1998 Pontiac Trans Sport complaints

AT 71,000 MILES, THE POWER WINDOW CONTROL MODULE ON MY 1998 PONTIAC TRANSPORT WAS FAILED. INITIALLY, THE DRIVERS SIDE POWER WINDOW MOVED VERY SLOWLY, AND THEN WOULDN'T CLOSE ALL THE WAY. FINALLY, IT OPERATED WITH THE WINDOW ASKEW, AND NOT CLOSING AT ALL.

THE POWER SLIDING DOOR DOES NOT WORK. THE DRIVER HAS TO TURN THE POWER OFF THAT GOES TO THE DOOR IN ORDER TO KEEP IT SHUT. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO SHUT THE DOOR IT WILL ONLY CLOSE A LITTLE, THEN RE-OPEN. THE VAN WAS TAKEN TO DEALER, BUT WAS TOLD THAT THEY COULD NOT REPAIR IT. *AK *SCC

THE GAS GAUGE IS CONSTANTLY INCORRECT AND NEVER REGISTERS THE CORRECT AMOUNT OF FUEL IN TANK. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS THE FUEL PUMP AND HAS REPLACED PUMP 3X. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS.

WHILE DRIVING AT 57MPH AND INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK

CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP WHEN CONSUMER TURNS VEHICLE. DEALER NOTIFIED. CONSUMER SAID THAT HE DID NOT RECEIVE A RECALL NOTICE CONCERNING STEERING.

I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH MY INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET THAT HAS JUST BEEN REPLACED. ALSO MY STEERING WHEEL IS VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN WHEN I AM MOVING FROM A STOPPED POSITION. DT

CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE DRIVERS SEAT BROKE MOVING WILDLY FROM LEFT TO RIGHT. DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THEY WILL FIX IT ON CONSUMERS OWN POCKET ALSO STATED THAT WENT TO LOOK FOR ANOTHER SEAT HIM SELF AND WAS TOLD THAT IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THAT TYPE OF VEHICLES. TS

BOTH HEADLIGHT PLASTIC COVERS FELL OFF AND THEY ARE NOT COVERED BY MY WARRANTY OR INSURANCE. *JB ***DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS*******769764

VEHICLE STEERING BECOMES VERY HARD AT EXTREME TURNS LIKE IN PARKING. DT

WHILE DRIVING HEARD A NOISE, VEHICLE VIBRATED/JERKED, RESULTING IN LOSS OF CONTROL. HAD VEHICLE SERVICED, MECHANIC INDICATED REAR END BAR BROKE, AND WHEEL SEPARATED FROM VEHICLE.*AKJLG

REAR DOORS WILL NOT UNLOCK, AND HORN WILL NOT WORK WHEN VEHICLE WAS OFF, CAUSING A PASSENGER TO BE LOCKED INSIDE OF VEHICLE, AND WAS UNABLE TO NOTIFY BYSTANDERS. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

SINCE 1973, I'VE DRIVEN A SERIES OF 8 CARS (ABOUT 20-24,000 MILES PER YEAR) IN ALL KINDS OF WEATHER, AND NEVER HYDROPLANED UNTIL PURCHASING TRANSSPORT IN 1998. I'VE HYDROPLANED 3 TIMES IN IT, IN SHALLOW WATER, BUT MANAGED TO GET CONTROL OF CAR AND AVOID ACCIDENTS. THIS CAR WAS PURCHASED WITH THE IDEA OF GIVING IT TO MY DAUGHTER AS A USED CAR WHEN SHE TURNED 16 IN 2001. (WE HAD GIVEN OUR SON THE FAMILY CARAVAN WHEN WE BOUGHT THE TRANSSPORT.) BECAUSE OF THE TRANSSPORT'S TENDENCY TO HYDRPLANE, WE DID NOT FEEL IT WAS SAFE TO GIVE AN INEXPERIENCED DRIVER, SO WE BOUGHT A DIFFERENT USED CAR FOR HER INSTEAD. MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING THE TRANSSPORT TO BEACH ON SATURDAY AND HYDROPLANED ON A 4-LANE HIGHWAY AT BOTTOM OF A HILL, SPINNING, GOING BACKWARDS ACROSS MEDIAN, AND ENDING UP IN FAR LANE FACING ONCOMING TRAFFIC. MIRACULOUSLY, DESPITE LABOR DAY WEEKEND TRAFFIC, NO ONE HIT OUR CAR AS IT CROSSED 4 LANES OF TRAFFIC AND NO ONE WAS INJURED. MY SISTER HAD PROBLEMS WITH MY MOM'S TRANSSPORT HYDROPLANING WHEN SHE DROVE IT ON A TRIP. SHE WAS SO SCARED SHE ACTUALLY STOPPED TRAVELLING AND SPENT NIGHT IN HOTEL BEFORE REACHING HER DESTINATION. COULD THIS BE A DESIGN FLAW OR A PROBLEM WITH STEERING OR WHAT? BOTH CARS HAD GOOD TIRES (STEEL-BELTED RADIALS), NOT ONES THAT CAME ON VEHICLE, AND WE HAD JUST HAD OUR CAR INSPECTED THE WEEK BEFORE MY HUSBAND LEFT FOR THE BEACH. HAVE YOU HAD OTHER REPORTS, OR HAVE TESTS BEEN DONE RE THIS? THE OTHER MINIVAN WE HAD, THE CARAVAN, DID NOT HAVE THIS PROBLEM.*AK

