26 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 1998 Pontiac Trans Sport cite steering, 11% of all 234 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 1 recall on this component.
“WHILE DRIVING MY 1998 PONTIAC TRANS SPORT MONTANA, MY STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP AND WOULDN'T TURN TO THE LEFT, ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. WHEN I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR INSPECTION, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT IT WAS A RACK AND PINION STEERING GEAR ASSEMBLY. *JB”
“SEAT BELTS "STICKING", STEERING MAKING LOUD "POP" NOISES WHEN TURNING WHEEL, TRANSMISSION SHIFTING VERY HARD FROM PARK TO REVERSE ON A ANGLE. NOW MY ENGINE LOCKED UP, WAS HESITATING WHEN ACCELERATING. *JB”
“WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN AT A LOW SPEED THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP AND COULD NOT BE TURNED TO THE RIGHT WITHOUT USING EXCESSIVE EFFORT. *AK ONCE THE STEERING WHEEL WAS TURNED TO THE RIGHT IT WOULD JUMP BACK TO THE LEFT CASING A SUDDEN CHANGE IN THE VEHICLE'S DIRECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. *NM”
“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.*AK”
“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. *AK”
“RE: COMPLAINT OF UNSATISFACTORY TRANSACTION. *BF THE STEERING LOCKED WHEN THE CONSUMER MADE A LEFT TURN. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THERE WAS A RECALL REGARDING THE PROBLEM HE EXPERIENCED. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED CUSTOMER SERVICE ABOUT THE RECALL AND WAS TOLD HIS VEHICLE WAS ABOUT 200 VEHICLE OUT OF THE RANGE RECALL.(RECALL#02V286000). *JB”
Showing 6 of 26 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.
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.
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.