In Nov. Of 2007 I was having a problem with my van overheating and was losing engine coolant but could not see where it was going. I later found out that I had a faulty intake manifold gasket, which cost me over $800 to repair. Not long after the gasket was repaired the van started overheating again and I discovered that the water pump was blown, that was another $174 to repair. Now I am still having the same problem with the van overheating and coolant leaking and I was just informed that it is a head gasket which is going to cost me over $1700 to fix. This is ridiculous, I know 3 other people who have the same make and model van as I do with the same engine and they are all also having the same problems with their vans. It seems to me that this is too much of a coincidence and that their should have been a recall in place to rectify the problems with these faulty parts. These are extremely expensive repairs and I personally do not have an extra $1700 just laying around, so now I am faced with the choice of junking my van and trying to get a new one which I cannot afford or fixing it which I also cannot afford.

- Flint, MI, USA

Our 1997 Pontiac Transport has had 3 head gasket failures. The first was at 72000, second at 88,000 and is currently dead in front drive with water in the oil again. Had new heads put on at 72000. Vehicle overheats and does not show on gauges. You hear it bubbling when it's shut off. Also had to replace alternator 3 times and van only has 110,000 miles on it. We've had since new.

- Idabel, OK, USA

Replaced the upper intake manifold gasket in 2006. In the last 3 weeks, the van was not putting out much heat and the temp gauge did not rise up to the normal level. I drove into town 6 miles at 60 miles an hour and the temperature gauge went all the way up. I let it cool down and drove to the mechanic ( 1 mile ) and it was going back up again. They replaced the water pump, radiator cap and thermostat and I picked up the van. Within 1 mile it started to heat up again. I returned it. They believe the head gaskets are blown. The estimate that I got to repair it is $1200. I got 3 estimates with the high of $1600. I already replaced one and now have to re replace it and the other. I'm getting really tired of this but I have to fix it because I cannot sell it if it doesn't run. Hope they fix this in the next vehicles. I wouldn't recommend it due to this defect. It was also very scary because I was dealing with temperatures of -20 with wind.

- Bemidji, MN, USA

I noticed the low coolant light would go on sometimes and the vehicle was going through coolant much faster than any other vehicle I have owned. I performed some research on this issue and discovered a service bulletin regarding the faulty intake manifold gasket in model year 1997 Transport vans, among others. This service bulletin clearly indicates that this issue a result of a poorly designed gasket. Further research indicated that having this problem with your vehicle could result in catastrophic engine failure due to the leaking coolant getting into your engine. This now creates a safety issue due to the unpredictability of when your vehicle could breakdown. I took the van in to a GM dealer the next day. The diagnosis was a faulty intake manifold gasket that was causing coolant to leak inside the engine. The repair estimated to $720, for parts and labor and $130 to pay for a faulty blower motor resistor that was also diagnosed. I called GM to request cost assistance and was told that the "car has too many miles on it, we can't help you now". I was given the reasons that the vehicle was bought used, and the vehicle was too old. Although I have had this problem fixed, GM claimed no responsibility for this issue. Furthermore, I am not convinced that having this failure did not create other problems that would result in catastrophic engine failure at a later time.

- Grand Rapids, MI, USA

Todays date- Dec 15th, 2004.have had 1997 Pontiac Transport for almost 1 yr. I just found out today that the rack and pinion are going to have to be replaced, along with the thermostat and water pump. Regarding operation of the rack & pinion, the trouble started about a month ago. I first noticed problems w/the steering while backing out. I thought it might have been power steering, checked the fluid and it was full. Not terrible problems, but little enough to notice something was not right. It has now gotten a little worse, so I had it looked at and was told the terrible news just this very day.

- Antioch, IL, USA

I bought a 1997 Pontiac Transport in 2001 and not even a year later the intake gasket went bad they told me there was a defect on the intake gasket andgm did not give a recall for it that isn't very fair when it is their fault it keeps going I have to pay $785 again after another 2 years and again now I think somebody should do something about this because people are getting ripped off because they wont give a recall on this part when its their fault please help us with this problem. Thank you.

- Saginaw, MI, USA

I have owned my Pontiac Transport 2 years. In that time I have driven it 17,000 miles. It has 78,500 miles at present. For most of that time the add coolant light has come on intermittently. My Pontiac dealer tells me that I need a $900 repair to replace a intake manifold gasket. In conversing with other GM owners, I have learned that this is a common problem with the cooling system possibly due to the dex-cool antifreeze which GM says should last 150,000 miles. I feel that GM should take responsibility for these failures. E G armentrout.

- Gahanna, OH, USA

Coolant light started coming on over a year ago. Took the van to bob neil Pontiac in winston-salem nc. They checked it out but said they could find no reason. Had been checking and adding coolant regularly. Problem had increased and had it checked again in March 2003 while the van was in for a recall notice. This time they told me it would cost $600 + to fix the problem. The van has started having sudden swings in thermostat readings and using over a quart of coolant a week. I have read of others complaining on this site of the same problem and worse. I also reviewed numerous service bulletins from Pontiac regarding this type of problem. Why would GM not offer to help correct this problem if they know about it?

- King, NC, USA

Engine has been overheating for a year now. Took vehicle to Pontiac. They tested it and replaced the water pump. Still overheating so they replaced the thermostat and radiator cap. Still overheating. Pontiac stated it needed a new head gasket and wanted $3500 to replace it. They further stated they were not sure this was the problem either. I have already paid $500 for the previous service. I have read there are many others with this same problem with GM 3.4 liter engines.

- Ridgeville, SC, USA

I have had the seat belt latches replaced 4 times on the mid-row seats. 2 times I have had to take it in to have the window latch repaired on the mid-row, left window. It kept popping open when driving in bumpy conditions. The water pump has given out 2X. The power sliding door keeps blowing the fuse and will not operate. The rear window wiper and washer has been inoperable on 2 occasions. Dealer has attempted to fix all these problems repeatedly, but they are only temporary fixes! these things are obviously defects because they occur again and again.

- Jeffersontown, KY, USA