1997 PONTIAC TRANS SPORT Exterior Lighting Problems

MY WIFE'S 1997 PONTIAC TRANSPORT MINI-VAN HAS THE PLASTIC HEADLIGHT LENSES, THAT ARE NOW YELLOW AND CLOUDY, AND NIGHTTIME VISIBILITY IS SO POOR THAT SHE DOESN'T DRIVE AT NIGHT UNLESS SHE HAS TO. ALSO MY 2000 NISSAN FRONTIER TRUCK IS SUCCUMBING TO THE SAME PROBLEM, BUT IT IS NOT AS SEVERE YET. I HAVE TRIED HIGH-OUTPUT ZENON, BLUELIGHT, AND ULTRA WHITE BULBS BUT THE YELLOWING/CLOUDY PLASTIC LENSES GREATLY REDUCES THE PERFORMANCE QUALITIES OF THESE BULBS. I CANNOT SEE THE SAFETY BENEFITS OF HAVING PLASTIC HEADLIGHT LENSES THAT WON'T SHATTER LIKE GLASS IN AN ACCIDENT IF YOU CANNOT SEE MORE THAN 20 FEET IN FRONT OF YOUR VEHICLE AT NIGHT. I STILL BELIEVE GLASS IS THE BEST MATERIAL FOR HEADLIGHTS, I SEE CARS AND TRUCKS FROM THE 70'S, 80'S, AND EARLY 90'S THAT STILL HAVE GREAT WORKING HEADLIGHTS. *TR

Mileage: 92,846

MY TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN REPLACED ONCE AND I AM ALREADY HAVING PROBLEMS WITH IT AGAIN, IT'S ONLY BEEN A YEAR SINCE IT WAS REPLACED. BOTH OF MY FRONT WINDOWS ARE POWER WINDOWS AND I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE LITTLE MOTOR FOR THEM TO GO UP AND DOWN TWICE AND THE PASSENGER IS NOT WORKING AGAIN. MY LEFT FRONT SIGNAL LIGHT NEVER WORKS, IT GETS REPLACED AND A DAY LATER IS NOT WORKING AGAIN. I HAVE PROBLEMS WITH MY STEERING WHEEL, IT IS VERY HARD TO TURN RIGHT, THIS WAS ALREADY FIXED AND I'M HAVING PROBLEMS AGAIN. I NEED TO KNOW IF THERE ARE OR THERE WHERE ANY RECALLS RELATED TO MY PROBLEMS. I HAVE READ ABOUT OTHER PEOPLE HAVING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. THANK YOU. *JB

MY TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN REPLACED ONCE AND I AM ALREADY HAVING PROBLEMS WITH IT AGAIN, IT'S ONLY BEEN A YEAR SINCE IT WAS REPLACED. BOTH OF MY FRONT WINDOWS ARE POWER WINDOWS AND I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE LITTLE MOTOR FOR THEM TO GO UP AND DOWN TWICE AND THE PASSENGER IS NOT WORKING AGAIN. MY LEFT FRONT SIGNAL LIGHT NEVER WORKS, IT GETS REPLACED AND A DAY LATER IS NOT WORKING AGAIN. I HAVE PROBLEMS WITH MY STEERING WHEEL, IT IS VERY HARD TO TURN RIGHT, THIS WAS ALREADY FIXED AND I'M HAVING PROBLEMS AGAIN. I NEED TO KNOW IF THERE ARE OR THERE WHERE ANY RECALLS RELATED TO MY PROBLEMS. I HAVE READ ABOUT OTHER PEOPLE HAVING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. THANK YOU. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE HEADLIGHT LENSES ARE FOGGED UP AND DO NOT ILLUMINATE THE ROAD PROPERLY. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE LENSES NEED TO BE REPLACED.

Mileage: 130,624

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, THE HEADLIGHT COVER FELL OFF AND SHATTERED ON THE STREET. A NEW ONE IS ALMOST $200!*JB

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT A HEADLIGHT PROBLEM. WHILE DRIVING HEADLIGHT COVER POPPED OFF, CAUSING THE LIGHT BULB TO BLOW OUT. VEHICLE WAS SERVICED TWO TIMES FOR THIS PROBLEM. IT WAS DETERMINED TO BE DUE TO THE SEALANT.*AK

DRIVER SIDE HEADLIGHT MISSING. THE HEADLIGHT WAS IN PLACE IN THE A.M. IN THE AFTERNOON, AFTER ARRIVING AT A FRIENDS HOME, I NOTICED THE HEADLIGHT WAS MISSING. *AK THIS IS THE THIRD TIME I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE A HEADLIGHT AT MY EXPENSE. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THIS VEHICLE. IT'S NEVER BEEN INVOLVED IN A WRECK. I SEE ABSOLUTELY NO REASON WHY A SEALED HEADLIGHT SHOULD FALL APART IN THIS MANNER. THE REPLACEMENT IS OVER 200 DOLLARS. I BELIEVE THE MANUFACTURE SHOULD REPLACE THIS UNIT AT THEIR EXPENSE.

HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY PLASTIC FALLS OFF EXPOSING BULB TO MOISTURE/RAIN WHICH CAUSES THE BULB TO BURN OUT. THEREFORE, LOSING THE ILLUMINATION OF ONE LAMP AND LIMITING VISABILITY WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT.*AK

Mileage: 86,000

BOTH, NOT JUST ONE OF MY HEADLIGHTS CASINGS POPPED OFF WITHOUT WARNING. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THEM. WHICH I HAVE NEVER HAD TO DO WITH ANY OTHER CAR I HAVE OWNED. *AK

FUSES BLOW WITHIN MINUTES OF BEING INSTALLED. REAR SIGNAL LIGHT DOES NOT FLASH. PH

FRONT HEAD LIGHTS HAVE ALWAYS HAD MOISTURE. AT CERTAIN TIMES OF THE YEAR THEY HAVE CONTAINED 1-3 INCHES OF WATER. PONTIAC REFUSED TO CORRECT PROBLEM. THE PAST MONTH BOTH LENS COVERS HAVE FALLEN OFF WHILE DRIVING. *JB

Mileage: 35,000

WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT, THE RIGHT HEADLIGHT LENS BLEW OFF THE VEHICLE. *JB

THE HEADLIGHT LENS POPPED OFF WITHOUT WARNING, THE MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THE SEAL AROUND THE LENS WAS EXCESSIVELY CORRODED.*JB *TS

WHILE DRIVING IN RAINY WEATHER, THE HEAD LIGHT LEN COVERS FELL OFF DUE TO INFERIOR ADHESIVE CAUSING THE BULBS TO BURN OUT. MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED. *TT

THE LENS CAP FELL OFF OF THE FRONT LIGHT HEADLIGHT. THEY WILL NOT REPLACE IT. IT IS A DEFINITE DEFECT. I HAVE TO PAY $200 FOR A WHOLE NEW LIGHT. THEY SHOULD MAKE A LENS COVER. PONTIAC CLAIMS THAT THEY HAVE NOT GOTTEN MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS BUT WHEN I CALLED ONE SALVAGE YARD HE TOLD ME THAT HE ALONE GETS 10 CALLS A WEEK ON THIS PART!!!*AK

REPLACED RIGHT HAND LENS AND IT FAILED ALSO.*AK

BOTH HEADLIGHT LENSES KEEP FALLING OFF WITHOUT WARNING,RESULTING IN LOSS OF HEADLIGHTS.*AK

CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING, HE DISCOVERD THE SIGNAL LIGHTS WERE NOT WORKING, THE FUSES HAVE BEEN REPLACED OVER A HUNDRED TIMES.*MJ

CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING ONE OF THE HEADLIGHT COVERS FLEW OFF. IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE AFFECTED HEADLIGHT BULB EXPLODED FROM SUDDEN EXPLOSURE TO COLD AIR AND RAIN. ON ANOTHER OCCASION, CONSUMER FOUND HEADLIGHT COVER IN DRIVEWAY. THERE WAS ALSO CONDENSATION DISCOVERED IN THE OTHER FRONT LIGHT ASSIMBLIES (SIDE MARKER, TURN SIGNAL, ETC.). *TT

SLIDING DOOR WOULD NOT CLOSE AUTOMATICALLY. DOOR WOULD NOT LATCH. BUZZER WOULD SOUND AND DOOR WOULD COME OPEN, EVEN WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN TWICE UNDER RECALLS. ONCE UNDER RECALL 01 V 224 000 FOR SLIDING DOOR AND SECOND TIME UNDER RECALL 01 V 067 000. NEITHER RECALL CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. *AK. CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL WAS INOPERATIVE, THE DEALER REPLACED THE TURN SIGNAL BULB, ALSO THERE WAS A RATTLE NOISE WHEN VEHICLE WAS IN IDLE, DEALER REPLACED THE BELT TENSIONER.*JB