I PURCHASED MY MONTANA NEW IN 1998. I HAVE HAD GOOD SERVICE, EXCEPT FOR A PREMATURE BATTERY FAILURE, UP UNTIL NOW. I WAS IN THE PROCESS OF CHANGING THE HEADLIGHT BULB WHEN I NOTICED THAT THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY WAS DEGRADING TO THE POINT THAT THE LENS WAS DETACHING FROM THE HEADLAMP ASSEMBLY. NOW I KNOW THAT THIS VEHICLE IS 4 YEARS OLD BUT THERE IS NO REASON FOR THE LAMPS TO FALL APART. WHAT GOOD IS RUST THROUGH WARRANTIES IF THE BONDING MATERIAL HOLDING THE PARTS TOGETHER FAIL PREMATURELY? I BELIEVE THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN AROUND FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS. ABOUT 2 YEARS AFTER I PURCHASED MY MONTANA I NOTICED A FOGGING INSIDE THE HEADLAMP AFTER DRIVING THROUGH RAIN. THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT WAS NORMAL FOR THAT TYPE OF HEADLIGHT. NOW, LOOKING BACK, I BELIEVE THAT THE SEAL WAS ALREADY DETERIORATING. --- I DO BELIEVE THIS IS A MATERIAL DEFECT THAT COULD CAUSE ACCIDENTS, IF THE LENS FALLS OFF DURING RAIN OR SNOW. I HOPE THAT THIS IS NOT A PURPOSELY DESIGNED IN DEFECT AND I BELIEVE THAT GM WOULD WANT TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM, EVEN IN AN OLDER VEHICLE. --- THE RESPONSE BACK FROM GM WAS THAT DUE TO THE AGE OF THE VEHICLE THEY WERE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FAULT AS FOLLOWS: -- ALTHOUGH WE DO UNDERSTAND YOUR POSITION, OUR EXPERIENCE HAS BEEN THAT A DEFECT ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE ORIGINAL MANUFACTURING AND ASSEMBLY PROCESS GENERALLY MAKES ITSELF APPARENT QUITE EARLY IN THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE. AFTER A VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN SERVICE FOR SEVERAL YEARS, MANY FACTORS SUCH AS USAGE, OWNER MAINTENANCE, AG

AFTER THE RECALL REPAIRS WERE COMPLETED FOR THE POWER SLIDING DOOR, THE PROBLEM REOCCURRED. PER-PONTIAC RECALL, THEY SIMPLY INSTALL A NEW UN-LATCH ACTUATOR ASSEMBLY TO THE POWER SLIDING DOOR. WHICH IS ONLY A ONE TIME PERFORMANCE. NHTSA#01V067000 THE CONSUMERS CONCERNS OTHER CONCERN WERE WITH THE VOLUME BUTTON ON THE RADIO, THE LEFT FRONT WINDOW/, AND THE BRAKES. *SCC

