1997 Pontiac Trans Sport Transmission and drivetrain Problems
- Complaints
- 14about this part
- Share
- 6%of 236 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 106,500miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 14 complaints about the transmission and drivetrain of the 1997 Pontiac Trans Sport, 6% of the 236 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 106,500 miles.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“I was turning the steering wheel to the left to parallel park next to the curb, then I heard a loud pop noise. When I went to turn the steering wheel to the right it began very hard to turn the wheel. After leaving the store and from that point on every attempt I made to make a right turn, it was extremely difficult. After arriving home I noticed leaking coming from under my van. …”
NHTSA complaint #10130353, filed 2005-07, 124,504 miles“I have owned both a '92 and a '97 transport and both had the same problems. The power window controls pop loose of the driver's door and the windows fail to operate. The rear door lock fails. The blinker and cruise control lever snapped off the steering column so the blinker doesn't work. The window wiper control module failed. The transaxle hoses sprung a leak at the metal connections causing the transaxle to loose fluid and the vehicle to be stranded.”
NHTSA complaint #10238776, filed 2008-08, 90,000 miles“Transmission is slipping out of gear while driving, causing the vehicle to slow. Vehicle is also slow to engage gear when accelerating. Engine RPM will be very high until the transmission does engage the next gear. This is the second incident for this vehicle, the first time (25,000 miles) the transmission was rebuilt by manufacture. The second time (63,000 miles) the transmission is being replaced.”
NHTSA complaint #10083007, filed 2004-07, 63,830 miles“This vehicle was very well maintained oilchange every 3k miles, transmission serviced every 30,000 miles. The rack&pinion went out in october 2003. The transmission went out in may of this year and now the engine. Van was running hot, we replaced the thermostat, water pump, oxygen sensor, main radiator hose and flushed radiator, and purchased a new radiator cap. It is still running hot. It has a blown head gasket, and a warped head, no telling what this will cost.”
NHTSA complaint #10070607, filed 2004-01, 143,987 miles“Our 97 Pontiac transport was fine until last year. New transmission (70,000 miles, o.k.) then a few months later it began overheating--new thermostat, which worked for a few weeks, then new radiator, which worked for a few weeks, then, when the mechanic said it probably needed a head gasket ($2000 or more) we decided to get rid of it. But we were not even able to use it as a trade in, because it overheated so badly. The electrical system had always been quirky, but livable (I.e. …”
NHTSA complaint #10070158, filed 2004-01Transmission and drivetrain: other model years
Other parts of the 1997 Pontiac Trans Sport
54 complaintsEngine cooling
42 complaintsBody and structure
37 complaintsExterior lighting
36 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
25 complaintsBrakes
17 complaintsLatches, locks and linkages
17 complaintsFuel system
13 complaintsSeat belts
10 complaintsOther or unknown
8 complaintsElectrical system
7 complaintsAir bags
4 complaints
← All problems reported for the 1997 Pontiac Trans Sport
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology