PONTIAC TRANS SPORT · model year

1998 PONTIAC TRANS SPORT

287 NHTSA complaints, 17 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1998PONTIACTRANS SPORT carries 287 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 17 crashes, 4 fires, 28 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 1998 TRANS SPORT is exterior lighting:headlights with 23 filings, followed by structure:body:door (17) and latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch (16). 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 1998 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.

287
Complaints
17
Crashes
4
Fires
28
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

287 filings

Crashes Reported

17 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

Above median complaint volume — review patterns below.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS23
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR17
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH16
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING16
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM15
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE11
AIR BAGS11
STEERING:RACK AND PINION8
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL8
UNKNOWN OR OTHER7
STEERING7
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP6
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY6
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE6
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION6

Recent Complaints

20140523ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

AIR. *TR

20140314ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 PONTIAC TRANS SPORT. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE ABS, AIR BAG AND CHECK ENGINE WARNING LAMPS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 119,317.

Mileage: 105,000

20130529AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 PONTIAC TRANS SPORT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A COMPLETE STOP, THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED INADVERTENTLY AND WITHOUT ANY IMPACT TO THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED MINOR BRUISES AND SWELLING TO THE RIGHT ARM. THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 117,000.

Mileage: 117,000

20120116SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

ABS-ANTI LOCKING BRAKES ARE FAULTY AND LIGHT COMES ON FOR NO REASON. ALSO THE AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY. *TR

Mileage: 235,000

20120116AIR BAGS

ABS-ANTI LOCKING BRAKES ARE FAULTY AND LIGHT COMES ON FOR NO REASON. ALSO THE AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY. *TR

Mileage: 235,000

20120105FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 PONTIAC TRANSPORT. THE CONTACT EXITED THE VEHICLE AND WHEN HE RETURNED, THE VEHICLE WAS ENGULFED WITH WHITE SMOKE. THE CONTACT ROLLED DOWN THE WINDOWS TO RELEASE THE SMOKE. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS THE RESULT OF FAULTY WIRING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 149,000.

Mileage: 149,000

20111102ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

AFTER I HAD THE RADIATOR REPLACED $350 JOB THE INTAKE GASKET SPRUNG A LEAK. THEREFORE I HAD TO HAVE NOT ONLY THIS REPLACED BUT THE VALVE COVER GASKET AS WELL WHICH COST A TOTAL OF $867. I ALSO HAD TO RENT A CAR FOR 3 DAY WHICH COST AN ADDITIONAL $30 PER DAY. MY MECHANIC SAID THAT THE RECOMMENDED DEXCOL COOLANT USED IN THIS MODEL CAR, OVER A PERIOD OF TIME, WILL EAT THRU THE GASKET THUS THE LEAK. I NEED TO KNOW IF THERE WAS A RE-CALL REGARDING THIS PROBLEM AND IF I CAN BE COMPENSATED. I AM A HARD WORKING INDIVIDUAL WITH LIMITED RESOURCES. I HAVE ALWAYS MAINTAINED REGULAR MAINTENANCE ON MY VEHICLES NOT FORESEEING THIS ISSUE THAT AROSE. PLEASE GET BACK IN TOUCH WITH ME AS SOON AS POSSIBLE REGARDING HIS MATTER. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

20100527POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 PONTIAC TRANS SPORT. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO SHIFT INTO DRIVE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE GEAR SHIFTER WOULD NOT RESPOND AND HE WAS UNABLE TO REMOVE IT FROM THE PARK POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED AND THERE WERE NO REPAIRS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WAS 110,000.

Mileage: 110,000

20100408TIRES

I HAVE GOODYEAR ASSURANCE CMFTRD 97T 80,000 MILE TIRES ON MY 98 PONTIAC MONTANA VAN. THEY HAVE LESS THAN 30,000 MILES ON THEM AND TWO OF THEM STARTED LEAKING AIR OUT OF THE SIDEWALLS WHICH ARE FULL OF DRYROT TYPE CRACKS. TWO TIRE STORES TOLD ME THEY LOOK LIKE DEFECTS. I TOOK THEM BACK TO THE STORE WHERE I BOUGHT THEM AND THE DEPTH WAS GREATER THAN 3/32 OF AN INCH. I AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE, BOUGHT A FREE REPLACEMENT/ROAD HAZARD CERTIFICATE THAT IS GOOD FOR ONLY THREE YEARS AND THE TIRES ARE NOW FOUR YEARS OLD. BECAUSE OF THE TIRE AGE THEY WANT TO PRORATE THESE UNSAFE TIRES AND CHARGE ME $65.00 @ FOR NEW ONES. WHY IS IT THAT THESE 80,000 MILE TIRES ARE NOT ANY GOOD AFTER 30,000 MILES AND MUST BE REPLACED. THIS VAN IS OUR SECOND CAR AND DOES NOT GET DRIVEN ENOUGH TO GET 80,000 MILES IN THE THREE YEARS THAT THE REPLACEMENT CERTIFICATE IS GOOD FOR.WHEN I BOUGHT THEM I WAS TOLD THESE WERE ONE OF THE BEST AT THAT TIME AND I WAS SURE TO GET A LOT OF MILES ON THEM. I AM VERY VERY UPSET THAT

Mileage: 179,300

20081118EXTERIOR LIGHTING

PONTIAC TRANS SPORT 1998 --EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS VISIBILITY EXTREMELY POOR. OWN VEHICLE SINCE 2005. *TR

Mileage: 118,059

20081118EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

PONTIAC TRANS SPORT 1998 --EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS VISIBILITY EXTREMELY POOR. OWN VEHICLE SINCE 2005. *TR

Mileage: 118,059

20081106STRUCTURE:BODY

PAINT ON HOOD OF VAN IS PEELING AND COMING OFF RIGHT DOWN TO THE METAL. I'VE SEEN THE VERY SAME ISSUE ON MANY OTHER VANS LIKE MINE THE SAME YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL. THIS IS A FACTORY PAINT PROBLEM AND PONTIAC SHOULD FIX THIS. *TR

20080723POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 PONTIAC TRANSPORT. WHENEVER THE CONTACT SHIFTS FROM SECOND TO FOURTH GEAR, REGARDLESS IF SHE IS UPSHIFTING OR DOWNSHIFTING, THE VEHICLE BEGINS TO JERK DURING ACCELERATION. PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, SHE NOTICED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS FIRST STARTED, IT BEGAN TO VIBRATE. THE FAILURE OCCURS VERY INCONSISTENTLY AND THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE SPEED WAS NOT A FACTOR. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 139,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 136,000.

Mileage: 136,000

20080603STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR

I HAVE A 98 PONTIAC TRANSPORT. THE PASSENGER SIDE SLIDE DOOR OPENS ON ITS OWN, AND IT WILL ONLY OPEN MANUALLY. THE SLIDING DOOR STOPPED OPENING WITH THE CONTROL ABOUT THREE MONTHS AGO. *TR

20080602EXTERIOR LIGHTING

PROBLEM: LAST FALL I NOTICED THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULD TURN OFF WHEN I USED THE TURN SIGNAL? SLOWLY I LOST THE 'TRIP COMPUTER' THEN THE TURN SIGNALS WOULD FLASH QUICKLY WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. I ASSUMED THAT THERE WAS A BAD BULB SOMEWHERE WITH THE BRAKES AND TURN SIGNALS. I WOULD ALSO NOTICE THAT THE CLOCK ON THE RADIO WOULD DIM WHEN THE TURN SIGNALS AND BRAKES WERE USED. LONG STORY- SHORT, MORE AND MORE THINGS SEEMED TO BE FAILING OVER TIME. I WAS STARTING TO THINK IT WAS RELATED TO THE ALTERNATOR. SOLUTION: I PULLED THE TAILLIGHTS AND TOOK A CLOSER LOOK. I PULLED THE PLUGS ON THE TOP OF THE LIGHTS AND I FOUND MELTED CONTACTS ON ONE OF THE SIX CONTACT POINTS. I WAS GOING TO TIN THE CONTACT POINTS PUT THAT DIDN'T WORK VERY WELL. I TOOK A SCREW DRIVER AND REALIGNED THE SOCKETS AND SCRAPPED OFF THE MELTED PLASTIC ON THE PINS. TESTED THE LIGHTS AND THEY WORKED PERFECTLY! ALL THE OTHER PROBLEMS WENT AWAY! :) WHAT I FIND STRANGE IS THIS IS THE SECOND GM VAN THAT