CONSUMER HIT A BUMP AND BOTH LENSES FELL OUT OF HEADLIGHTS. ADHESIVE THAT HOLDS LENSES DRIED UP. DEALER CONTACTED. *AK *YD

HEADLIGHTS COVERS HAD FALLEN ONE AFTER ANOTHER WITHIN A WEEK APART. CONSUMER TRIED TO FIND OUT WHAT HAD CAUSED THIS SITUATION, COVERS COULD NOT BE PUT BACK. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.*AK

COVER FOR FRONT-LEFT HEADLIGHT FELL OFF DUE TO MOISTURE BUILD UP IN THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY, COMPONENT WAS REPLACED AT CONSUMERS EXPENSE, FRONT/RIGHT HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY WAS STARTING TO SHOW MOISTURE BUILDUP, BUT HAS NOT DISCONNECTED TO THIS DATE. *AK CONSUMER REPLACED THE RIGHT FRONT HEADLAMP AT THE SAME TIME AS THE LEFT, AS IT HAS ALREADY LOST A GOOD AMOUNT OF THE GLUE, IT WAS LOOSE AND HAD A SERIOUS MISTURE BUILDUP CAUSING CORROSION INSIDE THE LIGHT.*SLC

CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY IN BAD WEATHER, ONE OF THE HEADLIGHT COVERS FLEW OFF, IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THIS THE AFFECTED HEADLIGHT BULB EXPLODED FROM SUDDEN EXPOSURE TO COLD AIR AND RAIN, SOMETIME THAT NIGHT THE OTHER COVER FELL OFF IN THE DRIVEWAY, THE NEXT DAY CONSUMER ALSO DISCOVERED CONDENSATION IN OTHER FRONT LIGHT ASSEMBLIES SUCH AS THE SIDE MARKER, AND TURN SIGNAL LIGHTS, CONSUMER STATES HE WAS TOLD THE DEALERSHIP DOES NOT SELL HEADLIGHT COVERS AS A SEPARATE PART, BECAUSE THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY IS NOT DESIGNED TO COME APART, CONSUMER STATES MANUFACTURER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT DOES NOT CONSIDER IT A SAFETY ISSUE REQUIRING A RECALL. *JB

CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY IN BAD WEATHER, ONE OF THE HEADLIGHT COVERS FLEW OFF, IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THIS THE AFFECTED HEADLIGHT BULB EXPLODED FROM SUDDEN EXPOSURE TO COLD AIR AND RAIN, SOMETIME THAT NIGHT THE OTHER COVER FELL OFF IN THE DRIVEWAY, THE NEXT DAY CONSUMER ALSO DISCOVERED CONDENSATION IN OTHER FRONT LIGHT ASSEMBLIES SUCH AS THE SIDE MARKER, AND TURN SIGNAL LIGHTS, CONSUMER STATES HE WAS TOLD THE DEALERSHIP DOES NOT SELL HEADLIGHT COVERS AS A SEPARATE PART, BECAUSE THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY IS NOT DESIGNED TO COME APART, CONSUMER STATES MANUFACTURER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT DOES NOT CONSIDER IT A SAFETY ISSUE REQUIRING A RECALL. *JB

CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY IN BAD WEATHER, ONE OF THE HEADLIGHT COVERS FLEW OFF, IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THIS THE AFFECTED HEADLIGHT BULB EXPLODED FROM SUDDEN EXPOSURE TO COLD AIR AND RAIN, SOMETIME THAT NIGHT THE OTHER COVER FELL OFF IN THE DRIVEWAY, THE NEXT DAY CONSUMER ALSO DISCOVERED CONDENSATION IN OTHER FRONT LIGHT ASSEMBLIES SUCH AS THE SIDE MARKER, AND TURN SIGNAL LIGHTS, CONSUMER STATES HE WAS TOLD THE DEALERSHIP DOES NOT SELL HEADLIGHT COVERS AS A SEPARATE PART, BECAUSE THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY IS NOT DESIGNED TO COME APART, CONSUMER STATES MANUFACTURER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT DOES NOT CONSIDER IT A SAFETY ISSUE REQUIRING A RECALL. *JB

