102 of the
1,451 complaints filed about the Pontiac Montana
are about the transmission —
7% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 1999.
102
Complaints
7%
Share of all complaints
2
Crashes
0
Fires
Transmission & Drivetrain complaints by model year
When I start the engine & try to put in another it it nearly impossible. With engine on, it smells of gasoline! I'm afraid I will die from the fumes. Transmission only goes up to 20 mph. I know there is a gas leak and I want others to be notified before my family or someone else's family catch fire and burn to death! If I have to run the heater then it takes power from the engine/transmission and I can only go 10mph. When I am in on on the highway the van will shut off. It shut off out of nowhere and I almost lost my life that day!
NHTSA complaint #11517939 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SHIFTING OUT OF PARK WHILE ENGINE NOT RUNNING WITHOUT THE BRAKE BEING ON/STEPPED ON, WHICH RESULTED IN THE VAN ROLLING IN REVERSE, THANKFULLY IT WAS IN THE DRIVEWAY WHEN THIS HAPPEN, WAS ABLE TO PUT IT BACK INTO PARK (THANK GOD).
NHTSA complaint #10811171 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 PONTIAC MONTANA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED AND JERKED VIOLENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL CAP FAILURE LIGHT AND ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC REPLACED THE FUEL CAP SEVERAL TIMES; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 106,000.
NHTSA complaint #10733212 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
DELAY WITH WINDSHIELD WIPERS, TAKE TOO LONG TO POP UP AND THAN WIPE, DESIGN SHOULD HAVE NEVER BEEN ALLOWED, THE COUPLE OF SECONDS IT TAKES FOR THE WIPERS TO MOVE FROM OFF POSITION TO WHEN YOU TURN THEM ON IS LONG ENOUGH TO CAUSE AN ACCIDENT ON A DAY AFTER IT RAINS WHERE YOU ARE PASSED BY A VEHICLE DRIVING THROUGH A PUDDLE, CANNOT SEE, AND COULD POSSIBLY INJURE SOMEBODY. CONSTANTLY LOSING POWER STEERING FLUID. TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED ONCE DUE TO SLIPPAGE GOT IT BACK AND STARTED TO DO SO AGAIN THE FIRST 200 MILES.
NHTSA complaint #10587356 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 PONTIAC MONTANA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD INTERMITTENTLY STALL WHEN MAKING TURNS OR WHEN DECELERATING. THE CONTACT TOOK HER VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WHERE SHE WAS ADVISED THAT THEY COULD NOT DIAGNOSIS THE FAILURE WITHOUT IT OCCURRING IN THEIR PRESENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER FIVE ADDITIONAL TIMES BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE DEALER WAS FINALLY ABLE TO DIAGNOSE A TRANSMISSION FAILURE AFTER SIX PREVIOUS FAILED DIAGNOSTICS. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 07/03/14 MA
NHTSA complaint #10585316 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I BACKED UP TO THE LAUNDRY TO WASH CLOTHES AND PROCEEDED TO PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND GET OUT TO GET CLOTHES OUT OF THE BACK. I PUSHED THE BRAKE AND THOUGHT I HAD PUT THE CAR IN PARK BECAUSE THE KEY CAME OUT. WHEN I STARTED TO STEP OUT OF THE VAN TO GET MY CLOTHES OUT OF THE BACK AND MY FOOT CAME OFF THE BRAKE, THE CAR WAS STILL RUNNING AND BACKED INTO A BLOCK WALL. THE WALL WAS DESTROYED, BUT NO ONE WAS HURT. THE BACK DOOR OF THE VAN IS CRUSHED. AFTER A CLOSE EXAMINATION OF THE IGNITION LOCK I FOUND THAT THE KEY WILL COME OUT IN ANY POSITION, INCLUDING RUNNING. I HAD THOUGHT THE KEY WAS NOT SUPPOSED TO COME OUT EXCEPT IN THE OFF POSITION. IS THIS CORRECT? I ATTEMPTED TO FIND OUT IF IT WAS IN THE GM RECALL FROM MY LOCAL GM DEALER AND THEY CLAIMED IGNORANCE OF ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING. INCLUDING EVEN WHAT CONSTITUTES A DEFECTIVE SWITCH AND WHAT IT IS SUPPOSED TO DO AND NOT DO. IT'S LIKE PULLING TEETH TRYING TO GET THEM TO SAY ANYTHING. THEY SAY THE FACTORY SENDS THEM A LIST AFFECTED CARS AND THEY WILL NOT TOUCH ANYTHING ELSE NO MATTER WHAT THE CIRCUMSTANCES. THE SMELL OF GASOLINE IS STRONG AT TIMES BUT A CURSORY EXAMINATION BY A MECHANIC DOESN'T SHOW ANYTHING. AFTER VIEWING THE RECALLS CONCERNING GAS LEAKS I AM WORRIED. CAN YOU TELL ME BY THE VIN HOW MANY OF THE RECALLS SHOWN ON YOUR PAGE THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD AND WHAT IT HAS MISSED BEFORE IT BURNS ME TO DEATH?
