1998 Pontiac Trans Sport complaints

INTAKE MANIFLOLD GASKET LEAKING ANTI FREEZE, DEX COOL. IT COST 1010.27 TO REPAIR THE ENGINE BUT NOW MY OIL PRESURRE LIGHT IS FLICKERING WHEN ENGINE IDLES SO THERE MAY BE SOME BEARING DAMAGE. ( CAM, ROD OR MAIN BEARINGS ) THE OIL PRESURRE SENDING UNIT WAS REPLACED TO SEE IF IT HAD FAILED STILL DOES IT. ANTI FREEZE MIXING WITH OIL CAN DAMAGE BEARINGS AND CAUSE ENGINE TO LOCK UP BRACKING CAMS AND OR CRANKSHIFTS. THIS CAN STRAND US ON BUSY HIGHWAYS.*AK

A NOISE HAD BEGUN SOUNDING LIKE THE ENGINE WAS NOT RECEIVING OIL. HOWEVER WHEN THE OIL WAS CHECKED IT WAS FULL SO THE MECHANIC DID NOT PURSUE FURTHER. TWO DAYS LATER THE ENGINE STOPPED WORKING WHICH RESULTED IN A TOWING OFF A MAJOR HIGHWAY AND A REPLACEMENT OF THE ENGINE $4000.00. IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE OIL PUMP HAD FAILED AND THERE WAS NO INDICATIONS OF THE ENGINE NEEDING SERVICE FOR LACK OF OIL OR THE OIL PUMP NEEDING REPLACEMENT. *LA

I HAVE A 1998 PONTIAC TRANS SPORT, THE AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON ALL THE TIME. THIS REALLY SCARES ME, CAN YOU HELP?*AK

THIS VEHICLE WAS EXPERIENCING THE SAME FAILURE AS DESCRIBED IN THE STEERING ASSEMBLY RECALL 02V286000. HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK

COOLANT LEAKING INTO ENGINE THROUGH INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET.*AK

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE OVERHEATED AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT FLASHED. THEN, VEHICLE SHUTDOWN. CONSUMER TRIED TO RESTART VEHICLE BUT WAS UNABLE TO DO SO. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC REPLACED THE WATER PUMP DUE TO MIXED ANTIFREEZE CORROSION. *AK

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE OVERHEATED. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT FLASHED AND THEN VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER TRIED TO RESTART VEHICLE BUT WAS UNABLE TO DO SO. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC REPLACED THE WATER PUMP DUE TO MIXTURE OF ANTIFREEZE AND CORROSION. *AK

1998 PONTIAC MONTANA WITH A GM (GENERIC) 3.4 LITER ENGINE EVENTS LEADING TO FAILURE WERE NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS AND REGULAR MAINTENANCE. THE FAILURE IS THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. THE CONSEQUENCES CURRENTLY ARE EXTERIOR LEAKING COOLANT. *AK THE PROBABLE FUTURE CONSEQUENCE PER THE DEALER, IS COOLANT LEAKING INTO THE CRANKCASE CAUSING THE FAILURE OF THE CRANK BEARINGS. WHICH DOCUMENTED CASES HAVE RESULTED IN ENGINE FAILURE WHILE DRIVING WHICH CAN CAUSE A UNSAFE SITUATION. WHAT WILL HAVE TO BE DONE IS TO REPLACE THE INTAKE GASKET AT A COST OF $500-$700.

