30 of the
1,451 complaints filed about the Pontiac Montana
are about the other systems —
2% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2000.
WHEN HAVING MY OIL CHANGED AT A GARAGE WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS ON THE LIFT BOTH FRAME RAILS HAD SEVERE RUST DAMAGE. SINCE THIS IS WHAT GIVES THE UNIBODY FRAME IT'S STRENGTH, WHY DIDN'T GM ZINC COAT THEM OR APPLY RUST PROOFING? I LIVE IN SOUTHEAST MICHIGAN WHERE THEY USE SALT ON THE ROADS IN WINTER. SEEING GM IS ALSO IN MICHIGAN YOU WOULD THINK THEY WOULD BE AWARE OF THIS AND ACT ACCORDINGLY? THE ONLY REASON I CAN THINK OF IS TO SAVE MONEY, INCREASE PROFITS, AT THE EXPENSE OF THE VEHICLE BEING SAFE FOR THE CONSUMER. I DON'T SEE DESIGNING THE FRAME RAILS TO LAST FOR 20-25 YEARS FOR SAFETY REASONS AS BEING UNREASONABLE.
NHTSA complaint #11363656 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
[XXX] IS IN CUSTODY AN HIS CAR IS ABOUNDED ON THE 200 BLOCK OF HOBART AN VINE ST THE VAN DO NOT HAVE ANY WINDOWS NO TAGS ON IT AN ALL FOUR OF THE TIRES ARE FLAT I NEED DRIVE HERE DOT COM TO COME REPO THIS CAR BECAUSE ERIC IS IN JAIL AND CAN NOT MAKE ANYMORE PAYMENTS ON THE CAR ALSO ERIC TOOK THE TRACKING DEVICE OFF THE 'INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).'
NHTSA complaint #10820914 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WE HAVE OWNED THE CAR SINCE OCT 2005, PURCHASED USED FROM A SATURN DEALERSHIP. CAR WAS INVOLVED IN A GAS TANK RECALL, HOWEVER WE WERE NOTIFIED NEARLY TWO YEARS AFTER WE HAD A RUPTURE THAT DROPPED AN ENTIRE TANK OF FUEL ON THE DRIVEWAY AND WERE TOLD WE WERE LUCKY TO BE ALIVE HAVING DRIVEN UNKNOWINGLY WITH THIS LEAK. TANK WAS REPLACED UNDER EXTENDED AUTO WARRANTY. MULTIPLE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS: TAIL LIGHT GOES OUT AND IS REPLACED, THEN DRIVER HEADLIGHT GOES OUT. WATER LEAKS INSIDE DRIVERS SIDE HEADLIGHT WHEN IT RAINS. THE TAIL PLUG IN FOR TAIL LIGHT BULB HAD GOTTEN SO HOT IT HAD MELTED THE PLUG IN BOTH TAIL LIGHTS. RANDOM ELECTRICAL FAILURE WITH WINDOWS AND DOOR LOCKS OCCURRING. DASH PANEL BURNED OUT, RADIO DISPLAY BLED OUT AND RADIO THEN FAILED - WOULD NOT TURN OFF AFTER BUTTON WAS PUSHED AND HAD TO BE REMOVED FROM THE DASHBOARD IN ORDER TO AVOID DRAINING BATTERY COMPLETELY. TRACTION TIRE FAILURE WHEN ENGAGED OCCURRED IN COMBINATION WITH POWER STEERING FAILURE, CRUISE CONTROL FAILURE, AND ON ONE OCCASION COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE. NO WARNING, NO SQUEALING, NO GRINDING, NO PULLING TO THE SIDE: JUST COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE THAT RESULTED IN AN AUTO ACCIDENT THAT INJURED 3 PEOPLE. NON DEALERSHIP MECHANIC CHECKED THE BRAKES AND DETERMINED BRAKE FLUID LEAK/MASTER CYLINDER CAUSED THE FAILURE, STATED REGULATORY SYSTEM FOR BRAKE SYSTEM MOST LIKELY RESULTED IN LEAK. MECHANIC ALSO DISCOVERED DRIVERS SIDE FRONT BRAKE HAD SEIZED AND SCOURED THE ROUTER AND PAD ON THE INSIDE OF THE WHEEL. BRAKES HAD BEEN REPLACED TWO YEARS PRIOR AND CAR HAD NOT BEEN DRIVEN BUT FOR ONCE A MONTH SHORT TRIPS TO THE DOCTOR FOR ONE OF THOSE YEARS, THE SECOND YEAR IT WAS DRIVEN ONLY 3 OR 4 TIMES AND WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY. AUTO ACCIDENT IN MAY 2010 DUE TO BRAKE FAILURE DID NOT HAVE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT IN REAR END COLLISION. CAR WAS BROADSIDED ON THE PASSENGERS SIDE IN 2007 AT A HIGHER RATE OF SPEED AND AIR BAGS ALSO DID NOT DEPLOY. INJURIES IN BOTH ACCIDENTS. CAR IS A DEATH TRAP.
