13 of the
161 complaints about the 2002 Pontiac Montana are about the
lighting — 8% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
56,000 miles.
THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE BRAKE LIGHTS CONSTANTLY GO OUT. I HAVE SPOKEN TO A MECHANIC AND HE TOLD ME THAT IT IS VERY COMMON FOR GM VEHICLES IN THIS MODEL YEAR RANGE TO HAVE TO REPLACE THE LIGHTING BANK IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLES ON BOTH SIDES. THE BANK WHICH CONTAINS THE BRAKE LIGHTS, THE BACK-UP LIGHTS, AND THE RUNNING LIGHTS FAILS AND THE BRAKE LIGHTS SEEM TO BE MOST AFFECTED. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE MY BRAKE LIGHTS APPROXIMATELY ONCE A MONTH FOR MULTIPLE YEARS. THERE HAVE BEEN MANY NEAR-COLLISIONS DUE TO BRAKE LIGHTS NOT OPERATING. THE THIRD BRAKE LIGHT AT THE TOP OF THE VEHICLE APPEARS TO NOT BE AFFECTED BY THIS.
NHTSA complaint #10498563 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 96,000 milesGlen Burnie, MD
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS
THE BRAKE LIGHT ON MY VEHICLE DOES NOT WORK ALL THE TIME. I HAVE HAD PEOPLE ALMOST HIT ME BECAUSE OF THIS.
NHTSA complaint #10264392 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 60,000 milesOcala, FL
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
I BOUGHT 2002 PONTIAC MONTANA USED IN DEC. 2008. FIRST THE RADIO DISPLAY WENT COMPLETELY OUT. THEN AS I WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING LOT THE CAR SHUT OFF BY ITSELF... IT STARTED BACK UP AGAIN BUT I WAS IN TRAFFIC AND ALMOST CAUSED THREE CARS TO CRASH. THEN I NOTICED THAT MY DRIVER'S SIDE BRAKE LIGHT WENT OUT, AND A WEEK LATER THE PASSENGER SIDE BRAKE LIGHT WENT OUT. I HAVE BOUGHT REPLACEMENT BULBS AND IT STILL DOES NOT WORK (THE BAR ON TOP IS WORKING). THE RADIO/ CLOCK DISPLAY IS JUST AN INCONVENIENCE BUT BRAKE LIGHTS... THEY ARE IMPORTANT! I AM BRINGING TO THE DEALER TODAY TO INSPECT. I SEE THERE ARE MANY MANY COMPLAINTS FOR THIS AND SHOULD NOT BE OVERLOOKED!!! I HAVE MY FAMILY TO PROTECT!
NHTSA complaint #10260549 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Lupton, MI
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS
BRAKE LIGHT STOPS WORKING ON REAR DRIVER'S SIDE, THIS HAS HAPPENED THREE TIMES IN LESS THAN A YEAR SO FAR. THE BULB ITSELF DOES NOT BURN OUT BUT THE PLASTIC ON THE BULB MELTS ON THE ONE SIDE COVERING THE WIRES. WE STILL HAVE ALL THE BULBS THAT WE REPLACED IF NEEDED FOR VIEWING.
NHTSA complaint #10176532 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 83,124 milesAvon, IN
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE REAR BRAKE LIGHTS BURNED OUT CONTINUOUSLY, AND WERE REPLACED 20 TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED BY A MECHANIC.
NHTSA complaint #10168394 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 36,000 milesClinton Twp., MI
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS
REAR BRAKE LIGHTS BEGAN WORKING INTERMITTENTLY, THEN FAILED ALTOGETHER.
NHTSA complaint #10160901 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 36,000 milesClinton Twp., MI
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS
REAR BRAKE LIGHTS BEGAN WORKING INTERMITTENTLY, THEN FAILED ALTOGETHER.
