Most common 1998 Pontiac Trans Sport problems
Share of the 227 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Pontiac Trans Sport complaints by model year
Best Trans Sport years: 1999, 1996, 1995. Years to avoid: 1997, 1998. Compare all years →
1998 Pontiac Trans Sport recalls (5)
Latches/locks/linkages › Doors › Latch
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.
Remedy: 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 replaced for…
Steering › Rack and pinion
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 bearings to escape.
Remedy: 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.
Latches/locks/linkages › Doors › Latch
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.
Remedy: Dealers will install a new un-latch actuator assembly to the power sliding door. This recall has been continued under safety recall 01v-264.
Power train › Automatic transmission
Vehicle description: Mini vans. These vehicles May have (1) a broken shift cable fitting or (2) loose shift linkage. Consequently, moving the shift lever to a 'park' position May not shift the transmission to 'park'.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect, and replace if necessary, the automatic transaxle range selector cable.
Visibility › Windshield wiper/washer › Linkages
Vehicle description: passenger Mini vans equipped with traction control systems. The windshield wiper linkage arm can contact a brake line which is connected to the traction control system modulator valve. This contact can chafe the brake line resulting in a brake fluid leak.
Remedy: Dealers will install a brake line clip to ensure proper clearance. Also the brake lines will be inspected to any damage caused by this condition and will replace any damaged lines.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 7 possible defects involving the 1998 Pontiac Trans Sport:
Unexpected opening of sliding door
There is no summary currently available
Power-sliding door
Subject vehicles are available with an optional power sliding door.the interior handle is oriented in the vertical position in the door panel and lines up at the elbow level when the occupant is seated in the 2nd-row outboard position.if the occupant holds the interior handle in the thumb up position during power-assisted opening, the arm/wrist can be push back with force against the 2nd-row bucket seat or captain's…
Rear axle trailing arm failure
Analysis of odi and GM data has identified 14 incidents of rear trailing arm failures in model year (my) 1997 through 1999 GM u-vans, including two that allegedly resulted in crashes. The trailing arm design in these vehicles is used in the u-vans from my 1997 through 2003.according to GM, the subject trailing arms can crack or buckle if they have been damaged during assembly, pre-delivery handling, or certain…
Shoulder harness clip
Air bag tear during deployment
Rear axle trailing arm failure
On November 18, 2002, odi opened a preliminary evaluation (pe02-086) to evaluate allegations of rear axle trailing arm failures in the subject vehicles (u-van) which included two reporting crashes.on April 9, 2003, odi upgraded pe02-086 to an engineering analysis (ea03-005) to continue its examination of the issue.
Safety belt assembly failure
Odi identified 59 reports with the alleged defect.odi was able to contact 44 of the 59 consumers in order to determine the specific cause of the latch problems.of the 44 owners contacted, odi determined that four failures were due to an out-of-tolerance latch plate, and that 23 failures were due to a displaced buckle housing cover.the remaining 17 failures had indeterminable causes.of the 59 reports, there were…
What 1998 Pontiac Trans Sport owners say
Engine & cooling all 52 →
A well maintained 1998 Pontiac transport with a 3.4 liter engine developed a coolant leak. This was diagnosed by a local service center. As they explained that my vehicle has an intake manifold leak, it was also mentioned that they have seen many manifold coolant leaks with this engine. I decided to have it repaired at a GM dealer where I purchased the vehicle. They also explained that they service many of these type of leaks. They explained that the repair calls for a new type of manifold gasket and new bolts. The mechanic even showed me where on the old gasket the failure usually occurs. Although it May seem as if these comments where anecdotal, it still appears to point to a general failure in the design of the manifold gasket. This repair was very expensive. Why haven't these 3.4 liter been recalled? Are only inexpensive manufacturer defects recalled? …
Diagnosed with intake manifold gasket failure on 1998 Pontiac Trans Sport with 3.4 v6 engine. Oil and antifreeze mixed and fixed by dealer at cost of $890. With no assistance from general motors. All to common problems on this engine and the 3.1 v6 with speculation that the dexcool antifreeze deteriates gasket. Could possibly be true since gasket is now made out of a diffrent material. At this time it is imperative that NHTSA forces general motors to recall these engines and reimburse all owners who have paid out of pocket for repairs. This vehicle in question was well maintained and items were changed way above recommended service schedule. Vehicle also developed a rough idle with no obvious cause with possible explanation of internal engine damage. These intake gasket failures could be the reason for numerous engine fires witnessed on the highway. Also I am the original owner. …
Lights all 30 →
I own a 1998 Pontiac transport, bought new, and has 80000 miles on it. Was just told that the intake is leaking, ans will need manifold gasket replacement. Was told that there have been numerous reports of this happening. Alled local Pontiac dealer (matthews Pontiac, vestal, ny [phone]) and they confirmed this, and that there is a new and improved gasket, but they wouldn't help with the cost of replacement. Also reported that my headlamp lenses have been lost (lost 2 in one year) and had to replace entire headlamp unit at my own cost. Dealer said this is common also, and they believe it was a problem with the adhesive!! They will not help with that one either.
Rh headlamp lense fell off. Vehicle never involved in accident. The lense just fell off. Vehicle no longer under warranty. Upon investigating replacement, found out that this is a common problem. No salvage yard has any used available, however they are willing to sell new ones at a price between $100 - $165. I was told that GM wants $250 for the replacement. I also understand that GM is aware of this problem and has done nothing to correct it. This can be seen just by the number of complaints showing up in this website.this could be a serious problem if the light(s) failed at night. It defintely is an expensive problem for the consumer.
Steering all 26 →
Where do I start? Same complaints as all other Pontiac minivan owners. Since original purchase in 1998, headlight assembly faulty, ABS warning light malfunction, air bag warning light malfunction, and malfunctioning (still) passenger automatic sliding door. Recently had head gasket replaced due to antifreeze leak, as well as front left wheel hub. This is the worst (and most costly) vehicle I have owned with respect to maintenance.
During sharp left turns, steering has a certain amount of resistance and a loud thud sound is heard, along with vibration. Symptoms have been intermittent for several years, but are becoming more frequent. Independent repair shop referred us to recall #02V286000. Local Pontiac dealer said our VIN# is not included in the recall although admitting it is likely the same problem.
1998 Pontiac Trans Sport engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.4L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 16 / 23 / 19 |
EPA ratings. Class: Minivan.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1998 Pontiac Trans Sport a good car?
Based on 227 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1998 Trans Sport rates avoid: 2.6× as many complaints as a typical year of the Trans Sport at the same age. It is one of the Trans Sport years we suggest avoiding. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 1998 Pontiac Trans Sport?
The engine & cooling — 52 complaints, 23% of all complaints for this model year, most often about cooling system. Next are the lights (30) and steering (26).
How many recalls does the 1998 Pontiac Trans Sport have?
There are 5 recalls for the 1998 Pontiac Trans Sport, the most recent from December 22, 2004 (latch). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Pontiac Trans Sport?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 1999, 1996 and 1995. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 1997 and 1998. See the full Pontiac Trans Sport years comparison.
At what mileage do 1998 Pontiac Trans Sport problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 80,000 miles; 9% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.