DIAGNOSED WITH INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET FAILURE ON 1998 PONTIAC TRANS SPORT WITH 3.4 V6 ENGINE. OIL AND ANTIFREEZE MIXED AND FIXED BY DEALER AT COST OF $890. WITH NO ASSISTANCE FROM GENERAL MOTORS. ALL TO COMMON PROBLEMS ON THIS ENGINE AND THE 3.1 V6 WITH SPECULATION THAT THE DEXCOOL ANTIFREEZE DETERIATES GASKET. COULD POSSIBLY BE TRUE SINCE GASKET IS NOW MADE OUT OF A DIFFRENT MATERIAL. AT THIS TIME IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT NHTSA FORCES GENERAL MOTORS TO RECALL THESE ENGINES AND REIMBURSE ALL OWNERS WHO HAVE PAID OUT OF POCKET FOR REPAIRS. THIS VEHICLE IN QUESTION WAS WELL MAINTAINED AND ITEMS WERE CHANGED WAY ABOVE RECOMMENDED SERVICE SCHEDULE. VEHICLE ALSO DEVELOPED A ROUGH IDLE WITH NO OBVIOUS CAUSE WITH POSSIBLE EXPLANATION OF INTERNAL ENGINE DAMAGE. THESE INTAKE GASKET FAILURES COULD BE THE REASON FOR NUMEROUS ENGINE FIRES WITNESSED ON THE HIGHWAY. ALSO I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER. THANK YOU . *AK

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE REACHED HIGH TEMPERATURES DUE TO INTAKE MANIFOLD FAILURE. DEALER REPLACED THE CRACKED INTAKE MANIFOLD AT CONSUMER'S EXPENSE. *AK *MR

UPON EXITING THE VAN CONSUMER SMELLED ANTI FREEZE. DEALERSHIP INSPECTED THE VAN, AND NOTICED ANTIFREEZE WAS LEAKING INTO THE ENGINE FROM A CRACK IN THE INTAKE GASKET. *AK

RH HEADLAMP LENSE FELL OFF. VEHICLE NEVER INVOLVED IN ACCIDENT. THE LENSE JUST FELL OFF. VEHICLE NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. UPON INVESTIGATING REPLACEMENT, FOUND OUT THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. NO SALVAGE YARD HAS ANY USED AVAILABLE, HOWEVER THEY ARE WILLING TO SELL NEW ONES AT A PRICE BETWEEN $100 - $165. I WAS TOLD THAT GM WANTS $250 FOR THE REPLACEMENT. I ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT GM IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND HAS DONE NOTHING TO CORRECT IT. THIS CAN BE SEEN JUST BY THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS SHOWING UP IN THIS WEBSITE.THIS COULD BE A SERIOUS PROBLEM IF THE LIGHT(S) FAILED AT NIGHT. IT DEFINTELY IS AN EXPENSIVE PROBLEM FOR THE CONSUMER.*AK

CONSUMER STARTED THE VEHICLE AND SHIFTED INTO THE DRIVE GEAR, BUT VEHICLE WENT INTO REVERSE AND HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE. *AK

MY VEHICLE WAS REAR-ENDED WHILE I WAS STOPPED. THERE WAS NO VISIBLE DAMAGE, HOWEVER THE 3RD ROW RIGHT SIDE SEAT'S FRONT LATCHES BECAME UNHOOKED FROM THE FLOOR AND THE SEAT WAS LEFT IN A RECLINED POSITION. THE BACK FLOOR LATCHES WERE STILL SECURED. IF A PASSENGER OVER 5' HAD BEEN SEATED IN THIS SEAT, THEY WOULD HAVE STRUCK THE REAR DOOR WITH THEIR HEAD. *JB

DRIVERS SIDE HEADLAMP FELL OFF - LITERALLY JUST DROPPED RIGHT OFF OF IT - I HAD NO IDEA WHAT IT WAS, SITTING AT A LIGHT, THOUGHT IT COULD HAVE BEEN A PASSING AUTO - I STOPPED, LOOKED, THINKING IT WOULD BE THE BLINKER, AND KEPT GOING- ONLY TO FIND OUT IT WAS THE COVER TO THE HEAD LIGHT! THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM, FROM WHAT WE'RE FINDING AND NO JUNK/SALVAGE YARDS HAVE ANY - AND THEY ALL SAY THE SAME THING - THEY'RE GONE BEFORE THEY GET THERE, JUNK HEADLAMP! THESE AND THE GRANDAMS! THIS VAN HAS ONLY 50K MILES ON IT! NOT LIKE IT'S GOT A TON OF MILEAGE!*AK

