NHTSA — Engine And Engine Cooling Problems

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
50,750 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

1996 Pontiac Trans Sport engine problems

engine problem

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1996 Pontiac Trans Sport Owner Comments

problem #4

Jun 062008

(reported on)

Trans Sport 6-cyl

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

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 vehicle to lock up at 50 mph. He sent in previous letter about the same problem on another vehicle. The consumer noticed a smell of anti-freeze, but could not locate the problem, because it was internal not external.

- Sandwich, IL, USA

problem #3

Oct 152002

Trans Sport

  • Automatic transmission
  • 88,000 miles
Intake manifold & gasket failure - oil & coolant mixing in engine compartment - imminent engine failure front wiper motor/transmission intermitent failure while driving - difficulty diagnosing problem - major safety issue when the wipers suddenly stop/start working while driving in rain & snow or sloppy highway conditions compressor clutch hub & pulley failure

- Orillia, UN, USA

problem #2

Apr 152003

Trans Sport

  • Automatic transmission
  • 115,000 miles
Failure of the intake manifold gasket.

- Brighton, MI, USA

problem #1

Jun 152003

Trans Sport

  • Automatic transmission
  • 0 miles
After the 2nd valve spring broke, I was told that the valves were seizing up and a new engine would be required. All of this was caused by the bad designed manifold gasket that caused coolant to go into the oil. After spending over $1,000 since 4-29-03, I finally had to trade in for another vehicle. I didn't have between $4,000 and $5,000 for a new engine, which on a '96 model would not have been worth it. I could have gotten a used engine, but all of them have the same manifold gasket and this would have cost aproximately $2,000. I've had nothing but problems with this van. General Motors should have taken care of this as a recall, but I guess it was too expensive for them too.

- Ellenwood, GA, USA

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