Total Complaints
46 filings
PONTIAC TRANS SPORT · model year
1991 PONTIAC TRANS SPORT
46 NHTSA complaints, 2 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1991PONTIACTRANS SPORT carries 46 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 2 crashes, 2 fires, 4 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 1991 TRANS SPORT is seat belts:front:retractor with 6 filings, followed by structure:frame and members (4) and tires:tread/belt (4). 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 1991 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.
46
Complaints
2
Crashes
2
Fires
4
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
2 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 |
|---|---|
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR | 6 |
| STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS | 4 |
| TIRES:TREAD/BELT | 4 |
| STRUCTURE | 3 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 2 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS | 2 |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 2 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE | 2 |
| STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS | 2 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS | 1 |
| VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS | 1 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20130228STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS
OWNER WAS DRIVING AT 40 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE PULLED TO THE LEFT. WAS ABLE TO AVOID ONCOMING TRAFFIC AND STOP VEHICLE, UPON INSPECTION OWNER NOTICED THE FRONT RIGHT OF STRUCTURE HANGING DOWN UPON FURTHER INSPECTION IT IS APPARENT THE BOLT PULLED OUT OF FRAME STRUCTURE CAUSING STEERING LOSS AND MOTOR TO HANG DOWN. *TR
20130228SUSPENSION
OWNER WAS DRIVING AT 40 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE PULLED TO THE LEFT. WAS ABLE TO AVOID ONCOMING TRAFFIC AND STOP VEHICLE, UPON INSPECTION OWNER NOTICED THE FRONT RIGHT OF STRUCTURE HANGING DOWN UPON FURTHER INSPECTION IT IS APPARENT THE BOLT PULLED OUT OF FRAME STRUCTURE CAUSING STEERING LOSS AND MOTOR TO HANG DOWN. *TR
20130228STEERING
OWNER WAS DRIVING AT 40 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE PULLED TO THE LEFT. WAS ABLE TO AVOID ONCOMING TRAFFIC AND STOP VEHICLE, UPON INSPECTION OWNER NOTICED THE FRONT RIGHT OF STRUCTURE HANGING DOWN UPON FURTHER INSPECTION IT IS APPARENT THE BOLT PULLED OUT OF FRAME STRUCTURE CAUSING STEERING LOSS AND MOTOR TO HANG DOWN. *TR
20040915STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS
THE RECALL TO FIX THE CRADLE BOLTS WHICH HAVE RUSTED AND BROKEN ON MY 1991 PONTIAC TRANS SPORT SHOULD HAVE INCLUDED VEHICLES REGISTERED IN MINNESOTA, BECAUSE WE HAVE MORE SALT USED ON OUR ROADS THAN SOME OF THE STATES INCLUDED IN THE RECALL.*AK
Mileage: 156,000
20031229STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
WE OWN A 1991 PONTIAC TRANSPORT AND HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT ANNOYING PROBLEMS. OUR MOST RECENT PROBLEM IS THE "STRIKER" FOR THE PASSENGER AND DRIVER'S DOORS. THE STRIKER FOR THE PASSENGER DOOR BECAME LOOSE AND WE WERE ABLE TO "STABLIZE" THE STRIKER WITH A HARDENING CLAY THAT WILL ALLOW US TO USE THE DOOR PERIODICALLY; AND THE STRIKER FOR THE DRIVER'S DOOR FELL INSIDE THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE. WE TOOK IT TO THE MECHANIC AND THAT'S WHEN WE FOUND THAT BECAUSE OF THE DESIGN OF THAT AREA OF THE VEHICLE, THEY WOULD HAVE TO REMOVE THE PANEL, THE ENTIRE SIDE OF THE VEHICLE, IN ORDER TO WELD THE STRIKER BACK ON, IT WILL COST ROUGHLY $4,000 TO REPAIR BECAUSE IT IS BOTH DOORS. WE ARE USING TEMPORARY MEANS TO HOLD THE DRIVER'S DOOR SHUT UNTIL WE CAN PURCHASE A NEW VEHICLE. THE MONEY WE HAVE SPENT ON NUISANCE REPAIRS IS UNBELIEVABLE. *AK
20031124STRUCTURE
THE VEHICLE'S ENGINE CRADLE HAD CRACKED. THE PROBLEM CAUSED THE ENGINE TO SHAKE AND NOT BE SUPPORTED WHILE DRIVING. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB
Mileage: 150,000
20030620STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
CARRIAGE RETAINER CLIPS RUSTED AND BROKE OFF WHILE DRIVING, CAUSING THE CARRIAGE TO FALL FROM THE VEHICLE.*AK
20010913STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
THE REAR SUBFRAME ATTACHING BOLT AND WASHER KIT RUSTED IN HALF. THIS CAUSED THE REAR OF THE SUBFRAME TO SEPARATE FROM THE BODY , PULLING THE STEERING SHAFT OFF OF THE RACK AND PINION . THIS CAUSING COMPLETE LOSS OF STEERING, AND VEHICLE VEERED INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC ALMOST HITTING ANOTHER VEHICLE HEAD ON!
20010813STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
WHILE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING ABOUT 30 MPH SUBFRAME DROPPED ABOUT A FOOT PULLING STEERING SHAFT OFF STEERING COLUMN. CONSUMER LOST ALL STEERING POWER. ALSO, VEHICLE SWERVED TO LEFT IN ONCOMING TRAFFIC, SUBFRAMES BOLTS AND BUSHINGS AT REAR OF SUBFRAME.*AK *SLC
20010626SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
THE EXACT DATE OF THE FAILURE OF THE SEAT BELT ON PASSENGERS SIDE IS UNKNOOWN. THE FAILURE OF THE SEAT BELT ON THE DRIVERS SIDE IS 06/17/2001.*AK
20001219TIRES:TREAD/BELT
THE BELTS ON THE FIRESTONE TIRES (P205 65 R15) BROKE. *SLC
20001219TIRES:TREAD/BELT
BRIDGESTONE TIRE EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION WHICH CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. *SLC
20001205TIRES:TREAD/BELT
THE BELTS ON THE FIRESTONE TIRES (P205 65 R15) BROKE. *SLC
20001205TIRES:TREAD/BELT
BRIDGESTONE TIRE EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION WHICH CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. *SLC
20000216STRUCTURE
THE REAR CRADLE BOLTS HAVE PULLED OUT THROUGH THE FRONT OF THE FRAME DUE TO CORROSION. A RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED ON THE VEHICLE'S MAKE AND MODEL. HOWEVER,THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN. MANUFACTURER HAS BEN NOTIFIED. *AK
20000204STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)
RECALL 97V058 000/REAR CRADLE BOLTS: WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING LOT VEHICLE LOSES STEERING CONTROL. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER RECALL. *AK
19991022SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER
THE RIGHT REAR SEAT BELT WON'T RETRACT. *YC
19991006STRUCTURE
THE FRAME UNDER THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE RUSTED THROUGH AND WAS READY TO LET GO. WE JUST HAPPENED TO BE HAVING THE BRAKES CHECKED AND THEY SEEN THAT THE FRAME LOOKED BAD AT THE BRAKE SHOP. WE HAD THE VEHICLE HAULED TO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THEM LOOK AT IT AS THE BRAKE GUY SAID THAT HE WOULD NOT DRIVE IT. WHEN WE GOT IT TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY LOOKED AT IT AND ALSO SAID THAT IT WAS BAD. BOTH THE GUYS AT THE DEALERSHIP AND THE BRAKE SHOP SAID THAT THIS SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED TO A VEHICLE OF THIS AGE AND THAT IT SHOULD BE REPORTED TO GM. I CALLED AND REPORTED THE PROBLEM AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THAT THEY COULD DO ABOUT IT. THE DEALERSHIP ALSO CALLED AND REPORTED IT AND WANTED SOMEONE TO COME OUT AND LOOK AT IT AND THEY SAID THAT THEY WOULDN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT AND THAT THEY DIDN'T WANT TO SEE IT. THE DEALERSHIP WAS SURPRISED BECAUSE THEY SAID THAT THIS WAS A DANGEROUS PROBLEM AND THAT IF WE WERE TO BE DRIVING IT 70MPH WHEN THE FRAME DECIDES TO LET LOOSE THE VAN
19990618ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A SUDDEN ACELERATION WHILE PULLING OFF FROM A STOP POSITION (CRUISE CONTROL WAS NOT ENGAGE) CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO RAN ANOTHER STOP SIGN BEFORE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE UNDER CONTROL. DEALER/MFR. NOTIFIED.
19990217SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
DRIVER'S SEAT/MIDDLE SEAT/PASSENGER MID SEAT, AND FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELTS WERE BROKEN. DEALER CONTACTED, AND CANNOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
Compare 1991PONTIACTRANS SPORT to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1991 PONTIAC TRANS SPORT have?▼
The 1991 PONTIAC TRANS SPORT has 46 NHTSA complaints, 2 crashes, 2 fires, 4 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1991 PONTIAC TRANS SPORT?▼
The most-complained component for the 1991 PONTIAC TRANS SPORT is SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR with 6 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS and TIRES:TREAD/BELT.
Is the 1991 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.