THE VEHICLE CROSSED OVER THE CENTER LINE STRIKING ANOTHER VEHICLE AT 50 MPH AND NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. *MR *SC *JB

COMPLAINT ON REPAIR ISSUE ON 1998 PONTIAC TRANSPORT VAN. *PH (NAR) THE CONSUMER ENGINE WAS LOW ON COOLANT AND COOLANT WAS LEAKING FROM THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET AREA WHICH CAUSE A MALFUNCTION IN THE ENGINE. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *CB

A BRACKET THAT SECURED THE REAR AXLE BROKE. *PH WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE THE CONSUMER REAR AXLE MOVED TO THE RIGHT REAR PASSENGER WHEEL AND SLAMMED AGAINST THE REAR QUARTER PANEL BRING THE VEHICLE TO AND ABRUPT STOP. THE CONSUMER FELLS THAT VEHICLE HAD A FAILED COMPONENT AND GM SHOULD REIMBURSE THEM FOR THE COST OF REPAIRS. * CB

VEHICLE KEPT OVER HEATING. TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC AND THEY CHANGED OUT THERMOSTAT, WATER PUMP,TEMPERATURE SENDING UNIT, CATALYTIC CONVERTER. WAS STILL OVER HEATING. THE MECHANIC CHECKED THE ENGINE AND FOUND BLOWN HEAD GASKET AND CRACKED HEADS. THIS PROBLEM STARTED OUT ON INTERSTATE 15 NORTHBOUND RIGHT OUTSIDE OF BARSTOW, CA. HAD TO PULL OVER TO THE SHOULDER AND WAIT FOR IT TO COOL DOWN SEVERAL TIMES SO WE COULD GET TO AN EXIT.

THE POWER LOCKS ON THE PASSENGER AND DRIVER'S SIDE DOORS DO NOT WORK CORRECTLY. THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR WILL ONLY UNLOCK AND THAT WAS THAT WAY WHEN WE BOUGHT IT IN SEPTEMBR OF 2001. THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR USE TO LOCK AND UNLOCK BUT THIS YEAR IT STARTED GIVING US PROBLEMS AND NOW WILL ONLY LOCK. WE ALSO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE ENGINE RATTLEING WHEN IT IS FIRST STARTS UP.

WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE, CAMSHAFT BROKE. PROBLEM WAS TRACED BACK TO A LEAKING INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET, THAT OVER TIME, HAD CONTAMINATED THE OIL WITH ORANGE COOLANT, CAUSING CAMSHAFT BEARING FAILURE. AFTER REPLACING THE ENGINE WITH A USED, 60,000 MILE, REPLACEMENT, AND DRIVING THE VAN FOR ANOTHER 16,000 MILES, NOW THE REPLACEMENT ENGINE IS LEAKING COOLANT INTERNALLY, AND HAD CONTAMINATED THE OIL IN THIS ENGINE. OBVIOUSLY IT'S THE SAME PROBLEM, HOWEVER GM HAS ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN CHANGING THE GASKET DESIGN, AND NO REPLACEMENT GASKETS ARE AVAILABLE YET. SO, I CAN'T DRIVE IT, AND CAN'T REPAIR IT DUE TO LACK OF PARTS.