CONSUMER STATES THE INTEGRATED CHILD SEAT TOP LATCH CAN BE UNDONE IF TUGGED ON. DEALER CONTACTED.*JB THE REPLACEMENT ORDERED HAD THE SAME DEFECT AS THE ORIGINAL. PONTIAC STATED THE LATCH IS FOR POSITIONING AND IS NOT REQUIRED TO LATCH SECURELY. *JG

SEAT BELT BUCKLE FELL APART WHEN ONE OF THE PASSENGERS SLIDE ACROSS THE SEAT AND BUCKLE GOT CAUGHT IN HIS GARMENTS. CONSUMER CALLED GMC, AND WAS TOLD THAT SEAT BELT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THEY WOULD NOT COVER THAT.*AK

WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK, AND CONSUMER LEFT KEYS IN THE IGNITION WITH VEHICLE TURNED OFF, CHILD WAS ABLE TO TURN THE KEY AND PUT THE VEHICLE INTO NEUTRAL WITHOUT STEPPING ON BRAKE. CONTACTED DEALER. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

THE POSITIVE TERMINAL POST SEPARATED FROM THE CASING OF THE BATTERY (DELCO FREEDOM, MODEL NR. 78 6YR). *JG

POSITIVE TERMINAL OF MY DELCO FREEDOM BATTERY MOD. 78 6YR SEPARATED FROM THE BATTERY CASE, CAUSING LEAKAGE OF GAS AND ACID AND FAILURE OF BATTERY. INTERNET RESEARCH REVEALS THAT THIS IS A COMMON AND POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS PROBLEM WITH THIS BATTERY.

RPMS GO TO 1200 UPON STARTING VEHICLE AND 1500 WHEN PUT INTO DRIVE. GAS PEDAL DOES NOT HAVE TO BE PRESSED, VEHICLE ACCELERATES ON ITS OWN. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

WHILE DRIVING AND TRYING TO GIVE GAS GAS PEDAL STICKS, CAUSING VEHICLE TO SURGE.*AK

AUTOMATIC SLIDING DOOR WILL NOT LATCH PROPERLY. A RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED ON VEHICLE MAKE AND MODEL. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK *YH

SLIDING DOOR WILL NOT UNLOCK MANUALLY OR ELECTRONICALLY. THE DEALER IS INSPECTING. PLEASE ADD MORE INFORMATION. THE DOOR STARTED ACTING UP AFTER NHTSA RECALL 01V067000/ MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 01013 REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING 65MPH HIT A COW AND AIRBAGS DIDNOT DEPLOY. THERE WAS FRONTAL DAMAGE. ALSO, DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES. DEALER CONTACTED. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

RIGHT SIDE HEADLIGHT LENSE FELL OFF VEHICLE. CONVERSATION WITH A PONTIAC DEALER PARTS MANAGER AND A PONTIAC DEALER SERVICE MANAGER INDICATED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE LENSE IS "GLUED" TO THE HOUSING AND THAT THE ADHESIVE MATERIAL DRIES OUT CAUSING THE LENSE TO SEPARATE FROM THE HOUSING. YOU CAN NOT PURCHASE A REPLACEMENT LENS, YOU CAN ONLY PURCHASE AN ENTIRE HEADLIGHT ASSSEMBLE, APPROXIMATELY $240.00 PLUS LABOR. ADDITIONALLY, WHEN MOISTURE ENTERS THE NOW LENSE FREE ASSEMBLY, THE HALOGEN HEADLIGHT FAILS. HALOGEN LIGHTS HAVE BEEN THE CAUSE OF SEVERAL HOUSE FIRES BECAUSE OF THEIR HIGH OPERATIONAL TEMPERTURE. THE CHEVROLET VENTURE VAN USES THE SAME HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY. THIS SAME ASSEMBLY IS USED ON BOTH OF THESE VEHICLES FOR SEVERAL YEARS. FOR THE MANUFACTURE YER OF 1998, YOUR SITE LISTS 11 COMPLAINTS FOR THIS DEFECT FOR THE PONTIAC VAN AND 17 COMPLAINTS FOR THIS DEFECT FOR THE CHEVROLET VENTURE VAN. I HAVE NOT RESEARCHED ALL THE YEARS THAT THIS PART HAS BEEN USED FOR BOTH OF THESE VEHICLES. THIS ASSEBLY MAY ALSO BE USED ON THE OLDMOBILE SILOETTE VAN.*AK

