1999 Pontiac Montana engine problems

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

IT SEEMS THAT THE THIS PARTICULAR MAKE AND MODEL HAS KNOWN PROBLEMS WITH THE COOLING SYSTEM. ON A FAMILY TRIP TO VIRGINIA THE CAR STARTED TO OVERHEAT AND I STOPPED THE VEHICLE. WHEN PARKED RED FLUID WAS VISIBLE UNDER THE CAR AND UPON TESTING WAS FOUND OUT TO BE COOLANT LEAK. CAR WAS TOWED TO PA AND MECHANIC REPORTED LOSS AND REPLACEMENT OF RADIATOR/HOSES AND LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD (GASKET) A LABOR INTENSIVE WORK COSTING ABOUT 1700 TO FIX ALL THE ISSUE WITH THIS OVER HEATING.

NHTSA complaint #10460448 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

1. EVENTS UNKNOWN 2. COOLING SYSTEM FAILURE, ALL THE TIME, UNDRIVEABLE 3. UNABLE TO CORRECT FAILURE.

NHTSA complaint #10378277 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

TWO SEPARATE GASKET PROBLEMS ON MY 1999 PONTIAC MONTANA MINI VAN. THE MOST RECENT WAS TODAY IN AUG. OF 2008 THE LOCAL GARAGE TOLD ME THAT MY VANS LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET NEEDED REPLACED FOR ABOUT $700. THE PROBLEM WAS NOTICED WHEN MY TEMPERATURE LIGHT CAME ON AND AFTER FILLING RADIATOR I SAW WATER LEAKING UNDERNEATH VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #10237492 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY

EVERY YEAR, A WEEK OR TWO AFTER TURNING ON THE HEAT IN THE VAN, THE HEATER STOPS BLOWING WARM AIR. WHILE SITTING AT IDLE THE TEMP GAUGE RISES EXTREMELY HIGH. EVERY YEAR THE DEALER HAS FIXED THE PROBLEM. THIS YEAR THEY ARE TELLING ME THAT I NEED A NEW ENGINE! AFTER RESEARCHING ONLINE, HERE AND AT RESPECTED SITES SUCH AS EDMONDS.COM IT SEEMS TO ME LIKE THESE PROBLEMS SHOULD HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED LONG BEFORE I EVEN BOUGHT MY VAN SO MANY YEARS AGO!!!!

NHTSA complaint #10209950 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE

EVERY YEAR, A WEEK OR TWO AFTER TURNING ON THE HEAT IN THE VAN, THE HEATER STOPS BLOWING WARM AIR. WHILE SITTING AT IDLE THE TEMP GAUGE RISES EXTREMELY HIGH. EVERY YEAR THE DEALER HAS FIXED THE PROBLEM. THIS YEAR THEY ARE TELLING ME THAT I NEED A NEW ENGINE! AFTER RESEARCHING ONLINE, HERE AND AT RESPECTED SITES SUCH AS EDMONDS.COM IT SEEMS TO ME LIKE THESE PROBLEMS SHOULD HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED LONG BEFORE I EVEN BOUGHT MY VAN SO MANY YEARS AGO!!!!

NHTSA complaint #10209950 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 PONTIAC MONTANA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO OVERHEAT. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE HEAD GASKET. THE DEALER STATED THAT COOLANT LEAKED INTO THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIRS, WHICH TOTALED $1,800. ONE WEEK AFTER A ROUTINE MAINTENANCE REPAIR, THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING NORMALLY; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MECHANIC ALSO STATED THAT THIS TYPE OF FAILURE SHOULD NOT HAVE RECURRED. THE CONTACT MAILED A COMPLAINT TO THE COMPANY AND HAS OWNED THE VEHICLE FOR TWO YEARS. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 121,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 131,000.

NHTSA complaint #10207026 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 PONTIAC MONTANA. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE JERKED AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE MANIFOLD GASKETS SHOULD BE REPLACED. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE MANIFOLD GASKETS, WATER PUMP, THERMOSTAT, AND SEALER. TWO YEARS LATER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MECHANIC FLUSHED THE TRANSMISSION. APPROXIMATELY A YEAR AND A HALF LATER, THE FAILURE RECURRED FOR THE THIRD TIME AND THE MECHANIC FLUSHED THE TRANSMISSION ONCE MORE. TEN MONTHS LATER, THE VEHICLE BEGAN JERKING AGAIN. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE RADIATOR CAP AND FLUSHED THE TRANSMISSION, BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUES TO OCCUR. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 138,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 63,000.

NHTSA complaint #10193323 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET FAILURE FRIED THE 3.4L V6 ENGINE. REPLACEMENT ENGINE IS SHOWING THE SAME PROBLEMS.

