Pontiac Montana equipment problems

EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY

I HAVE ONLY 2005 PONTIAC MONTANA ENTERVAN FROM BRAUN, AND IT IS ABOUT TO GET ITS FIFTH FUEL TANK. TWO OTHER TANKS WERE DELIVERED BUT NOT INSTALLED BECAUSE THEY WERE DEFECTIVE. I ONCE MET A GUY WITH A VEHICLE LIKE MINE AND HE ALSO HAD A FUEL TANK LEAK. I BELIEVE THAT THIS SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED. WHILE THE POPULATION OF VEHICLES IS SMALL, THE HANDICAPPED PEOPLE IN THEM ARE MOST VULNERABLE. THIS IS ESPECIALLY TRUE IF THE WHEELCHAIR RAMP WILL NOT GO DOWN OR THERE'S A FIRE IN THE AREA OF THE RAMP. THE CONTACT WANTED TO FILE THE COMPLAINT THAT HE SENT VIA EMAIL. THE CURRENT MILES WERE 65,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. BL

NHTSA complaint #10369323 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EQUIPMENT

I HAVE A PROBLEM DAILY WITH THE PASSENGER SIDE POWER SLIDING DOOR, WHEN I CLOSE THE DOOR IT COMES BACK OPEN. I HAVE TO OPEN AND CLOSE THE DOOR SEVERAL TIMES FOR THE ALARM CHIME TO STOP AND THE DOOR COMPLETELY CLOSE. I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO DEALER WHO CLAIMS TO HAVE FIXED THE PROBLEM WHEN THE VAN WAS UNDER WARRANTY, BUT THAT'S NOT TRUE BECAUSE THE PROBLEM STILL CONTINUES! THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE ESPECIALLY SINCE I HAVE SMALL CHILDREN. I HAVE TAKEN MY VEHICLE TO 4 DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS WHO HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM. I BELIEVE IT SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THE POWER SLIDING DOOR FOR THE 2005 PONTIAC MONTANA.

NHTSA complaint #10254427 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 PONTIAC MONTANA. WHENEVER THE CONTACT WOULD ACTIVATE THE AIR CONDITIONER, EITHER WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS OR AT A STOP, ONLY HOT AIR WOULD COME OUT OF THE VENTS. THE CONTACT DID NOT NOTICE ANY DIFFERENCES IN THE VEHICLE PRIOR TO THE AIR CONDITIONER FAILURE. ALSO, ON BOTH OF THE SLIDING DOORS, THE RUBBER BUMPER FALLS OFF WHENEVER THE DOORS ARE OPENED OR CLOSED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 119,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

NHTSA complaint #10236383 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

THE AIR CONDITIONING IN THE VAN DOESN'T WORK. STOPPED OVER A YEAR AGO. TOOK IT IN FOR SERVICE AND AFTER 360.00 AIR STILL DOESN'T WORK. TOOK IT TO ANOTHER SHOP THIS YEAR AND THEY TOLD US THE CONDENSER NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AND THERE IS A LEAK IN THE LINE. WERE TOLD THE ESTIMATE TO REPAIR WOULD BE APPROXIMATELY $1100.00. WHEN THE SHOP CALLED FOR THE PARTS, THEY WERE TOLD THEY WERE THE 14TH PERSON ORDERING A CONDENSER THAT DAY. WHY ISN'T THIS A RECALL ISSUE? IN THE HEAT OF THE SUMMER DRIVING WITH WINDOWS OPEN CAUSES DRAG ON THE VEHICLE AND DIMINISHES THE FUEL CONSUMPTION, NEVER MIND THE DISCOMFORT OF SMALL CHILDREN IN THE BACK WHO CAN OPEN WINDOWS FOR RELIEF. ALMOST 1500.00 SPENT ON A 6 YEAR OLD CAR FOR AIR CONDITIONING IS OBSCENE!

NHTSA complaint #10199829 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EQUIPMENT

THE COMPRESSOR FOR MY 2001 MONTANA, HAVING ONLY 68K MILES WAS DIAGNOSED AS DEFECTIVE BY JONES PONTIAC SERVICE IN LANCASTER. THERE WAS A CRACK IN THE COMPRESSOR, WHICH WASN'T CAUSED BY WEAR & TEAR. THE MANUFACTURER, PONTIAC REFUSED TO REPLACE THIS AT A DISCOUNTED COST. THE REPLACEMENT COST WAS $1,200. THE COMPRESSOR DOESN'T WORK, AND WOULD LEAK FREON INTO THE ATMOSPHERE IF USED. I HAVEN'T HAD THIS FIXED OR PERMITTED FREON TO BE FILLED INTO THE COMPRESSOR, SO I HAVEN'T USED THE COMPRESSOR. THE COMPRESSOR IS NEEDED TO DEFROST THE WINDOWS IN THE WINTER, WHICH COULD CAUSE A HAZARDOUS SITUATION. I BELIEVE PONTIAC SHOULD HOLD THE MANUFACTURER ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS ABNORMAL DEFECT, AND OFFER A 75% DISCOUNT ON THE PART.