DRIVER\\'S POWER WINDOW WAS INITIALLY SLOW TO CLOSE, AND THEN WOULDN\\'T CLOSE ALL THE WAY. EVENTUALLY, IT BEGAN CLOSING ERRATICALLY, WITH THE GLASS ASKEW. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS A FAULTY POWER WINDOW CONTROL MODULE; THE PART IS APPROXIMATLEY $450 AND THE LABOR IS $250. GM HAS REFUSED TO REPAIR THE PART, DUE TO LACK OF WARRANTY HISTORY ON THE CLAIM. THEY DO HAVE AN OUTSTANDING SERVICE BULLETING FOR AN ALLIED PROBLEM, OF STICKY WINDOW TRACKS, WHICH PROBABLY LED TO THE INITIAL SLOWNESS OF THE WINDOW CLOSING. THAT PROBABLY LED TO A FAILURE OF THE MODULE IN QUESTION. IN AN EFFORT TO SAVE MONEY, I TRIED HAVING IT REPAIRED AT A LOCAL AUTO GLASS REPAIR FACILITY, HOPING THEY COULD JUST REPOSITION THE WINDOW. THEY CAME BACK WITH THE SAME DIAGNOSIS. CURIOUSLY, THEY INDICATED THAT THEY CONTACTED AT LEAST 20 SOURCES FOR THE WINDOW MODULE, AND THAT THEY WERE TOLD THE PART IS ON A NATIONAL BACK ORDER. AND YET GM DENIES A PROBLEM WITH THIS PART!

THE THIRD-ROW SEATS WERE KNOCKED OUT OF THEIR ANCHORS WHEN A FORD ESCORT HIT MY VAN IN THE REAR. I WAS STOPPED TO TURN WHEN I WAS HIT. THE ESCORT WAS TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 TO 45 MPH, AND MY REAR BUMPER TOOK THE FULL FORCE OF THE IMPACT; AFTERWARDS, I NOTICED THAT BOTH THIRD ROW SEATS WERE OUT OF THEIR ACHORS AND LAYING BACK TOWARDS THE REAR GLASS. THE REPAIR SHOP WAS ONLY ABLE TO RE-SEAT ONE OF THE SEATS; THEY HAD TO ORDER A FRAME FOR THE OTHER ONE. THE COST OF THE NEW SEAT FRAME WAS $650.00. THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF DAMAGE TO MY VAN EXCEEDED $3,400.00. THE SEAT FRAME WAS THE SECOND MOST EXPENSIVE ITEM. MY WORRY IS THAT IF MY CHILDREN HAD BEEN WITH ME, SERIOUS INJURY COULD HAVE OCCURRED AS A RESULT OF THE SEATS COMING OUT OF THEIR ANCHORS. SECONDLY, THE SEAT BELTS ARE ATTACHED TO THE SEATS INSTEAD OF THE FLOOR, SO THESE ARE USELESS IN A REAR COLLISION. IF THE SEATS COME OUT THE SEATBELTS GO WITH THEM. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH THE PERFORMANCE OF BOTH THE SEATS AND THE SEATBELTS, I AM VERY UNCOMFORTABLE WITH PUTTING ANYONE IN THE THIRD ROW. THE BOTTOM LINE HERE IS THAT THE 1998 PONTIAC TRANS SPORT IS VERY UNSAFE WHEN IT COMES TO COLLISIONS.

PROB #1 - INTAKE LEAKING - NEEDS INTAKE MANIFOLD GASTKET REPLACEMENT. LOCAL DEALER WILL NOT PAY FOR. PROB #2 - I HAVE LOST TWO HEADLAMP LENSE COVERS IN THE PAST YEAR - DEALER SAID THIS HAPPENS "A LOT!, AND THAT IT WAS PROBABLY A PROBLEM WITH THE ADHESIVE" I HAD TO REPLACE TWO COMPLETE HEADLAMP ASSEMBLIES TOTALLING OVER $200.00

THE AIR CONDITIONING MAY HAVE NEVER WORKED, WE HADN'T TRIED IT UNTIL 10 MTHS AFTER BUYING THE VAN. THE LOW COOLANT LIGHT CAME ON AND WE BROUGHT THE VAN TO A MECHANIC WHO SAID THE REPAIR WOULD COST 800.00. HE ADDED STOP LEAK, WHICH WORKED TEMPORARILY. THE PROBLEM HAS JUST REOCCURED AND WE HAVE NOT DRIVEN THE VAN SINCE. THE ABS LIGHT HAD COME ON IN AUGUST, WE HAVE FULL USE OF THE BRAKES, JUST OUR ABS IS NOT WORKING. WE CAN'T AFFORD TO FIX THIS. IN NOVEMBER OF 2001, OUR FUEL PUMP HAD TO BE REPLACED. I WAS CROSSING A BUSY HWY. HERE IN WINNIPEG, AND THE VAN JUST DIED AND CAME TO AN ABRUPT HALT. I PHONED A DEALER IN WINNIPEG (VICKOR CHEV OLDS) AND THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT THIS HAPPENS, SOMETIMES THE FUEL PUMP WILL WORK FOR A WHILE AND ALL OF A SUDDEN IT WILL MALFUNCTION FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS. WE PHONED THE USED CAR DEALER AUTO TOWN IN WINNIPEG THAT WE BOUGHT THE VAN FROM AND THEY FELT AWFUL, AND OFFERED TO COVER THE LABOR IF WE PAID FOR THE PART. THE PART ALONE WAS 400.00