NHTSA complaint #10160901 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Saint Mary's, GA
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
REAR BRAKES, REVERSE AND TURNING LIGHT ASSEMBLY SHORTS OUT LEAVING THE VEHICLE WITH NON WORKING LIGHTS IN THE REAR. IT HAS TO BE A MANUFACTURING DEFECT SINCE I SEE MANY VEHICLES ON THE ROAD USING THE SAME LIGHT ASSEMBLY WITH THE SAME PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10154587 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 56,000 milesCoupeville, WA
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS
THERE ARE 2 MAIN SAFETY CONCERNS WITH MY 2002 PONTIAC MONTANA THUNDER MINIVAN. FIRST, THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE BRAKE LIGHT HAS GONE OUT. EVEN WITH REPLACEMENT OF BULB AND FUSE, THE BRAKE LIGHT WILL NOT WORK. FROM RESEARCHING ON THE INTERNET, THIS SEEMS TO BE A DESIGN DEFECT AND A COMMON PROBLEM. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE!!! SECOND, THE REAR WINDSHIELD WIPER DOES NOT WORK. AGAIN, THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON 2002 PONTIAC MONTANA PROBLEM, AND AGAIN, IS A SAFETY CONCERN.
NHTSA complaint #10153220 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 65,000 milesGrand Rapids, MI
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS
CORROSION INSIDE TAIL LAMP ASSEMBLY HAS CAUSED BOTH REAR BRAKE LIGHTS TO FAIL. ONLY CENTER BRAKE LIGHT BAR IS FUNCTIONAL.
NHTSA complaint #10152433 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 51,000 milesElizabethtown, KY
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS
BACK TAIL/BRAKE LIGHTS ALLOW WATER TO RUN INTO THEM CAUSING LOSS OF BRAKE LIGHTS IN RAIN.
NHTSA complaint #10129496 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 55,000 milesBrentwood, TN
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS
STOP LAMP BULBS ARE SHORTING OUT AT CONNECTOR TO SOCKETS. THIS HAS HAPPENED THREE TIMES SO FAR. TWICE ON THE LEFT SIDE AND ONCE ON THE RIGHT SIDE. THE RESULT IS A MELTED BASE ON OEM BULBS WITH PLASTIC BASES AND AN INOERABLE BRAKE LIGHT. FREQUENT FAILURES OF STOP LAMPS CREATES A SAFETY HAZARD. SO FAR I HAVE REPLACED THREE BULBS, CLEANED AND FILED THE CONTACTS, APPLIED DIELECTRIC GREASE, AND USED BULBS WITH GLASS BASES. ONE OF THE PLASTIC BASE BULBS IS AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION. THERE WAS NO INDICATION OF CONTAMINATION FROM MOISTURE OR OTHER SOURCES. VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DRIVEN IN COLD CLIMATE OR HIGH HUMIDITY CONDITIONS.
NHTSA complaint #10124158 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 56,000 milesCanadian, TX
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
WE OUGHT THE VAN AS A PROGRAM WITH 20,000 MILES ON IT,WITHIN THE FIRST MONTH THE POWER WINDOWS WOULD NOT WORK ALL THE TIME MEANING SOMETIMES THEY WORK AND SOMETIMES THEY DONT. SAME THING FOR THE INTERIOR LIGHTS. IN THE SUMMER OF 2003 THE AIR CONDITION DEVELOPED A SLOE LEAK THAT PROGRESSED WITHIN WEEKS,WE NOW HAVE NO AIR AT ALL AND THE PART ALOE IS GOING TO COST $400.00. IN OCTOBER OF 2003 ON OUR WAY TO A HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL GAME THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT. THERE WAS NO WARNING AT ALL,IT HAD NOT BEEN LEAKING OR ACTING UP IN ANY WAY IT MADE A THUD SOUND GOING DOWN THE HIWAY AND THAT WAS IT..NO MORE TRANSMISSION $4,000.00 TO REPAIR.
NHTSA complaint #10071146 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.