NHTSA complaint #10198361 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

AIR CONDITIONING DOESN'T WORK, 2) CONDENSER/COMPRESSOR FAILED. VERY COSTLY REPAIR, UNAE TO FIX IT AT THIS TIME DUE TO COST.

NHTSA complaint #10193098 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EQUIPMENT

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 PONTIAC MONTANA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEAD GASKET AND THE INTAKE GASKET HAD CORRODED FROM A COOLING LEAK. SHE ALSO EXPERIENCED OVERHEATING AND THE ONLY COOLANT THAT THE DEALER IS TELLING HER TO USE IS DEX COOL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THIS TYPE OF COOLANT HAS BEEN KNOWN TO CAUSE FAILURES AND THAT THERE SHOULD BE SOME OTHER TYPE OF COOLANT TO USE. SHE STATED THAT THE POWER DOOR ON THE PASSENGER SIDE HAS SIGNS OF CORROSION, THE FUEL GAUGE IS ERRATIC AND PREVENTS HER FROM KNOWING THE AMOUNT OF FUEL IN THE VEHICLE, THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT TIRE HUB IS LOOSE, THE OVERHEAD CONSOLE FOR THE TEMPERATURE AND COMPASS HAS FAILED, AND THE AIR CONDITIONING HAS A HOLE IN THE HOSE. ACCORDING TO THE MANUFACTURER, SINCE THE CONTACT CHANGED HER OWN OIL, THAT IS THE REASON SHE IS EXPERIENCING SO MANY FAILURES. THEREFORE, THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY ARE NOT LIABLE. THE VIN IS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 70,000.

NHTSA complaint #10192771 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL:ACCESSORY SCISSOR/SCREW/BOTTLE JACK/LIFT

I WAS JACKING UP MY 1999 PONTIAC MONTANA USING THE CAR JACK, AND THE SCREW ON THE JACK STRIPPED OUT, DROPPING THE VAN. THERE WAS NO DAMAGE AS I WAS STILL LIFTING THE VEHICLE, BUT UNDER THE CORRECT CIRCUSTANCES IT COULD BE A SEVER ACCIDENT.

NHTSA complaint #10186097 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON ENTERING THE VEHICLE, THERE WERE NOTICEABLE WATER PUDDLES ON THE FLOOR OF BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDES. THERE WAS ALSO A NOTICEABLY FOUL SMELL COMING FROM THE INTERIOR CARPETS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, WHO REFERRED THE CONTACT TO A SERVICE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE AIR CONDITIONER DRAIN ELBOW WAS MISSING. THERE WERE NO REPAIRS MADE. UPDATED 10/25/06.

NHTSA complaint #10167148 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

THE A/C ON MY 2002 MONTANA VAN WAS BLOWING WARM IN APRIL 2006. AT THAT TIME MY VAN HAD 54K MILES ON IT. SINCE SUMMER WAS RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER, I BROUGHT THE VAN TO MY MECHANIC AND AN A/C LEAK TEST WAS PERFORMED. $961.91 LATER, THE A/C CONDENSER WAS REPLACED ALONG WITH THE NECESSARY PARTS FOR IT. (OFFICIAL DIAGNOSIS = REPLACE LEAKING A/C CONDENSER. EVACUATE AND RECHARGE SYSTEM TO SPECS) AUGUST CAME AND ONCE AGAIN THE A/C WAS ACTING UP. THE AIR WAS NOT VERY COLD AND THERE WAS A HISSING / FLUTTERING NOISE COMING FROM THE VENTS. I BROUGHT THE VAN BACK TO MY MECHANIC. AT THIS TIME THE MILEAGE WAS 58K. THIS TIME IT WAS THE REAR A/C LINE/HOSE THAT WAS THE PROBLEM. MY MECHANIC STATED THAT HE TYPICALLY SEES THE REAR A/C OF MONTANA VANS HAVING ISSUES FIRST, NOT THE CONDENSER. AND HE HAD CHECKED THE REAR FIRST BACK IN APRIL AND IT WAS FINE. SO, $482.64 LATER THE FOLLOWING HAD BEEN FIXED: "REMOVE & REPLACE LEAKING REAR EVAPORATOR FEED A/C TUBE. EVACUATE AND CHARGE SYSTEM TO SPECS." AFTER READING THE OTHER COMPLAINTS, I FEEL THAT THERE MAY BE A PATTERN HERE OR AT LEAST GM DID NOT USE EFFICIENT PARTS WHEN THEY PUT THE A/C UNITS IN THESE VEHICLES.

