Dexcool in 1997 pontiac transport corroded intake manifold gasket enabling oil and dexcool to mix in oil and gumming up, causing engine to overheat and self destruct. No warning whatsoever. No warning lights. No lost oil or coolant. Maintained at manufacturer intervals. Requires $6,000 engine replacement. Old oil and dexcool samples are available as are all parts (manifold intake gasket). Over 1100 people have this registered complaint -- see www.gm-v6lemons.com for others.
1997 Pontiac Trans Sport engine complaints
Page 2 of 3: complaints 11 to 40 of 42, newest first, as owners wrote them.
General motors 1997 pontiac transport minivan- intake manifold replaced at 55,000 miles and 72,000.
Lower intake manifold gasket is leaking due to faulty plastic materials. Dealer advises immediate repair to avoid engine failure. Dealer indicates this is a common problem with no relief from general motors. Gm has issued a technical bulletin to its dealers regarding the problem. Bulletin #: 03-06-01-010 march 2003.
Faulty head gaskey causes major engine failure in gm behicles.
Our cyl head gaskets had to be replaced and our cyl heads had to be machined, we also had to replace our fuel pump at the same time
At 51000 miles the 3.4l engine had lower intake gasket failure in which the dex-cool anti freeze dumped into the crankcase mixing with the oil. This only had one warning a couple months earlier as the low coolant light came on and I added 1/2 gallon dex-cool with no signs of leakage. Next time it happened was when my wife was taking daughter to school and temp. Light came on. Van was not driven over 2 miles to dealer, as light went out. Dealer said extreme mixture in both crankcase and radiator. Recommended replace radiator, waterpump, intake gaskets, flush both systems at a cost of 1500 not to be applied toward engine replacement if failure on start up. Dealer had just had van in week before for check engine light and steering recall and found nothing wrong !!!! We traded it in at a loss as I checked into the problem and learned about thousands of other owners with same problems with total engine failures after repairs made. We lost over $3000 equity between what trade value would have been if no problem with engine and letting dealer fix problem after trade. Van had many problems since we bought it new but we always had them fixed and was well maintained. Looked new when we traded with only 50,000 miles. Paint on hood blistered twice, steering / brakes wobbled since new at varyng speeds, always had ticking sound in engine dealer said was "normal", rear seats would jamb up if you tried to remove, wiper arms failed twice, serpentine belt tensioner broke off on engine start up in dec. 2002. Cost $375 with towing, power window switch failed in down position at replacement cost of about $175. Engine under warranty when it had a severe gas smell that nearly caused a fire in about 1999. They kept it a week and never said what the problem was. They had just worked on it for ticking sound. (probably intake gaskets then also). Gm was no help after warranty was up.
Engine failure due to leaking intake maifold gasket on 3.4l engine. Engine was meticulously maintained to that point, with all service receipts to prove that fact. No pervious coolant leakage was noted before the problem. Engine began making severe knocking noises while driving in mountains of wyoming. Service tech at laramie gm auto center said that the enging was losing oil pressure and consuming (losing) coolant. Coolant leaked into the intake mainfold through the faulty intake mainfold gasket. I had the repair done, and now 28,000 into the new engine, I am hearing various engine noises again. Will go to new local dealer for analysis. Gm should repay me for this--they will not admit any responsibility for this problem, only offering a discount on a new gm car. I am still paying on this vehicle, because the money that would have gone into payments went toward the new engine at 67,950 miles. Driver's side power window regulator has also failed. $650 estimate to replace it. Numerous other problems with this car--many have been repaired through recalls. The engine issue should be a recall as well, or a class action should be started.
This vehicle was very well maintained oilchange every 3k miles, transmission serviced every 30,000 miles. The rack&pinion went out in october 2003. The transmission went out in may of this year and now the engine. Van was running hot, we replaced the thermostat, water pump, oxygen sensor, main radiator hose and flushed radiator, and purchased a new radiator cap. It is still running hot. It has a blown head gasket, and a warped head, no telling what this will cost.