NHTSA complaint #10339878 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TRIM STRIPS ON BOTH SIDES OF VAN WERE RUSTING EVEN THOUGH THEY WERE PLASTIC. WAS TOLD THAT THIS WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM, THERE SHOULD BE SERVICE BULLETIN ON IT, AND THAT THE PAINT SURFACE WAS NOT CLEANED PROPERLY BEFORE PAINTING IT, THEREFORE IRON/RUST WAS BLEEDING THROUGH. THIS HAPPENED ONLY ON THE TRIM STRIPS ON THE FRONT DOORS, NO WHERE ELSE ON VAN. STRIPS WERE REPLACED SINCE STILL UNDER WARRANTY AND NO PROBLEMS YET AFTER 2 MONTHS.
NHTSA complaint #10167058 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHISTLING NOISE FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VAN. THE PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED SINCE WE PURCHASED THE VAN. THE WINDSHIELD SEAL, DOOR SEAL, AND PASSENGER SIDE MIRROR HAVE BEEN REPLACED BUT THE PROBLEM STILL PERSISTS.
NHTSA complaint #10149915 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WINDOW STICKER INDICATED THAT MY VEHICLE CONTAINED STABILITRAK ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL. RECEIVED LETTER 3 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE INDICATING THAT THEY DID NOT INSTALL THE SYSTEM. DEALER HAS VERIFIED SYSTEM IS NOT INSTALLED.
NHTSA complaint #10149240 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER SLIDING DOORS REQUIRE A LOT OF FORCE TO STOP AND REVERSE THE DIRECTION. I AM VERY CONCERNED FOR MY CHILDREN EXITING THE VAN. DEALERSHIP STATES THAT THIS IS NORMAL FOR THIS VAN BECAUSE AS THE VEHICLE AGES IT REQUIRES MORE FORCE TO CLOSE.
NHTSA complaint #10122352 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
2005 PONTIAC MONTANA PROBLEMS WITH THE HEAD RESTS AS WELL AS THE ARM REST.*MR THE REAR CENTER HEAD REST IS TOO LARGE AND IT CREATES A BAD BLIND SPOT WHEN LOOKING IN THE REAR VIEW MIRROR.
NHTSA complaint #10117655 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
MY FAMILY TOOK OUR VAN ON A WEEK LONG VACATION TO FLORIDA WHILE I STAYED AT HOME. RIGHT AFTER THEY LEFT MY WIFE CALLED TO SAY THAT THE ABS LIGHT WAS ON IN THE DASH. I CALLED A LOCAL MECHANIC TO GET AN IDEA OF HOW BAD THE PROBLEM MIGHT BE AND HE INDICATED THAT IT SHOULD NOT BE TOO BAD BUT GET IT LOOKED AT WHEN THEY RETURN FROM THE TRIP. UPON HER RETURN MY WIFE TOOK IT IN THE THE DEALERSHIP WHERE WE PURCHASED THE VAN AND THEY REPLACED A BEARING IN THE RIGHT REAR AXLE HUB AREA OF THE VEHICLE. SINCE THE VAN HAD APPROXIMATELY 40,451 MILES ON IT WE WERE TOLD THAT THIS FELL OUTSIDE OF THE MILES COVERED BY THE MANUFACTURER. ALTHOUGH, IT WAS STILL WITHIN THE 3-YRS OF COVERED WARRANTY JUST NOT COVERED BY THE MILES WE PAID FOR THE REPAIR. ASKED THE DEALERSHIP ABOUT THIS REPAIR AND THEY STATED THAT THIS WAS NORMAL WEAR FOR THIS PART OF THE COUNTRY AND THE TYPES OF ROADS IN THIS AREA. I TOLD THEM THAT I DID NOT LIKE THAT ANSWER. THEY TOLD ME THAT IF I FELT I HAD A COMPLAINT I COULD FOLLOW THE PROCEDURE IN THE BACK OF THE OWNERS MANULE. TO WHICH I HAVE DONE: PHONE CALL LETTER TO GM FOLLOW-UP PHONE CALL TO GM NOW NHTSA .
