SEAT BELT RESTRAINTS SHOULDBE REPLACED AS A SAFTY EQUIPMENT DEFECT. *AK
19990125STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
RECALL WORK COMPLETED ON THE CRADLE BOLTS, HOWEVER FAILED (BOLTS BROKE OFF) RESULTING IN EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO VEHICLE WHEN ENGINE DROPPED TO THE GROUND.
19990112UNKNOWN OR OTHER
TEMPERATURE GAUGE FAILED, RESULTING IN OVERHEATING AND DAMAGE TO ENGINE , GAUGES AND DASHBOARD.
19990112ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TEMPERATURE GAUGE FAILED, RESULTING IN OVERHEATING AND DAMAGE TO ENGINE , GAUGES AND DASHBOARD.
19990112ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
TEMPERATURE GAUGE FAILED, RESULTING IN OVERHEATING AND DAMAGE TO ENGINE , GAUGES AND DASHBOARD.
19990112UNKNOWN OR OTHER
DASH BOARD DESIGN IS DIFFICULT TO REPLACE AND FIT PROPERLY.
19990104ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TEMPERATURE GAUGE FAILED TO INDICATE ENGINE OVERHEATING, RESULTING IN ENGINE FAILURE. (CONSUMER IS ATTORNEY).
Compare 1990PONTIACTRANS SPORT to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1990 PONTIAC TRANS SPORT have?▼
The 1990 PONTIAC TRANS SPORT has 64 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 1 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1990 PONTIAC TRANS SPORT?▼
The most-complained component for the 1990 PONTIAC TRANS SPORT is STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS with 10 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR and ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE.
Is the 1990 PONTIAC TRANS SPORT 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.