IllustrationOWNER WAS DRIVING AT 40 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE PULLED TO THE LEFT. WAS ABLE TO AVOID ONCOMING TRAFFIC AND STOP VEHICLE, UPON INSPECTION OWNER NOTICED THE FRONT RIGHT OF STRUCTURE HANGING DOWN UPON FURTHER INSPECTION IT IS APPARENT THE BOLT PULLED OUT OF FRAME STRUCTURE CAUSING STEERING LOSS AND MOTOR TO HANG DOWN. *TR
1991 Pontiac Trans Sport
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1991 Pontiac Trans Sport do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 36.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Trans Sport years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 2 of 36 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Structure. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Seat Belts. Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
2 crash reports2 fire reports2 injury reports
Structure complaints
11 reportsTHE RECALL TO FIX THE CRADLE BOLTS WHICH HAVE RUSTED AND BROKEN ON MY 1991 PONTIAC TRANS SPORT SHOULD HAVE INCLUDED VEHICLES REGISTERED IN MINNESOTA, BECAUSE WE HAVE MORE SALT USED ON OUR ROADS THAN SOME OF THE STATES INCLUDED IN THE RECALL.*AK
WE OWN A 1991 PONTIAC TRANSPORT AND HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT ANNOYING PROBLEMS. OUR MOST RECENT PROBLEM IS THE "STRIKER" FOR THE PASSENGER AND DRIVER'S DOORS. THE STRIKER FOR THE PASSENGER DOOR BECAME LOOSE AND WE WERE ABLE TO "STABLIZE" THE STRIKER WITH A HARDENING CLAY THAT WILL ALLOW US TO USE THE DOOR PERIODICALLY; AND THE STR…
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WE OWN A 1991 PONTIAC TRANSPORT AND HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT ANNOYING PROBLEMS. OUR MOST RECENT PROBLEM IS THE "STRIKER" FOR THE PASSENGER AND DRIVER'S DOORS. THE STRIKER FOR THE PASSENGER DOOR BECAME LOOSE AND WE WERE ABLE TO "STABLIZE" THE STRIKER WITH A HARDENING CLAY THAT WILL ALLOW US TO USE THE DOOR PERIODICALLY; AND THE STRIKER FOR THE DRIVER'S DOOR FELL INSIDE THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE. WE TOOK IT TO THE MECHANIC AND THAT'S WHEN WE FOUND THAT BECAUSE OF THE DESIGN OF THAT AREA OF THE VEHICLE, THEY WOULD HAVE TO REMOVE THE PANEL, THE ENTIRE SIDE OF THE VEHICLE, IN ORDER TO WELD THE STRIKER BACK ON, IT WILL COST ROUGHLY $4,000 TO REPAIR BECAUSE IT IS BOTH DOORS. WE ARE USING TEMPORARY MEANS TO HOLD THE DRIVER'S DOOR SHUT UNTIL WE CAN PURCHASE A NEW VEHICLE. THE MONEY WE HAVE SPENT ON NUISANCE REPAIRS IS UNBELIEVABLE. *AK
THE VEHICLE'S ENGINE CRADLE HAD CRACKED. THE PROBLEM CAUSED THE ENGINE TO SHAKE AND NOT BE SUPPORTED WHILE DRIVING. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB
CARRIAGE RETAINER CLIPS RUSTED AND BROKE OFF WHILE DRIVING, CAUSING THE CARRIAGE TO FALL FROM THE VEHICLE.*AK
THE REAR SUBFRAME ATTACHING BOLT AND WASHER KIT RUSTED IN HALF. THIS CAUSED THE REAR OF THE SUBFRAME TO SEPARATE FROM THE BODY , PULLING THE STEERING SHAFT OFF OF THE RACK AND PINION . THIS CAUSING COMPLETE LOSS OF STEERING, AND VEHICLE VEERED INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC ALMOST HITTING ANOTHER VEHICLE HEAD ON!
