PontiacTrans Sport1991Overview/pontiac/trans-sport/1991/base/

1991 Pontiac Trans Sport

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1991 Trans Sport.

Body VANTransmission Automatic 3-spd

The 1991 Pontiac Trans Sport is a van equipped with an automatic 3-spd transmission and an engine requiring 4 qt of 5W-30 API oil to achieve EPA ratings of 16/21/18 mpg. Within the broader 1990-2003 model history, this specific year accumulated 41 total owner complaints with Seat Belts as the top complaint area alongside 3 recalls, situating it well below the 1998 peak of 259 complaints yet above the 2000 low of 2. This comparative data marks the 1991 model as a middle-ground year in the vehicle's reliability history rather than an outlier.

Model year199819971996199519941993199219911990

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity4 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type5W-30 APIOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy16/21/18 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses OE oil filter 12737090. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter12737090
Engine air filter25040929
Fuel filter25121666
Spark plug19300382
Front wiper blades10284387 alt 10284388
Serpentine belt10051578 alt 10219783
Thermostat19435095 alt 10226107

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic 3-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length194.5 in
Overall width74.4 in
Overall height65.7 in
Wheelbase109.8 in
Curb weight3598 lb
Weight distribution (front / rear)58/42

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined16 / 21 / 18 mpg
DrivetrainFront-Wheel Drive
Recommended fuelRegular Gasoline

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 4 qt of 5W-30 API engine oil.

Lubricants & capacities

Engine CoolantETHYLENE GLYCOL
Engine Oil5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity4 qt
Power Steering FluidUSE GM PART NO. 1052884 OR EQUIVALENT

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter at 7,500 mi; spark plugs every 60,000 mi; coolant every 7,500 mi. The big-interval services (every 7,500 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

At 7,500 miEngine Oil Filter (replace) · Throttle Body (torque) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 7,500 miBody Latches, Locks & Hinges (lubricate) · Brake System (inspect) · Engine Coolant System (leak inspection) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Parking Brake Cable (lubricate) · Shift Linkage (inspect)
Every 15,000 miEngine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 30,000 miEGR System (inspect) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Breather Filter (replace) · Fuel Filter (replace) · Fuel Line (inspect) · Fuel Tank (inspect)
Every 60,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Ignition Timing (inspect) · PCV System (inspect) · Spark Plug Wires (inspect)
Every 100,000 miTransmission Fluid & Filter (replace)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 1991 Pontiac Trans Sport represents a relative low point in complaints (41) and recalls (3) within its generation, particularly when compared to the preceding 1990 model year (70 complaints, 5 recalls) and the sharp rise in issues beginning in 1992 (90 complaints). This year also sees fewer investigations (7) and technical service bulletins (5) than both the prior and subsequent years, suggesting a period of comparatively better initial reliability or fewer reported defects. However, the data reveals persistent concerns in seat belts (10 complaints) and structural integrity (9 complaints), along with isolated crash (2) and fire (2) reports, indicating that while overall complaints declined, safety-related issues remained a recurring theme. The generation-wide trend shows a clear escalation in complaints and TSBs from 1992 onward, peaking dramatically in the late 1990s, which implies that the 1991 model may have benefited from early production refinements before later quality control challenges emerged. **Takeaway:** The 1991 Trans Sport appears to be one of the better years to buy within this generation, given its lower complaint and recall volume, but prospective owners should still prioritize a thorough inspection of seat belts and structural components due to their prominence in the complaint data.

3
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
5
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
7
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
41
Owner complaints
2 involved a crash · 2 a fire
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 41 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Seat Belts10
Structure9
Tires4
Power Train3
Service Brakes, Hydraulic3
Visibility2
Steering,Suspension,Structure1
Steering1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 3 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

97V058000StructureReported 08/04/1997

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES AND MINI VANS ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE FOLLOWING STATES: CONNECTICUT, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, MAINE, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK… Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE REAR CRADLE BOLTS AND RETAINERS.

92V012000Structure:BodyReported 28/01/1992

THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT DOOR WILL NOT REMAIN CLOSED DURING CERTAIN LOAD FORCES ASSOCIATED WITH A VEHICLE CRASH. THIS DOES NOT COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS 201. Remedy: REPLACE THE CURRENT UPPER GLOVE COMPARTMENT DOOR WITH A REDESIGNED UPPER GLOVE COMPARTMENT DOOR WHICH INCORPORATES A POSITIVE LATCH TO KEEP THE DOOR CLOSED SHOULD A VEHICLE CRASH…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 5 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
1300890092013-09-01Engine And Engine CoolingExpanded Availability for Remanufacture and Return (R&R) Electronic Control Modules
018802004-01-01Power TrainNO TCC APPLY, MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP (MIL) ON, TCC SURGE, POSSIBLE P0740, P1870, OR…
876002A1998-07-01Engine And Engine CoolingSOME V6 ENGINES MAY, ON A VERY INFREQUENT BASIS, HAVE AN OIL ODOR CONDITION THAT IS…
4363031995-01-01Fuel System, GasolineFUEL TANK THUD/CLUNK. *TW
4310511994-12-01StructureSLIDING DOOR RATTLES. *TW

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Trans Sport. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 1991 Trans Sport take?

4 qt of 5W-30 API, per the factory manual.

Does the 1991 Trans Sport have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 3 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the Trans Sport get?

EPA figures are 16 city / 21 highway / 18 combined mpg.