1996 Pontiac Trans Sport

Defect. CERTAIN DELPHI FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS, P/NOS. FP10020-11B1, FP10026-11B1, AND FP10027-11B1, SOLD AFTER JANUARY 9, 2007, AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE UNIVERSAL PRESSURE REGULATORS (UPR) WERE PRODUCED WITHOUT AN O'RING AND RETAINER.

Risk. FUEL MAY LEAK, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A FIRE.

Remedy. DELPHI WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE UPR FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 23, 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT DELPHI AT 877-411-8770.

Defect. CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES AND MINI VANS HAVE LOWER PINION BEARINGS IN THE POWER RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLY IN WHICH THE RETAINER TABS WERE NOT CRIMPED PROPERLY. THESE AND SOME OTHER RETAINERS USED IN VEHICLES ASSEMBLED BETWEEN JANUARY 1, 1996 AND OCTOBER 31, 1997, COULD FAIL AND PERMIT THE BALL BEARINGS TO ESCAPE.

Risk. IF THIS OCCURS, THE PINION SHAFT CAN BE FORCED UPWARD DURING LEFT TURNS AND BACK DOWN AS THE STEERING WHEEL IS MOVED BACK AND TO THE RIGHT. IF THE PINION SHAFT MOVES FURTHER, THE DRIVER WILL NEED TO EXERT MORE EFFORT TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL, SIMILAR TO A VEHICLE WITHOUT POWER ASSISTED STEERING. IF THE PINION SHAFT MOVES EVEN FURTHER, THE DRIVER WILL REQUIRE MUCH HIGHER EFFORT TO TURN LEFT AND MAY NOT BE ABLE TO TURN THE WHEEL AS MUCH AS INTENDED. WITH THE MAXIMUM PINION SHAFT MOVEMENT, WHICH REQUIRES INTERNAL GEAR COMPONENT DAMAGE, THE DRIVER CAN ENCOUNTER HIGH RESISTANCE TO TURNING LEFT, FOLLOWED BY UNINTENDED POWER ASSIST TO THE RIGHT. IN ANY OF THESE CONDITIONS, A CRASH COULD OCCUR.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW LOWER PINION BEARING UNLESS INSPECT OF THE EXISTING BEARING INDICATES THAT REPLACEMENT OF THE GEAR ASSEMBLY IS NECESSARY. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JANUARY 24, 2003. 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 CHEVROLET AT 1-800-222-1020, PONTIAC AT 1-800-762-2737, OR OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-442-6537.

1996 PONTIAC TRANS SPORT, MOTOR SEIZED UP AND BEGAN TO SMOKE, MOTOR CAUGHT FIRE. *BF PRIOR TO THE FIRE, THE DRIVER NOTICED THE VEHICLE WAS LEAVING SOME TYPE OF FLUID BEHIND. ACCORDING TO THE POLICE REPORT, THE ENGINE WAS LEAKING OIL. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT # 10-0409-90)*JB UPDATED 08/05/10 *BF

1996 PONTIAC TRANSPORT VAN WITH LEAKING INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKETS. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE INTERNAL MANIFOLD LEAKED FILLING THE OIL PAN UP WITH WATER WHICH IN TURN FROZE THE MAIN BEARINGS TO THE CRANKSHAFT, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO LOCK UP AT 50 MPH. HE SENT IN PREVIOUS LETTER ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM ON ANOTHER VEHICLE. *KB THE CONSUMER NOTICED A SMELL OF ANTI-FREEZE, BUT COULD NOT LOCATE THE PROBLEM, BECAUSE IT WAS INTERNAL NOT EXTERNAL. *JB

WHILE CLOSING THE SIDE DOOR MY GRANDSON'S THUMB WAS CAUGHT IN IT. HE WAS SCREAMING AND THERE WAS NO EMERGENCY WAY TO STOP THE DOOR FROM CLOSING. THE DOOR HAD TO COMPLETE THE COURSE OF CLOSING BEFORE IT COULD BE OPENED TO GET HIS THUMB OUT. I THANK GOD IT WAS ONLY HIS THUMB!! *TR

COOLANT MIXING INTO ENGINE OIL DUE TO DEFECTIVE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET,WHY IS THERE NO RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM?*JB

