Pontiac Transam Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Pontiac Transam car check
Is the Pontiac Transam reliable? We analysed 1,209 real MOT tests across 124 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Pontiac Transam? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Pontiac Transam is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include parking brake: efficiency below requirements, parking brake recording little or no effort and position lamp(s) not working. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Pontiac Transam.
Pontiac Transam Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Pontiac Transam. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Pontiac Transam MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Pontiac Transam to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Pontiac Transam Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Pontiac Transam fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Pontiac Transam Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Pontiac Transam owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Pontiac Transam MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Pontiac Transam year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | 60 | 70.0% | 86,923 | 96,496 | 107,013 |
| 1990 | 76 | 89.5% | 73,666 | 77,351 | 131,169 |
| 1989 | 59 | 86.4% | 30,816 | 39,330 | 83,962 |
| 1988 | 91 | 72.5% | 69,771 | 103,461 | 139,212 |
| 1987 | 67 | 88.1% | 75,690 | 103,564 | 117,475 |
| 1980 | 69 | 89.9% | 26,130 | 40,248 | 61,912 |
| 1979 | 67 | 83.6% | 66,488 | 81,800 | 84,460 |
| 1978 | 52 | 75.0% | 77,038 | 78,194 | 83,165 |
How Long Does a Pontiac Transam Last?
Based on 124 Pontiac Transam vehicles on UK roads.
Pontiac Transam Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Pontiac Transam 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 Transam
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
89.9% MOT pass rate from 69 tests
70.0% MOT pass rate from 60 tests
The best year to buy a used Pontiac Transam is 1980, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 89.9% across 69 tests. The 1996 model year has the lowest pass rate at 70.0% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the Pontiac Transam Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pontiac Transam THIS CAR | 81.6% | 1,209 | 77,066 mi | 48 yrs |
| Pontiac Firebird | 79.4% | 8,717 | 73,018 mi | 58 yrs |
| Pontiac Trans Am | 83.1% | 1,959 | 68,268 mi | 48 yrs |
| Pontiac Fiero | 72.1% | 743 | 68,276 mi | 41 yrs |
| Mitsubishi Outlander Verve PHEV CVT | 85.5% | 875 | 44,650 mi | — yrs |
Compared to the Pontiac Firebird (79.4% pass rate) and the Pontiac Trans Am (83.1% pass rate), the Pontiac Transam sits in the middle of the pack on MOT reliability.
Found a Pontiac Transam 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 TransamShould you buy a used Pontiac Transam?
The Pontiac Transam has an overall MOT pass rate of 81.6% across 1,209 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 Transam are parking brake: efficiency below requirements (39 recorded failures), parking brake recording little or no effort (36), and position lamp(s) not working (22). 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 Transam owner drives around 598 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 Transam 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.