77 of the
1,451 complaints filed about the Pontiac Montana
are about the doors, latches and locks —
5% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2005.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 PONTIAC MONTANA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER SLIDING DOOR WOULD NOT LATCH WHEN CLOSING, CAUSING THE DOOR TO OPEN WHEN DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE LATCH FAILED. AFTER CONTACTING THE DEALER, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 01V067000 (LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH). THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.
NHTSA complaint #10734029 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 PONTIAC MONTANA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE DRIVER'S SIDE ELECTRONIC SLIDING DOOR ERRONEOUSLY BECOME UNLOCKED AND SLID OPEN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. NO REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. THE CONTACT ALSO INDICATED THAT THE TELEVISION MONITOR INSIDE THE VEHICLE WOULD BECOME VERY HOT TO THE TOUCH AND A BURNING ODOR WAS PRESENT FROM THE MONITOR. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF THE DEFECT. THE FUSE FOR THE MONITOR WAS REMOVED BY THE DEALER, MAKING THE MONITOR INOPERABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND NO SOLUTION WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 38,000. UPDATED 05/28/14*LJ UPDATED 05/30/2014
NHTSA complaint #10574960 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 PONTIAC MONTANA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE SLIDING DOOR WOULD INDEPENDENTLY WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER AND THEY ADVISED HIM THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY DUST ENTERING THE RAILS AND SWITCHES. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 40,000. UPDATED 1/20/12
NHTSA complaint #10439372 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
2000 PONTIAC MONTANA, DRIVING WESTBOUND IN THE RIGHT LANE WHEN THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE CAME UP AND STRUCK THE WINDSHIELD OF THE CAR. UNIT 1 CAME TO FINAL REST ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROAD. *BF (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT # 10-0831-90) *JB UPDATED 01/14/11
NHTSA complaint #10375739 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE DRIVER SIDE SLIDING DOOR CONTINUES TO OPEN AND WHEN YOU LOCK IT MANUALLY IT CHIMES WHILE YOU ARE DRIVING. THE SENSORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED AND THE LOCK BUT NOTHING IS WORKING RIGHT.
NHTSA complaint #10361882 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 PONTIAC MONTANA. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT WHEN THE AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCK WAS DEPRESSED TO OPEN THE DOORS, THEY WOULD NOT OPEN. THE CONTACT HAD TO MANUALLY PUSH THE LOCK DOWN SO THAT IT WOULD FUNCTION PROPERLY. HE CONTINUED TO NOTICE THE FAILURE INTERMITTENTLY. IN NOVEMBER 2009, THE DOORS STOPPED LOCKING ALTOGETHER WHICH PROGRESSIVELY BECAME WORSE UNTIL THE DOORS WOULD NOT CLOSE. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO TOLD HIM THAT THERE WAS A RELATED RECALL FOR THE FAILURE BUT THE REPAIR HAD BEEN PERFORMED PREVIOUSLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE; THE DEALER INFORMED HIM THAT HE WOULD HAVE TO PAY A DIAGNOSTIC FEE TO HAVE THE VEHICLE INSPECTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 55,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 133,000.
NHTSA complaint #10323952 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE DRIVER SIDE BACK DOOR WILL NOT CLOSE AND STAY CLOSED. IF I PUSH THE BUTTON TO CLOSE IT AUTOMATICALLY, IT COMES RIGHT BACK OPEN. IF I USE THE OVERRIDE AND CLOSE IT MANUALLY, THEN THE DOOR CHIMES AS I AM DRIVING TELLING ME THAT THE DOOR IS AJAR. I ALSO HAVE ISSUES WITH THE PASSENGER SIDE BACK DOOR. IF I GO OVER A BUMP OR POT HOLE, THEN THE CHIME STARTS AND THE ONLY WAY TO STOP IT IS TO OPEN THE DOOR AND RE-CLOSE IT.
NHTSA complaint #10284209 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 PONTIAC MONTANA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER SLIDING DOOR DOES NOT LOCK. THE DEALER STATED THAT NO RECALLS WERE AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE HAS BEEN ONGOING FOR FIVE DAYS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A BODY SHOP, BUT THE MECHANIC COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MECHANIC REMOVED THE DOOR FROM THE VEHICLE. WHEN IT WAS PLACED BACK ON, THE FAILURE STOPPED FOR ONLY A FEW DAYS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 113,546 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 113,600. UPDATED 09/01/09. *LJ THE POWER DOORS WOULD NOT LOCK. UPDATED 09/04/09.