DT: THE CONTACT STATED WINTER WEATHER CONDITIONS CORRODED THE CABLE THAT HELD THE SPARE TIRE ON THE VEHICLE. THE CABLE SNAPPED AND RELEASED THE SPARE TIRE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DRIVEWAY. UPON INSPECTION BY THE CONTACT, THE CABLE SIMPLY CORRODED THEN RELEASED THE SPARE TIRE UNDER PRESSURE OF THE WEIGHT OF THE TIRE. *AK UPDATED 2/13/2006 - *NM

COMPLAINT #1- WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULDN'T WORK IN THE RAIN. DEFECTIVE CIRCUIT BOARD HAD TO BE REPLACED. COMPLAINT # 2- TILT STEERING COLUMN CAME OFF. THE WHOLE COLUMN HAD TO BE REPLACED. COMPLAINT #3- BLACK PAINT OVER THE CAB FLAKED OFF. *NM

1996 PONTIAC TRANSPORT ACCELERATED TO 85 WHILE SET IN CRUISE CONTROL AT 65 MPH.*MR WHEN THE CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO SLOW THE VEHICLE DOWN TO 65 MPH, IT WOULD ACCELERATE TO 85 MPH ON ITS OWN. *JB

VEHICLE STARTED EATING COOLANT, WITHIN 4 DAYS OF COOLANT LEAK HEAD GASKET HAD COMPLETE FAILURE DUMPING CONTENTS OF RADIATOR INTO OIL PAN. UPON EXAM FOUND THAT DEXTROL COOLANT HAD TURNED CORROSIVE AND EATEN THREW GASKET CAUSING FAILURE. REPLACE ALL TOP END GASKETS AND REBUILD TOP END. PRAY THAT LOWER END WILL BE OK ONCE FLUSHED COMPLETELY. HAVE KEPT OLD PARTS FOR FURTHER EXAM. *NM

THE OWNER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR THE LOWER PINION BEARING AND POWER STEERING GEAR. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICING AND THE WORK WAS COMPLETED. NOW THE VEHICLE IS PULLING TO THE RIGHT. THIS OCCURRED ONLY AFTER HAVING IT WORKED ON FOR THE ORIGINAL RECALL. NOW THE DEALERSHIP IS TELLING THE CONSUMER THAT THE DEFECT THAT IS CURRENTLY BEING EXPERIENCED IS NO FAULT OF THE WORK THAT WAS DONE FOR THE RECALL. THE DEALERSHIP IS NOT WILLING TO REPAIR THE CURRENT PROBLEM UNLESS THE OWNER PAYS OUT OF POCKET. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB

WINDSHIELD WIPERS EITHER QUIT OR DO NOT WORK AT TIMES, IF YOU TURN THEM TO HIGH SPEED THEN USE WASHER FLUID THEY MAY CONTINUE TO WORK. THE PROBLEM CAN NOT BE DUPLICATED BY DEALER. ONLY KNOWN REPAIR IS REPLACEMENT OF WIPER MOTOR BY DEALER, "THAT SHOULD FIX IT". DRIVER NEVER KNOWS IF WIPERS WILL WORK WHEN NEEDED. MANY SIMULAR COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN MADE TO YOUR AGENCY! *AK

AFTER THE 2ND VALVE SPRING BROKE, I WAS TOLD THAT THE VALVES WERE SEIZING UP AND A NEW ENGINE WOULD BE REQUIRED. ALL OF THIS WAS CAUSED BY THE BAD DESIGNED MANIFOLD GASKET THAT CAUSED COOLANT TO GO INTO THE OIL. AFTER SPENDING OVER $1,000 SINCE 4-29-03, I FINALLY HAD TO TRADE IN FOR ANOTHER VEHICLE. I DIDN'T HAVE BETWEEN $4,000 AND $5,000 FOR A NEW ENGINE, WHICH ON A '96 MODEL WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN WORTH IT. I COULD HAVE GOTTEN A USED ENGINE, BUT ALL OF THEM HAVE THE SAME MANIFOLD GASKET AND THIS WOULD HAVE COST APROXIMATELY $2,000. I'VE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH THIS VAN. GENERAL MOTORS SHOULD HAVE TAKEN CARE OF THIS AS A RECALL, BUT I GUESS IT WAS TOO EXPENSIVE FOR THEM TOO.

FAILURE OF THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET.