ABS BRAKES FAIL TO ACTIVATE WHEN APPLIED DUE A MALFUNCTION WITHIN MOTOR WHICH CAUSES SYSTEM TO BECOME INOPERABLE. *AK UPON INSPECTION OF VEHICLE DEALER FOUND A FAULTY MOTOR PACK,*SLC

THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THAT HEADLIGHT LENSES HAVE FALLEN OFF. LENSES WERE JUST REPLACED A MONTH AGO. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED.*AK

03/01 LEFT HEADLIGHT LENS FELL OFF 12/24/01 RIGHT LENS FELL OFF WHILE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED. GLUE APPEARS TO HAVE DRIED UP. PONTIAC CUSTOMER SERVICE SAID THAT THEY HAVE NOT RECEIVED ENOUGH COMPLAINT TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. THEY ALSO STATE THAT BECAUSE IT IS A USED CAR AND & MILAGE IS HIGHER THEN WARANTY ALLOWS THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. SERVICE DEPARTMENT SAID THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND HAVE REPLACED MANY HEADLIGHTS USUALLY GETTING INSURANCE COMPANYS TO PAY. DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT SAID THAT GM/PONTIAC KNOWS ABOUT THE PROBLEM BUT WON'T CORRECT IT. PONTIAC CUSTOMER SERVICE STATED THAT THERE IS NO RELEIF AT THIS TIME. *AK

ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS DOORS COULD NOT BE OPENED FROM INSIDE OR OUTSIDE. ALSO, A CHILD'S FINGER WAS STUCK IN BETWEEN THE DOORS. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK DOOR OPENS WHILE VEHICLE IS RUNNING, WHILE TRAVELING 70 MPH, DOORS OPENED FULLY AND ALARM SOUNDED. *JB

THIS IS THE SECOND MAJOR PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE. AT 60,000 MILES THE ENGINE SPUN A CRANKSHAFT MAIN BEARING WITH THE RESULT THAT THE ENTIRE ENGINE REQUIRED REPLACEMENT.

HEAD LIGHT DOME COMES OFF LEAVING LAMP EXPOSED TO ELEMENTS. THIS IS A HAZARD. IF LAMP IS EXPOSED TO RAIN, IT MAY BURST LEAVING ONLY ONE FUNCTIONING HEADLIGHT. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO BOTH HEADLIGHTS ON MY VEHICLE. DEALER HAS INFORMAED US THAT THIS IS INDEED A PROBLEM ON THIS AND OTHER VEHICLES BY PONTIAC. HOWEVER, NO RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED.*AK

ABS BRAKING SYSTEM WAS INOPERATIVE, ALSO, BRAKE LIGHTS BECOME INOPERATIVE WHEN ABS BRAKE LIGHT IS ILLUMINATED, WHEN ABS LIGHT IS NOT ILLUMINATED BRAKES LIGHTS BECOME FUNCTIONAL.DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED, BUT HAS BEEN UNABLE TO REMEMDY THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

CONSUMER PULLED A CAR FAX REPORT ON SEPTEMBER 11,2001 THE ODOMETER READING ON THE VEHICLE WAS 30586 ON SEPTEMBER 1, 2000 AS VERIFIED BY CALIFORNIA DMV, ON NOV 14,2000 THE ODOMETER READING WAS 30582 AS VEIIFIED BY THE CA INSPECTION STATION, THE DEALER ADVERTISED THE VEHICLE ON THEIR WEBSITE AS HAVING 33558 MILES ON IT, CONSUMER STATES THE DEALER INDICATED THEY HAD THE VEHICLE FOUR MONTHS SO THE MILEAGE DECREASED FROM SEPTEMBER 2000 TO NOVEMBER 2000 AND ONLY ACQUIRED 3000 MILES FROM NOVEMBER 2000 TO AUGUST 2001.*JB

AIRBAG LIGHT HAS BEEN COMING ON SINCE SEPTEMBER 1998. STEERING WHEEL WOULD MAKE A NOISE, BUT DEALER COULD NEVER DUPLICATE PROBLEM. DEALER PUT IN A STEERING GEAR, AND STEERING PUMP A COUPLE OF TIMES. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

