Check a VIN

1999 Pontiac Trans Sport problems

The most common problem on the 1999 Pontiac Trans Sport is engine and cooling. It has 3.3 times the complaints of a typical Trans Sport model year.

Typical year3.3x the typical complaints
Owner complaints
10
Recalls
2
Service bulletins
52
Worst area
Engine
Fuel economy
18mpg

The worst 1999 Pontiac Trans Sport problems

Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.

  • Engine
    5
  • Seat belts
    2
  • Body
    1
  • Brakes
    1
  • Electrical
    1

Problems by type

Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.

  • Engine
    5
  • Seat belts
    2
  • Body
    1
  • Brakes
    1
  • Electrical
    1
  • Fuel system
    1
  • Lights
    1
  • Locks
    1
  • Seats
    1
  • Visibility
    1

Recalls 2

Latches/locks/linkages: doors: latchReported December 22, 2004 · 717,302 vehicles affected
What is wrong
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.
Risk
If a passenger uses the interior handle to open the power sliding door and holds onto the handle while it is being opened by the motor, the passenger's arm may be pushed into the seat back or armrest and a wrist or lower arm injury may result.
Remedy
Dealers will replace the power sliding door interior handle on the passenger-side. If the vehicle is equipped with a power or manual sliding door on the driver-side, the interior handle will also be replaced for appearance reasons. Note: before the vehicle is serviced, gm advises owners to not use the interior door handle to open the door. The driver can open and close the door from switches at the driver's position or by using the remote key fob. The driver should tell passengers to use the switch located in front of the door to open or close it. The driver should use the override switch to prevent operation of the power door by children or by others who are not familiar with its use. The owner notification letter mailing will be conducted in phases with the first phase beginning on may 31, 2005. The second phase mailing began on july 18, 2005. The recall began on may 31, 2005. Phase 2 began on july 18, 2005. Phase 3 (final phase) began on august 24, 2005, to all remaining customers. Owners should contact chevrolet at 1‑800‑630‑2438; pontiac at 1‑800‑620‑7668; or oldsmobile at 1‑800‑630‑6537.

Recall number 04V597000 · Recall details

Air bags: frontalReported January 25, 2002 · 1,730 vehicles affected
What is wrong
On certain passenger vehicles and mini vans, the driver's air bag inflator modules could produce excessive internal pressure. In the event of a crash that would trigger a driver's air bag deployment, the increased internal pressure can cause the inflator module to explode.
Risk
Metal and plastic debris could cause severe injury to vehicle occupants.
Remedy
Dealers will replace the driver air bag module. Owner notification began february 1, 2002. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact pontiac at 1‑800‑762‑2737.

Recall number 02V027000 · Recall details

See all 2 recalls for the 1999 Pontiac Trans Sport

Defect investigations

Power-sliding doorOpened September 17, 2004, closed December 22, 2004

Subject vehicles are available with an optional power sliding door.the interior handle is oriented in the vertical position in the door panel and lines up at the elbow level when the occupant is seated in the 2nd-row outboard position.if the occupant holds the interior handle in the thumb up position during power-assisted opening, the arm/wrist can be push back with force against the 2nd-row bucket seat or captain's chair seat back creating a risk of injury (other seating configurations have ample seat to door clearance to avoid entrapment of the lower arm).among the 103 total reports, there were 102 alleged injuries including arm/wrist, thumb and shoulder injuries.a count of injuries reveals that 76 injuries were a fractured or a broken arm/wrist requiring an immobilizing cast for four-to-six weeks.all injuries involve the right side power sliding door.the left side power sliding door is on far fewer vehicles, but more importantly, it produces less force.gm notified the agency by letter dated december 21, 2004, that it will recall model year 1997 though early 2005 gm u-van vehicles equipped with a right side power sliding door and with 2nd-row bucket seats or captain chairs (the federal safety agency recall #04v597).as part of the recall remedy, gm will replace the door handle with a flush mounted handle that will prevent an occupant from grasping the handle with the palm between the handle and door panel (thumb up orientation) and thus eliminate the potential for arm/wrist entrapment.this investigation is closed.

PE04064

Rear axle trailing arm failureOpened April 23, 2003, closed January 12, 2004

On november 18, 2002, odi opened a preliminary evaluation (pe02-086) to evaluate allegations of rear axle trailing arm failures in the subject vehicles (u-van) which included two reporting crashes.on april 9, 2003, odi upgraded pe02-086 to an engineering analysis (ea03-005) to continue its examination of the issue. The trailing arm design in these vehicles has been used in the u-van from my 1997 through the present.the gm analysis concluded that the subject trailing arms could crack or buckle if they were damaged during assembly, pre-delivery handling, or subjected to certain service related abuse conditions such as improper towing or jacking.analysis of odi and gm data has identified 19 incidents of rear axle trailing arm failures in the subject vehicles.there have been no new reports to odi or gm in the last 12 months and only one new complaint in the last 21 months. Due to the low complaint rate and the absence of a continuing trend in reported failures, a safety-related defect has not been identified at this time and further use of agency resources does not appear to be warranted.accordingly, this investigation is closed. The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by the federal safety agency that a safety-related defect does not exist. The agency will take further action if warranted by the circumstances. For additional information, see the attached closing report.

EA03005

Air bag tear during deploymentOpened November 3, 2000, closed January 11, 2001

PE00045

Unexpected opening of sliding doorOpened July 25, 2000, closed October 22, 2001

There is no summary currently available

SQ00014

Technical service bulletins for the 1999 Pontiac Trans Sport 52

Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.

See all 52 bulletins for the 1999 Pontiac Trans Sport

1999 Pontiac Trans Sport fuel economy

Official EPA estimates in miles per gallon (MPGe for electric). Ranges cover trims that share the same engine.