NHTSA complaint #10098252 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE: INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET LEAKING. I FOLLOWED THRU WITH A COMPLAINT TO THE BBB AND TO PONTIAC'S 800 NUMBER. I WAS TOLD I NEEDED TO HAVE THE VAN DIAGNOSED AT A GM DEALER BEFORE ANYTHING COULD BE DONE BY PONTIAC. MY DEALER QUALITY PONTIAC IN COCOA, FLORIDA LOOKED AT THE VAN AND AGREED THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET WAS LEAKING (NOVEMBER 2002). QUALITY INFORMED ME IT WOULD BE ABOUT $500 TO REPAIR. A PHONE CALL TO PONTIAC'S 800 # PUT PRESSURE ON THE DEALER AND THEY PERFORMED THE WORK FOR $100 PLUS EXTRA FOR A COOLANT FLUSH. THE TOTAL WAS AROUND $180. SUPPOSEDLY THE WORK CAME WITH A 12 MONTH 12000 MILE WARRANTY. I THINK THE VAN HAD 58000 MILES ON IT WHEN THIS WORK WAS PERFORMED. LOOKING BACK I HAVE A FEELING IT STARTED LEAKING EARLIER. TODAY WE HAVE 70500 MILES ON THE VAN AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS COMING ON. THE CODES INDICATE THAT ENGINE CYLINDER 5 IS MISFIRING. WE HAD NEW SPARK PLUGS PUT IN AND WILL NOW TRY NEW SPARK PLUG WIRES. IF THAT DOESN'T FIX IT THEN WE MAY NEED TO PUT IN NEW FUEL INJECTORS. MY COMPLAINTS TO DATE WITH THIS VEHICLES ARE: 1. ORIGINAL TIRES WORE OUT AT 24000 MILES $500 2. BATTERY DIED IN THE FIRST TWO YEARS. $0 3. DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR FAILED $ 156 - AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON. 4. INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET FAILED $180 5. SLIDING POWER DOOR MODULE FAILED 4 TIMES. $0 6. FRONT BRAKES DRUMS WARPED AT ~35000 MILES $250. FRONT ROTORS CUT AND PADS REPLACED. 7. WINDSHIELD BUZZED FROM THE DAY WE BOUGHT IT (2 YEARS) AND TOOK US THREATENING THE LEMON LAW TO GET IT FIXED.
