1996 Pontiac Trans Sport Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe windshield wipers that stop working intermittently, and coolant loss traced to intake manifold gasket leaks that let coolant mix with engine oil. Both appear across a wide mileage range, from under 60,000 miles to well past 100,000, and several complaints note that the dealer either could not reproduce the wiper fault or declined further work.

1. 1
   Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)

   Windshield wipers stop working intermittently

   • 14 complaints (23%)
   • median 73,769 mi at 7.8 yrs old (4 state mileage, few)
   • filed 1998–2005

   Complaints describe wipers that quit without warning, sometimes mid-stroke, and often have to be cycled through the controls or helped along with washer fluid before they run again. Several owners say the dealer could not duplicate the problem, and some were told the wiper motor or a circuit board needed replacement. A few mention that the wipers reverted only after switching to high speed or applying rain repellent to the glass. Reported across a wide mileage range, roughly 57,000 to 160,000 miles in the sample, and most complaints tie the failure to driving in rain or snow.

   What to check: Operate the wipers through every speed and intermittent setting, including during or right after a wash, and let them run several minutes to see whether they drop out. Ask whether the wiper motor or wiper control board has been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Intake manifold & gasket failure - oil & coolant mixing in engine compartment - imminent engine failure front wiper motor/transmission intermitent failure while driving - difficulty diagnosing problem - major safety issue when the wipers suddenly stop/start working while driving in rain & snow or sloppy highway conditions compressor clutch hub & pulley failure”

   NHTSA complaint #10071336, filed 2004-01, 88,000 miles

   “Windshield wipers either quit or do not work at times, if you turn them to high speed then use washer fluid they may continue to work. The problem can not be duplicated by dealer. Only known repair is replacement of wiper motor by dealer, that should fix it . Driver never knows if wipers will work when needed. Many simular complaints have been made to your agency!”

   NHTSA complaint #10064340, filed 2004-04, 57,000 miles
2. 2
   Engine cooling

   Coolant loss and oil/coolant mixing (intake gasket)

   • 9 complaints (15%)
   • median 83,250 mi at 7.2 yrs old (6 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2003–2008

   Owners report steadily disappearing coolant with no visible external leak, sometimes with a faint antifreeze smell, and repair shops tracing it to the intake manifold gasket letting coolant into the engine. Several complaints describe coolant mixing with the oil, and some mention subsequent damage such as a broken valve spring, seized bearings or an engine that had to be replaced. Some owners say the gasket was replaced and the same problem returned. Mostly reported between about 58,000 and 96,000 miles in the sample, with a few cases reported later in life.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Check the coolant level cold and watch for it dropping over a week or two, look for a sweet smell or milky residue under the oil filler cap, and ask whether the intake manifold gasket has been replaced and when.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “After the 2nd valve spring broke, I was told that the valves were seizing up and a new engine would be required. All of this was caused by the bad designed manifold gasket that caused coolant to go into the oil. After spending over $1,000 since 4-29-03, I finally had to trade in for another vehicle. I didn't have between $4,000 and $5,000 for a new engine, which on a '96 model would not have been worth it. I could have gotten a used engine, but all of them have the same manifold gasket and this would have cost aproximately $2,000. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10068965, filed 2004-01

   “Vehicle started eating coolant, within 4 days of coolant leak head gasket had complete failure dumping contents of radiator into oil pan. Upon exam found that dextrol coolant had turned corrosive and eaten threw gasket causing failure. Replace all top end gaskets and rebuild top end. Pray that lower end will be ok once flushed completely. Have kept old parts for further exam.”

   NHTSA complaint #10093745, filed 2004-10, 75,000 miles
3. 3
   Body and structure

   Power sliding door opens or fails to close

   • 6 complaints (10%)
   • typically at 1.0 yrs old
   • filed 1997–2003

   Owners describe the automatic sliding door failing to latch or close fully, rattling while locked, and in several cases opening on its own while the vehicle was moving. Some say the dealer called it normal or was unwilling to do anything, and one complaint describes the door continuing to close on a hand with no way to stop it partway. Filed mostly between 1997 and 2003, with no mileage recorded in most of those reports.

   What to check: Cycle the sliding door open and closed several times with the vehicle running, check that the dash door-open light goes out, and try gently rocking the door while it is latched to check for play.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Automatic sliding door will not close properly. The door has opened 5 different times while driving; last time with children in the vehicle while crossing a bridge.”

   NHTSA complaint #532635, filed 1998-03

   “The vehicles sliding door didn't close properly which caused the indicator light on the instrument panel to illuminate intermittently. The dealer was notified.”

   NHTSA complaint #10015364, filed 2003-04
4. 4
   Steering

   Steering rack and pinion / pinion bearing repairs

   • 5 complaints (8%)
   • median 113,950 mi at 7.9 yrs old (5 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2003–2005

   Complaints describe steering work on the rack and pinion, including lower pinion bearing, tie rod and pressure hose replacement, with some owners saying they paid for the repair themselves. Others report continued steering problems after recall work was performed, such as the vehicle pulling to one side afterward, and one owner describes the intermediate shaft at the base of the column coming loose while turning, with the air bag light on. Reported from roughly 57,000 to about 194,000 miles in the sample, with no clear single mileage pattern.

   Recall 02V286000

   What to check: Ask whether the rack and pinion recall work was done and keep the paperwork; on a test drive listen for clunks over bumps and check that the car tracks straight on a flat road.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “While turning right, the steering wheel failed with no control. The consumer was able to stop vehicle. The dealer was notified. 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.”

   NHTSA complaint #10034570, filed 2003-09, 193,690 miles

   “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.”

   NHTSA complaint #10011649, filed 2003-04, 95,028 miles
5. 5
   Brakes

   Brake pedal sinking and front rotor wear

   • 5 complaints (8%)
   • median 144,359 mi at 7.6 yrs old (2 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1997–2003

   Complaints describe the brake pedal going to the floor and stopping distance increasing, with one owner reporting repeated incidents that the dealer could not diagnose. Others mention that rear brake adjusters need regular attention or the front calipers take more of the braking load and the front rotors warp; another owner had the front rotors resurfaced. Reported from the mid-1990s through the mid-2000s, with one mileage noted near 95,000 miles.

   What to check: Press and hold the brake pedal with the engine running to see whether it sinks, and have the rear brake adjustment and front rotor condition checked during a pre-purchase inspection.

   An excerpt from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “If constant care (and cost) is not paid to the rear brake adjusters, the front calipers apply greater pressure to the front rotors, causing warping!!!”

   NHTSA complaint #725292, filed 2000-07

Buying note. Give the cooling system and the wipers the most attention, since those two account for most of what owners describe here, and confirm in writing whether the rack and pinion recall work was performed. A pre-purchase inspection that includes a coolant pressure test and a brake check is worthwhile on a vehicle of this age.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 40 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.