NHTSA complaint #10186712 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

DRIVING THE VAN I NOTICED THE VEHICLE STARTED TO OVER HEAT. I TURNED IT OFF AND WAITED 1 HOUR FOR IT TO COOL DOWN. STARTED IT UP AGAIN AFTER FILLING THE RADIATOR, WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING I MADE SURE THE COOLANT WAS AT THE CORRECT LEVEL. WITHIN 5 MIN THE CAR OVERHEATED AGAIN AND THIS TIME IT DIED BEFORE I COULD TURN IT OFF. I HAVE BEEN TOLD IT WOULD BE BEST TO REPLACE THE ENGINE AT 4100.00 FOR THAT. I SEARCHED THE INTERNET AND FOUND OUT THERE ARE MANY OTHER VAN OWNERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. THEY USED A RUBBER SEAL WITHOUT STEEL SO THAT IT COOLANT LEAKS INTO THE ENGINE AND MIXES WITH THE OIL, AND DRIES OUT THE CAMSHAFT AND THEN IT BREAKS. IN CANADA THERE IS ALREADY A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT FOR THIS REASON. THEY (MANUFACTURE) KNOW THERE IS A PROBLEM BUT WONT SAY THAT IT IS THERE FAULT. I AM ALSO LOOKING TO FIND SOMEONE TO TAKE THE CASE AS I CURRENTLY HAVE A LSWN ORNAMENT DUE TO I DON'T HAVE THE 4100 TO REPLACE THE ENGINE.

NHTSA complaint #10184928 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

MY VAN SHOWED NO SIGN OF HAVING ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT. THEN ON THE WAY HOME FROM WORK IT DIED AT A LIGHT. IT MADE AWFUL NOISES AND WOULD NOT START. I TOWED IT FIRST TO ONE REPAIR SHOP AND IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH NEEDING THE ENGINE REPLACED. THEN I TOWED IT TO THE DEALER FOR A SECOND OPINION AND WAS TOLD THE SAME THING. I WAS TOLD AT THE REPAIR SHOP THAT AN ENGINE WITH ONLY 79,000 MILES SHOULD NOT GO OUT LIKE THIS AND IT WAS DUE TO THE FAILURE OF GM PARTS. IT STILL HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED A YEAR LATER.

NHTSA complaint #10163858 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

COOLANT LEAK AND GASKET FAILURE ON A 1999 PONTIAC MONTANA 3.4 L ENGINE. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE WATER INTAKE GASKETS TWICE ON THIS M.V. THEY FAIL APPROX. EVERY 80,000 MILES.

NHTSA complaint #10158154 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED ANTIFREEZE WAS OBSERVED ON THE GROUND BELOW THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP REPLACED THE INTAKE GASKET AND HEAD GASKET ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE PROBLEM RETURNED FOLLOWING BOTH REPAIRS. UPDATED 06/07/2006. *AK

NHTSA complaint #10157018 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED ANTIFREEZE WAS OBSERVED ON THE GROUND BELOW THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP REPLACED THE INTAKE GASKET AND HEAD GASKET ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE PROBLEM RETURNED FOLLOWING BOTH REPAIRS. UPDATED 06/07/2006. *AK

NHTSA complaint #10157018 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

FAILURE OF ENGINE IN 1999 PONTIAC MONTANA AT 101,000 MILES DUE TO LEAKY HEAD GASKET CAUSING ENGINE TO OVERHEAT. THIS WAS AFTER REPAIRS FOR GASOLINE LEAK IN ENGINE DUE TO FAILURE OF INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. ALL MAINTENANCE WAS DONE AS PER MANUFACTURER'S RECOMMENDATIONS AT DEALERSHIP OF PURCHASE.

NHTSA complaint #10156347 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

FIRST OF ALL THE DRIVERS DOOR PANEL INSIDE COMES OFF AND GETS STUCK MAKING IT VERY HARD TO OPEN THE DOOR. AUGUST 2005 I HAD TO REPLACE THE HEAD GASKETS DUE TO LEAKING ANTIFREEZE INTO THE ENGINE. MARCH 2006 I HAVE TO DO THE SAME THING AGAIN. THE TECHNICIAN SAID THESE VANS ARE KNOWN FOR THIS . I GUESS THAT'S WHAT I GET FOR BUYING AMERICA>>>??

NHTSA complaint #10155842 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WAS PERFORMING A ROUTINE OIL CHECK, IT WAS DETERMINED THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS BAD AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONTACT THIS WAS THE FOURTH VEHICLE WITHIN ONE WEEK WITH THE SAME ENGINE SIZE THAT HAD A BAD INTAKE MANIFOLD.

