Most common 1999 Pontiac Trans Sport problems
Share of the 10 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 →
1999 Pontiac Trans Sport recalls (2)
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…
Air bags › Frontal
On certain passenger vehicles and Mini vans, the driver's air bag inflator modules could produce excessive internal pressure. In the event of a crash that would trigger a driver's air bag deployment, the increased internal pressure can cause the inflator module to explode.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the driver air bag module. Owner notification began February 1, 2002. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within…
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 4 possible defects involving the 1999 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…
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.
What 1999 Pontiac Trans Sport owners say
Engine & cooling
With respect to my 1999 Pontiac transport van, October of 2003 the engine started overheating and we discovered that the coolant was low. We added coolant and some type of seal into the coolant because we were told by several GM mechanics that it was probably the head gasket and this seal would help to get us by until we could have it fixed. I called the company where I purchased the van (2nd hand) and the van was no longer under warranty (over by 4,000 miles at the time). I did purchase the extended warranty. We priced around for the cost to have the head gasket repaired/replaced and found that we would have to spend between $800 and $1,000 to get it fixed. Our van is now sitting in a garage being torn apart and the head gasket was the problem. Prior to October 2003 we had the coils changed and the #5 plug was showing a malfunctioning problem which was showing up on the computer. …
Transmission failure caused by antifreeze in transmission. Corrosion of radiator causing antifreeze to mix with transmission fluid. Now is overheating caused by intake manifold gasket leaking allowing antifreeze to get into crankcase. Potentially fatal for engine.
1999 Pontiac Trans Sport engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.4L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 16 / 23 / 18 |
EPA ratings. Class: Minivan.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1999 Pontiac Trans Sport a good car?
Based on 10 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1999 Trans Sport rates better than average: 93% fewer complaints than a typical year of the Trans Sport at the same age. It is one of the best Trans Sport years by this measure. 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 1999 Pontiac Trans Sport?
The engine & cooling — 5 complaints, 50% of all complaints for this model year, most often about engine. Next are the seat belts (2) and brakes (1).
How many recalls does the 1999 Pontiac Trans Sport have?
There are 2 recalls for the 1999 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 1999 Pontiac Trans Sport problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 44,000 miles; 75% 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.