Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 62 complaints with NHTSA about the 1996 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Engine and engine cooling | 12 | 19% |
| Visibility | 10 | 16% |
| Structure | 5 | 8% |
| Steering | 4 | 6% |
| Power train | 4 | 6% |
| Electrical system | 4 | 6% |
| Service brakes | 4 | 6% |
| Vehicle speed control | 2 | 3% |
| Air bags | 2 | 3% |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 2 | 3% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
1996 PONTIAC TRANS SPORT, MOTOR SEIZED UP AND BEGAN TO SMOKE, MOTOR CAUGHT FIRE. *BF PRIOR TO THE FIRE, THE DRIVER NOTICED THE VEHICLE WAS LEAVING SOME TYPE OF FLUID BEHIND. ACCORDING TO THE POLICE REPORT, THE ENGINE W
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
1996 PONTIAC TRANSPORT VAN WITH LEAKING INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKETS. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE INTERNAL MANIFOLD LEAKED FILLING THE OIL PAN UP WITH WATER WHICH IN TURN FROZE THE MAIN BEARINGS TO THE CRANKSHAFT, CAUSING THE VE
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
WHILE CLOSING THE SIDE DOOR MY GRANDSON'S THUMB WAS CAUGHT IN IT. HE WAS SCREAMING AND THERE WAS NO EMERGENCY WAY TO STOP THE DOOR FROM CLOSING. THE DOOR HAD TO COMPLETE THE COURSE OF CLOSING BEFORE IT COULD BE OPENED TO
NHTSA complaint: Structure
COOLANT MIXING INTO ENGINE OIL DUE TO DEFECTIVE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET,WHY IS THERE NO RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM?*JB
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
DT: THE CONTACT STATED WINTER WEATHER CONDITIONS CORRODED THE CABLE THAT HELD THE SPARE TIRE ON THE VEHICLE. THE CABLE SNAPPED AND RELEASED THE SPARE TIRE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DRIVEWAY. UPON INSPECTION BY THE CONTACT,
NHTSA complaint: Unknown or other
COMPLAINT #1- WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULDN'T WORK IN THE RAIN. DEFECTIVE CIRCUIT BOARD HAD TO BE REPLACED. COMPLAINT # 2- TILT STEERING COLUMN CAME OFF. THE WHOLE COLUMN HAD TO BE REPLACED. COMPLAINT #3- BLACK PAINT OVER
NHTSA complaint: Steering
1996 PONTIAC TRANSPORT ACCELERATED TO 85 WHILE SET IN CRUISE CONTROL AT 65 MPH.*MR WHEN THE CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO SLOW THE VEHICLE DOWN TO 65 MPH, IT WOULD ACCELERATE TO 85 MPH ON ITS OWN. *JB
NHTSA complaint: Vehicle speed control
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 C
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 1996 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.
CERTAIN DELPHI FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS, P/NOS. FP10020-11B1, FP10026-11B1, AND FP10027-11B1, SOLD AFTER JANUARY 9, 2007, AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE UNIVERSAL PRESSURE REGULATORS (UPR) WERE PRODUCED WITHOUT AN O'RING AND RETAINER.
Risk: FUEL MAY LEAK, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A FIRE.
Fix: DELPHI WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE UPR FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 23, 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT DELPHI AT 877-411-8770.
CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES AND MINI VANS HAVE LOWER PINION BEARINGS IN THE POWER RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLY IN WHICH THE RETAINER TABS WERE NOT CRIMPED PROPERLY. THESE AND SOME OTHER RETAINERS USED IN VEHICLES ASSEMBLED BETWEEN JANUARY 1, 1996 AND OCTOBER 31, 1997, COULD FAIL AND PERMIT THE BALL BEA
Risk: IF THIS OCCURS, THE PINION SHAFT CAN BE FORCED UPWARD DURING LEFT TURNS AND BACK DOWN AS THE STEERING WHEEL IS MOVED BACK AND TO THE RIGHT. IF THE PINION SHAFT MOVES FURTHER, THE DRIVER WILL NEED TO
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW LOWER PINION BEARING UNLESS INSPECT OF THE EXISTING BEARING INDICATES THAT REPLACEMENT OF THE GEAR ASSEMBLY IS NECESSARY. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JANUARY 24, 2003. OWNERS
| Reliability raw | 84 | excellent |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 79 | good |
| Maintenance | 76 | good |
| Depreciation | 60 | average |
| Performance | 56 | average |
| Efficiency | 36 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other other in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 62 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and engine and engine cooling is the most reported area with 12 of them (19%). 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 1996 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.