Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1997 Pontiac Trans Sport, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Steering54
- Engine and engine cooling42
- Structure37
- Exterior lighting36
- Visibility25
- Latches/locks/linkages17
- Service brakes, hydraulic17
- Power train14
- Fuel system, gasoline11
- Seat belts10
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 12 injuries and 3 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 1997 Pontiac Trans Sport failed the safety check 0.00% of the time — 100% less often than the average 1997 passenger car (1.60%). Median odometer at inspection: 111,815 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Fuel consumption
Official Canadian test results for 1 variant: combined 13.6 L/100 km (about 17 mpg US), CO₂ 313 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trans Sport · Minivan · Regular gasoline | 15.3 | 11.4 | 13.6 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
ON CERTAIN MINIVANS EQUIPPED WITH SECOND-ROW BUCKET SEATS OR CAPTAIN'S CHAIRS AND A POWER SLIDING DOOR ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE, A PASSENGER USING THE INTERIOR HANDLE TO OPEN THE POWER SLIDING DOOR COULD BE INJURED.
CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES AND MINI VANS HAVE LOWER PINION BEARINGS IN THE POWER RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLY IN WHICH THE RETAINER TABS WERE NOT CRIMPED PROPERLY. THESE AND SOME OTHER RETAINERS USED IN VEHICLES ASSEMBLED BETWEEN JANUARY 1, 1996 AND OCTOBER 31, 1997, COULD FAIL AND PERMIT THE BALL BEARINGS TO ESCAPE.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: 1997-2001 CHEVROLET VENTURE, PONTIAC MONTANA/TRANSPORT, AND OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE MINI VANS EQUIPPED WITH PASSENGER SIDE POWER SLIDING DOORS THAT WERE SERVICED IN CAMPAIGN 01013 (01V-067) FROM APRIL TO AUGUST 2001. ALSO 2001 CHEVROLET VENTURE, PONTIAC MONTANA, AND OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE MINI VANS EQUIPPED WITH PASSENGER SIDE POWER SLIDING DOORS ASSEMBLED IN JANUARY THROUGH APRIL 2001. THESE VEHICLES HAVE INADEQUATE FRONT WELDS. IF A FRONT WELD FAILS, THE ACTUATOR CAN JAM IN THE UNLATCHED POSITION AND, WHEN THE SLIDING DOOR CLOSES, IT WILL NOT BE LATCHED.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MINIVANS EQUIPPED WITH PASSENGER SIDE POWER SLIDING DOORS. THE DOOR CLOSES BUT MAY NOT BE LATCHED. IF THIS HAPPENS, THE POWER SLIDING DOOR CAN OPEN WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION, PARTICULARLY WHEN THE VEHICLE ASCENDS A HILL, MAKES A TURN, OR TRAVELS OVER A ROUGH ROAD SURFACE.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER MINI VANS EQUIPPED WITH TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEMS. THE WINDSHIELD WIPER LINKAGE ARM CAN CONTACT A BRAKE LINE WHICH IS CONNECTED TO THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM MODULATOR VALVE. THIS CONTACT CAN CHAFE THE BRAKE LINE RESULTING IN A BRAKE FLUID LEAK.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Pontiac told its dealers about the 1997 Pontiac Trans Sport: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 634989 | SUBJECT REGARDING POOR HEAT WITH COLD OUTSIDE TEMPERATURES AT LOW ENGINE RPM. *TT |
| 634973 | SUBJECT REGARDING POOR HEAT WITH COLD OUTSIDE TEMPERATURES AT LOW ENGINE RPM. *TT |
| 634708 | SUBJECT REGARDING REVISED LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD INSTALLATION. *TT |
| 634674 | CONCERNS WITH WIND NOISE AT THE BASE OF THE WINDSHIELD. *TT |
| 634619 | SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT THAT THE POWER SLIDING DOOR WILL REVERSE ON CLOSING OR THE DOOR WILL APPEAR CLOSED, BUT THE ALARM WILL COME ON WHEN THE TRANSMISSION IS MOVED OUT OF PARK. *TT |