ENGINE WAS LOSING COOLANT AND HAD A TICKING SOUND WHEN BROUGHT INTO GM DEALER. REPAIRS INCLUDED REPLACEMENT OF HEAD GASKETS AND INTAKE GASKET. COOLING SYSTEM ALSO HAD TO BE FLUSHED AND REFILLED. MILEAGE QUOTE ABOVE WAS ACTUALLY 110927 KM AND REPAIR COSTS WERE CAN$1965.

HEADLIGHT LENS HAS FALLEN OFF DUE TO POOR SEAL AND NO SCREWS. THIS IS NOW THE SECOND HEADLIGHT THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ON THIS VAN. IN ADDITION, WE HAD A 1997 TRANSPORT AND BOTH HEADLIGHT LENSES FELL OFF THAT ONE AS WELL. AFTER MONTHS OF COMPLAINING AND LETTER WRITING, PONTIAC CORRECTED THE OTHER 3 HEADLIGHTS AT NO COST BUT WILL NOT DO SO WITH THIS ONE. THIS IS CLEARLY A PRODUCT DEFECT AND JUDGING BY THE NUMEROUS OTHER COMPLAINTS ON THIS SITE FOR THE SAME PROBLEM, IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM.*AK

COOLANT LEAK AND INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET FAILURE. DEALER DIAGNOSED COOLANT LEAKS FROM INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET, VALVE COVER GASKET AND WATERPUMP AND RECOMMENDED COOLANT FLUSH - DEX COOL.*AK

A WELL MAINTAINED 1998 PONTIAC TRANSPORT WITH A 3.4 LITER ENGINE DEVELOPED A COOLANT LEAK. THIS WAS DIAGNOSED BY A LOCAL SERVICE CENTER. AS THEY EXPLAINED THAT MY VEHICLE HAS AN INTAKE MANIFOLD LEAK, IT WAS ALSO MENTIONED THAT THEY HAVE SEEN MANY MANIFOLD COOLANT LEAKS WITH THIS ENGINE. I DECIDED TO HAVE IT REPAIRED AT A GM DEALER WHERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. THEY ALSO EXPLAINED THAT THEY SERVICE MANY OF THESE TYPE OF LEAKS. THEY EXPLAINED THAT THE REPAIR CALLS FOR A NEW TYPE OF MANIFOLD GASKET AND NEW BOLTS. THE MECHANIC EVEN SHOWED ME WHERE ON THE OLD GASKET THE FAILURE USUALLY OCCURS. ALTHOUGH IT MAY SEEM AS IF THESE COMMENTS WHERE ANECDOTAL, IT STILL APPEARS TO POINT TO A GENERAL FAILURE IN THE DESIGN OF THE MANIFOLD GASKET. THIS REPAIR WAS VERY EXPENSIVE. WHY HAVEN'T THESE 3.4 LITER BEEN RECALLED? ARE ONLY INEXPENSIVE MANUFACTURER DEFECTS RECALLED? HAD THIS COOLANT LEAKED INTO THE ENGINE WHICH IN SOME CASES IT DOES, BASED UPON MY RESEARCH OF THIS ISSUE, THEN EVEN MORE DAMAGE AND POSSIBLY RISK TO THE VEHICLE OPERATOR AND PASSENGERS COULD HAVE OCCURED. *AK

AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON. I'M AFRAID THE AIR BAGS WON'T DEPLOY IN CASE OF AN ACCIDENT. I WAS READING OTHER COMPLAINS OF OTHER OWNER OF THE SAME MAKE AND MODEL AS MY TRUCK. *LA

I OWN A 1998 PONTIAC TRANSPORT, BOUGHT NEW, AND HAS 80000 MILES ON IT. WAS JUST TOLD THAT THE INTAKE IS LEAKING, ANS WILL NEED MANIFOLD GASKET REPLACEMENT. WAS TOLD THAT THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS REPORTS OF THIS HAPPENING. ALLED LOCAL PONTIAC DEALER (MATTHEWS PONTIAC, VESTAL, NY 607-798-8000) AND THEY CONFIRMED THIS, AND THAT THERE IS A NEW AND IMPROVED GASKET, BUT THEY WOULDN'T HELP WITH THE COST OF REPLACEMENT. ALSO REPORTED THAT MY HEADLAMP LENSES HAVE BEEN LOST (LOST 2 IN ONE YEAR) AND HAD TO REPLACE ENTIRE HEADLAMP UNIT AT MY OWN COST. DEALER SAID THIS IS COMMON ALSO, AND THEY BELIEVE IT WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE ADHESIVE!! THEY WILL NOT HELP WITH THAT ONE EITHER. *AK

DRIVERS POWER SEAT HAS A POOR DESIGN. THE SIDE TRIM (RIGHT) BOTTOMS-OUT ON THE VEHICLE FLOOR AT THE BACK WHEN LOWERING THE POWER SEAT. THIS CAUSES THE SEAT TO TILT LATERALLY. AS A RESULT, THE TILTING OVER TIME HAS LOOSENED THE ENTIRE MECHANISM. I SUSPECT THAT IF THIS VEHICLE WERE TO BE INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT, THIS SEAT MECHANISM WOULD NOT RETAIN THE SEAT. WOULDN'T THIS CREATE A HAZARD FOR THE DRIVER? THE INCREASED MASS WOULD BE INCURRED BY THE DRIVER AND THE SEAT-BELT. *LA

DEFECTIVE HEADLAMP ASSEMBLY- THE LEFT HEADLIGHT LENS CAME OFF THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY. THE DEALER SAYS THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. THE GMC CUSTOMER SERVICE PEOPLE ALSO KNOW OF THE PROBLEM,BUT SAY THAT NOT ENOUGH COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN FILED TO WARRANT A RECALL. THIS IS BULL. ALSO THE PLASTIC ON THE LENS CRYSTALLIZES,CAUSING REDUCED LIGHT OUTPUT FROM THE HEADLAMP.*AK

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME DEFECT AS STATED IN RECALL 02V286000 CONCERNING POWER STEERING ASSEMBLY FAILURE; BUT, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK

DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW STUCK IN THE DOWN POSITION. *LA

