The doors have an annoying clicking that comes from the automatic door locks. It seems that the system senses the doors to be unlocked and clicks to lock even though the doors are already locked! I am afraid that one day the doors will unlock instead while driving. Also my transmission failed last summer and I was told that the transmission cooler lines were inoperable! Causing the transmission oil to burn and it cost me $3000.00 to replace.
Pontiac Trans Sport transmission failure problems
10 of the 971 owner complaints about the Pontiac Trans Sport describe complete transmission failure, most of them for the 1997 model year.
- owner complaints
- 10
- worst model year
- 1997
Is there a fix? There are 2 recalls for this area of the car. See below
By model year
- 19991
- 19981
- 19974
- 19961
- 19953
Often reported together
What owners say
The vehicle's transmission had to be replaced and the engine had to be replaced due to a faulty head gasket. *nm the transmission failed twice. *jb the consumer stated that he has had the vehicle towed on four separated occasions.
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 .
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.
1997 pontiac transport transmission failure under 70,000 miles $2,500.00 repair faulty intake valve gasket under 70,000 $650.00 repair.
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.
Spare tire just dropped off car, forunately it happened in a parking lot and there was no damage to car or other people or property. In looking over your site I found a report for the same problem on a 1993 pontiac transsport. I am now beginning to belive that this is a common problem with possible disasterous consequences if this happened on a major highway at high speeds. The radiator/transmission failure, according to the transmission repair place, appears to show up on this year and style of gm minivans, chevy, olds, & pontiac are all from the same factory and use the same components. I do not know if pontiac will respond to either complaint, but I am going to pursue both complaints.
Consumer had been driving at 60 MPH with cruise control on and on wet pavement, on exit ramp slowing down without prior warning, it felt like vehicle was pulling a piece of metal. Transmission burned up. Dealer stated that consumer needed a new transmission, not one that is rebuilt.
Transmission failed
Transmission failed twice.
Related recalls
Power train: automatic transmission
- What is wrong
- Vehicle description: mini vans. These vehicles may have (1) a broken shift cable fitting or (2) loose shift linkage. Consequently, moving the shift lever to a 'park' position may not shift the transmission to 'park'.
- Risk
- The vehicle could roll increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect, and replace if necessary, the automatic transaxle range selector cable.
Recall number 98V131000 · Recall details
Power train: automatic transmission: cooling unit and lines
- What is wrong
- Vehicle description: passenger vehicles manufactured from august 1991 through july 1995. The transmission oil cooler line can separate when the vehicle is operated in low temperatures in combination with high transmission loads.
- Risk
- Vehicle fires can occur due to the spillage of transmission fluid.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the transmission oil cooler lines.
Recall number 96V015000 · Recall details
Questions about the Pontiac Trans Sport transmission failure
Which Pontiac Trans Sport years have complete transmission failure problems?
The model years with the most reports are 1997 (4 complaints), 1995 (3 complaints) and 1996 (1 complaints).
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