1998 Pontiac Trans Sport: problems, recalls and reliability
6 recalls and 227 owner complaints on record; the weakest area is engine and engine cooling (21% of complaints); the 1996 and 1999 model years look more trouble-free.
Data updated weekly · latest recall Mar 2007
All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.
Common problems
Computed from 227 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
“Tl* the contact owns a 1998 pontiac trans sport. The contact stated while driving various speeds, the vehicle stalled. The contact mentioned that the ABS, air bag and check engine warning lamps illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 105,000. The current mileage was 119,317.”Owner report · Electrical System · Sep 2013
“Tl* the contact owns a 1998 pontiac trans sport. The contact stated that when accelerating from a complete stop, the front passenger's side air bag deployed inadvertently and without any impact to the vehicle. The driver sustained minor bruises and swelling to the right arm. The vehicle was in the process of being towed to an authorized dealer. The manufacturer was notified of the problem. The approximate failure mileage was 117,000.”Owner report · Air Bags · May 2013
“ABS-anti locking brakes are faulty and light comes on for no reason. Also the airbag light comes on intermittently. *tr”Owner report · Air Bags · Jan 2012
Show 7 more owner reports
“Tl* the contact owns a 1998 pontiac transport. The contact exited the vehicle and when he returned, the vehicle was engulfed with white smoke. The contact rolled down the windows to release the smoke. The vehicle was then taken to an independent mechanic, who stated that the failure was the result of faulty wiring. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 149,000.”Owner report · Electrical System · Jan 2012
“Tl* the contact owns a 1998 pontiac trans sport. While attempting to shift into drive, the contact noticed that the gear shifter would not respond and he was unable to remove it from the park position. The vehicle was not diagnosed and there were no repairs. The current and failure mileages was 110,000.”Owner report · Power Train · May 2010
“I have a 98 pontiac transport. The passenger side slide door opens on its own, and it will only open manually. The sliding door stopped opening with the control about three months ago. *tr”Owner report · Structure · Mar 2008
“Tl*the contact owns a 1998 pontiac transport. While driving at various speeds, the passenger side automatic door would open and close intermittently. The door would appear to be closed, but when the vehicle was placed into gear, the alarm would sound to indicate that the door was not latched properly. The dealer has not been notified. The bulletin number is 020864011. The current mileage was 100,245 and failure mileage was 100,000.”Owner report · Electrical System · Oct 2007
“Tl*the contact owns a 1998 pontiac transport. The contact stated that the vehicle's intake manifold is leaking internally and externally in between the intake and the block. He has not contacted the manufacturer due to prior issues with the transmission. As a result, the vehicle consumes a large amount of coolant which contaminates the oil. The engine size was unknown. The current mileage is 65,150 and failure mileage was 65,000. Updated 06/08/07 *tr”Owner report · Engine And Engine Cooling · May 2007
“Tl*- the contact stated that while driving the 1998 pontiac transport with 183,000 failure mileage)at 55 mph the driver's side front tire blew out without any warning. The contact lost control of the vehicle, and the vehicle hit a culvert on the left passenger side. Upon impact, the airbags did not deploy. The vehicle was taken to a local service center, but had not yet been repaired.*ak”Owner report · Air Bags · Mar 2007
“Dt*: the contact stated while attempting to unlock the right sliding door with the manual control or the keyless entry the door would not unlock. The dealer was alerted.”Owner report · Latches/Locks/Linkages · Nov 2006
When filing, owners marked a crash in 17 of these complaints and injuries in 24 - self-reported to NHTSA, not verified accident statistics.
Recalls - 6 campaigns
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW UN-LATCH ACTUATOR ASSEMBLY TO THE POWER SLIDING DOOR. THIS RECALL HAS BEEN CONTINUED UNDER SAFETY RECALL 01V-264. 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.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MINI VANS. THESE VEHICLES MAY HAVE (1) A BROKEN SHIFT CABLE FITTING OR (2) LOOSE SHIFT LINKAGE. CONSEQUENTLY, MOVING THE SHIFT LEVER TO A 'PARK' POSITION MAY NOT SHIFT THE TRANSMISSION TO 'PARK'.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT, AND REPLACE IF NECESSARY, THE AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLE RANGE SELECTOR CABLE.
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.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE POWER SLIDING DOOR INTERIOR HANDLE ON THE PASSENGER-SIDE. IF THE VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH A POWER OR MANUAL SLIDING DOOR ON THE DRIVER-SIDE, THE INTERIOR HANDLE WILL ALSO BE REPLACED FOR APPEARANCE REASONS. NOTE: BEFORE THE VEHICLE IS SERVICED, GM ADVISES OWNERS TO NOT USE THE INTERIOR DOOR HANDLE TO OPEN THE DOOR. THE DRIVER CAN OPEN AND CLOSE THE DOOR FROM SWITCHES AT THE DRIVER'S POSITION OR BY USING THE REMOTE KEY FOB. THE DRIVER SHOULD TELL PASSENGERS TO USE THE SWITCH LOCATED IN FRONT OF THE DOOR TO OPEN OR CLOSE IT. THE DRIVER SHOULD USE THE OVERRIDE SWITCH TO PREVENT OPERATION OF THE POWER DOOR BY CHILDREN OR BY OTHERS WHO ARE NOT FAMILIAR WITH ITS USE. THE OWNER NOTIFICATION LETTER MAILING WILL BE CONDUCTED IN PHASES WITH THE FIRST PHASE BEGINNING ON MAY 31, 2005. THE SECOND PHASE MAILING BEGAN ON JULY 18, 2005. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 31, 2005. PHASE 2 BEGAN ON JULY 18, 2005. PHASE 3 (FINAL PHASE) BEGAN ON AUGUST 24, 2005, TO ALL REMAINING CUSTOMERS. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438; PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668; OR OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-630-6537.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER MINI VANS EQUIPPED WITH TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEMS. THE WINDSHIELD WIPER LINKAGE ARM CAN CONTACT A BRAKE LINE WHICH IS CONNECTED TO THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM MODULATOR VALVE. THIS CONTACT CAN CHAFE THE BRAKE LINE RESULTING IN A BRAKE FLUID LEAK.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A BRAKE LINE CLIP TO ENSURE PROPER CLEARANCE. ALSO THE BRAKE LINES WILL BE INSPECTED TO ANY DAMAGE CAUSED BY THIS CONDITION AND WILL REPLACE ANY DAMAGED LINES.
How other years compare
Check your exact Trans Sport by VIN
Recalls and equipment differ between individual vehicles. Decode your VIN to see what applies to yours.
Open VIN decoderFrequently asked questions
Is the 1998 Pontiac Trans Sport reliable?
NHTSA has 227 owner complaints and 6 recall campaigns on record for the 1998 Pontiac Trans Sport. The most complained-about area is engine and engine cooling (21% of complaints).
At what mileage do 1998 Pontiac Trans Sport problems usually appear?
Half of the complaints that mention mileage were filed at 80,000 miles or less.
Does the 1998 Pontiac Trans Sport have open recalls?
6 recall campaigns have been issued, the latest concerning steering:rack and pinion. Check your specific vehicle by VIN - recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints (public domain). Counts reflect reports on file and are not a defect rate.