| 634513 | SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT THAT THERE IS RUST FORMING AROUND THE FRONT OR REAR PORTION OF THE ROOF. *TT |
| 634510 | SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT THAT ROAD NOISE CAN BE HEARD COMING FROM THE AREA BEHIND THE FRONT SEATS. *TT |
| 628525 | THIS BULLETIN CONTAINS INFORMATION ON VARIOUS WATERLEAK CONDITIONS. *TT |
| 627616 | INFORMATION REGARDING PREMATURE ALUMINUM HOOD CORROSION. *YH |
| 623403 | THIS BULLETIN IS BEING ISSUED TO REVISE THE FASTENER REQUIREMENTS FOR THE FRONT AND REAR BRAKE CALIPER BRACKET REPLACEMENT PROCEDURES IN THE DISC-BRAKE SUB-SECTION OF BRAKES IN THE APPROPRIATE SERVICE MANUAL. *TT |
| 619792 | SUBJECT REGARDING REVISED FASTENER REQUIREMENTS FOR FRONT AND REAR BRAKE CALIPER BRACKET. *TT |
| 619370 | OWNERS OF SOME VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH HYDRA-MATIC 3T40, 4T60, 4T60-E OR 4T65-E TRANSAXLES MAY COMMENT ON A GRINDING AND / OR GROWLING NOISE THAT IS NOTICEABLE WHEN STANDING IN PARK ON A HILL OR SLOPE WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING AND THE PARKING BRAKE NOT APPLIED. *TT |
| 619360 | SOME OWNERS MAY COMMENT ON DRIVEABILITY SYMPTONS OF LONG OR HARD STARTS, CHUGGLE, ROUGH IDLE AND LIGHT OR INTERMITTENT MISFIRE DUE TO CLOGGED FUEL INJECTORS. *TT |
| 617725 | SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT ON POOR HEAT IN THE VEHICLE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT AT LOW ENGINE RPM. THIS CONDITION IS MOST PREVALENT AT OUTSIDE TEMPERATURES BELOW 0 DEGREES C (32 DEGREES F). *TT |
| 615075 | SOME VEHICLES BUILT PRIOR TO VIN BREAKPOINT WD100162 MAY EXHIBIT FUEL TANK THUD / CLUNK TYPE NOISE AUDIBLE WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP OR DURING A BRAKING MANEUVER WHEN THE FUEL TANK IS FILLED BETWEEN 5/8 AND FULL. *TT |
| 614385 | SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT THAT THE FRONT DOOR GLASS IS SLOW OR NOISY WHEN MOVING UP OR DOWN OR THE WINDOW IS INOPERATIVE. *TT |
| 611293 | EXCESSIVE LATERAL MOVEMENT (SIDE TO SIDE) WHEN USING CERTAIN AFTERMARKET CHILD SEATS. THIS CONDITION OCCURS IN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH SECOND AND THIRD ROW BUCKET SEATS. *TT |
| 609596 | A/C COMPRESSOR CLUTCH IS ENGAGED. THIS CONDITION IS MOST NOTICEABLE WHEN ENGINE IS AROUND THE 1000-2000 RPM RANGE. THE NOISE MAY BE LODEST WHEN THE ENGINE IS UNDER LIGHT ACCELERATION THROUGH THIS RPM RANGE. THE MOAN NOISE MAY BE CREATED BY COMPRESSOR PULSES WHICH SET UP A SYSTEM RESONANCE BETWEEN THE COMPRESSOR AND THE IN-LINE MUFFLER. |
| 6089996 | SOME VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH HYDRA-MATIC 3T40, 4T60 OR 4T60-E TRANSXALES MAY COMMENT ON A GRINDING AND / OR GROWLING NOISE THAT IS NOTICEABLE WHEN IN PARK ON INCLINE. *TT |
| 608378 | SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT THAT THEIR SLIDING SIDE DOOR RATTLES AT THE TOP. *TT |
| 605922 | CONDITIONS WITH ICE ACCUMULATING ON THE REAR BRAKE PIPES. *TT |
| 604343 | SOME OWNERS MAY EXPERIENCE A DRIVEABILITY SYMPTOM OF LONG OR HARD STARTS, CHUGGLE, ROUGH IDLE AND LIGHT OR INTERMITTENT MISFIRE. *TT |
| 604235 | A CONDITION IN WHICH THE WINDSHIELD WIPER LINKAGE ARM CONTACTS A BRAKE LINE CONNECTED TO THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM (TCS) MODULATOR VALVE WHILE THE WIPER LINKAGE ARM IS IN MOTION. *TT |
| 602983 | CONCERNS OF DOOR HANDLES ON WHITE PAINTED VEHICLES TRUNING YELLOW. *YC |
| 601915 | COMMENTS ON A TICKING TYPE NOISE THAT BEGINS SHORTLY AFTER COLD ENGINE START-UP AND GRADUALLY DIMINISHES AS THE ENGINE WARMS UP. *YC |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
REAR AXLE TRAILING ARM FAILURE
SAFETY BELT ASSEMBLY FAILURE
POWER RACK AND PINION STEERING FAILURE
SHOULDER HARNESS CLIP
STEERING RACK AND PINION
UNEXPECTED OPENING OF SLIDING DOOR
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation