1994 Pontiac Trans Sport

Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.

70/100

Worth a look

AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.

What owners actually report

Owners have filed 108 complaints with NHTSA about the 1994 Pontiac Trans Sport, and it carries 4 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.

Complaints by area, from NHTSA records for this model-year
Area	Complaints	Share
Power train	13	12%
Visibility	12	11%
Seat belts	11	10%
Structure	10	9%
Engine and engine cooling	9	8%
Electrical system	9	8%
Latches/locks/linkages	8	7%
Wheels	4	4%
Tires	3	3%
Fuel system	3	3%

In owners' own words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.

PAINT IS PEELING ON THE TOP OF VAN. OTHER TRANSPORTS I HAVE SEEN HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. IS THERE A RECALL ON THE PAINT? THE PAINT ON THE REST OF THE VEHICLE IS GOOD WITH NO APPARENT DEFECTS. *TR
NHTSA complaint: Structure

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE FRONT DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDE SEAT BELTS WILL NOT RETRACT. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL, # 93V212000, 94V10000 AND 94V015000, REGARDING THE SECOND, THIRD AND FOURTH ROW SEAT BELT. THE VEHI
NHTSA complaint: Seat belts

FRONT DRIVERS SEAT BELTS ON ALL YEAR (93,94,95,96) CHEVY LUMINA,PONTIAC TRANSPORT, OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE. I HAVE OWNED THEM ALL
NHTSA complaint: Seat belts

I OWN A 1994 PONTIAC TRANSPORT, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOP AND RESUME AT WILL, SOMETIMES THEY ARE INACTIVE FOR AS LONG AS HOURS. TWICE THIS ALMOST LED TO AN ACCIDENT. I UNDERSTAND THAT IN CANADA THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL A
NHTSA complaint: Visibility

THE TIRE TREAD (ON A TIRE WITH 50% USABLE TREAD REMAINING) SEPARATED CAUSING APPROXIMATELY $1,500 DAMAGE TO MY VEHICLE. BFNT RESPONDED TO MY CLAIM BY CLAIMING THE SEPARATION WAS DUE TO LOW TIRE PRESSURE. THEY HAVE NOT
NHTSA complaint: Tires

1994 PONTIAC TRANSPORT ELECTRIC SLIDING DOOR DOES NOT STAY SHUT. IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL AN INSERT WAS PUT IN WITH INSTRUCTIONS TO REMOVE FUSE FOR TAILLIGHT AND REPLACE. THIS WORKED INITIALLY BUT NO LONGER TAKES CARE OF
NHTSA complaint: Latches/locks/linkages

TRANSMISSION - WHEN YOU START THE VAN, AND PUT INTO GEAR, IT TAKES AT LEAST 10-20 SECONDS BEFORE IT WILL ENGAGE INTO FORWARD AND REVERSE. DRIVERS SIDE SEATBELT- WOULD NOT RETRACT, HAD TO REPLACE, IT COST $100.00 REPLACED
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling

STALLS WHEN GETS WARM. ABS BRAKING LIGHT COMES ON EVERY NOW AND THEN. I WAS ROLLING UP WINDOW IT HAS ELECTRIC AND WINDOW SHATTERED IN SIDE DOOR. I HAVE PUT A NEW MODULE IN AND A NEWROTOR CAP AND THE NEW COIL. THE OLD
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes

Recalls on record

NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for the 1994 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.

Seat belts:front:retractor 94V015000

THE THIRD ROW SAFETY BELT RETRACTORS MAY BE INSTALLED INCORRECTLY AND MAY LOCK-UP WHEN THE VEHICLE IS ON SLOPES OF LESS THAN 15 DEGREES, WHICH DOES NOT COMPLY WITH FMVSS NO. 209, "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES."

Risk: CONSEQUENCE OF NON-COMPLIANCE: PASSENGERS SEATED IN THESE POSITON MAYBE UNABLE TO EXTRACT AND FASTEN THEIR SEAT BELTS UNTIL THE VEHICLE IS MOVED TO A MORE LEVEL SURFACE. UNBELTED OCCUPANTS ARE MORE

Fix: DEALERS WILL REMOVE THIRD ROW SAFETY BELT RETRACTORS AND REINSTALL THEM PROPERLY.

Power train:automatic transmission:cooling unit and lines 96V015000

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.

Seat belts:front:webbing 94V100000

THE SECOND ROW, RIGHT HAND SHOULDER BELT CAN BECOME "PINCHED" BETWEEN THE SEAT AND THE DOOR FRAME PILLAR TRIM. THE SHOULDER BELT MAY NOT RETRACT PROPERLY, WHICH DOES NOT COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 208, "OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION." THE 1994 VEHICLES HAVE AN OPTIONAL INTEGRAL (BUILT IN)

Risk: IMPROPER SHOULDER BELT RETRACTION DOES NOT PROVIDE ADEQUATE PROTECTION TO THE SEAT OCCUPANT IN THE EVENT OF A SUDDEN STOP OR COLLISION.

Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE DOOR FRAME PILLAR TRIM PANEL WITH A REDESIGNED TRIM PANEL. ALSO, A CAUTION LABEL WILL BE APPLIED TO THE CHILD SEAT ADVISING THE OWNER NOT TO INSTALL THE SEAT TO THE PASSENGER

Seat belts:rear/other 93V212000

THE SAFETY BELT RETRACTORS FOR THE REAR CENTER POSITION ARE MISSING A PAWL SPRING AND IN CASE OF AN ACCIDENT, WILL ALLOW THE SAFETY BELT WEBBING TO EXTEND BEYOND THE MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 208, "OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION."

Risk: IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT THE SAFETY BELT WOULD NOTRESTRAIN THE OCCUPANT, SUBJECTING THE OCCUPANT TO INCREASED RISK OF INJURIES.

Fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE SAFETY BELT RETRACTOR ASSEMBLY AND REPLACE THE RETRACTOR IF THE PAWL SPRING IS MISSING.

The seven scores

Reliability raw	82	excellent
Longevity est.	79	good
Maintenance	78	good
Depreciation	60	average
Performance	54	average
Efficiency	35	below average

How it compares in its class

Percentile ranks against other other in the catalog.

Reliability: better than 33% of other
Longevity: better than 46% of other
Running costs: better than 68% of other
Value retention: better than 48% of other

Which of these numbers are measured

What stands behind each score for this car:

Reliability 82: from NHTSA recalls and complaints. This one is a raw count: we do not have a sales figure for this model, so a high-volume car looks worse here than it should.
Longevity 79: an estimate from powertrain and brand record. No 200,000-mile population exists for a 1994 car yet, so this is a prior, not evidence.
Maintenance 78: repair-cost data where we have it for this model, otherwise a mechanical-complexity estimate from engine size, cylinder count and drivetrain.
Safety: no score. NHTSA crash testing thins out for older vehicles and we would rather show nothing than guess.

Common questions

What goes wrong with the 1994 Pontiac Trans Sport?

Owners have filed 108 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and power train is the most reported area with 13 of them (12%). There are 4 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.

Is the 1994 Pontiac Trans Sport reliable?

AVOIR scores its reliability 82/100 (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.

How long will a 1994 Pontiac Trans Sport last?

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 1994 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.

Should I buy a 1994 Pontiac Trans Sport?

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.