IllustrationCOMPLAINT #1- WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULDN'T WORK IN THE RAIN. DEFECTIVE CIRCUIT BOARD HAD TO BE REPLACED. COMPLAINT # 2- TILT STEERING COLUMN CAME OFF. THE WHOLE COLUMN HAD TO BE REPLACED. COMPLAINT #3- BLACK PAINT OVER THE CAB FLAKED OFF. *NM
1996 Pontiac Trans Sport
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1996 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: 16 of 61 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.
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 13 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Visibility. Review the 13 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Steering. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
5 crash reports2 fire reports4 injury reports
Steering complaints
7 reportsTHE OWNER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR THE LOWER PINION BEARING AND POWER STEERING GEAR. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICING AND THE WORK WAS COMPLETED. NOW THE VEHICLE IS PULLING TO THE RIGHT. THIS OCCURRED ONLY AFTER HAVING IT WORKED ON FOR THE ORIGINAL RECALL. NOW THE DEALERSHIP IS TELLING THE CONSUMER THAT THE DEF…
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THE OWNER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR THE LOWER PINION BEARING AND POWER STEERING GEAR. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICING AND THE WORK WAS COMPLETED. NOW THE VEHICLE IS PULLING TO THE RIGHT. THIS OCCURRED ONLY AFTER HAVING IT WORKED ON FOR THE ORIGINAL RECALL. NOW THE DEALERSHIP IS TELLING THE CONSUMER THAT THE DEFECT THAT IS CURRENTLY BEING EXPERIENCED IS NO FAULT OF THE WORK THAT WAS DONE FOR THE RECALL. THE DEALERSHIP IS NOT WILLING TO REPAIR THE CURRENT PROBLEM UNLESS THE OWNER PAYS OUT OF POCKET. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB
WHILE TURNING RIGHT, THE STEERING WHEEL FAILED WITH NO CONTROL. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO STOP VEHICLE. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *AK THE CONSUMER STOPPED A STOP SIGN AT AN INTERSECTION WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL STARTED TO SPIN AROUND. IT WAS DISCOVERED THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT AT THE BASE OF THE STEERING COLUMN HAD COME LOOSE. …
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WHILE TURNING RIGHT, THE STEERING WHEEL FAILED WITH NO CONTROL. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO STOP VEHICLE. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *AK THE CONSUMER STOPPED A STOP SIGN AT AN INTERSECTION WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL STARTED TO SPIN AROUND. IT WAS DISCOVERED THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT AT THE BASE OF THE STEERING COLUMN HAD COME LOOSE. THE AIR BAG LIGHT WAS ON AND THE CLOCK SPRING HAD BROKEN. *SCC *JB
THE RACK AND PINION FAILED, PRIOR TO THE RECALL BEING PERFORMED. RECALL # 02 V 286 000. *JB
THE CONSUMER WAS CHARGED FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE STEERING RACK AND PINION, EVEN THOUGH A RECALLED WAS ISSUED. THE LOWER PINION BEARING, TIE ROD ENDS AND PRESSURE HOSES WERE REPLACED. MR *TS *JB
THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO EXPERIENCE PROBLEMS WITH THE STEERING AFTER THE RECALL WAS PERFORMED ON THE RACK AND PINION, HOWEVER PRIOR TO THE RECALL THE OUTER TIE RODS WERE REPLACED, BUT THAT DID NOT RESOLVE THE STEERING PROBLEMS, ALSO THE FRONT ROTORS WERE RESURFACED. *TS *JB
TIE ROD BROKE CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL RESULTING IN ACCIDENT.
Official recalls
102V286000 · Steering:rack And Pinion
Nov 4, 2002
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THIS OCCURS, THE PINION SHAFT CAN BE FORCED UPWARD DURING LEFT TURNS AND BACK DOWN AS THE STEERING WHEEL IS MOVED BACK AND TO THE RIGHT. IF THE PINION SHAFT MOVES FURTHER, THE DRIVER WILL NEED TO EXERT MORE EFFORT TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL, SIMILAR TO A VEHICLE WITHOUT POWER ASSISTED STEERING. IF THE PINION SHAFT MOVES EVEN FURTHER, THE DRIVER WILL REQUIRE MUCH HIGHER EFFORT TO TURN LEFT AND MAY NOT BE ABLE TO TURN THE WHEEL AS MUCH AS INTENDED. WITH THE MAXIMUM PINION SHAFT MOVEMENT, WHICH REQUIRES INTERNAL GEAR COMPONENT DAMAGE, THE DRIVER CAN ENCOUNTER HIGH RESISTANCE TO TURNING LEFT, FOLLOWED BY UNINTENDED POWER ASSIST TO THE RIGHT. IN ANY OF THESE CONDITIONS, A CRASH COULD OCCUR.
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.
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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.