Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit.
Owners have filed 259 complaints with NHTSA about the 1998 Pontiac Trans Sport, and it carries 6 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 | 46 | 18% |
| Exterior lighting | 26 | 10% |
| Steering | 24 | 9% |
| Structure | 21 | 8% |
| Air bags | 17 | 7% |
| Power train | 13 | 5% |
| Electrical system | 12 | 5% |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 11 | 4% |
| Service brakes | 9 | 3% |
| Seat belts | 8 | 3% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 PONTIAC TRANS SPORT. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE ABS, AIR BAG AND CHECK ENGINE WARNING LAMPS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE W
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 PONTIAC TRANS SPORT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A COMPLETE STOP, THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED INADVERTENTLY AND WITHOUT ANY IMPACT TO THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
ABS-ANTI LOCKING BRAKES ARE FAULTY AND LIGHT COMES ON FOR NO REASON. ALSO THE AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY. *TR
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 PONTIAC TRANSPORT. THE CONTACT EXITED THE VEHICLE AND WHEN HE RETURNED, THE VEHICLE WAS ENGULFED WITH WHITE SMOKE. THE CONTACT ROLLED DOWN THE WINDOWS TO RELEASE THE SMOKE. THE VEHICLE WAS THE
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
AFTER I HAD THE RADIATOR REPLACED $350 JOB THE INTAKE GASKET SPRUNG A LEAK. THEREFORE I HAD TO HAVE NOT ONLY THIS REPLACED BUT THE VALVE COVER GASKET AS WELL WHICH COST A TOTAL OF $867. I ALSO HAD TO RENT A CAR FOR 3 DAY
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 PONTIAC TRANS SPORT. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO SHIFT INTO DRIVE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE GEAR SHIFTER WOULD NOT RESPOND AND HE WAS UNABLE TO REMOVE IT FROM THE PARK POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS
NHTSA complaint: Power train
I HAVE GOODYEAR ASSURANCE CMFTRD 97T 80,000 MILE TIRES ON MY 98 PONTIAC MONTANA VAN. THEY HAVE LESS THAN 30,000 MILES ON THEM AND TWO OF THEM STARTED LEAKING AIR OUT OF THE SIDEWALLS WHICH ARE FULL OF DRYROT TYPE CRACKS
NHTSA complaint: Tires
PONTIAC TRANS SPORT 1998 --EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS VISIBILITY EXTREMELY POOR. OWN VEHICLE SINCE 2005. *TR
NHTSA complaint: Exterior lighting
NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns for the 1998 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.
ON CERTAIN MINIVANS EQUIPPED WITH SECOND-ROW BUCKET SEATS OR CAPTAIN'S CHAIRS AND A POWER SLIDING DOOR ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE, A PASSENGER USING THE INTERIOR HANDLE TO OPEN THE POWER SLIDING DOOR COULD BE INJURED.
Risk: IF A PASSENGER USES THE INTERIOR HANDLE TO OPEN THE POWER SLIDING DOOR AND HOLDS ONTO THE HANDLE WHILE IT IS BEING OPENED BY THE MOTOR, THE PASSENGER'S ARM MAY BE PUSHED INTO THE SEAT BACK OR ARMREST
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE POWER SLIDING DOOR INTERIOR HANDLE ON THE PASSENGER-SIDE. IF THE VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH A POWER OR MANUAL SLIDING DOOR ON THE DRIVER-SIDE, THE INTERIOR HANDLE WILL ALSO BE
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
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MINIVANS EQUIPPED WITH PASSENGER SIDE POWER SLIDING DOORS. THE DOOR CLOSES BUT MAY NOT BE LATCHED. IF THIS HAPPENS, THE POWER SLIDING DOOR CAN OPEN WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION, PARTICULARLY WHEN THE VEHICLE ASCENDS A HILL, MAKES A TURN, OR TRAVELS OVER A ROUGH ROAD SURFACE
Risk: AN UNRESTRAINED OCCUPANT COULD FALL OUT OF THE VAN AND BE INJURED.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW UN-LATCH ACTUATOR ASSEMBLY TO THE POWER SLIDING DOOR. THIS RECALL HAS BEEN CONTINUED UNDER SAFETY RECALL 01V-264. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER O
| Reliability raw | 79 | good |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 77 | 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 259 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and engine and engine cooling is the most reported area with 46 of them (18%). There are 6 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 79/100 (good) 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 77/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 1998 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: be careful, because the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit. Its overall ownership score is 69/100. 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.