WHILE DRIVING PASSENGER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT LENS COVER BLEW OFF, ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT, SMASHING AGAINST ANOTHER VEHICLE'S WINDSHIELD. ALSO, LESS THAN A MONTH LATER, DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT LENS BLEW OFF TOO. CONSUMER COULD SEE THAT THE SEALER DRIES UP AND CRUMBLES OFF.*AK *JB

PLASTIC LENS COVERS ON HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY HAVE FALLEN OFF, EXPOSING BULBS, AND CAUSING THEM TO PREMATURELY BLOWOUT. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

HEADLIGHT COVERS FELL OFF, MOISTURE CAUSED BULBS TO EXPLODE. BOTH COVERS FELL OFF WHILE DRIVING, SIGNAL LIGHT COVERS AND OTHER LIGHT COVERS ARE FULL OF MOISTURE.*AK

FRONT HEADLIGHT LENSES FELL OFF IN STREET WHILE CLEANING SNOW OFF. CONSUMER NOTICED THAT LENSES WERE MISSING. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK CONSUMER STATES THAT BOTH OF THE RIGH AND LEFT HAND LAMP LENSE COVERS FELL OFF DUE TO FAULTY SEAL, DEALER SPLIT THE COST WITH THE CONSUMER. *SLC

HEADLIGHTS HAD FALLEN OF VEHICLE ON TWO OCCASIONS. FIRST ONE WHILE DRIVING, AND OTHER ONE WHEN JUST TOUCHED. THERE WAS NO PRIOR WARNING OF DEFECT.*AK

WE HAVE A REPAIR SHOP. ALL OF OUR CUSTOMERS OWNING PONT TRANSPORT,CHEV VENTURE AND OLDS SILLOUHETTE HAVE HAD HEADLIGHT PROBLEMS. THE SEAL BETWEEN THE HEADLIGHT REFLECTOR AND LENS BECOMES BRITTLE AND ALLOWS WATER INTO THE LIGHT AND CAUSES REDUCED LIGHTING. EVENTUALLY(3-4 YRS OLD) THE SEAL FAILS COMPLETELY AND THE LENS FALLS OFF. WHEN THE LENS FALLS OFF BULB FAILURE IS ASSURED CAUSING LOSS OF TOTAL LOSS OF LIGHTING FROM THE UNIT. NOT AWARE OF ANY ACCIDENTS YET BUT SEEMS A MATTER OF TIME. GM NOT OFFERING ANY RECALL, CAMPAIGN OR EXTENDED WARRANTY YET? I SEE YOU HAVE MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS ON FILE- CAN'T YOU DO SOMETHING? THESE VEHICLES ONLY A FEW YEARS OLD AND FAILURE IS 100% IN MY EXPERIENCE. ALSO THESE UNITS ARE $200 PER SIDE AND I DONT SEE ANY IMPROVEMENT IN REPLACEMENT PART. SORRY FOR NO SPECIFIC VIN BUT I CAN HAVE INDIVIDUAL OWNERS CONTACT YOU. CHECK THIS OUT GM HAS BULLETINS BUT ARE A COPOUT INSTRUCTING DEALERS TO ONLY REPLACE LIGHTS WITH LESS THAN 50% MOISTURE ON GLASS . MOST WILL BARELY MAKE IT OUT OF 3/36 UNDER THIS STANDARD. THANK YOU.*AK

PASSENGER'S HEADLIGHT HAS CONDENSATION BUILD UP THAT AFFECTS DRIVING AT NIGHT. PASSEENGER HEADLIGHT HAS A 1/2 OF WATER BUILD UP THAT KEEPS BLOWING THE BULB OUT. THERE' S NOTHING THEY CAN DO. GMC KNOWS THAT IT'S A DESIGN DEFECT, BUT HAS NO REMEDY.*AK *SLC

THE HEADLIGHT COVER FELL OFF WHILE DRIVING WHEN I REALIZED IT I CHECKED THE OTHER LIGHTS AND SAW THAT THEY ARE ALL LOOSE AND READY TO FALL OFF. NOW THAT THE COVER FELL OFF, THE BULB IS BLOWN BECAUSE OF RAIN. WE HAD COMPLAINED ABOUT MOISTURE IN THE COVERS TO OUR DEALER AND WERE TOLD THAT IS NORMAL, WHICH ANYONE WOULD KNOW IT ISN'T NORMAL. DID CALL PONTIAC BUT HAVEN'T HEARD BACK YET. I FOUND OUT THERE ARE MANY VEHICLES THAT THIS IS HAPPENING TO. *AK