AIR BAG LIGHT STAYS ON. THE DEALER HAS REPAIRED INTERMITTENT PROBLEM 7 TIMES IN 2 YEARS. MECHANIC STATED THAT DESIGN OF CABLES UNDER T DRIVER'S SEAT WERE BEING DRAGGED, CAUSING THEM TO LOOSEN UP.*AK

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 65MPH ON HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING CONSUMER NOTICED BLACK SMOKE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH VAN. HE WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO SHOULDERS. LIFTED HOOD AND FLAMES WERE COMING OUT. WITHIN A SECOND VEHICLE BURSTED INTO FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

EVEN THOUGH THE RECALL REPAIR,(01V067), WAS DONE ON THE SLIDING DOOR LOCKING MECHANISM, THE CONSUMER STILL THINKS IT IS UNSAFE.

THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE (01V067000) ON THE SLIDING DOOR LOCKING MECHANISM. THE DEALER FIXED THE PROBLEM BUT THE CONSUMER WAS NOT SATISFIED AND DOES NOT FEEL SAFE. *YH

WHILE TRAVELING AND WITHOUT NOTICE AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHT WOULD STAY ON THROUGHOUT TRAVELING, INTERMITTENTLY. DEALER WAS CONTACTED, AND TECHNICIAN COULD NOT DUPLICATE PROBLEM. *AK DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE, HOWEVER CONSUMER DOES NOT FEEL THAT REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE. *SLC

HEADLIGHT COVER ON DRIVER SIDE OF VEHICLE FELL OFF. WHEN ELEMENTS CONTACTED HEADLIGHT BULBS, FAILURE OF HEADLIGHT WAS THE RESULT. CONSUMER HAD TO REPLACE ENTIRE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY. CONSUMER HAS BEEN INFORMED THAT PASSENGER'S HEADLIGHT SEALANT WAS DRYING AND WAS BEGINNING TO CRACK. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS. *AK

WHILE TRAVELING 40-45MPH & HAD "T"-BONED ANOTHER VEHICLE. AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY UPON IMPACT. BOTH DRIVER & PASSENGER WERE INJURED AND TAKEN TO ER. WERE TREATED AND RELEASED.*AK

HEADLIGHT LAMP COVERS FELL OFF, EXPOSING THE WIRES. *AK

THE POWER SLIDING DOOR OPENS ON IT'S OWN AND AT TIMES IT WON'T CLOSE, THE DOOR ALSO RATTLES AND THE MOLDING IS LOOSE. NLM

WHEN TRYING TO BUCKLE UP BY PULLING SEAT BELT OUT, IT WILL NOT COME OUT, AND WILL NOT WORK. TAKEN IT TO DEALER TO BE REPLACED.*AK THE REAR MIDDLE SEAT BELT WOULD NOT PUSH IN TO THE PART IT IS SUPPOSED TO BUCKLE INTO, DEALER REPLACED. *SLC

RETAINER CLIP ON INTEGRATED SEAT IS VERY LOOSE AND CAN BE MOVED BY CHILD, WHO ABLE TO GET OUT OF SEAT. DEALER / MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED, AND UNABLE TO ASSIST IN THIS MATTER. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER . *AK

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING BETWEEN 45 AND 50 MPH AND HIT ANOTHER CAR, AND NONE OF AIRBAGS DEPLOYED.*AK THERE WERE 2 INJURIES DUE TO ACCIDENT. *SLC

AUTOMATIC SLIDING DOOR OPENED WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. WHEN DOORS WERE LOCKED SLIDING DOORS WILL COME OPEN WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE PROBLEM.*AK *JB

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 55 MPH RIGHT REAR TIRE BECAME DISATTACHED FROM VEHICLE DUE TO LUGS: NUTS SHEARING OFF. HAD BEEN THE SECOND TIME THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED.*AK *JB

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING 35MPH ON HIGHWAY AND VEHICLE SHIFTED BY ITSELF INTO PARK. PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT, MECHANIC TOLD HER THAT DIRT GOT INTO TRANSMISSION AXLE, AND A BEARING BROKE WHICH CAUSE TURBINE SHAFT TO LOCK UP,RESULTING IN VEHICLE LOCKING UP. SHE COULDN'T GO FORWARD OR BACKWARDS.*AK