EngineDriveCityHighwayCombined
3.4L 6‑cylFWD162318

What 1999 Pontiac Trans Sport owners say

Most recent owner complaints, unedited.

Filed Apr 3, 2006 · Seat belts · 57,000 miles · WI · crash · 2 injuries

Dt*: the contact stated while traveling 40 MPH, the vehicle went off the road and struck a tree. When this occurred, the front driver side seatbelt shoulder strap did not lock. The driver hit the steering wheel causing minor chest injuries, then the airbag deployed. Also, the middle row driver side seatbelt came unlocked. This caused the occupants leg to be crushed, resulting in surgery. There was a police report taken at the scene. The vehicle was towed to a salvage yard and inspected by the manufacturer, but it was determined not to be a defect.

Filed Mar 12, 2004 · Engine · 44,000 miles · NY

With respect to my 1999 pontiac transport van, october of 2003 the engine started overheating and we discovered that the coolant was low. We added coolant and some type of seal into the coolant because we were told by several gm mechanics that it was probably the head gasket and this seal would help to get us by until we could have it fixed. I called the company where I purchased the van (2nd hand) and the van was no longer under warranty (over by 4,000 miles at the time). I did purchase the extended warranty. We priced around for the cost to have the head gasket repaired/replaced and found that we would have to spend between $800 and $1,000 to get it fixed. Our van is now sitting in a garage being torn apart and the head gasket was the problem. Prior to october 2003 we had the coils changed and the #5 plug was showing a malfunctioning problem which was showing up on the computer. When we brought it to the garage they replaced the plugs. We were told by the mechanic who is currently working on the gasket that the coolant was leaking out on the #5 gasket and this was the problem previously which was not picked up on by the past mechanic. This has been an ongoing problem for us since about june of 2003.

Filed Mar 11, 2004 · Electrical, Engine · ID

Problems with the sliding door, headlamp fell off, automatic locks/window and etc. *ph the consumer believed the vehicle has a coolant leak. The fuel modulator and spark plugs were replaced.

Filed Jan 15, 2004 · Engine · 900 miles · MD

Intake manifold gaskets (upper & lower) need to be replaced because it is leaking engine coolant. Also need to replace thermostat and gasket. Cost $900.

Filed Apr 10, 2003 · Engine · 44,402 miles · VA

Transmission failure caused by antifreeze in transmission. Corrosion of radiator causing antifreeze to mix with transmission fluid. Now is overheating caused by intake manifold gasket leaking allowing antifreeze to get into crankcase. Potentially fatal for engine.

Filed Jun 5, 2002 · Seat belts · MI

Retractor mount not secured to upper panel, top threads into pillar not done, installed missing bolt in seat belt mount.

Filed Aug 23, 2001 · Body · CD

While exiting a parking lot, the rear sliding door opened, the dealer found that a bent bracket in the door mounting was the apparent cause of the door failing to latch properly. Nlm

Filed Aug 10, 2001 · Seats · CA

While in driveway was adjusting front seat and vehicle started smelling like smoke. Consumer looked under seat, and one of the wires was completely bare. Consumer contacted dealer, and dealer did repairs. But, wires were still hanging from under seat.

Filed Feb 28, 2000 · Brakes, Engine · MA

The engine has been making a clicking sound or drumming sound for quite a while now. I have taken the van into the dealer on a number of occassions. I have since learned that my van is not the only van to make this noise, and that some vans have had the engine replaced because of it. Something about the pistons and wall chamber. The van has also quite running while I was driving w/children, and when braking, an awful loud noise comes, sounds like the car is falling apart. I refuse to take the vehicle back, and am having loads of problems dealing with this.

Filed Jul 9, 1999 · MN

8 passenger van, tried to get 3 different types of car seats to work in the second row of seats, but seem unable to do so. The buckle part of the seat belt seems to come out to far from the seat allowing a large gap so the child seat can not fit tightly into any of the 3 seats in the second row. It is my understanding a carseat should not move anymore then an inch after it is buckled in. And when the carseats are in. The bottom corner where it buckles in, moves around quite vigorously. Allowing way more the an inch of slack.

Compare the 1999 Pontiac Trans Sport

Other model years

1990199119921993199419951996199719981999200020012003

Questions about the 1999 Pontiac Trans Sport

Is the 1999 Pontiac Trans Sport reliable?

Owners have filed 10 complaints about the 1999 Pontiac Trans Sport, 3.3 times a typical Trans Sport model year.

What is the most common problem with the 1999 Pontiac Trans Sport?

Engine and cooling, with 5 complaints. Next is seat belts (2).

How many recalls does the 1999 Pontiac Trans Sport have?

2 recalls, covering latches/locks/linkages and air bags.

What year does the Pontiac Trans Sport have bad engine?

The Pontiac Trans Sport model years with the most engine complaints are 1998 (52 complaints), 1997 (42 complaints) and 1995 (17 complaints).

What gas mileage does the 1999 Pontiac Trans Sport get?

Official estimates for the 1999 Pontiac Trans Sport range from 18 mpg combined. The most efficient version (3.4L 6-cyl, FWD) gets 16 city and 23 highway.

Share your experience with the 1999 Pontiac Trans Sport

Tell other buyers what went wrong and what it cost. We review every report before it appears, and we never publish names, emails or VINs.

No names, contact details or links. Reports about a dealer or a person are not published.

VIN decoder

See the problems and recalls for an exact car

Buying a used 1999 Pontiac Trans Sport?

Check the exact car before you pay: accidents, salvage or flood titles, odometer readings and previous owners.

Check its history
Is this car on a recall?Check VIN