Our 97 pontiac transport was fine until last year. New transmission (70,000 miles, o.k.) then a few months later it began overheating--new thermostat, which worked for a few weeks, then new radiator, which worked for a few weeks, then, when the mechanic said it probably needed a head gasket ($2000 or more) we decided to get rid of it. But we were not even able to use it as a trade in, because it overheated so badly. The electrical system had always been quirky, but livable (I.e. The gas gauge had never worked, the windows were very slow and the cell phone plugs never worked) I called the dealer (peruzzi, in langhorne, pa) but, of course, it was not their problem. The mechanic told us that gm was using a new coolant in their 97's which became problematic as it aged--he thought that might have been the original source of the problem, but acknowledged that gm has not admitted to any error. We were the original owners and always maintained the car properly, from day one. The mechanic is a personal friend, and has an excellent reputation. The car was sold for junk. It's value, according to edmunds.com, was about $6000/7000 .
The day before I took the van in for repairs it stopped on me and I coasted home with hardly no brakes and bad steering.the repairs that I was about to have done was for a leaking intake gasket.I did not know what had happened until I read about the same thing happening with other people.some people call it vapor lock. If there would have been people or other cars in my way this could have turned very bad. All the gm dealers say that this is a common problem. When I call gm they say they never heard about it. Something needs to be done now about this problem. Thank you , scott eggebrecht
Both, not just one of my headlights casings popped off without warning. I have had to replace them. Which I have never had to do with any other car I have owned.
I have owned my pontiac transport 2 years. In that time I have driven it 17,000 miles. It has 78,500 miles at present. For most of that time the add coolant light has come on intermittently. My pontiac dealer tells me that I need a $900 repair to replace a intake manifold gasket. In conversing with other gm owners, I have learned that this is a common problem with the cooling system possibly due to the dex-cool antifreeze which gm says should last 150,000 miles. I feel that gm should take responsibility for these failures. E g armentrout.
Coolant light started coming on over a year ago. Took the van to bob neil pontiac in winston-salem nc. They checked it out but said they could find no reason. Had been checking and adding coolant regularly. Problem had increased and had it checked again in march 2003 while the van was in for a recall notice. This time they told me it would cost $600.00 + to fix the problem. The van has started having sudden swings in thermostat readings and using over a quart of coolant a week. I have read of others complaining on this site of the same problem and worse. I also reviewed numerous service bulletins from pontiac regarding this type of problem. Why would gm not offer to help correct this problem if they know about it?
My 1997 pontiac transport only has 54000 miles on it and the engine intake manifold has gone up on it. After looking into it I have found this is a common problem with gm cars and trucks with a 3.4l engine. There seems to be a faulty design to the gasket. I have taken care of this van doing all maintenance on schedule. Gm will do nothing to fix this problem even though they are well aware of this happening. They have even issued a service bulletin to dealers on how to diagnose the problem quickly (tsb#02-06-01-014). When the gasket goes there is a loss of power in the engine or stalling making it hard to steer and break.
Vehicle: 1997 pontiac trans sport, VIN [xxx], 96,634 mi. Engine developed severe knock and strong smell of coolant. Took vehicle to franklin pontiac gmc in franklin, tn and was told the intake gaskets had failed and contaminated oil, and that this was not uncommon for this vehicle. Required replacement of lifters, pushrods, intake gaskets, oil and coolant on jan. 17, 2003 for cost of appx. $1,100. Replaced water pump on oct. 18, 2002 for cost of appx. $250. Low coolant light had been coming on intermittently for past several years, with faint smell of coolant, and I filled up radiator reservoir with dexcool thinking it was a normal evaporation through reservoir cap. I have since learned of many other similar intake gasket problems on gm vehicles, and am worried about another gasket failure as well as what unknown damage has occurred to my engine's bearings. *nlm information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).
The intake manifold experienced a leak.
Engine has been overheating for a year now. Took vehicle to pontiac. They tested it and replaced the water pump. Still overheating so they replaced the thermostat and radiator cap. Still overheating. Pontiac stated it needed a new head gasket and wanted $3500.00 to replace it. They further stated they were not sure this was the problem either. I have already paid $500.00 for the previous service. I have read there are many others with this same problem with gm 3.4 liter engines.
The vehicle experienced a coolant leak, which caused the vehicle to stall.