CURRENTLY I HAVE 56,187 MILE'S ON MY 1998 PONTIAC TRANS SPORT AND HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING EXCESSIVE OIL USEAGE SINCE THE SECOND YEAR OF OWNERSHIP AS WELL AS JUST RECENTLY EXPERIENCING THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE GOING PAST THE 210 MARK DESPITE IT ONLY BEING 60 DEGREES OUTSIDE AND DRIVING SHORT DISTANCES. I HAVE FOUND A NUMEROUS AMOUNT OF COMPLAINT'S REGARDING ISSUES COMPARABLE TO THIS INCLUDING A BULLETIN THAT WAS IN FACT DISTRIBUTED TO G.M DEALERS IN CANADA AND THE U.S (BULLETIN # 03-06-01-010) DATED MARCH, 2003.TITLED ENGINE OIL OR COOLANT LEAK (INSTALL A NEW DESIGN INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. THIS BULLETIN DESCRIBES COMMENT'S FROM OWNER'S AS FOLLOWED. AN APPARENT OIL OR COOLANT LEAK. ADDITIONALLY , THE COMMENTS MAY RANGE FROM SPOTS ON THE DRIVEWAY TO HAVING TO ADD FLUID. CAUSE, INTAKE MANIFOLD MAY BE LEAKING ALLOWING COOLANT, OIL OR BOTH TO LEAK FROM THE ENGINE. I HAVE DISCOVERED THAT THIS HAS BEEN A WELL KNOWN PROBLEM SINCE 1998 BUT HAS YET TO BE AN ACTUALL RECALL ON THESE VAN'S. MANY OF THE COMPLAINT'S MENTION COOLANT FOUND IN THE ENGINE OIL. I HAVE COME ACROSS SEVERAL COMPLAINT'S OF MOTOR'S HAVING TO BE REPLACED IN THESE VEHICLES DUE TO THIS PROBLEM WITH THE CONSUMER HAVING TO ENDURE THE COSTLY REPAIR FINANCIALLY. I PRIMARELY USE MY VAN TO TRANSPORT MY 16 YEAR OLD SEVERELY DISABLED SON TO AND FROM SCHOOL WITH HIS WHEEL-CHAIR AS WELL AS TO DR APPOINTMENT'S. THE RECENT PROBLEM'S WITH TICKING SOUND'S AS WELL AS AT TIMES IDLING ROUGH AND CHUGGLING WHILE DRIVING WITH THE TEMPERATURE GA

CONSUMER STATED SEAT BELTS BEHIND PASSENGER AND MIDDLE BACK SEATS LOCKED UP. THEY DID NOT WORK. ALSO, AIR BAG LIGHT KEPT COMING ON. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO MECHANIC TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT, BUT AIR BAG LIGHT STILL CAME ON.*AK

TOTAL ENGINE FAILURE OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY ON VACATION WITH WIFE AND THREE KIDS. 71000 MILES ON VERY WELL MAINTAINED VAN. WE BOUGHT IT WITH 8,000 MILES ON IT. NO WARNINGS, NO NOISES, NO SMOKE, NO OVERHEATING. ENGINE JUST QUIT RUNNING AND WE COASTED TO A STOP ON VERY BUSY INTERSTATE. THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED A MAJOR ACCIDENT. DEALER PROMISED "AT LEAST 50% WARRANTY" THEN RETRACTED OFFER TWO DAYS LATER PENDING TEAR DOWN AND DIAGNOSIS. DIAGNOSIS SPUN CRANK BEARINGS/ BENT RODS DUE TO COOLANT IN OIL. COST $2050 AFTER 50% WARRANTY. TWO WEEKS LATER, TOLD CAMSHAFT WAS BROKEN IN HALF AND THAT OUR ENGINE COULD NOT BE REPAIRED. I ASKED WHY THEY DIDN'T KNOW THAT BEFORE. SVC MGR SAID THEY JUST PULLED THE ENGINE OUT THAT DAY. THIS WAS NOT TRUE SINCE MY WIFE AND I SPOKE WITH THE TECHNICIAN THREE DAYS PRIOR AND HE WAS ALL BUT READY TO REINSTALL OUR ENGINE. THE BARE BLOCK WAS ON AN ENGINE STAND WHEN WE SPOKE WITH HIM. SVC MGR THEN SAID WARRANTY WAS IN QUESTION. I HAD MEETING WITH MGMT ABOUT "BAIT & SWITCH" TACTICS. SVC MGR THEN SAID PONTIAC WOULD INSTALL BRAND NEW "CRATE" ENGINE FOR THE $2050 WE WERE QUOTED TWO WEEKS PRIOR. NO ONE FROM THE SVC DEPT EVER CALLED US ABOUT DELAYS OR WHEN OUR VAN WAS DONE. TOOK 34 DAYS TO COMPLETE REPAIRS. AFTER GETTING IT BACK, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE AXLE RETAINING NUTS ON BOTH SIDES WERE ONLY FINGER TIGHT/READY TO FALL OFF. WENT BACK AND HAVE THEM TORQUED TO SPECS. THEY WONDER WHY GO TO A LOCAL SHOP FOR ROUTINE SERVICE RATHER THAN THE DEALER. THIS W

WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL WAS TURNED TO THE LEFT IT LOCKED UP WHICH CAUSED THE CONSUMER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. *JB

THE CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING THE POWER STEERING LOCKED UP. THE CONSUMER VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SYMPTOMS OF RECALL 02V-286000 WHICH IS RELATED TO A STEERING RACK DEFECT. *AK *NLM

1998 PONTIAC TRANSPORT MINIVAN 3.4 LITER, COOLANT LEAKING FROM THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. MECHANIC BELIEVES IT IS A GENERAL PROBLEM WITH THE GASKET. MAJOR EXPENSE TO REPAIR ON VEHCILE WITH 75,000 MILES.

PROBLEMS WITH ENGINE'S HEAD GASKETS AND INTAKE GASKETS. *MR WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE BEGAN MAKING A TICKING SOUND. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS LATER DETERMINED THAT THE HEAD GASKET AND INTAKE GASKET FAILED AND CAUSED COOLANT TO LEAK INTO THE ENGINE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE GASKETS. *NLM *JB

MY 1998 PONTIAC TRANS SPORT MINIVAN HAS DEVELOPED A PROBLEM WHERE THE DEXCOOL COOLANT IS LEAKING INTO THE ENGINE...MY MECHANIC FOUND COOLANT IN THE ENGINE OIL. I CALLED MY DEALER, THE MAN FROM WHOM I BOUGHT THE CAR, AND HE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM ON HIS GM MINIVAN. I DID AN INTERNET SEARCH AND FOUND NUMEROUS OTHERS (WWW.GM-V6LEMONS.COM, AND OTHER PLACES) WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM. IT SEEMS CLEAR THAT THE MANIFOLD GASKET IN THESE VEHICLES DEVELOPS LEAKS WHEN EXPOSED TO THE DEXCOOL COOLANT. IN MY CASE, THE VEHICLE IS 5+ YEARS OLD, AND HAS 59,000 MILES...SO THERE IS NO WARRANTY IN EFFECT. GM SHOULD BE FORCED TO RECALL THESE VEHICLES AND REPAIR THIS PROBLEM.*AK

MY 1998 PONTIAC TRANS SPORT, WITHOUT WARNING, DEVELOPED A BROKEN ACCELERATOR CABLE AND ACCELERATED FULL SPEED OUT OF CONTROL. I WAS LUCKY TO GET IT STOPPED WITHOUT A SERIOUS ACCIDENT.*AK

OVERHEATING ON HIGHWAY, CAUSED VEHICLE TO SHUT DOWN TO 3 CYLINDERS. CAUSED A MAJOR POWER LOSS. CRACKED HEAD DUE TO COOLING PROBLEMS.*AK

1998 PONTIAC TRANS SPORT 3.4 LITER COOLANT LEAKING ENGINE DAMAGE MAJOR EXPENSE ON A VEHICLE W/ 70'000. *NLM

THE HEAD LIGHT COVER FELL OFF DURING A RAIN STORM. THE NEXT MORNING SECOND HEADLIGHT COVER FELL OFF IN CONSUMER'S HAND. THIS IS A POSSIBLE PROBLEM FOR CHEVROLET, VENTURE/PONTIAC, TRANSPORT; AND OLDSMOBILE, SILHOUETTE. IT PRESENTS A SAFETY HAZARD. *AK

THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE RACK AND PINION AS STATED IN THE RECALL, HOWEVER THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. *JB

HEADLAMP COVERS FLY OFF BECAUSE OF POOR GLUING, WATER HITS BULB AND IT BLOWS OUT. *JB

THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET HAS BEGUN LEAKING. I AM CONCERNED THIS COULD CONTRIBUTE TO INTAKE MANIFOLD FAILURE WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF FIRE.