1997 Pontiac TRANS SPORT NHTSA Investigations
Defect Investigations
The following investigations on the Pontiac TRANS SPORT have been announced by the ODI. Interested in how this information is collected? Read more about investigations by the NHTSA.
Recent 1997 TRANS SPORT Investigations
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SAFETY BELT ASSEMBLY FAILURE Defect Investigation for the 1997 TRANS SPORT
Vehicle Component: Seat Belts
Summary: ODI identified 59 reports with the alleged defect. ODI was able to contact 44 of the 59 consumers in order to determine the specific cause of the latch problems. Of the 44 owners contacted, ODI determined that four failures were due to an out-of-tolerance latch plate, and that 23 failures were due to a displaced buckle housing cover. The remaining 17 failures had indeterminable causes. Of the 59 reports, there were three alleged minor injuries. No legal claims or lawsuits have been filed with regard to this alleged defect. Based on the limited number of reports, and a declining report trend, this investigation is closed. A safety-related defect has not been identified at this time and further use of Agency resources does not appeared to be warranted. Accordingly, this investigation is closed. The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exist. The Agency will take further action if warranted by the circumstances. See additional summary report.
More Details: For detailed information & supporting documents, see the official NHTSA page concerning investigation #EA02032 »
Status of Investigation: This investigation was closed on November 21 2003 and no recall was issued.
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SHOULDER HARNESS CLIP Defect Investigation for the 1997 TRANS SPORT
Vehicle Component: Seat Belts
Summary: Allege shoulder harness clip easily comes apart
More Details: For detailed information & supporting documents, see the official NHTSA page concerning investigation #PE02017 »
Status of Investigation: This investigation was closed on August 02 2002 and no recall was issued.
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POWER RACK AND PINION STEERING FAILURE Defect Investigation for the 1997 TRANS SPORT
Vehicle Component: Steering*
Summary: The lower pinion bearing in the rack and pinion steering assembly may fail. GM will recall 1997-98 Grand Prix built between 1-mar-96 and 31-oct-97; and 1996-98 U-vans/J-cars built between 1-jan-96 and 31-oct-97. See attached summary.
More Details: For detailed information & supporting documents, see the official NHTSA page concerning investigation #EA02003 »
Status of Investigation: This investigation was closed on December 10 2002 and there was a recall ordered: #02V286000
* This defect investigation is filed under 2 related vehicle components.
STEERING RACK AND PINION Defect Investigation for the 1997 TRANS SPORT
Vehicle Component: Steering
Summary: Allege that while driving and without warning, the steering rack and pinion can either bind or lock up, which makes steering difficult
More Details: For detailed information & supporting documents, see the official NHTSA page concerning investigation #PE01038 »
Status of Investigation: This investigation was closed on April 04 2002 and no recall was issued.
UNEXPECTED OPENING OF SLIDING DOOR Defect Investigation for the 1997 TRANS SPORT
Vehicle Component: Structure
Summary: There is no summary currently available
More Details: For detailed information & supporting documents, see the official NHTSA page concerning investigation #SQ00014 »
Status of Investigation: This investigation was closed on October 22 2001 and there was a recall ordered: #01V067000
REAR AXLE TRAILING ARM FAILURE Defect Investigation for the 1997 TRANS SPORT
Vehicle Component: Suspension:Rear*
Summary: 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. The trailing arm design in these vehicles has been used in the U-van from MY 1997 through the present. The GM analysis concluded that the subject trailing arms could crack or buckle if they were damaged during assembly, pre-delivery handling, or subjected to certain service related abuse conditions such as improper towing or jacking. Analysis of ODI and GM data has identified 19 incidents of rear axle trailing arm failures in the subject vehicles. There have been no new reports to ODI or GM in the last 12 months and only one new complaint in the last 21 months. Due to the low complaint rate and the absence of a continuing trend in reported failures, a safety-related defect has not been identified at this time and further use of Agency resources does not appear to be warranted. Accordingly, this investigation is closed. The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exist. The Agency will take further action if warranted by the circumstances. For additional information, see the attached closing report.
More Details: For detailed information & supporting documents, see the official NHTSA page concerning investigation #EA03005 »
Status of Investigation: This investigation was closed on January 12 2004 and no recall was issued.
* This defect investigation is filed under 2 related vehicle components.