NHTSA complaint #10280258 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE POWER SLIDING DOORS DO NOT WORK PROPERLY. THEY CAN OPEN WHILE DRIVING. OPEN AFTER CAR IS SHUT OFF. THEY ALSO DO NOT OPEN WHEN THEY FEEL LIKE IT. CAR DOOR DRIVER SIDE OPENED ON I95 AT 65 MPH. MY DAUGHTER WATCHED AS HER STUFF AND HER HAMSTER FLEW OUT THE VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #10270267 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 PONTIAC MONTANA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE REGARDING THE DOOR HANDLES ON HER VEHICLE. SHE WAS EXPERIENCING ISSUES WITH THE LOCKS ON THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE DOORS BECAUSE THEY COULD NOT BE OPENED FROM INSIDE THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V597000 (LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS) WAS SIMILAR TO THE FAILURES THE CONTACT WAS EXPERIENCING; HOWEVER, THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WOULD NOT REPAIR THE DEFECT UNDER THIS RECALL BECAUSE THE FAILURE WAS NOT INVOLVED WITH THE PREVIOUS RECALL THAT WAS ISSUED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 116000. UPDATED 02-18-09 THE SLIDING DOOR DIDNOT OPEN FROM THE INSIDE. UPDATED 02/18/09.
NHTSA complaint #10250754 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
BOUGHT CAR USED. IT DINGED AND SALESMAN SAID DOOR JUST NOT CLOSED PROPERLY. WE BROUGHT IT IN 2 WEEKS LATER AS DOOR DECIDES WHEN IT WANTS TO CLOSE. DRIVER'S SIDE REAR DOOR TO 2005 PONTIAC MONTANA MINIVAN. DEALER ALIGNED DOOR. STILL WON'T CLOSE.
NHTSA complaint #10245070 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
2005 PONTIAC MONTANA SV6 AUTOMATIC SLIDING DOOR OPENS WHILE DRIVING, BAD SENSOR AND BROKE CABLE WAS REPLACED. *CW THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE ENGINE FAILED, WHICH ULTIMATELY LED TO AN ENGINE REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE BEGAN SHAKING AND MISFIRING. A BAD PLUG AND THE STABILIZING BAR LINKS WERE REPLACED. THE UNDERCARRIAGE WAS CRACKED WHICH WAS CAUSING A LOUD KNOCKING AND THUMPING SOUND UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER ALSO HAD THE SEATS REPLACED WITH AN AFTER MARKET LEATHER KIT BECAUSE STAINS HAD FORMED ON THE SEATS DUE TO MOISTURE. THE CONSUMER LATER DISCOVERED A RECALL HAD BEEN ISSUED BECAUSE THE AFTER MARKET KIT COULD CAUSE THE PASSENGER SENSING SYSTEM TO MALFUNCTION IF THE PASSENGER SENSING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONS, THE FRONT AIR BAG ON THE PASSENGER SIDE MAY BE DISABLED WHEN IT SHOULD BE ENABLED, OR ENABLED WHEN IT SHOULD BE DISABLED. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED HIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL
NHTSA complaint #10226153 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER SLIDING DOOR WILL NOT LATCH - OPENS WHILE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. STARTED OFF ABOUT A YEAR AGO TO BE OCCASIONAL IN HOT WEATHER - NOW CANNOT GET THE SLIDING DOOR TO LATCH AT ALL.
NHTSA complaint #10219197 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS TO FIX THE SAME AND CONTINUOUSLY DIFFERENT PROBLEMS WITH OUR 2005 MONTANA. FLICKERING INTERIOR LIGHTS, ABS SYSTEM FAILURE (4X), RETORQUE HARMONIC BALANCER, REPLACE RADIO THAT RANDOMLY CHANGED STATIONS, REPLACE MOLDING ON ALL DOORS FROM RUST (2X), RIGHT WHEEL BEARING AND HUB ASSEMBLY REPLACEMENT (2X), REPLACE TURN SIGNAL LAMPS (2X), REPLACE FUEL LEVEL SENSOR, REPLACE STRAP ON REAR DOOR THAT FELL OFF. WE HAVE HAD ISSUES WITH IT NOT TURNING OVER AS WELL, GOING ON FOR OVER A YEAR, AND EACH TIME IT IS TAKEN INTO THE SHOP THEY ARE 'UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM' AND SEND ME HOME WHERE OF COURSE IT FAILS TO TURN OVER BUT WON'T DO IT WHEN THEY HAVE IT IN THEIR POSSESSION. THE INCIDENT DATE BELOW IS THE DATE OF THE FIRST TIME IT WAS IN FOR SERVICE.
NHTSA complaint #10214471 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 PONTIAC MONTANA. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE SLIDING PASSENGER SIDE DOORS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE VEHICLE OCCASIONALLY OPEN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DOORS WERE NOT THE ELECTRIC DOORS THAT WERE RECALLED; HOWEVER, SHE IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT HAS NOT YET RESPONDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 125,000.