My wife and I are the original owners of a 1997 pontiac transport with 71,000 miles. Since about 65,000 miles, it seemed to very slowly lose coolant, but we could not find out where it was going. At 70,000 miles, a "white milky sludge like jelly material" appeared in the engine, and right away I knew we had a problem. This vehicle has been meticulous maintained, so immediately I took it to our local pontiac dealer and informed them that we had coolant leak. The service department at the dealer confirmed that the lower intake manifold gasket had failed, allowing coolant to mix in with the oil. They had to replace the gasket and flush out the motor all to the tune of $731.00. Calling gm customer service was a waste of time because they "denied" any problems, and they said since the vehicle was out of warranty, we were responsible for any repairs. Come to find out that a lot of others were experiencing the same intake manifold gasket issues with gm. I am hoping that our problems was caught in time as it seems like many folks are worse off. I know that my vehicle is out of warranty, but since the problem seems to be widespread across many gm vehicles, models, and engines, I think that gm should be held responsible for some/all of the costs associated with this gasket defect/service issue. I didn't know if you might be able to help out??
Day before I was going to have my 97 pontiac transport repaired for a leaking intake manifold gasket I was coming home and the van shut down on me, leaving me with poor steering and hardley no brakes. After leaving it sit for about a hour it restarted. I did some checking on the internet and read about the same thing happenig to other people with leaking manifold gaskets.I called gm about the problem and they said they never heard of any problems like this. The oldsmobile garage that told me what the problem was said this happens all the time, that the gaskets are defective. My concern is that if there would have been people or cars near me when this happened this could have been deadly. For gm to sit and lie to me that theres nothing wrong and then I see petitions with arond 1350 people who have had the same problem on the internet, something had better be done.I think a recall should be done.
Consumer stated, while driving the vehicle noticed a smoke under the hood. Plastic manifold was causing the burning, damaged the head gasket. Dealer has been notified. Ts intake manifold resealed.
The van was involved in accident which the intake manifold gasket was damaged. The van was repaired by a pontiac dealership. Anti-freeze is leaking by the intake manifold and mixing with the oil, which wasn't from the accident. The owner has found similar reports on "agencys' website. Please describe details. Ts
While driving in rainy weather, the head light len covers fell off due to inferior adhesive causing the bulbs to burn out. Manufacturer notified.
Loss of coolant from the tail pipe. Vehicle taken to a repair shop and informed that intake mamifold gasket was cracked. Dealer and manufactuerer were notified. *ak the coolant is getting into the motor oil which could cause engine failure. Consumer would like attention to this matter because if the problem gets worse, a new engine would have to be put in.
Sliding door would not close automatically. Door would not latch. Buzzer would sound and door would come open, even while driving. Vehicle was taken in twice under recalls. Once under recall 01 v 224 000 for sliding door and second time under recall 01 v 067 000. Neither recall corrected the problem. *ak. Consumer also stated the left turn signal was inoperative, the dealer replaced the turn signal bulb, also there was a rattle noise when vehicle was in idle, dealer replaced the belt tensioner.
No summary listed for above vehicle.
Very loud engine knock, leaving the car undrivable. This, according to the gm dealer service department in laramie, wy, has been caused by either a spun bearing/bearing failure or other failure causing lack of oil flow to vital engine parts. I must now ei.
Intake manifold gasket leaks oil/antifreeze down the engine. This problem is known to gm but it does nothing.
The vehicle's engine failed resulting in a blown motor. There were no warnings or indications of impending failure. We purchased the vehicle approximately one year ago. The vehicle has been regularly maintained(every 3000-4000 miles)by us and the previous owner and we have the documentation to show it. Our independent research has found that a similar defect existed in model years prior to our vehicle's. Gm has been reluctant to assist us with this problem.
I have had the seat belt latches replaced 4 times on the mid-row seats. 2 times I have had to take it in to have the window latch repaired on the mid-row,left window. It kept popping open when driving in bumpy conditions. The water pump has given out 2x. The power sliding door keeps blowing the fuse and will not operate. The rear window wiper and washer has been inoperable on 2 occasions. Dealer has attempted to fix all these problems repeatedly, but they are only temporary fixes! These things are obviously defects because they occur again and again.
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