20080602ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

PROBLEM: LAST FALL I NOTICED THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULD TURN OFF WHEN I USED THE TURN SIGNAL? SLOWLY I LOST THE 'TRIP COMPUTER' THEN THE TURN SIGNALS WOULD FLASH QUICKLY WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. I ASSUMED THAT THERE WAS A BAD BULB SOMEWHERE WITH THE BRAKES AND TURN SIGNALS. I WOULD ALSO NOTICE THAT THE CLOCK ON THE RADIO WOULD DIM WHEN THE TURN SIGNALS AND BRAKES WERE USED. LONG STORY- SHORT, MORE AND MORE THINGS SEEMED TO BE FAILING OVER TIME. I WAS STARTING TO THINK IT WAS RELATED TO THE ALTERNATOR. SOLUTION: I PULLED THE TAILLIGHTS AND TOOK A CLOSER LOOK. I PULLED THE PLUGS ON THE TOP OF THE LIGHTS AND I FOUND MELTED CONTACTS ON ONE OF THE SIX CONTACT POINTS. I WAS GOING TO TIN THE CONTACT POINTS PUT THAT DIDN'T WORK VERY WELL. I TOOK A SCREW DRIVER AND REALIGNED THE SOCKETS AND SCRAPPED OFF THE MELTED PLASTIC ON THE PINS. TESTED THE LIGHTS AND THEY WORKED PERFECTLY! ALL THE OTHER PROBLEMS WENT AWAY! :) WHAT I FIND STRANGE IS THIS IS THE SECOND GM VAN THAT

20071115ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 PONTIAC TRANSPORT. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE PASSENGER SIDE AUTOMATIC DOOR WOULD OPEN AND CLOSE INTERMITTENTLY. THE DOOR WOULD APPEAR TO BE CLOSED, BUT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PLACED INTO GEAR, THE ALARM WOULD SOUND TO INDICATE THAT THE DOOR WAS NOT LATCHED PROPERLY. THE DEALER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE BULLETIN NUMBER IS 020864011. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,245 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

Mileage: 100,000

20070514ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 PONTIAC TRANSPORT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE'S INTAKE MANIFOLD IS LEAKING INTERNALLY AND EXTERNALLY IN BETWEEN THE INTAKE AND THE BLOCK. HE HAS NOT CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER DUE TO PRIOR ISSUES WITH THE TRANSMISSION. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE CONSUMES A LARGE AMOUNT OF COOLANT WHICH CONTAMINATES THE OIL. THE ENGINE SIZE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 65,150 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000. UPDATED 06/08/07 *TR

Mileage: 65,000

20070327CrashAIR BAGS

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. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL SERVICE CENTER, BUT HAD NOT YET BEEN REPAIRED.*AK

Mileage: 183,000

20061208ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

FAILED HEAD GASKET. *NM

Mileage: 17,700

Compare 1998PONTIACTRANS SPORT to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1998 PONTIAC TRANS SPORT have?
The 1998 PONTIAC TRANS SPORT has 287 NHTSA complaints, 17 crashes, 4 fires, 28 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1998 PONTIAC TRANS SPORT?
The most-complained component for the 1998 PONTIAC TRANS SPORT is EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS with 23 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR and LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH.
Is the 1998 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.