1997 Pontiac Trans Sport: windshield wiper failure

Filed Aug 18, 2008 · Locks, Transmission · 90,000 miles · MN

I have owned both a '92 and a '97 transport and both had the same problems. The power window controls pop loose of the driver's door and the windows fail to operate. The rear door lock fails. The blinker and cruise control lever snapped off the steering column so the blinker doesn't work. The window wiper control module failed. The transaxle hoses sprung a leak at the metal connections causing the transaxle to loose fluid and the vehicle to be stranded.

Filed Jan 15, 2004 · Brakes, Engine · 39,000 miles · KY

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.

Filed Dec 4, 2003 · Visibility · IN

My windshield wipers stay straight up when they are turned off. This is obstructing my view while driving.

Filed Aug 22, 2003 · Visibility · 97,000 miles · MI

Windshield wipers works intermittently while driving at any speed.

Filed Aug 7, 2003 · Visibility · 69,000 miles · MA

I own a '97 pontiac transport(montana) and for the second time in 6 years I am having windshield wiper problems .. The problem is when you shut off the wipers they don't close correctly .. They close with the blades straight up vertically.

Filed Apr 2, 2003 · Visibility · 82,000 miles · UT

I took my 97 pontiac transport into the christensen dealership at 2125 n. University parkway. P.o box 1487 , provo utah 84604 for a recall on my windshield wiper parking assembly. The dealership charged me $40.00 to look at the windshield wipers and told me that they could not honor the recall because another person had taken the car in before me and had already fixed the recall. If a recall is placed on a item and the dealership fixes the item with another faulty item shouldn't they be responsible to fix the problem until they get it right? Should the owner of the vehicle continue to pay to fix the problem over and over with a faulty item that could enable him to drive his vehicle in a safe manner? I hope this is not the case. Thank you for your time. James baldwin.

Filed Jul 8, 2002 · Body, Seat belts · AZ

Problem #1 - seat belts. Four out of the seven seat belts in the car have failed. Specifically the retraction system. Four out of seven going bad to me, means this is not an isolated failure. I'm concern about the other 3 working if in an accident. Dealers contacted want to charge me $800 - $1000 to fix four seat belts. Need to get it fixed, but nothing to believe I won't be asking that same dealer to fix the other 3 seat belts when they go bad too. Dealers say high cost of repair is directly attributed to the cost of parts. Unlike an alternator, or other engine component, the seat belt assembly is sole sourced from one manufacturer. Locked in to a non-competitive price (and obviously over inflated). Problem #2 - rack and pinon steering. I noticed on your web site what I believe to be the same problem under pontiac transports. Basically told by dealer the rack and pinon steering system is bad. Out of warranty, so big bucks. Have had to pay quite a bit in dealer repair bills already on vehical. For example, problems with automatic sliding door, windshield wipers, back hatch, side window, push buttons on door arm rest, air conditioning.....also poor design with plastic parts in high stressed point areas.

Filed Jul 10, 2001 · Brakes, Visibility · PA

Windshield wiper arm is wearing through brake line, causing a loss of brakes. Dealer installed a retainer to prevent contact between brake line and windshield wiper arm, but defect has reoccurred twice even after retainer was installed.*ak

Filed Jan 13, 2000 · Brakes, Visibility · MI

When it's raining, and when turning windshield wipers off they stayed up and won't go down, so that they are could be in the driver's view. This was the 5th time this problem has occurred. Also, consumer has problems with rear drum brakes.

Filed Nov 15, 1999 · Body, Engine · KY

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.

Filed Jul 20, 1998 · Visibility · NC

When there is snow the windshield wiper blades do not clear snow properly. Ice freezes under the blades. Manufacturers says there is no problem.

Filed May 7, 1998 · Brakes, Visibility · TX · crash

Recall 98v072000; the stopping distance hasn't gotten any better since the recall work has been performed, and when turning on the windshield wipers the radio failed. There had been an crash before and after the recall work had been performed because of stopping distances of the brakes.