NHTSA complaint #10069738 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
INTAKE MANIFOLD LEAKING COOLANT INTO THE ENGINE OIL ON MY 3.4 LITER ENGINE. AFTER COMPLAINING TO PONTIAC & THE BBB, GM OFFERED TO PAY 50% OF THE REPAIR COST. FAULTY OXYGEN SENSOR & LEAKING FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR OH DECEMBER 16, 2003. SINCE ORIGINAL COMPLAINT, KEYLESS REMOTE FAILED ON 7/15/03 & SEAT BELT PRETENSIONER FAILED CAUSING AIRBAG LIGHT TO GO ON, JULY 28, 2003
NHTSA complaint #10069801 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
HEAT & ENGINE LOW COOLANT LIGHT ON;HEATER BLOWER INOP AT SOME SPEEDS(REPLACE INTAKE GASKET AND BLOWER FAN RESISTOR PAINT PAINT BUBBLED ON HOOD TRANSMISSION HARSH SHIFTING (FAULTY PRESSURE CONTROL SOLENOID) WHEEL NOISE IN BEARING (REPLACE WHEEL HUB ASSEMBLY) BRAKES A.B.S LIGHT ALWAYS COMES ON(LOOSE WIRES;DISCONNECTED WIRE FAULTY SENSOR)ONGOING PROBLEM NOT FIXED(REAR WIPER MOTOR;PASSENGER MIRROR KEEPS SHIFTING;NO HEAT CONTROL IN POSITION HALF WINDOW HALF FLOOR
NHTSA complaint #10071324 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE. POOR GASKET/COOLANT DESIGN ALLOWED COOLANT TO LEAK INTO ENGINE CAUSING CAM BEARINGS TO SIEZE CAUSING MY CAM SHAFT TO BREAK. VEHICLE IS STILL 1,500KM AWAY AT A DEALERSHIP WHO IS CURRENTLY REPLACING WITH NEW ENGINE. MY COST= ENGINE+LABOUR+EXTRA WEEK HOLIDAY FOR BEING STRANDED+PLANE TICKET TO RETURN HOME {AND TO FLY BACK TO PICK IT UP ONCE EVERYTHING IS REPAIRED} I CHECKED THE INTERNET ON A HUNCH AND WAS ABSOLUTLY AMAZED AT THE EXTREAMLY HIGH AMOUND OF PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. THE SMACKS OF A BAD DESIGN/ INSUFFICIENT TESTING/ AND COVER-UP ON GM'S PART EVEN WITH THEIR BULLITENS FOR THIS AVAILABLE ON THE INTERNET.
NHTSA complaint #10071343 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WE PURCHASED THE 1998 PONTIAC MONTANA IN MARCH 1998. SINCE WE PURCHASED THE CAR, WE HAVE HAD THE RIGHT TURN SIGNAL SOCKET REPLACED THREE TIMES DUE TO MALFUNCTION. IN OCTOBER 2002, WE TOOK THE AUTOMOBILE IN FOR PROBLEMS NOTED. IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT WE NEEDED TO REPLACE THE TURN SIGNAL SOCKET AGAIN, REPLACE THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR, REPLACE THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDES DOOR POWER WINDOW MOTORS, REPLACE THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET, AND THEY WORKED ON THE SLIDING DOOR FOR THE FIFTH TIME DUE TO A RECALL. THE TOTAL ESTIMATE FOR THE PENDING WORKS CAME TO $3500.00 PLUS. I CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER WITH ME CONCERNS, BUT MY CONCERNS FELL ON DEAF EARS. ALL THE AGREED TO HELP ME WITH WAS THE PRICE ON THE PARTS OF THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR AND THAT WE WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE LABOR AND ALL OF THE MAJOR REPAIRS/REPLACEMENTS BECAUSE THEY FELT THAT WE DID NOT HAVE ANYMORE WARRANTY ON THE AUTOMOBILE. THE SERVICE MANAGER ADVISE ME TO TRADE IN THE VEHICLE SINCE IT WOULD BE EXPENSIVE TO DO THE JOBS REQUIRED, BUT WE THOUGHT IT NOT TO AT THIS TIME. WE EVEN SUGGESTED THAT THERE MIGHT NOT BE A NATIONAL RECALL ON THE ITEMS, BUT WE STRONGLY FEEL THAT THIS PARTICULAR VAN HAS A DEFECT. WE ARE ASKING YOU TO PLEASE HELP US TO RESOLVE OUR CONCERNS.
NHTSA complaint #10069870 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THERE HAVE BEEN MANY PROBLEMS, MOST NOTABLE RECENTLY WHEN THE DRIVER'S SIDE SLIDING DOOR FEEL OFF AT 45000 MILES. GM WON'T PAY, IT'S NOT "UNDER WARRANTY". THIS DOOR HAS HAD CONTINUAL PROBLEMS WITH HITTING THE FRONT DOOR UPON CLOSING. REPAIR WAS SUPPOSED TO HAVE BEEN MADE BUT OBVIOUSLY INEFFECTUAL DUE TO EVIDENCE OF CHIPPED PAINT AT THE SITE WHERE DORS COLLIDE. COULD THIS HAVE PRECIPITATED THE DOOR FALLING OFF? SUPPOSEDLY THEIR WAS AN ADJUSTMENT MADE, COULD THIS ADJUSTMENT BEEN MADE INCORRECTLY TO DAMAGE THE DOOR? I FEEL IT IS UNACCEPTABLE THAT THIS DOOR HAS FALLEN OFF MY CAR AT 45000 MILES.
