NHTSA vehicle safety data

1998 Pontiac Trans Am Recalls & Complaints

We couldn't confirm the NHTSA recall list for the 1998 Pontiac Trans Am right now, so this page doesn't state a recall count — check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls for current campaigns. 11 owner complaints are on file.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 1998 Pontiac Trans Am.

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1998 Pontiac Trans Am owner complaints

Owners have filed 11 complaints with NHTSA about the 1998 Pontiac Trans Am, describing incidents dated November 1, 1998 to July 16, 2002.

Most-cited components

Power Train 4 complaints
Engine 3 complaints
Service Brakes 3 complaints
Electrical System 2 complaints
Steering 2 complaints
Structure 2 complaints

Of the 11 complaints on file, 1 reports a crash (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

ODI #10182471 · Filed February 13, 2007
STEERING COLUMN, THE TWO PINS THAT HOLD THE STEERING WHEEL TOGETHER AT THE HINGED PART SO THE ADJUSTABLE WHEEL CAN UP AND DOWN, WORK THEIR WAY OUT AND CAUSE THE STEERING TO BECOME VERY DANGEROUS. *JB
ODI #8019039 · Filed September 19, 2002
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WITH NO WARNING VEHICLE WILL JERK, AND THEN ENGINE LIGHT WILL COME ON AND WILL STAY ON THE REMAINDER OF TIME THAT VEHICLE IS BEING OPERATED. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK
ODI #8011303 · Filed June 7, 2002
WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE, VEHICLE WENT INTO A SPIN, STEERING WHEEL DID NOT RESPOND. VEHICLE HIT A BARRIER. NO INJURIES, VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.*AK

Read all 11 complaints

We couldn't confirm the NHTSA recall list for the 1998 Pontiac Trans Am right now — this is not a confirmed "no recalls". Check the VIN at NHTSA.gov/recalls for the official status.

try.vin has no NCAP crash-test rating on file for the 1998 Pontiac Trans Am. NHTSA rates some vehicles by body style — pickups by cab, vans by roof height — so check nhtsa.gov/ratings.

11 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 1998 Pontiac Trans Am.

Steering

ODI #10182471

Incident: July 1, 2002 · Filed: February 13, 2007

STEERING COLUMN, THE TWO PINS THAT HOLD THE STEERING WHEEL TOGETHER AT THE HINGED PART SO THE ADJUSTABLE WHEEL CAN UP AND DOWN, WORK THEIR WAY OUT AND CAUSE THE STEERING TO BECOME VERY DANGEROUS. *JB

Vehicle Speed Control; Unknown or Other

ODI #8019039

Incident: July 16, 2002 · Filed: September 19, 2002

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WITH NO WARNING VEHICLE WILL JERK, AND THEN ENGINE LIGHT WILL COME ON AND WILL STAY ON THE REMAINDER OF TIME THAT VEHICLE IS BEING OPERATED. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

Steering

ODI #8011303

Crash

Incident: September 15, 1999 · Filed: June 7, 2002

WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE, VEHICLE WENT INTO A SPIN, STEERING WHEEL DID NOT RESPOND. VEHICLE HIT A BARRIER. NO INJURIES, VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.*AK

Engine and Engine Cooling

ODI #898783

Incident: October 1, 2001 · Filed: November 6, 2001

CONSUMER STARTED SMELLING GAS FORM THE OUTSIDE OF CAR. CONSUMER MENTIONED TO DEALER WHEN IT WAS TAKEN IN FOR WARRANTY WORK, DEALER DID NOT CHECK IT AT THAT TIME. CONSUMER INSPECTED VEHICLE AND FOUND RETURN VAPOR LINE HAD POPPED COMPLETELY OFF. CONSUMER SNAPPED IT BACK TOGETHER AND SO FAR IS NOT HAVING ANY PROBLEM. ONCE IT WAS TAKEN BACK TO SHOW DEALER WHERE PROBLEM WAS, SERVICE TECHNICIAN STATED IT MUST BE OKAY NOW. *AK *SLC

Electrical System; Vehicle Speed Control

ODI #853693

Incident: November 19, 1999 · Filed: December 6, 1999

WHILE DRIVING AT 15MPH VEHICLE SUDDENLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY ACCELERATED . THE DEALER WAS NOT ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM, HOWEVER THEY REPLACED THE COMPUTER. *AK

Structure

ODI #753711

Filed: October 26, 2001

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic; Engine and Engine Cooling; Power Train; Electrical System; Structure

ODI #729682

Incident: October 14, 1999 · Filed: August 31, 2000

I DON'T FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS CAR. THEY REFUSED TO GIVE ME A NEW CAR IN THE BEGINNING WHEN THEY HAD TO WELD THE PILLAR POST TO THE FRAME. MY CAR HAS OVERHEATED MANY TIMES UNTIL THEY FOUND THE BROKE RADIATOR. THE TRANSMISSION HAS GONE OUT AND WAS JUST FIXED AND THE CAR NOW HAS A FIREWALL RATTLE. THE BRAKES ROTORS WERE WARPED. THEY WOULD NOT STAND BEHIND THEM. IT WOULD BE MY COST TO REAPIR THEM. THEY ARE STILL WARPED. THIS CAR HAD TO HAVE A NEW WINDSHIELD PUT IN ALSO. 4 RADIO, TWO REAR SPEAKERS, BELT TENSION PULLEY,OIL LEVEL SENSOR, U JOINTS,ALTERNATOR, RADIATOR CAP,LUMBAR SUPPORT REPAIRED 5 TIMES. THIS CAR HAS OTHER PROBLEMS ALSO. IT IS IN THE SHOP MORE THAN I HAVE IT. I AM DISABLED AND BOUGHT THE CAR TO HAVE A NICE LOOKING DEPENDABLE CAR. I BOUGHT A JUNK THAT HAD A STICKER PRICE OF 28-29,000. THANK YOU FOR YOU HELP. CHRIS GALLAGHER 770 719-9754

Power Train

ODI #724324

Incident: November 12, 1998 · Filed: June 21, 2000

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic; Exterior Lighting; Visibility

ODI #718665

Filed: February 12, 2000

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic; Engine and Engine Cooling; Power Train

ODI #712931

Incident: May 11, 1999 · Filed: October 6, 1999

TICKING NOISE FROM ENGINE, DIFFERNTIAL LEAKING GEAR OIL, SES LIGHT COMES ON FOR NO REASON, ROTORS WARPED, DRIVESHAFT POPS WHEN SLOWING DOWN OR CHANGING GEARS.

Check your 1998 Pontiac Trans Am VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Pontiac Trans Am at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

Check a Pontiac VIN