NHTSA complaint #10155505 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

MY 1999 PONTIAC MONTANA HAS HAD PERSISTENT PROBLEMS WITH A FAULTY INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET WHERE ANTIFREEZE IS REQUIRED TO BE ADDED EVERY FEW WEEKS. THE MANIFOLD GASKET WAS REPLACED BY A GM DEALERSHIP AT 65,000 MILES, BUT SHORTLY AFTER BEGAN TO LEAK AGAIN. THE VEHICLE HAS NOW AT 99,000 MILES HAS HAD A CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE, AND AN ESTIMATED $5,000 REPAIR. I BELIEVE THE ENGINE HAS CEASED AS A RESULT OF THE FAULTY INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET.

NHTSA complaint #10155444 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

DT*: THE CONSUMER STATED SHE APPLIED THE ACCELERATOR, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. THE MECHANIC CHECKED THE VEHICLE AND DETERMINED THE ENGINE HAD FAILED.

NHTSA complaint #10148242 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

DURING A REGULAR OIL CHANGE MY MECHANIC DISCOVERED OIL IN THE ANTI-FREEZE. HEAD GASKETS WENT OUT. MY MECHANIC STATES THEY HAVE SEEN IN ALMOST EVERY 3.4 PONTIAC MONTANA MINI VAN THAT AROUND 80,000 MILES THERE IS OIL IN THE ANTIFREEZE WHICH INDICATES A HEAD GASKET MALFUNCTION. TOOK MECHANIC 3 DAYS TO FIX MY VAN TO A COST OF $1212.83 PLUS I WAS WITHOUT A VEHICLE FOR 3 DAYS. AT ABOUT 79,000 MILES THE WHEEL BEARING WENT OUT. NOW THE SLIDER PASSENGER DOOR WON'T OPEN OR WON'T CLOSE AT TIMES.

NHTSA complaint #10131640 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

ON FEB. 3 OF 2004 WE PURCHASED A USED 1999 MONTANA. THE LOW COOLANT LIGHT WAS COMING ON SO WE TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER. THEY "COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG" BUT IT WAS LOW ON COOLANT. I CHECKED THIS WEB SITE AND FOUND MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT MANIFOLD GASKET FAILURE AROUND 60,000 MILES. OUR VAN HAD LESS THAN THIS SO WE KEPT OUR EYES OPEN TO WHY THIS LIGHT KEPT COMING ON AND EVEN ASKED THE DEALER TO MAKE SURE IT WASN'T LEAKING ANTIFREEZE INTO THE ENGINE. THEY SAID IT WAS LOW BUT THERE WAS NO LEAK. THEN IN FEB OF 05 WE HAD TO REPLACE THE WATER PUMP AND ONE WEEK LATER A NEW NOISE STARTED, SO WE TOOK IT BACK TO A MECHANIC WHO FOUND ANTIFREEZE LEAKING INTO THE ENGINE, $800 LATER IT SEEMS TO BE WORKING FINE. WHY CAN'T PONTIAC BE MADE TO FIX THIS OBVIOUS PROBLEM. WE NO LONGER HAVE DEX-COOL FOR ANTIFREEZE!! THE LOW COOLANT LIGHT HAD COME ON INTERMITTENTLY FOR THE WHOLE YEAR WE OWNED IT AND FINALLY WE FOUND A GOOD MECHANIC WHO KNEW EXACTLY WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS, THE DEALERSHIP--LITHIA FORD OF BOISE--HAD "NO IDEA". IT WOULD HAVE BEEN UNDER WARRANTY IF THEY HAD FIXED IT LAST YEAR. LEAKING INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET CAUSED ENGINE PROBLEMS.

NHTSA complaint #10112161 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

HEAD GASKET LEAKING ON 1999 PONTIAC MONTANA, 80,000 MILES, $700 TO REPAIR.

NHTSA complaint #10110691 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

THE INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED CAUSING THE ENGINE NOT TO FUNCTION.

NHTSA complaint #10111381 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL

WE HAVE 1999 MONTANA WITH APPOX. 57,000 MILES AND THE INTAKE GASKET HAS FAILED. I HAVE BEEN A DI-HARD PONTIAC/GMC BUYER ALL MY LIFE, BUT AFTER MY LAST TWO VANS WE DECIDED TO PURCHASE A FORD. I HAD NOTHING BUT TROUBLE WITH MY 1996 TRANSPORT AND TRADED IT FOR OUR 1999 MONTANA. I LOVE MY MONTANA, BUT THE CARBON KNOCKING IN EMBARRASSING AND NOW WE ARE BEING CHARGED OVER $600.00 FOR A PROBLEM THAT GM KNOWS EXISTS. I WAS ABOUT TO PURCHASE ANOTHER VEHICLE IN THE GM FAMILY UNTIL THIS WEEK. THEY ARE OFFERING $1500 IN "LOYALTY CASH" WE HAVE BEEN LOYAL! WHERE IS GM'S LOYALTY!!! MY NEXT CAR WILL MOST LIKE BE A NON-GM MODEL THANKS TO GM'S LOYALTY!!!!!