NHTSA complaint #10214208 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHILE I WAS ON A BUSINESS TRIP IN OCTOBER, 2007, MY WIFE CALLED ME AND ADVISED ME THAT SHE WAS UNABLE TO CLOSE THE MANUAL SLIDING DOOR ON THE DRIVER SIDE OF OUR PONTIAC MONTANA MINIVAN AFTER RETURNING HOME FROM RUNNING MY CHILDREN AROUND. SHE WAS FINALLY ABLE TO CLOSE IT AFTER SEVERAL FRUSTRATING ATTEMPTS. UPON RETURNING FROM MY TRIP THE FOLLOWING WEEK, I EXAMINED THE DOOR AND NOTICED THAT IT DID NOT CLOSE PROPERLY DUE TO THE MISALIGNMENT OF THE LATCH. IT SEEMS THAT THE DOOR MAY HAVE DRIFTED SLIGHTLY FROM ITS TRACK. I LOOKED CLOSELY AT THE LATCH MECHANISM AND NOTICED THAT THE BLACK PAINT HAD CAME OFF WHERE THE LATCH WAS SUPPOSED TO HAVE HOOKED ON. OBVIOUSLY, THE CONCERN THAT I HAVE IS THAT THE DOOR WILL UNLATCH WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION POTENTIALLY CAUSING HARM TO MY CHILDREN. THE MINIVAN IS ALMOST 7 YEARS OLD AND I CAN'T AFFORD TO INVEST A WHOLE LOT OF MONEY TO FIX WHAT SEEMS TO BE A MANUFACTURER DEFECT OR DESIGN FLAW.
NHTSA complaint #10210140 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I HAVE A 2004 PONTIAC MONTANA VAN WITH A PASSENGER SIDE POWER SLIDING DOOR. MY GRANDSON PUSHED THE POWER BUTTON WHILE I WAS IN THE DOORWAY AND THE DOOR SQUASHED ME PRETTY HARD, NO BRUISES OR INJURIES THOUGH. IT CONCERNED ME BECAUSE I HAVE YOUNG GRANDCHILDREN. I PLAYED WITH THE DOOR TO SEE HOW MUCH FORCE IT TAKES TO STOP IT WITH MY HAND. I HAD TO PUSH HARD AND IT PUSHED ME BACKWARDS A WAYS BEFORE I COULD STOP IT. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPROGRAMMED THE DOOR, WHICH DID NOTHING TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THE NEXT DAY AFTER READING THE MANUAL THAT SAID IT TAKES MORE FORCE TO STOP IT THE MORE CLOSED THE DOOR IS, I PLAYED WITH IT SOME MORE BUT THIS TIME I COULDN'T REVERSE THE DOOR AT ALL WITH MY HAND PUSHING AGAINST IT WITH ALL MY WEIGHT, STARTING WHEN THE DOOR WAS FULLY OPEN. I THEN STUCK A PENCIL IN THE OPENING, WHICH THE DAY BEFORE WAS ABLE TO REVERSE THE DOOR THOUGH IT DID PUT A GOOD DENT IN THE WOOD. THIS TIME IT SNAPPED THE PENCIL IN TWO AND HALF WAS COMPLETELY SHUT INTO THE DOOR. I SHUDDER TO THINK WHAT THIS WOULD DO TO MY LITTLE 18 MONTH OLD GRANDDAUGHTHER'S FINGERS. THE SERVICE CENTER WAS VERY NICE BUT THEIR HANDS ARE TIED BECAUSE SUPPOSEDLY, THIS IS HOW THIS DOOR WORKS. THE SERVICE CENTER TRIED OTHER DOORS OF THE SAME MODEL AS MINE AND THEY ALL WORKED LIKE MINE. I EXPERIMENTED WITH A FRIEND'S HONDA ODYSSEY POWER DOOR AND IT STOPPED MUCH EASIER. THIS IS NOT SAFE! I DISABLED THE DOOR WITH THE OVERHEAD BUTTON FOR THE SAKE OF MY GRANDCHILDREN SO BASICALLY I PAID FOR A FEATURE THAT I DON'T DARE USE.
NHTSA complaint #10190826 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 PONTIAC MONTANA. WHILE CLOSING THE SLIDING DOOR THE CONTACT'S SON REACHED INTO THE VEHICLE AND IT CLOSED ON HIS HANDS. SHE WAS UNABLE TO OPEN THE DOOR ONCE IT CLOSED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT HAD TO OPEN THE DOOR. THE FAILURE CAUSED BRUISING AND SWELLING ON BOTH OF HIS HANDS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WERENO SENSORS ON THE SLIDING DOOR TO DETECT MOTION. THE DEALER HAS NOT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 50,000.
NHTSA complaint #10188599 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.