NHTSA complaint #10583714 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TRANSMISSION LOCKS UP IN PARK WHEN PARKED AND CAN NOT BE RELEASED UNTIL THE VEHICLE IS PUSHED WHILE SOMEONE IS PULLING DOWN ON THE SHIFT LEVER. RESULTS IN BEING STRANDED UNLESS SOMEONE IS AVAILABLE TO PUSH.
NHTSA complaint #10504701 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 PONTIAC MONTANA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SLIDING DOORS COULD NOT BE OPENED ELECTRONICALLY, ONLY MANUALLY. IN ADDITION, THE GEAR SHIFTER FAILED AND COULD ONLY BE SHIFTED INTO DRIVE OR REVERSE WITH FORCE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 234,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 239,000.
NHTSA complaint #10465118 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WE'VE BEEN HAVING AN ISSUE WITH THE VAN DECELERATING ON ITS OWN AND HAVING TO LAY DOWN ON THE GAS TO GET IT GOING AGAIN. STILL HAVN'T FOUND OUT WHAT IT IS. NOW OUR "AWD DISABLED" LIGHT CAME ON. THIS WORRIES ME BECAUSE WE LIVE IN MN AND HAVE TERRIBLE ROADS IN THE WINTER. THAT IS ONE REASON WE BOUGHT THIS VAN IS FOR THE AWD.
NHTSA complaint #10410985 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FRONT RIGHT WHEEL BEARING HAS BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES IN 20 MONTHS, AND CONSTANT ABS SENSOR PROBLEMS WITH THE SAME. ALSO BRAKES KEEP WEARING QUICKLY UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS.
NHTSA complaint #10353219 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THIS IS IN REGARDS TO A 2004 PONTIAC MONTANA VAN. ONCE IN A WHILE, THE VEHICLE CAN BE SHIFTED OUT OF PARK WITHOUT HAVING YOUR FOOT ON THE BRAKE, EITHER WITH ENGINE OFF OR RUNNING. EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE FAILURE ARE NORMAL. SITUATION 1: GET IN THE VAN, PUT KEY IN IGNITION, TURN KEY TO RUN POSITION (NOT START POSITION). DO NOT PUT FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. ENGINE IS NOT RUNNING. TRY TO PUT THE VAN IN GEAR (FROM PARK TO REVERSE - R). SOMETIMES, IT IS POSSIBLE TO PUT THE VAN INTO ANY GEAR EVEN THOUGH THE BRAKE PEDAL IS NOT DEPRESSED. SITUATION 2: SAME AS ABOVE EXCEPT THAT ENGINE IS STARTED NORMALLY USING THE IGNITION KEY. ONCE THE VAN IS RUNNING, TRY TO PUT THE VAN IN GEAR WITHOUT PRESSING ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. SOMETIMES, THE VAN WILL GO INTO GEAR EVEN THOUGH THE ENGINE IS RUNNING AND THE BRAKE IS NOT APPLIED. THIS SEEMS TO BE A RANDOMLY OCCURRING PROBLEM. I CANNOT FIND A PATTERN OF WHEN THIS HAPPENS VERSUS WHEN IT OPERATES PROPERLY (THAT IS, WILL NOT SHIFT INTO GEAR WITHOUT THE BRAKE APPLIED). I HAVE BEEN TESTING THIS BECAUSE I HAVE 2 SMALL CHILDREN AND DON'T WANT THEM TO BE ABLE TO PUT THE VAN IN GEAR. I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO PREVENT AN ACCIDENT BY NEVER LEAVING THE KEYS WHERE THE KIDS COULD GET TO THEM AND ALSO APPLYING THE PARKING BRAKE SO THAT THE VAN WON'T MOVE IN CASE THE KIDS EVER DID TRY TO "DRIVE" THE VAN.
NHTSA complaint #10348141 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 PONTIAC MONTANA. THE CONTACT STARTED THE IGNITION AND THE GEAR SELECTOR WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO ANY DESIRED GEAR. A CERTIFIED MECHANIC INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AT THE FAILURE LOCATION. THE GEAR CABLE WAS REPLACED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 122,000. UPDATED 11/03/10.
