1994 Pontiac Trans Sport

Routine

Owners filed 98 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the structure › body › door. It has been recalled 4 times.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer7
000
Structure › Body › Door7
000
Latches/Locks/Linkages › Doors › Latch5
000
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline5
010
Seat Belts › Front › Retractor4
000
Power Train › Automatic Transmission4
010
Tires › Tread/Belt3
000
Seat Belts › Front › Webbing3
000
Power Train › Automatic Transmission › Cooling Unit and Lines3
010
Wheels › Lugs/Nuts/Bolts/Studs2
000

4 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Power Train › Automatic Transmission › Cooling Unit and Lines96V015000
Filed Jan 23, 1996585,182 vehiclesGeneral Motors Corp.

Defect. 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.

Seat Belts › Front › Webbing94V100000
Filed May 24, 19945,294 vehiclesGeneral Motors Corp.

Defect. THE SECOND ROW, RIGHT HAND SHOULDER BELT CAN BECOME "PINCHED" BETWEEN THE SEAT AND THE DOOR FRAME PILLAR TRIM. THE SHOULDER BELT MAY NOT RETRACT PROPERLY, WHICH DOES NOT COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 208, "OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION." THE 1994 VEHICLES HAVE AN OPTIONAL INTEGRAL (BUILT IN) CHILDSEAT INSTALLED NEXT TO THE POWER SLIDING SIDE DOOR. THE 1993 INVOLVED VEHICLES HAVE STANDARD SEATS IN THAT SAME POSITION.

Risk. IMPROPER SHOULDER BELT RETRACTION DOES NOT PROVIDE ADEQUATE PROTECTION TO THE SEAT OCCUPANT IN THE EVENT OF A SUDDEN STOP OR COLLISION.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE DOOR FRAME PILLAR TRIM PANEL WITH A REDESIGNED TRIM PANEL. ALSO, A CAUTION LABEL WILL BE APPLIED TO THE CHILD SEAT ADVISING THE OWNER NOT TO INSTALL THE SEAT TO THE PASSENGER SIDE OF A VEHICLE WITH A POWER SLIDING SIDE DOOR.

Seat Belts › Front › Retractor94V015000
Filed Jan 21, 199422,862 vehiclesGeneral Motors Corp.

Defect. THE THIRD ROW SAFETY BELT RETRACTORS MAY BE INSTALLED INCORRECTLY AND MAY LOCK-UP WHEN THE VEHICLE IS ON SLOPES OF LESS THAN 15 DEGREES, WHICH DOES NOT COMPLY WITH FMVSS NO. 209, "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES."

Risk. CONSEQUENCE OF NON-COMPLIANCE: PASSENGERS SEATED IN THESE POSITON MAYBE UNABLE TO EXTRACT AND FASTEN THEIR SEAT BELTS UNTIL THE VEHICLE IS MOVED TO A MORE LEVEL SURFACE. UNBELTED OCCUPANTS ARE MORE AT RISK OF INJURY IN THE EVENT OF A COLLISION THAN THOSE USING SAFETY BELTS.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL REMOVE THIRD ROW SAFETY BELT RETRACTORS AND REINSTALL THEM PROPERLY.

Seat Belts › Rear/Other93V212000
Filed Dec 13, 19931,238 vehiclesGeneral Motors Corp.

Defect. THE SAFETY BELT RETRACTORS FOR THE REAR CENTER POSITION ARE MISSING A PAWL SPRING AND IN CASE OF AN ACCIDENT, WILL ALLOW THE SAFETY BELT WEBBING TO EXTEND BEYOND THE MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 208, "OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION."

Risk. IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT THE SAFETY BELT WOULD NOTRESTRAIN THE OCCUPANT, SUBJECTING THE OCCUPANT TO INCREASED RISK OF INJURIES.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE SAFETY BELT RETRACTOR ASSEMBLY AND REPLACE THE RETRACTOR IF THE PAWL SPRING IS MISSING.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Structure › Body
Filed Mar 23, 2009KY

PAINT IS PEELING ON THE TOP OF VAN. OTHER TRANSPORTS I HAVE SEEN HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. IS THERE A RECALL ON THE PAINT? THE PAINT ON THE REST OF THE VEHICLE IS GOOD WITH NO APPARENT DEFECTS. *TR

Seat Belts › Front › Retractor
Filed Mar 27, 200665,000 milesCA

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE FRONT DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDE SEAT BELTS WILL NOT RETRACT. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL, # 93V212000, 94V10000 AND 94V015000, REGARDING THE SECOND, THIRD AND FOURTH ROW SEAT BELT. THE VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL; HOWEVER THE RECALL DOES NOT INCLUDE THE FRONT SEAT BELTS. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN ALERTED.