NHTSA complaint #10166412 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

ONE DAY MY AIR CONDITION WAS WORKING AND THE NEXT DAY IT NO LONGER WORK HAVE TAKEN TO REPAIR SHOP AND WAS TOLD I NEEDED TO GET A NEW AIR CONDITIONER WAS WONDERING IF THIS IS COMMON IN 2001 MONTANA WHY HAVEN'T THEY DID A RECALL ON THIS VAN.

NHTSA complaint #10160148 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EQUIPMENT

AFTER SHUTTING OFF VAN, TRIED TO OPEN SLIDING PASSENGER DOOR WITH KEY FOB, NOTHING HAPPENED, TRIED YANKING ON DOOR, AGAIN NOTHING, TRIED OPENING DOOR WITH SWITCH IN UPPER CONSOLE, NOTHING. DOOR WAS UNLOCKED, BUT WOULD NOT OPEN UNDER POWER. SON WAS LOCKED INSIDE THE VAN. MY HUSBAND WAS FINALLY ABLE TO MANUALLY OPEN DOOR WITH GREAT FORCE. HAD TO MANUALLY FORCE DOOR TO CLOSE. WHEN I TOOK THE VAN TO DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THE MANIFOLD GASKET REPLACED HAD THE SERVICE TECH LOOK AT THE DOOR AND WAS TOLD THEY COULDN'T RECREATE PROBLEM, THERE WAS NOTHING TO BE DONE. WAS TOLD TO BRING BACK VAN IF IT HAPPENED AGAIN. WAS TOLD TO TIE DOOR CLOSED AS THE LOCK MIGHT FAIL, BUT THERE WAS NOTHING THAT COULD BE DONE. ANY WONDER WHY WE ARE NOT BUYING OUT THE LEASE OR PURCHASING ANOTHER MONTANA.

NHTSA complaint #10160166 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

(1) BOUGHT VEHICLE AS A CERTIFIED USED VEHICLE WITH 20,000 MILES ON IT. JUST BEFORE 32,000 MILES, THE A/C STARTED BLOWING WARM AIR. THE CONDENSER WAS REPLACED DUE TO A CRACK IN IT. (2) VEHICLE NOW HAS ONLY ABOUT 75,000 MILES ON IT. ONCE AGAIN, A/C STARTED BLOWING WARM AIR. DEALER IS TELLING US THAT CONDENSER HAS A LEAK AGAIN. AS AN ASIDE, THE DEALER SAYS IF WE PAY FOR REPLACEMENT IT HAS A LIFETIME WARRANTY, BUT PREVIOUS SERVICE UNDER VEHICLE-WARRANTY DOES NOT HAVE A LIFETIME WARRANTY... INCONSISTENT!

NHTSA complaint #10157666 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

MY VAN ONLY HAD 70,000 MILES ON IT WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONER WENT OUT ON IT, I HAVE ONLY PURCHASED GM VEHICLES AND HAVE NEVER SEEN THIS SO EARLY IN THE MILEAGE. MY REPAIR MAN IS TELLING ME HE IS SEEING THIS MORE AND MORE IN 02 MONTANA'S AND IT WILL COST OVER $900.00 TO REPAIR. WILL THERE BE A RECALL ON THIS?

NHTSA complaint #10152370 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

IN JUNE OF 2004, THE AIR CONDITIONING FAILED IN MY 2001 MONTANA MINI-VAN. ONE DAY IT WORKED, THE NEXT IT DIDN'T. TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC AND WAS TOLD THE A/C CONDENSER HAD TO BE REPLACED. ALSO WAS TOLD THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE MONTANAS. WE WERE 10,000 MILES PAST THE WARRANTY AND HAD TO PAY $800 FOR THIS FIX. IF THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM, WHY HASN'T IT BEEN RECALLED?

