1998 Pontiac Trans AM Problems
- Complaints
- 11filed with NHTSA
- Median mileage
- —no mileage reported
- Recalls
- 0campaigns on record
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
Sources: NHTSA records for the 1998 Pontiac Trans AM (complaints, recalls, investigations). Report an error
NHTSA recorded 11 consumer complaints for the 1998 Pontiac Trans AM. The part named most often is transmission and drivetrain, with 4 complaints (36% of the total), followed by brakes (3) and engine cooling (3). Of all complaints, 1 involved a crash, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 0 recall campaigns and 3 technical service bulletins for this model year.
This model year has fewer than 25 complaints on record, so the numbers below can change a lot with a few new reports.
Which parts are reported most
Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.
- Brakes3 27%
- Engine cooling3 27%
- Electrical system2 18%
- Steering2 18%
- Body and structure2 18%
- Exterior lighting1 9.1%
- Other or unknown1 9.1%
Example complaints
Transmission and drivetrain: “I don't feel safe driving this car. They refused to give me a new car in the beginning when they had to weld the pillar post to the frame. My car has overheated many times until they found the broke radiator. The transmission has gone out and was just fixed and the car now has a firewall rattle. The brakes rotors were warped. They would not stand behind them. It would be my cost to reapir them. They are still warped. This car had to have a new windshield put in also. …”
NHTSA complaint #729682, filed 2000-08Brakes: “Ticking noise from engine, differntial leaking gear oil, ses light comes on for no reason, rotors warped, driveshaft pops when slowing down or changing gears.”
NHTSA complaint #712931, filed 1999-10Engine cooling: “Consumer started smelling gas form the outside of car. Consumer mentioned to dealer when it was taken in for warranty work, dealer did not check it at that time. Consumer inspected vehicle and found return vapor line had popped completely off. Consumer snapped it back together and so far is not having any problem. Once it was taken back to show dealer where problem was, service technician stated it must be okay now.”
NHTSA complaint #898783, filed 2001-11Electrical system: “While driving at 15mph vehicle suddenly and unexpectedly accelerated . The dealer was not able to duplicate the problem, however they replaced the computer.”
NHTSA complaint #853693, filed 1999-12Complaints by year filed
Fewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
Recalls and investigations
NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for the 1998 Pontiac Trans AM in the data used here. A recall can apply to some vehicles of a model year and not others, so check a specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Technical service bulletins
TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 3 on record; the latest 3 are shown.
- 10082506Aug 26, 2016Equipment. This technical bulletin provides a procedure to reprogram the media disc player with the latest calibrations to correct a condition of the rear entertainment system not operating as intended in…
- 10248444Jun 30, 2014Equipment. Vehicle Recalls
- 10246631Sep 1, 2013Engine cooling. Expanded Availability for Remanufacture and Return (R&R) Electronic Control Modules
Other model years of the Pontiac Trans AM
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | Crash ★ | MPG | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 32 | 25,000 | 0 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 2001 | 10 | 32,000 | 0 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
| 2000 | 11 | 52,000 | 0 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
| 1999 | 16 | 72,000 | 0 | — | — | — | Stable |
| 1998 | 11 | — | 0 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
| 1997 | 12 | — | 0 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
| 1995 | 5 | 85,300 | 0 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
| 1994 | 9 | — | 1 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
| 1986 | 10 | 217,000 | 0 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
| 1984 | 5 | — | 0 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
All Pontiac Trans AM model years
Frequently asked questions
How many NHTSA complaints does the 1998 Pontiac Trans AM have?
NHTSA recorded 11 consumer complaints for the 1998 Pontiac Trans AM as of Oct 30, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
What part of the 1998 Pontiac Trans AM is reported most often?
Transmission and drivetrain is named most often, in 4 complaints (36% of the total), followed by brakes with 3.
Has the 1998 Pontiac Trans AM been recalled?
NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for this model year in the data used here. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 30, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.