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#BS-1997-PONTRA-79E11997 Pontiac Trans Sport
Based on reports from 307 owners and 6 recalls for this exact model.
Preliminary Verdict
Red Flag
Based on 307 complaints, 11 crashes, 3 fires, and 6 recalls. This is the worst model year for this vehicle.
Top reported problems
leaking coolant cracked intake manifold gasket
2 complaints • Severity 10/10
coolant leak
1 complaints • Severity 10/10
window is stuck in down position
1 complaints • Severity 10/10
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Mechanic Inspection Checklist
33 owners reported structure:body:door issues — failures commonly reported around 90K miles.
Failure Timeline by Mileage
Peak failure range: 90–120K miles (24 reports) • Median: 90K miles
30,000-Mile Cost Projection
Best Case
Most Likely
Worst Case
Top cost driver: Structure:body:door (33 reports).
Also in your report
Owner Intelligence
AI-synthesized themes from real complaints
Buyer Lot Checklist
Questions, test drive checks, walk-away triggers
Negotiation Talking Points
Data-backed dollar deductions
Buy / Skip Verdict
Final recommendation with conditions
Where the complaints fall
1997 Pontiac Trans Sport: Known Issues & Problem Areas
Structure:body:door Issues
Structure:body:door complaints account for 11% of all reports filed for the 1997 Pontiac Trans Sport, with 33 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. The median mileage at time of complaint is 90,000 miles, suggesting issues tend to surface around the 90K-mile mark.
Exterior Lighting:headlights Issues
Exterior Lighting:headlights complaints account for 9% of all reports filed for the 1997 Pontiac Trans Sport, with 28 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to exterior lighting:headlights-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.
Steering:rack And Pinion Issues
Steering:rack And Pinion complaints account for 5% of all reports filed for the 1997 Pontiac Trans Sport, with 16 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to steering:rack and pinion-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.
Latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch Issues
Latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch complaints account for 5% of all reports filed for the 1997 Pontiac Trans Sport, with 14 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.
Data sourced from NHTSA owner complaints and community reports. The full report analyzes severity, repair costs, and failure patterns for each category.
Complaint trend by year
Complaints filed with NHTSA by year for the 1997 Pontiac Trans Sport. Recent trend: increasing.
Don't negotiate blind — know what this car costs to own
Repair costs • Negotiation scripts • Mechanic checklist • Buy/skip verdict
Recall History (6 recalls)
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MINIVANS EQUIPPED WITH PASSENGER SIDE POWER SLIDING DOORS. THE DOOR CLOSES BUT MAY NOT BE LATCHED. IF THIS HAPPENS, THE POWER SLIDING DOOR CAN OPEN WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION, PARTICULARLY WHEN THE VEHICLE ASCENDS A HILL, MAKES A TURN, OR TRAVELS OVER A ROUGH ROAD SURFACE.
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: 1997-2001 CHEVROLET VENTURE, PONTIAC MONTANA/TRANSPORT, AND OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE MINI VANS EQUIPPED WITH PASSENGER SIDE POWER SLIDING DOORS THAT WERE SERVICED IN CAMPAIGN 01013 (01V-067) FROM APRIL TO AUGUST 2001. ALSO 2001 CHEVROLET VENTURE, PONTIAC MONTANA, AND OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE MINI VANS EQUIPPED WITH PASSENGER SIDE POWER SLIDING DOORS ASSEMBLED IN JANUARY THROUGH APRIL 2001. THESE VEHICLES HAVE INADEQUATE FRONT WELDS. IF A FRONT WELD FAILS, THE ACTUATOR CAN JAM IN THE UNLATCHED POSITION AND, WHEN THE SLIDING DOOR CLOSES, IT WILL NOT BE LATCHED.
STEERING:RACK AND PINION
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.
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
ON CERTAIN MINIVANS EQUIPPED WITH SECOND-ROW BUCKET SEATS OR CAPTAIN'S CHAIRS AND A POWER SLIDING DOOR ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE, A PASSENGER USING THE INTERIOR HANDLE TO OPEN THE POWER SLIDING DOOR COULD BE INJURED.
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:PRESSURE RELIEF DEVICES
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.
+ 1 more recall in the full report
Recall severity analysis & seller scripts
The full report rates each recall's severity and gives you scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.
This is the worst model year for the Pontiac Trans Sport according to owner complaint data. The biggest problem area is engine.
About this data
NHTSA Complaints
Federal database of owner-filed safety complaints. 307 records for this vehicle.
NHTSA Recalls
Manufacturer-issued safety recalls. 6 recalls found for this vehicle.
Repair Cost Data
Real-world repair costs from owner reports and independent databases.
Other Pontiac Trans Sport Model Years
View all Pontiac Trans Sport years →1997 Pontiac Trans Sport: Frequently Asked Questions
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Does the 1997 Pontiac Trans Sport have any recalls?
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Get the Full 1997 Pontiac Trans Sport Report
10 sections of AI analysis based on 307 owner reports. Know before you buy.