Pontiac Trans Am Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Pontiac Trans Am car check
Is the Pontiac Trans Am reliable? We analysed 1,959 real MOT tests across 230 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Pontiac Trans Am? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Pontiac Trans Am is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid, parking brake: efficiency below requirements and parking brake recording little or no effort. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Pontiac Trans Am.
Pontiac Trans Am Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Pontiac Trans Am. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Pontiac Trans Am MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Pontiac Trans Am to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Pontiac Trans Am Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Pontiac Trans Am fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Pontiac Trans Am Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Pontiac Trans Am owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Pontiac Trans Am MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Pontiac Trans Am year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | 113 | 82.3% | 66,060 | 75,830 | 223,681 |
| 1994 | 88 | 85.2% | 63,566 | 96,410 | 107,523 |
| 1990 | 72 | 87.5% | 87,656 | 116,038 | 123,672 |
| 1989 | 85 | 77.6% | 16,884 | 38,106 | 75,551 |
| 1988 | 84 | 77.4% | 46,168 | 70,294 | 74,909 |
| 1986 | 71 | 76.1% | 84,328 | 92,319 | 129,520 |
| 1984 | 73 | 87.7% | 53,498 | 76,581 | 80,276 |
| 1983 | 103 | 80.6% | 55,967 | 68,270 | 95,819 |
| 1982 | 75 | 73.3% | 36,070 | 71,118 | 105,270 |
| 1981 | 182 | 80.8% | 31,337 | 66,336 | 82,418 |
| 1980 | 143 | 81.8% | 28,152 | 71,772 | 81,085 |
| 1979 | 193 | 80.3% | 23,615 | 57,443 | 68,277 |
| 1978 | 159 | 85.5% | 43,663 | 65,688 | 84,055 |
How Long Does a Pontiac Trans Am Last?
Based on 230 Pontiac Trans Am vehicles on UK roads.
Pontiac Trans Am Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Pontiac Trans Am MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.
Best Year to Buy a Used Pontiac Trans Am
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
87.7% MOT pass rate from 73 tests
73.3% MOT pass rate from 75 tests
The best year to buy a used Pontiac Trans Am is 1984, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 87.7% across 73 tests. The 1982 model year has the lowest pass rate at 73.3% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the Pontiac Trans Am Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pontiac Trans Am THIS CAR | 83.1% | 1,959 | 68,268 mi | 48 yrs |
| Pontiac Firebird | 79.4% | 8,717 | 73,018 mi | 58 yrs |
| Pontiac Transam | 81.6% | 1,209 | 77,066 mi | 48 yrs |
| Pontiac Fiero | 72.1% | 743 | 68,276 mi | 41 yrs |
| Suzuki Dl 650 L0 | 92.5% | 983 | 16,363 mi | 16 yrs |
Compared to the Pontiac Firebird (79.4% pass rate) and the Pontiac Transam (81.6% pass rate), the Pontiac Trans Am outperforms both on MOT reliability.
Found a Pontiac Trans Am you like?
Run a full vehicle history check on the specific car. See finance, stolen, write-off, mileage and MOT data for that exact vehicle.
Check a specific Pontiac Trans AmShould you buy a used Pontiac Trans Am?
The Pontiac Trans Am has an overall MOT pass rate of 83.1% across 1,959 real MOT tests — comfortably above the UK average, which puts it among the more reliable models on UK roads.
The most common problems on the Pontiac Trans Am are windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (53 recorded failures), parking brake: efficiency below requirements (48), and parking brake recording little or no effort (34). These are the faults most likely to cause an MOT failure on this model, so check for them carefully on any test drive or pre-purchase inspection. Many are wear-and-tear items that can be budgeted for, but a car that's already failing on multiple fronts may signal neglected maintenance.
A typical Pontiac Trans Am owner drives around 438 miles per year. If the car you're looking at is significantly above this, expect more wear on suspension, brakes and tyres. If it's well below, the vehicle may have been sitting unused — check for perished rubber, corroded discs and stale fluids.
In terms of longevity, most Pontiac Trans Am models stay on UK roads for around 48 years — a strong showing that suggests solid build quality and readily available parts. If you're buying one that's already approaching that window, the data suggests it has plenty of life left provided it's been maintained.
Before committing to a purchase, we recommend running a full vehicle history check on the specific car. This will reveal any outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies that the seller may not disclose — and that the MOT data alone can't tell you.