NHTSA complaint #10108385 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

WE HAVE ONLY HAD OUR VAN A YEAR. WE HAVE HAD PROBLEMS SINCE WE GOT IT. ONE THING AFTER ANOTHER. FIRST COOLANT LEAKING, ELECTRIAL PROBLEMS, INTAKE GASKET LEAKING. REPLACED 11/05. MOTOR FAILED 1/05. DOOR MAILFUNCTION.

NHTSA complaint #10108298 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

THE CONSUMER STATES THE INTAKE MANIFOLD HAS MALFUNCTIONED. AS A RESULT THE COOLANT LEAKS INTO THE OIL AND THE CONSUMER IS NOW CONCERNED THAT THE ENGINE COULD FAIL. THE CAUSE HAS YET TO BE DETERMINED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.

NHTSA complaint #10108612 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

WE HAVE A 1999 PONTIAC MONTANA THAT WE PURCHASED NEW FROM A LOCAL DEALER IN SOUTH BEND IN. I NOTICED OIL AND ANTIFREEZE GOING DOWN AND TOOK THE VAN TO A GARAGE. HE SAID THAT PONTIAC SHOULD MAKE THE REPAIRS BECAUSE THE LEAK WAS CAUSED BY A MANIFOLD GASKET PROBLEM I TOOK IT TO THE LOCAL DEALER AND TALK TO HIM ABOUT REPAIRS. AT FIRST HE SAID THE REPAIRS WOULD BE AROUND $1500.00. I TOLD HIM THAT IT WOULD BE CHEAPER TO BUY ANOTHER VEHICLE. HE SAID PROBABLY. A REAL SMART ALECK. I TOLD HIM THAT THERE WAS, AT THAT TIME, 30,0000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. HE TALKED TO THE MANAGER AND THEY CAME UP WITH A PRICE AROUND $600.00. I TOLD THEM TO DO IT. THE FINAL PRICE WAS JUST UNDER $400.00. NOW I FIND THAT IT IS LEAKING A LITTLE AGAIN AND THE WATER PUMP IS LEAKING, TOO. I HAD A PRIVATE GARAGE CHANGE THE WATER PUMP AND PROBABLY WON'T GET THE MANIFOLD GASKET REPLACED AT THIS TIME. I ALSO HAD THE BRAKES CHECKED AND FOUND THAT THE REAR WHEEL CYLINDERS WERE LEAKING. THAT IS ANOTHER COST ON THIS 1999 PONTIAC MONTANA VAN. THE DRIVERS DOOR NEEDS A REPAIR TO SOME OF THE MECHANISM IN THE WINDOW AND IT WILL COST AROUND $500. I HAVE HEARD THAT THIS WINDOW PROBLEM IS COMMON WITH THESE VEHICLES. I HAVE REACHED THE POINT OF GETTING RID OF THE VAN AND GOING TO SOMETHING BESIDES A GM PRODUCT. THE VAN HAS 32,000 MILES ON IT NOW AND I SHOULDN'T BE SEEING ALL OF THIS HIGH DOLLAR REPAIRS ON IT.

NHTSA complaint #10098870 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

MY 1999 MONTANA STARTED LEAKING ANTIFREEZE RAPIDLY. TWO DIFFERENT SERVICE CENTERS STATED IT WAS A WORN GASKET IN THE LOWER INTAKE. REPAIRS CAME TO $604. KNOW THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM FOR MANY VEHICLES WITH THE 3.4 ENGINE. I NOTICED THE LEAK AT 72,000 MILES BUT HAVE HAD TO ADD COOLANT MANY TIMES OVER THE LAST 2.5 YEARS.

NHTSA complaint #10093151 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

VEHICLE OVERHEATED ON HIGHWAY- WITH KIDS IN CAR EN ROUTE TO FAMILY OUTING.

NHTSA complaint #10088707 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE

LOW COOLANT ICON LIT UP ON DASH AT 15000 MILES.DEALER SAID INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET FAILED AND IT WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. AT 51500 MILES LOW COOLANT ICON LIT UP ON DASH. DEALER SAID INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET FAILED AND IT WAS REPLACED AT A COST OF 503.00 DOLLARS TO MYSELF.

NHTSA complaint #10082291 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.