Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 90 complaints with NHTSA about the 1992 Pontiac Trans Sport, and it carries 2 recalls. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Seat belts | 24 | 27% |
| Service brakes | 23 | 26% |
| Structure | 8 | 9% |
| Visibility | 7 | 8% |
| Seats | 6 | 7% |
| Electrical system | 5 | 6% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 3 | 3% |
| Wheels | 2 | 2% |
| Tires | 2 | 2% |
| Power train | 2 | 2% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
I AM ASE CERTIFIED IN BRAKES STEERING AND SUSPENSION. MY 1992 PONTIAC TRANSPORT HAS DEVELOPED NUMEROUS PROBLEMS. ONE ( BRAKES WILL FAIL TO ENGAGE FOR NO APPARENT REASON WITH VIBRATION IN THE PEDAL. DOES NOT DO THIS ALL T
NHTSA complaint: Suspension
THE WIRING HARNESS THAT FEEDS THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS, HVAC BLOWER MOTOR AND OTHER THINGS IS MELTING & SHORTING OUT. I FIND WHEN I LOOK IN SALVAGE YARDS FOR THIS ITEM, ALL THE ONES THAT WOULD FIT THIS VEHICLE ARE MELTED I
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE 4 OF THE 6 SEAT BELT RETRACTORS SINCE JULY OF 2000. THE FAILURE MODE IS THE RETRACTOR SPRING BREAKING OR PULLING OUT OF SEATBELT MOUNTING SHAFT. EACH REPLACEMENT RETRACTOR COSTS $130. REPLACEMENT PA
NHTSA complaint: Seat belts
WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH STEERING BROKE. THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD MOVE FREELY BUT WOULD NOT CONTROL THE MOVEMENT OR DIRECTION OF THE VEHICLE.*AK
NHTSA complaint: Steering
WHILE PULLING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY STEERING UNIT FAILED, CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO LOSE STEERING POWER, AND VEHICLE FELL INTO A DITCH. TWO MAJOR BOLTS HOLDING THE FRONT END OF THE CHASSIS BROKE LOOSE, CAUSING THE STEERI
NHTSA complaint: Steering
WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK INTERMITTENTLY. WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK MOSTLY WHEN WEATHER IS WARM, PER CONSUMER.*AK
NHTSA complaint: Visibility
WHILE DRIVING, THE STUDS ON THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE BROKE, CAUSING THE TIRE AND RIM TO COME OFF.(OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT)*JB
NHTSA complaint: Wheels
ENGINE MOUNT BOLTS RUSTED, AND BROKE CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING WHILE DRIVING.*AK *YH
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 1992 Pontiac Trans Sport. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.
VEHICLE FAILS TO CONFORM TO FMVSS NO. 209, "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES." THE SAFETY BELT OF THE LEFT THIRD ROW SEAT ON THE SIX PASSENGER VAN AND THE CENTER SECOND ROW SEAT OF THE SEVEN PASSENGER VAN MAY LOCK UP AND CANNOT BE WITHDRAWN FROM THE RETRACTOR.
Risk: CONSEQUENCE OF NON-COMPLIANCE: THE OCCUPANTS OF THESE SEATS WILL NOT BE ABLE TO USE THE AFFECTED BELT. IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, UNBELTED OCCUPANTS ARE AT INCREASED RISK OF INJURY.
Fix: OWNERS ARE BEING ASKED TO INSPECT THEIR VEHICLES TO DETERMINE IF THE SUSPECT RETRACTOR EXHIBITS A LOCKUP CONDITION. BASED ON THIS INSPECTION, DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SAFETY BELTS IF THE BELT LOCKS UP
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM AUGUST 1991 THROUGH JULY 1995. THE TRANSMISSION OIL COOLER LINE CAN SEPARATE WHEN THE VEHICLE IS OPERATED IN LOW TEMPERATURES IN COMBINATION WITH HIGH TRANSMISSION LOADS.
Risk: VEHICLE FIRES CAN OCCUR DUE TO THE SPILLAGE OF TRANSMISSION FLUID.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION OIL COOLER LINES.
| Reliability raw | 84 | excellent |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 79 | good |
| Maintenance | 78 | good |
| Depreciation | 60 | average |
| Performance | 54 | average |
| Efficiency | 35 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other other in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 90 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and seat belts is the most reported area with 24 of them (27%). There are 2 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 84/100 (excellent) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.
AVOIR scores its longevity 79/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 1992 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: worth a look, because a solid ownership case with specific caveats below. Its overall ownership score is 70/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.