INTAKE MANIFOLD & GASKET FAILURE - OIL & COOLANT MIXING IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT - IMMINENT ENGINE FAILURE FRONT WIPER MOTOR/TRANSMISSION INTERMITENT FAILURE WHILE DRIVING - DIFFICULTY DIAGNOSING PROBLEM - MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE WHEN THE WIPERS SUDDENLY STOP/START WORKING WHILE DRIVING IN RAIN & SNOW OR SLOPPY HIGHWAY CONDITIONS COMPRESSOR CLUTCH HUB & PULLEY FAILURE

INADVERTENT DRIVERS AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT CAUSING INJURIES. *MR WHILE DRIVING THE AIR BAG SUDDENLY DEPLOYED AND KNOCKED THE CONSUMER UNCONSCIOUS. THE CONSUMER HAD RUN OFF THE ROAD AND ENTERED A WOODED AREA AND STRUCK A TREE HEAD-ON. THE DRIVER COULD NOT REMEMBER ANYTHING ABOUT THE ACCIDENT. (LAWYER MICHAEL SHEPHERD ON BEHALF OF CLIENT KAREN WILSON (PER A. JIMENEZ, THIS DOCUMENT IS TO BE TREATED AS A MAILED IN VOQ) *SCC *JB

CONSUMER NOTICED WHILE USING THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS AND WITHOUT ANY INDICATION, THE WIPERS INTERMITTENTLY STOPPED WORKING. *AK *TS *JB

WHILE TURNING RIGHT, THE STEERING WHEEL FAILED WITH NO CONTROL. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO STOP VEHICLE. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *AK THE CONSUMER STOPPED A STOP SIGN AT AN INTERSECTION WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL STARTED TO SPIN AROUND. IT WAS DISCOVERED THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT AT THE BASE OF THE STEERING COLUMN HAD COME LOOSE. THE AIR BAG LIGHT WAS ON AND THE CLOCK SPRING HAD BROKEN. *SCC *JB

FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED WORKING OR FAILED TO WORK . *AK

THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED TO WORK, THE CONSUMER HAD TO HIT THE CONTROL SEVERAL TIMES TO GET THEM TO WORK. *JB. THE COOLANT LIGHT ILLUMINATED, THE DEALER REPLACED THE UPPER AND LOWER INTAKE, THE FRONT PASSENGER WINDOW WENT UP AND DOWN SLOW, THE POWER SLIDING DOOR WAS INOPERATIVE, THE DEALER REPLACED THE BATTERY *PH *JB

EXCESSIVE CONSUMPTION OF COOLANT. REPAIR SHOP TOLD US COOLANT WAS BEING SUCKED INTO INTAKE MANIFOLD. REPLACED GASKET AND CONVERTED FROM ORANGE TO GREEN COOLANT. *NLM

COOLANT IN OIL DUE TO MANIFOLD INTAKE GASKET..HAD GASKET REPLACED AND IS BACK IN THE SHOP AGAIN FOR SAME PROBLEM. IN BETWEEN THESE TWO TOWINGS, I HAD TO HAVE THE VALVE SPRING REPLACED BECAUSE IT BROKE. *NLM

THE RACK AND PINION FAILED, PRIOR TO THE RECALL BEING PERFORMED. RECALL # 02 V 286 000. *JB

THE CONSUMER WAS CHARGED FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE STEERING RACK AND PINION, EVEN THOUGH A RECALLED WAS ISSUED. THE LOWER PINION BEARING, TIE ROD ENDS AND PRESSURE HOSES WERE REPLACED. MR *TS *JB

FAULTY INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET ON 1996 PONTIAC TRANSPORT. *JB

THE VEHICLES SLIDING DOOR DIDN'T CLOSE PROPERLY WHICH CAUSED THE INDICATOR LIGHT ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL TO ILLUMINATE INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *NLM

THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO EXPERIENCE PROBLEMS WITH THE STEERING AFTER THE RECALL WAS PERFORMED ON THE RACK AND PINION, HOWEVER PRIOR TO THE RECALL THE OUTER TIE RODS WERE REPLACED, BUT THAT DID NOT RESOLVE THE STEERING PROBLEMS, ALSO THE FRONT ROTORS WERE RESURFACED. *TS *JB

DEFECTIVE PRODUCT. DEFECTIVE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKETS ON 1996 PONTIAC 3.4 LITER ENGINE 79,000 MILES. GASKET LEAKS ENGINE COOLANT INTERNALLY AND EXTERNALLY. COOLANT CAN MIX WITH ENGINE OIL, CONTAMINATING OIL, CAUSING ENGINE FAILURE WHILE OPERATING VEHILCLE. COOLANT CAN LEAK FROM ENGINE, CAUSING ENGINE TO OVERHEAT AND SEIZE.

VEHICLE CAN NOT BE DRIVEN AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS DO TO THE VEHICLE VIBRATING SO HARD. TOOK TO MECHANIC, AND THEY STATED THE DRIVESHAFT NEEDS REPLACING. PH

WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK INTERMITTENTLY.*AK THE FRONT WINDSHILED WIPER MOTOR IS FAULTY. *MJ

SLIDING DOOR WILL RATTLE WHEN LOCKED, AND AT TIMES WILL OPEN WITHOUT ANY ONE TRYING TO OPEN IT. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK

I GOT INTO OUR 1996 PONTIAC TRANS SPORT FOR A QUICK ERRAND. AS I REACHED BACK OVER MY HEAD TO PULL UP THE HEADREST, THERE WAS A *POP* BEHIND ME AND THE ENTIRE SEATBACK COLLAPSED BACKWARDS, COMPLETELY FLAT BACK ONTO THE SEAT BEHIND. FORTUNATELY I WAS STILL IDLING IN THE DRIVEWAY AT THE TIME. MY OWN INVESTIGATION SHOWED THAT THE MANUAL SEATBACK RECLINER MECHANISM HAS _ONE_ BOLT SUPPORTING THE SEATBACK ANGLE, AND THAT BOLT (ROUGHLY 5/16" DIAMETER, BUT METRIC) HAD SHEARED IN TWO. (THESE ARE GM FRONT-SEAT MINIVAN BUCKET SEATS WITH A FLIP-DOWN ARMREST ON THE INBOARD SIDE AND A LARGE BLACK PLASTIC ADJUSTMENT KNOB BELOW IT THAT YOU TURN FORWARDS OR BACKWARDS TO ADJUST OR RECLINE THE SEAT BACK.) NOTHING ELSE BESIDES THAT ONE BOLT HOLDS UP THE SEATBACK; WHEN IT BREAKS, YOU IMMEDIATELY FALL OVER BACKWARDS. I SPENT THE MORNING REMOVING THE DRIVER'S SEAT AND UNSCREWING THE BROKEN STUB OF THE BOLT FROM INSIDE THE SEAT BASE FRAME. I HAVE A COLLECTION OF METRIC MACHINE BOLTS FROM PREVIOUS CARS AND FOUND A USED REPLACEMENT THAT WAS A PERFECT FIT, AND EVERYTHING IS BACK TOGETHER FOR NOW. I BELIEVE I HAVE PUT IN A BOLT OF THE RIGHT STRENGTH. THE SHEARED-OFF BOLT HAS THE FOLLOWING ON ITS HEAD, LIKE THIS: 9. D (YES, A LETTER D, NOT A ZERO.) THE BOLT I PUT IN READS "9.8" I HAVE KEPT THE SHEARED-OFF BOLT (BOTH HALVES) FOR INSPECTION BY ANY INTERESTED PARTY. I DON'T BELIEVE I'VE OVERSTRESSED THE SEATBACK (I WEIGH ABOUT 225 POUNDS, MY WIFE WEIGHS ABOUT 150, AND NO ONE ELSE DRIVES THE VAN), AND TO OUR

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT 65 MILES PER HOUR WHEN MY TIRE STARTED GOING FLAT. AFTER TAKING IT OFF, THE CORDS ON THE INNER SIDE OF THE TIRE WERE SHOWING. THESE TIRES WERE ONLY ABOUT A YEAR OLD.( DOT NUMBER: )

A HEADLIGHT SWITCH FAILED CAUSING EXCESSIVE HEAT WITHIN THE WIRING HARNESS. THIS FAILURE CREATED SUCH HEAT THAT MANY OF THE WIRES WITHIN THE WIRING HARNESS ACTUALLY MELTED. THUS CAUSING SEVERAL OF THE VEHICLES ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS TO FAIL, INCLUDING THE TAILLIGHTS. THIS VEHICLE HAS A LONG HISTORY OF ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS INCLUDING WINDSHIELD WIPER FAILURE DURING HEAVY RAINS. THE ELECTRICAL SIDE DOOR HAS BEEN REPAIRED AT LEAST 5 TIMES.

TURN INDICATOR (IN HALF)BROKE WHILE SIGNALLING FOR A RIGHT HAND TURN WHERE THE HANDLE JUTS AT AN ANGLE IN THE MIDDLE; CAN NO LONGER GET THE HIGH BEAMS TO TURN ON;THE WIRE FOR THE CRUISE CONTROL HANGS/ CAN'T GET THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS TO TURN OFF-IT TAKES SEVERAL TRIES-THEY MIGHT TURN OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WINDSHIELD/ THW WINDOW HAS BECOME STUCK WHILE CLOSING--I TRY NOT TO OPEN IT, BUT SOMETIMES A KID DOES--YOU WAIT A LITTLE BIT AND IT INCHES UP SOME MORE UNTIL IT HAS CLOSED.

WHILE IN A DRIVE THROUGH LINE AND IN "DRIVE" POSITION, VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO REV UP AND HIT VEHICLE IN FRONT. DRIVER TURNED WHEEL TO KEEP FROM THE HITTING THE VEHICLE IN FRONT. BUT VEHICLE STILL ACCELERATED. DRIVER HAD TO PLACE VEHICLE IN THE "PARK" POSITION, AND VEHICLE STOPPED. LATER THAT NIGHT, OWNER DROVE VEHICLE TO A DEALERSHIP. BUT DID NOT EXPERIENCE THE PROBLEM AT THAT TIME. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

IF CONSTANT CARE (AND COST) IS NOT PAID TO THE REAR BRAKE ADJUSTERS, THE FRONT CALIPERS APPLY GREATER PRESSURE TO THE FRONT ROTORS, CAUSING WARPING!!!*AK

NO SUMMARY LIKSTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK

WINDSHIELD WIPERS EITHER WON'T WORK OR QUIT WITHOUT WARNING. EASIEST SOLUTION IS TO APPLY RAIN-X TO WINDSHIELD. UNABLE TO DEPEND ON WINDSHIELD WIPERS. *AK

HORN IS DIFFICULT TO LOCATE IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION DUE TO THE AIR BAG. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

INTERMITTENTLY THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS BECOME INOPERABLE ,CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY. A RECALL HAS BEEN ISUED ON VARIOUS MAKES AND MODELS, HOWEVER THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

WHENEVER THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ARE USED DURING RAIN, THEY WOULD CUT OFF. WOULD CAUSE THE DRIVER TO HAVE HAZARDOUS DRIVING & POOR VISIBILITY. HAS HAPPENED TWICE SO FAR. HAD TAKEN TO DEALER & MECHANIC COULD NOT LOCATE CAUSE OF PROBLEM. *AK

THE BALL JOINTS ARE WORN OUT, AND THE STRUTS NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

WINDSHIELD WIPER'S ARE WORKING INTERMITTENTLY. *AK

DEFECTIVE WINDSHIELD WIPERS MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING VISIBILITY PROBLEMS WHICH MAY RESULT IN A CRASH. MECHANIC SAID PROBLEM WAS DUE TO DEFECTIVE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION AND VIN#. *AK

WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK INTERMITTENTLY, BLOCKING VIEW AND WILL NOT MOVE NO MATTER WHICH MODE OF OPERATION DRIVER SWITCHES TO. CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK

RIGHT REAR SLIDING DOOR OPENS ON ITS OWN.

GENERAL AMERI-TECH 205/70R/15 TIRES WEAR EXCESSIVELY, BELTS BREAK AND THE TREAD SEPARATES. (QCAW)

WARPED FRONT BRAKE ROTORS.

AUTOMATIC SLIDING DOOR HAS OPENED ON FIVE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS WHILE DRIVING. AT TIMES, IT TAKES 20 MINUTES TO CLOSE THE DOOR.

AUTOMATIC SLIDING DOOR WILL NOT CLOSE PROPERLY. THE DOOR HAS OPENED 5 DIFFERENT TIMES WHILE DRIVING; LAST TIME WITH CHILDREN IN THE VEHICLE WHILE CROSSING A BRIDGE.

CLIP WHICH HOLDS THE LARGE SPRING BROKE OFF, CAUSING BRAKES TO FADE AND DRUM CYLINDER AND SHOES TO FAIL.