WHILE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING ABOUT 30 MPH SUBFRAME DROPPED ABOUT A FOOT PULLING STEERING SHAFT OFF STEERING COLUMN. CONSUMER LOST ALL STEERING POWER. ALSO, VEHICLE SWERVED TO LEFT IN ONCOMING TRAFFIC, SUBFRAMES BOLTS AND BUSHINGS AT REAR OF SUBFRAME.*AK *SLC
THE REAR CRADLE BOLTS HAVE PULLED OUT THROUGH THE FRONT OF THE FRAME DUE TO CORROSION. A RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED ON THE VEHICLE'S MAKE AND MODEL. HOWEVER,THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN. MANUFACTURER HAS BEN NOTIFIED. *AK
THE FRAME UNDER THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE RUSTED THROUGH AND WAS READY TO LET GO. WE JUST HAPPENED TO BE HAVING THE BRAKES CHECKED AND THEY SEEN THAT THE FRAME LOOKED BAD AT THE BRAKE SHOP. WE HAD THE VEHICLE HAULED TO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THEM LOOK AT IT AS THE BRAKE GUY SAID THAT HE WOULD NOT DRIVE IT. WHEN WE GOT IT TO TH…
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THE FRAME UNDER THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE RUSTED THROUGH AND WAS READY TO LET GO. WE JUST HAPPENED TO BE HAVING THE BRAKES CHECKED AND THEY SEEN THAT THE FRAME LOOKED BAD AT THE BRAKE SHOP. WE HAD THE VEHICLE HAULED TO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THEM LOOK AT IT AS THE BRAKE GUY SAID THAT HE WOULD NOT DRIVE IT. WHEN WE GOT IT TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY LOOKED AT IT AND ALSO SAID THAT IT WAS BAD. BOTH THE GUYS AT THE DEALERSHIP AND THE BRAKE SHOP SAID THAT THIS SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED TO A VEHICLE OF THIS AGE AND THAT IT SHOULD BE REPORTED TO GM. I CALLED AND REPORTED THE PROBLEM AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THAT THEY COULD DO ABOUT IT. THE DEALERSHIP ALSO CALLED AND REPORTED IT AND WANTED SOMEONE TO COME OUT AND LOOK AT IT AND THEY SAID THAT THEY WOULDN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT AND THAT THEY DIDN'T WANT TO SEE IT. THE DEALERSHIP WAS SURPRISED BECAUSE THEY SAID THAT THIS WAS A DANGEROUS PROBLEM AND THAT IF WE WERE TO BE DRIVING IT 70MPH WHEN THE FRAME DECIDES TO LET LOOSE THE VAN WOULD NEVER QUIT ROLLING. I DID SEND IN A REPORT OF THIS TO YOU AT THE TIME AND WHEN I TALKED TO YOU, YOU SAID THAT I WOULD HEAR FROM SOMEONE AFTER THEY RECEIVED THE PAPERWORK AND I HAVE NOT HEARD FROM ANYONE. I AM CONCERNED BECAUSE IF THERE WAS A BUNCH OF BAD FRAMES MANUFACTURED THEN THERE ARE OTHER FAMILIES OUT THERE THAT COULD BE IN DANGER. I ALSO FEEL THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT GM SHOULD BE TAKING CARE OF.
WHILE MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN ON A BUSY SECONDARY ROAD, STEERING FAILED, VEHICLE LOST CONTROL. BUT DRIVE RWAS ABLE TO BRAKE BEFORE HITTING A TRAFFIC SIGN. IN ADDITION, FRONT CROSSMEMBER FAILED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. *AK
Official recalls
297V058000 · Structure
Apr 8, 1997
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES AND MINI VANS ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE FOLLOWING STATES: CONNECTICUT, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, MAINE, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT AND WISCONSIN. THE REAR CRADLE BOLTS PULL THROUGH THE RETAINERS DUE TO CORROSION OF THE RETAINER. IF BOTH BOLTS PULL THROUGH, THE REAR CRADLE WOULD NOT LONGER BE SUPPORTED AT THESE MOUNTING LOCATIONS AND THE STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT CAN SEPARATE FROM THE STEERING GEAR.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, A VEHICLE CRASH COULD RESULT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE REAR CRADLE BOLTS AND RETAINERS.
92V012000 · Structure:body
Jan 28, 1992
THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT DOOR WILL NOT REMAIN CLOSED DURING CERTAIN LOAD FORCES ASSOCIATED WITH A VEHICLE CRASH. THIS DOES NOT COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS 201.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT, THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT DOORMAY OPEN AND RESULT IN OCCUPANT(S) INJURIES FROM CONTACT WITH THE GLOVECOMPARTMENT DOOR.
Remedy: REPLACE THE CURRENT UPPER GLOVE COMPARTMENT DOOR WITH A REDESIGNED UPPER GLOVE COMPARTMENT DOOR WHICH INCORPORATES A POSITIVE LATCH TO KEEP THE DOOR CLOSED SHOULD A VEHICLE CRASH OCCUR.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
7EA00011 · Engine Cradle Separation
Opened Apr 10, 2000 · Closed Jan 12, 2001
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling
THE ENGINE CRADLE FRONT BOLTS AND/OR RETAINERS MAY FAIL, ALLOWING THE FRONT OF THE ENGINE CRADLE TO FALL, POSSIBLY SEPARATING THE STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT FROM THE STEERING GEAR, WITH COMPLETE LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL
RQ97017 · Cradle Bolt Failures
Opened Oct 2, 1997 · No close date supplied
Status: open (inferred from source dates) · Structure
There is no summary currently available
EA97019 · Front Seat Back Collapse
Opened Sep 30, 1997 · Closed Jun 8, 1999
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seats
ALLEGED FRONT SEAT BACK COLLAPSE DUE TO RECLINER BOLT
PE97016 · Front Seat Back Collapse
Opened Apr 7, 1997 · Closed Sep 30, 1997
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seats
SUBJECT VEHICLES ARE ALLEGED TO EXPERIENCE INADVERTENT FRONT SEAT BACK COLLAPSE DUE TO FRACTURE OF FRONT SEAT RECLINER MOUNTING BOLTS.
EA92035 · Apv Fuel Line Fires
Opened Oct 30, 1992 · Closed Nov 30, 1993
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
There is no summary currently available
DP92012 · Apv Fires
Opened Jun 9, 1992 · Closed Jun 25, 1992
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:gasoline
APV FIRES
PE92052 · Apv Fuel Line Fires
Opened Jun 4, 1992 · Closed Oct 30, 1992
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
There is no summary currently available