WHILE DRIVING HEADLIGHT LENS COVER FELL OFF, CAUSING THE BULB TO BLOW OUT. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK

BOTH HEADLIGHTS AND ONE FRONT SIDEMARKER (TURN SIGNAL) LIGHT WERE REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY DUE TO EXCESSIVE MOISTURE/WATER DROPLETS INSIDE THE ASSEMBLY. ONE OF THE REPLACED HEADLIGHTS NOW HAS THE SAME PROBLEM AGAIN (TWICE IN 2.5 YEARS). PONTIAC HAS ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN TO DEALERS SAYING NOT TO REPLACE ANY MORE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES BECAUSE THE MOISTURE THAT FORMS WITHIN THEM IS NORMAL. THEY SAY THE MOISTURE SHOULD DISSIPATE AFTER THE HEADLIGHTS ARE ON FOR A FEW HOURS. SOME OF THE MOISTURE DOES GO AWAY, BUT I CONSIDER IT A SAFETY ISSUE WHEN HALF OF THE HEADLIGHT LENSE IS COVERED WITH STEAM/WATER EVEN IF SOME OF IT EVENTUALLY CLEARS UP. I CONTACTED PONTIAC DIRECTLY AND THEY REFUSE TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT THIS.*AK

BOTH HEADLIGHTS AND ONE FRONT SIDEMARKER (TURN SIGNAL) LIGHT WERE REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY DUE TO EXCESSIVE MOISTURE/WATER DROPLETS INSIDE THE ASSEMBLY. ONE OF THE REPLACED HEADLIGHTS NOW HAS THE SAME PROBLEM AGAIN (TWICE IN 2.5 YEARS). PONTIAC HAS ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN TO DEALERS SAYING NOT TO REPLACE ANY MORE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES BECAUSE THE MOISTURE THAT FORMS WITHIN THEM IS NORMAL. THEY SAY THE MOISTURE SHOULD DISSIPATE AFTER THE HEADLIGHTS ARE ON FOR A FEW HOURS. SOME OF THE MOISTURE DOES GO AWAY, BUT I CONSIDER IT A SAFETY ISSUE WHEN HALF OF THE HEADLIGHT LENSE IS COVERED WITH STEAM/WATER EVEN IF SOME OF IT EVENTUALLY CLEARS UP. I CONTACTED PONTIAC DIRECTLY AND THEY REFUSE TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT THIS.*AK

BOTH HEADLIGHTS AND ONE FRONT SIDEMARKER (TURN SIGNAL) LIGHT WERE REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY DUE TO EXCESSIVE MOISTURE/WATER DROPLETS INSIDE THE ASSEMBLY. ONE OF THE REPLACED HEADLIGHTS NOW HAS THE SAME PROBLEM AGAIN (TWICE IN 2.5 YEARS). PONTIAC HAS ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN TO DEALERS SAYING NOT TO REPLACE ANY MORE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES BECAUSE THE MOISTURE THAT FORMS WITHIN THEM IS NORMAL. THEY SAY THE MOISTURE SHOULD DISSIPATE AFTER THE HEADLIGHTS ARE ON FOR A FEW HOURS. SOME OF THE MOISTURE DOES GO AWAY, BUT I CONSIDER IT A SAFETY ISSUE WHEN HALF OF THE HEADLIGHT LENSE IS COVERED WITH STEAM/WATER EVEN IF SOME OF IT EVENTUALLY CLEARS UP. I CONTACTED PONTIAC DIRECTLY AND THEY REFUSE TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT THIS.*AK

POOR SEAL AROUND HEADLIGHTS, WATER LEAKS AND LIGHTBULB HAS EXPLODED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING IN A RAIN STORM THE PROTECTIVE COVERS ON THE HEADLAMPS DEVELOPED LEAKS AROUND THE SEAL, PERMITTING WATER TO LEAK ON TO THE HALOGEN BULB AND BLOW OUT. THE DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

THE COVERS FOR THE LEFT AND RIGHT HEADLIGHTS FELL OFF WHILE DRIVING. DEALER HAS NOT SEEN VEHICLE. *AK

HEADLAMPS HAVE MOISTURE ON THE INSIDE OF THE LENS WHICH COULD DISTORT THE LIGHTING. THIS MOISTURE DOES NOT GO AWAY. PONTIAC SAYS THIS IS A "NORMAL" CONDITION.