Seat Belts › Front
Filed May 31, 2005IL

FRONT DRIVERS SEAT BELTS ON ALL YEAR (93,94,95,96) CHEVY LUMINA,PONTIAC TRANSPORT, OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE. I HAVE OWNED THEM ALL

Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer
Filed Jun 18, 2004PA

I OWN A 1994 PONTIAC TRANSPORT, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOP AND RESUME AT WILL, SOMETIMES THEY ARE INACTIVE FOR AS LONG AS HOURS. TWICE THIS ALMOST LED TO AN ACCIDENT. I UNDERSTAND THAT IN CANADA THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL AND A FIX FOR THIS PROBLEM, HOW COME NOT IN THE US? IF THE SAME COMPONENT IS BEING USED THERE WILL BE THE SAME OUTCOME!*AK

Tires › Tread/Belt
Filed Apr 10, 2004130,600 milesTX

THE TIRE TREAD (ON A TIRE WITH 50% USABLE TREAD REMAINING) SEPARATED CAUSING APPROXIMATELY $1,500 DAMAGE TO MY VEHICLE. BFNT RESPONDED TO MY CLAIM BY CLAIMING THE SEPARATION WAS DUE TO LOW TIRE PRESSURE. THEY HAVE NOT PROVIDED EVIDENCE TO BACK THIS ASSERTION.

Latches/Locks/Linkages › Doors › Latch
Filed Jan 28, 2004OH

1994 PONTIAC TRANSPORT ELECTRIC SLIDING DOOR DOES NOT STAY SHUT. IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL AN INSERT WAS PUT IN WITH INSTRUCTIONS TO REMOVE FUSE FOR TAILLIGHT AND REPLACE. THIS WORKED INITIALLY BUT NO LONGER TAKES CARE OF THE PROBLEM.*AK

Power Train
Filed Jan 15, 2004CA

TRANSMISSION - WHEN YOU START THE VAN, AND PUT INTO GEAR, IT TAKES AT LEAST 10-20 SECONDS BEFORE IT WILL ENGAGE INTO FORWARD AND REVERSE. DRIVERS SIDE SEATBELT- WOULD NOT RETRACT, HAD TO REPLACE, IT COST $100.00 REPLACED 2 ALTINATORS, 1 STARTER AND 4 BATTERIES. HAD TO RE-SEAL INTAKE TWICE. LIFTER TICK, DONUT SEAL REPLACED. VACUMM LEAK REPAIRED. COOLANT LEAK, HAD TO REPLACE HEAD GASKET TWICE. COOLANT IS LEAKING AGAIN. DOOR HANDLE, DRIVERS SIDE BROKE TODAY.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic
Filed Jan 15, 2004MI

STALLS WHEN GETS WARM. ABS BRAKING LIGHT COMES ON EVERY NOW AND THEN. I WAS ROLLING UP WINDOW IT HAS ELECTRIC AND WINDOW SHATTERED IN SIDE DOOR. I HAVE PUT A NEW MODULE IN AND A NEWROTOR CAP AND THE NEW COIL. THE OLD COIL CAUGHT ON FIRE WHEN THE VAN STALLED ON ME. NOW IT HAS NO SPARK. I HAD IT IN SADLERS MOTORS AND THEY TOLD ME THE MODULE WAS BAD. I PUT IT IN. IT STUDDERS GOING DOWN THE ROAD WHEN IT GETS WARM GAS QUIT COMING OUT OF INJECTORS THEN WHEN I PUT MODULE ON INJECTORS WORK NOW I WAS WONDERING IF THERE WAS RECALLS ON ANY OF THAT STUFF I BAUGHT THE VAN USED. WARRANTY DOESN'T COVER ANY OF THIS. THEY SAID THE WARRANTY WAS IN WITH THE PRICE OF THE VAN BUT TO FIND OUT THEY CHARGED US FOR THE WARRANTY. SOMTIMES WHEN WE HIT A BUMP IT HAS A RATTLING NOISE FROM REAR; IT SOUNDS LIKE FROM FRONT SOMTIMES.

Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer
Filed Jul 10, 200395,000 milesIN

THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS HAD TO FAIL BEFORE THEY WOULD LOOK AT THEM. *AK *CB *NLM

Equipment
Filed Jun 11, 2003WI

A CABLE AND ASSEMBLY THAT WAS USED TO HOLD THE SPARE TIRE UNDER THE VEHICLE RUSTED THROUGH. THIS CAUSED THE SPARE TIRE TO FALL ONTO THE GROUND WHILE DRIVING. *MR PH

Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer
Filed May 19, 200390,000 milesTX

WHILE DRIVING UNDER RAINY CONDITIONS, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS SUDDENLY STOPPED WORKING. CONSUMER WAS ALMOST HIT BY ANOTHER CAR AS A RESULT. *NLM

Visibility › Rear Window Wiper/Washer › Motor
Filed Jan 27, 200375,000 milesMO

WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR WILL FAIL AND NOT PROPERLY OSCILLATE UNLESS WINDSHIELD IS VERY "WET". PROBLEM OCCURS DURING LIGHT RAIN.*AK

Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer
Filed Aug 24, 2002MI

WINDSHIELD WIPERS DON'T WORK WHEN RAINING OR TEMPS ABOVE 50 F. SEVERAL NEAR ACCIDENTS DUE TO BAD VISIBILITY. PROBLEM STARTED IN SUMMER 2000 AND HAS CONTINUED AND GOTTEN WORSE.*AK

Equipment › Mechanical › Carrier/Rack
Filed Jul 22, 2002MI

SPARE TIRE FELL OFF IN YARD WHEN DOOR CLOSED. CABLE RUSTED OUT. THIS COULD KILL SOMEONE IF IT HAPPENS ON THE ROAD!*AK

Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer
Filed Jul 18, 2002MA

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

Latches/Locks/Linkages › Doors › Latch
Filed May 10, 2002PA

WHEN OPENING DRIVER DOOR'S NADAR PIN THAT CONNECTS DOOR TO FRAME FELL OFF. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

Seat Belts › Front › Anchorage
Filed Feb 4, 2002MA

ABOUT 80 % OF THE TIME THE SEAT BELTS IN BOTH FRONT SEATS WILL LOCK UP AND/OR BELT TWISTS CAUSING ONE TO NOT BE ABLE TO USE THE SEATBELT UNTIL THERE

Power Train › Automatic Transmission › Cooling Unit and Lines
Filed Dec 28, 2001MO

WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH IN 20 DEGREE WEATHER, A TRANSMISSION LINE TO THE COOLER FAILED. LOTS OF OIL ON THE ROAD AND LOTS OF SMOKE. WE PULLED OVER AND STOPPED AVOIDING A FIRE. CAR WAS TOWED TO BE FIXED.BROKE. *AK

Electrical System › Wiring › Front Underhood
Filed Jun 18, 2001VA

WENT TO HAVE AC CHARGED, FOUND THAT IT IS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM, WINDSHIELD WIPERS (FRONT/BACK) WORK SPORADIICALLY, CONSUMER HAS TO GET OUT OF VEHICLE TO PUSH WIPERS DOWN WHEN STUCK. WENT IN FOR TRANSMISSION WORK FOUND THAT IT WAS A WIRING ISSUE, VAN JOLTS WHEN USING CRUISE CONTROL AND WHEN GOING UP LARGE HILLS.*AKI

Seat Belts › Front › Retractor
Filed Jun 7, 2001MI

THE SEATBELTS IN THE VEHICLE, TWIST AND FAIL TO RETRACT AND OPERATE PROPERLY. THIS WAS NOTED BY CONSUMER REPORTS AS WELL. *AK

20 of 98 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 1997
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20033000Routine
20013010Routine
20002000Routine
199910200Routine
1998227640Above average
1997236623Fatalities reported
199661220Routine
1995113330Routine
1994 — this page984120Routine
199361370Routine
199276220Routine
199136320Routine
199045510Routine

Compare every Trans Sport year →

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: Jan 23, 1996. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.