NHTSA complaint #10346988 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EVER SINCE MY HUSBAND AND I BOUGHT THE VAN IT WHEN YOU PUT IT IN A GEAR AND STEP ON THE GAS IT WOULD REV THE ENGINE AND HIT HARD IN GEAR AND CAUSING THE VAN TO JERK HARD WE TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC WHERE WE WERE TOLD AND HE SAID IT WAS THE DRIVE SHAFT AND REPLACED IT AND IT SHOULD NOT JERK NO MORE BUT IT SEEMS TO BE WORSE THAN IT WAS WHEN THEY FIXED IT.
NHTSA complaint #10256399 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 PONTIAC MONTANA SV6. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE HAS TO REPEATEDLY REPLACE THE BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS ON HIS VEHICLE BECAUSE THEY KEEP WEARING OUT. HE ALSO HAD TO REPLACE THE FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE FRONT STABILIZER HAS FAILED. THE VEHICLE IS ABLE TO BE DRIVEN AND THE REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED BY A MECHANIC. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 66,000.
NHTSA complaint #10238749 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
OUR 2005 PONTIAC MONTANA SV6 MINIVAN, LESS THAN 3 YEARS OLD WITH 44,888 MILES ON IT, RECENTLY FAILED THE NORTH CAROLINA VEHICLE SAFETY INSPECTION BECAUSE BOTH FRONT WHEEL HUBS HAD DEVELOPED UNACCEPTABLE PLAY. PONTIAC REFUSED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM UNDER THE VEHICLE WARRANTY BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS OVER THE 36000 MILE LIMIT (BUT UNDER THE 3 YEAR TIME LIMIT). BECAUSE OF THE POTENTIAL SAFETY CONSEQUENCES OF A TOTAL FAILURE OF THE FRONT WHEEL HUBS, AND BECAUSE THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE LICENSED IN NORTH CAROLINA WITHOUT PASSING THE NORTH CAROLINA SAFETY INSPECTION, THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT OUR EXPENSE BE REPLACING BOTH FRONT WHEEL HUBS. I CURRENTLY HAVE POSSESSION OF THE OLD REPLACED PARTS IF A CLOSER INSPECTION IS DESIRED.
NHTSA complaint #10225559 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THIS VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH AN ALL WHEEL DRIVE SYSTEM, WHICH IS NECESSARY IN OUR ENVIRONMENT TO CLIMB ICY OR MUDDY HILLS TO GET TO OUR HOUSE, OR FRIENDS' HOUSES, ALL ON DIRT ROADS. IT'S ALSO VERY BENEFICIAL FOR DRIVING ON ICY AND SLUSHY ROADS WHICH ARE FREQUENT AROUND HERE. WE HAVE THREE VEHICLES, ALL AWD OR 4WD. ON THE 2005 PONTIAC MONTANA SV6, HOWEVER, THERE APPEARS TO BE A SENSOR ON EACH WHEEL WHICH IS INTEGRAL TO THE AWD SYSTEM. THIS SENSOR IS APPARENTLY EASILY OBSCURED BY ICE, SLUSH, OR MUD SPLASHING UP INTO THE WHEEL WELLS, AND WHEN THIS HAPPENS THE VEHICLE DISABLES ITS ALL-WHEEL DRIVE SYSTEM, LEAVING THE DRIVER WITH A FWD VEHICLE, WHICH CAN OFTEN BE INSUFFICIENT TO HANDLE CONDITIONS ENTERED WITH AN AWD VEHICLE. SO FAR WE'VE BEEN STRANDED AT THE BOTTOM OF ICY HILLS AND NARROWLY AVERTED TWO CRASH INCIDENTS DUE TO THE AWD SYSTEM DISABLING WHEN DRIVING THROUGH SLUSH PUDDLES OR MUD. THE DEALER HAS BEEN ABLE TO CLEAR THE SENSOR AND RESET THE SYSTEM TWICE - ON THE THIRD INCIDENT WE WERE TOLD THE ENTIRE RIGHT FRONT HUB ASSEMBLY WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED, SO APPARENTLY SLUSH CAN PERMANENTLY DAMAGE THE AWD SYSTEM AS WELL. THIS PROBLEM WAS REPORTED TO PONTIAC VIA THEIR WEBSITE AND THEY HAVEN'T BOTHERED TO RESPOND.
NHTSA complaint #10221777 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.