NHTSA complaint #10069605 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
OUR MONTANA PONTIAC VAN HAD PROBLEMS FROM THE START. WE PURCHASED IT AS A USED VEHICLE FROM A GM DEALER AND EVERYTHING SEEMED FINE. HOWEVER WITHIN THREE WEEKS OF HAVING THE VEHICLE WE STARTED EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS. WE HAD THE STARTED REPLACED THREE TIMES, WE HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE FRONT STRUTS, REPLACE THE BRAKES TWICE, WE HAVE A NOISE IN THE FRONT RIGHT SIDE-NO ONE CAN EXPLAIN AND WE HAVE IT WORKED ON FIVE TIMES NOW, THEN YESTERDAY THE SIDE PASSENGER SLIDE DOOR OPENED IN A TURN IN HEAVY TRAFFIC - WE DO NOT HAVE AUTOMATIC SLIDING DOORS. THE CONTROL PANEL DID NOT SHOW THAT THE DOOR WAS AJAR. HOWEVER BECAUSE WE REQUIRE EVERYONE TO WEAR SEATBELTS THE CHILD DID NOT FALL OUT BUT IT COULD HAVE HAD A TERRIBLE RESULTS HAD WE NOT MAKE IT A RULE IN OUR VEHICLE. I LOVE THE ROOM THE VAN PROVIDES HOWEVER, THESE PROBLEMS THAT KEEP POPPING UP ARE GETTING TIRESOME.
NHTSA complaint #10069829 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE - VEHICLE WAS LEAKING COOLANT THROUGH INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET INTO ENGINE. INTAKE MANIFOLD NEEDED TO BE RESEALED. PONTIAC ASSISTANCE IS REFUSING TO HELP AT THIS TIME. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE V6 AND GM IS REFUSING TO ACKNOWLEDGE IT. EMISSION - SECONDARY AIR INJECTION PUMP FAILED AT 33025 MILES AND WAS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THIS PUMP FAILED AGAIN AT 44000 MILES, JUST 8 MONTHS LATER AND COST 160.00 FOR LABOR. EMISSION PUMPS SHOULD LAST LONGER THAN 8 MONTHS. POWER WINDOW - DRIVERS SIDE POWER WINDOW MOTOR FAILED 9/2002 AT 38500 MILES. FAULTY WIRING CLUSTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT 12528 (N/C).
NHTSA complaint #10069878 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
MONTANA VAN WAS TAKEN IN FOR OIL CHANGE AND ASKED TO TOP UP COOLANT SINCE WE WERE GETTING THE LOW COOLANT LEVEL LIGHT. OIL WAS CHANGED AND COOLANT TOPPED UP....NO MENTION OF A LEAK. A WEEK LATER, THE LOW COOLANT LEVEL LIGHT WAS ON AGAIN SO WE TOOK IT IN. WE WERE TOLD THAT THE REPAIR WAS APPROX. $1000, BUT THAT IT WOULD BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. WE WOULD, HOWEVER, HAVE TO PAY APPROX. $200 FOR AN ENGINE WASH AND FLUSH - GM SAID THEY DON'T PAY FOR THIS. THEY HAVE KEPT THE VAN AND WILL PROVIDE A RENTAL REPLACEMENT. HAVEN'T RECEIVED AN ESTIMATE ON HOW LONG IT WILL TAKE TO REPAIR THE VAN.
NHTSA complaint #10071332 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I JUST WANTED TO KNOW IF IT IS NORMAL FOR THESE TO GO AS SOON AS THE WARRANTY IS OVER. THE PAINT, I ARGUED WITH THE DEALER AND THEY FINALLY AGREED TO PAY FOR IT. THE ABS BRAKES WENT JUST AFTER THE WARRANTY, THEY WON'T HELP ME THERE. THE PASSENGER SLIDING DOOR WILL NOT LOCK AUTOMATICALLY. NO PRICE FOR REPAIR YET.
NHTSA complaint #10071337 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.