NHTSA complaint #10136357 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EQUIPMENT

MY ORIGINAL SET OF INNER BRAKE PADS WERE 75% WORN PER DEALER REPAIR SHOP AT 29,672 MILES. THE OUTER PADS WERE FINE. THE ROTORS WERE APPROACHING END OF LIFE. I HAD THEM REPLACE THE PADS AT THIS TIME. THE DEALER DID NOT OFFER TO COVER THEM UNDER WARRANTY. AT 30,945, 1273 MILES LATER, I TOOK THE CAR BACK FOR ANOTHER BRAKE INSPECTION. AT THIS TIME THEY FOUND THAT THE ROTORS WERE RUSTED AND PITTED, NOT NORMAL WEAR. THEY REPLACED THE PADS AND THE ROTORS UNDER WARRANTY (SEEMS STRANGE IT WASN'T WARRANTY BEFORE?!?!?). NOW AT 65K MILES I TOOK THE CAR IN FOR A BRAKE INSPECTION AT A REPAIR SHOP. THEY SAID THE FRONT PADS AND ROTORS WERE SHOT AND THEY HAD ABOUT TWO WEEKS LEFT OF CITY DRIVING LEFT. MY HUSBAND REPLACED BOTH THE PADS AND THE ROTORS THIS WEEKEND. THE INNER PADS WERE WORN DOWN TO THE RIVETS THAT HOLD THE PAD TO THE MOUNTING SURFACE. THE OUTER PADS WERE HARDLY THINNER THAN THE BRAND NEW PADS OUT OF THE BOX. SO THIS LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THAT GM HAS AN ISSUE WITH THE BRAKE CALIPERS NOT APPLYING PRESSURE EVENLY. I HAVE SEEN COMPLAINTS LIKE THIS ON THIS WEBSITE REFERRING TO THE SAME PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #10130739 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EQUIPMENT

DURING THE SECOND HALF OF 2004 I CALLED CUSTOMER SERVICE ABOUT A MONTANA 2000 MINI VAN FUEL SYSTEM PROBLEM. MY VAN HAD BEEN IN THE REPAIR SHOP MANY TIMES DURING THE WARRANTY PERIOD WITH PROBLEMS RELATED TO THE FUEL SYSTEM WIRING. *AK HARNESS TO THE FUEL PUMP TWICE. THEN HAD TO HAVE THE FUEL PUMP REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. ALL OF THE PROBLEM STARTED THE SAME WAY -STALL WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND WOULD NOT RESTART. (NOTE: A STALL ON THE ROAD IS VERY DANGEROUS DUE TO THE POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES). AFTER THE WARRANTY RAN OUT, YET ANOTHER FUEL PUMP WENT OUT IN THE SAME MANNER, EXCEPT THIS TIME, I WAS CHARGED OVER 800 DOLLARS PLUS A TOWING BILL. WHEN I COMPLAINED THAT THIS WAS AN ON-GOING PROBLEM THAT HAD OCCURRED UNDER WARRANTY AND MANY CALLS TO YOUR CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTER, I WAS TOLD THAT GM WOULD NOT REIMBURSE THE FULL AMOUNT AND TOWING WOULD NOT BE REIMBURSED. I TOLD THE REP AT THAT TIME THAT WAS NOT GOOD ENOUGH BUT DID NOT WIN THE BATTLE. TODAY I READ THAT GM WAS RECALLING 330,000 2000-2001 SUBURBAN AND YUKONS FOR STALLING AND NOT STARTING, AND IS RECALLING THEM TO REPLACE THE FUEL PUMP WIRES. I CHECKED THE FUEL SYSTEM UP ON THE 2000 MONTANA AND THE 2000 CHEVEROLET SUBURBAN, AND THEY HAVE THE SAME FUEL PUMP SYSTEM. SO TODAY, I CALLED CUSTOMER SERVICE AND ASKED FOR THE REST OF THE REPAIR AMOUNT AND TOWING EXPENSES,AND WAS TOLD THAT MY VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER THE RECALL.*AK NOW, IF THE SUBURBAN WITH THE SAME PUMP AND FUEL SYSTEM IS RECALLED WHY NOT THE MONTANA? HOW LONG IS GM GOING TO CONTINUE TO LOOK THE OTHER WAY ON THIS FUEL PUMP FUEL SYSTEM PROBLEM? GM SHOULD HAVE PAID THIS BILL IN FULL TO START WITH, MY FAMILY COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED WHEN THE VAN STALLED AS IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL IN THIS SITUATION. IS THERE ANY HELP THAT THE NHTSA COULD PROVIDE?

NHTSA complaint #10118537 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EQUIPMENT

WIPERS HAVE FAILED 4 TIMES THE FIRST TIME I NEVER EVEN LEFT THE DEALERSHIP THE DAY I BOUGHT IT AND THEY WERE BROKE. TOOK VAN TO DEALER AND WAS TOLD THIS ISN'T A RECALL PROBLEM BUT IT SHOULD BE THEY STICK IN THE UP POSITION WHEN OFF AND WORK ERRATICALLY. CALLED GM CUSTOMER SERVICE AND WAS TOLD SINCE VAN IS A 2001 IT IS OUT OF COVERAGE. $474 TO REPAIR. THIS IS RIDICULOUS.

NHTSA complaint #10107709 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.