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U.S. public vehicle records

2001 Pontiac MONTANA problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

156 owner complaints analyzed

9 distinct recall campaigns

62,229 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2001 model year. Data snapshot: . 91 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Power Train:Automatic Transmission is the most frequently named component, appearing in 15 of 156 complaints (9.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior2918.6%
Electrical and battery issues1610.3%
Transmission and shifting149.0%
Fuel system concerns106.4%
Steering behavior63.8%
Engine operation42.6%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Power Train:Automatic Transmission
15
Electrical System
12
Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System
10
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
9
Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch
9
Fuel System, Gasoline
8
Structure:Body:Door
8
Engine And Engine Cooling
6
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Power Train:Automatic Transmission15
Electrical System12
Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System10
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine9
Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch9
Fuel System, Gasoline8
Structure:Body:Door8
Engine And Engine Cooling6

Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 15; Electrical System: 12; Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System: 10; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 9; Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch: 9; Fuel System, Gasoline: 8; Structure:Body:Door: 8; Engine And Engine Cooling: 6

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
8
25,000 to 49,999
25
50,000 to 74,999
24
75,000 to 99,999
12
100,000 to 149,999
15
150,000 and above
7
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0008
25,000 to 49,99925
50,000 to 74,99924
75,000 to 99,99912
100,000 to 149,99915
150,000 and above7

Under 25,000: 8; 25,000 to 49,999: 25; 50,000 to 74,999: 24; 75,000 to 99,999: 12; 100,000 to 149,999: 15; 150,000 and above: 7

25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (25). 65 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

2001
19
2002
12
2003
18
2004
18
2005
29
2006
13
2007
11
2008
5
2009
7
2010
6
2011
8
2012
1
2013
1
2014
4
2015
4
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
200119
200212
200318
200418
200529
200613
200711
20085
20097
20106
20118
20121
20131
20144
20154

2001: 19; 2002: 12; 2003: 18; 2004: 18; 2005: 29; 2006: 13; 2007: 11; 2008: 5; 2009: 7; 2010: 6; 2011: 8; 2012: 1; 2013: 1; 2014: 4; 2015: 4

Pattern summary

Power Train:Automatic Transmission leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 29 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 16 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 14 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10016238 · 2003-04-21 (April 21, 2003)

THE BRAKES ON MY 2001 PONTIAC MONTANA WEAR OUT PREMATURELY. I HAD TO REPLACE THE FRONT PADS 3 TIMES IN 2 YEARS. IN EACH CASE THE INBOARD PAD HAD EXCESSIVE WEAR AND THE OUTBOARD PAD DID NOT. I HAVE BEEN INFORMED THE WEAR INDICATORS ARE ON THE OUTBOARD PADS, THIS PRESENTS A LACK OF WARNING TO THE DRIVER THAT THE BRAKES ARE IN NEED OF SERVICE. THE CALIPERS HAVE BEEN REPLACED ONCE AND THIS DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM.*JB

Owner-reported narrative. 58,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10016238 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10023443 · 2003-06-20 (June 20, 2003)

PREMATURE WEAR OF FRONT BRAKE ROTORS. ONLY 30K MILES ON CAR. *NLM

Owner-reported narrative. 27,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10023443 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10060536 · 2004-03-05 (March 5, 2004)

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IS MALFUNCTIONING. REAR WINDOWS HALF OPEN AND WILL NOT CLOSE. FRONT WINDOWS WILL OPEN, BUT WILL NOT CLOSE. LIGHTS (INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL) WILL FLICKER IF I TURN ON THE RADIO, WINDSHIELD WIPERS, RAISE OR LOWER WINDOWS. LOCKS WILL ENGAGE AND DISENGAGE ON THEIR OWN OVER AND OVER AGAIN, EVEN IF THE VEHICLE IS AT REST. BRAKES ARE CONSTANTLY GOING BAD. I HAVE HAD TO GET THE BRAKES FIXED 4 TIMES IN THE PAST 18 MONTHS. A/C IS NOT WORKING. NO COLD AIR COMES OUT, ONLY HEAT.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10060536 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10111191 · 2005-01-19 (January 19, 2005)

THE VEHICLE'S BRAKE LIGHTS AND TURN SIGNALS WERE NOT WORKING PROPERLY. *NM THE MECHANIC FOUND THAT BOTH REAR TAIL LAMP HOUSING ASSEMBLIES WERE BADLY CORRODED AND THAT WATER WAS ENTERING THE HOUSING BY THE WIRING HARNESS. *SC *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10111191 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10017567 · 2003-04-25 (April 25, 2003)

WHILE DRIVING, THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE VIBRATED. *JB THE VEHICLE WOULD HESITATED WHEN ACCELERATED AFTER A COMPLETE STOP OR WHEN SLOWING. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED A REFUND FOR THE VEHICLE. OTHER PROBLEMS ARE AS FOLLOWED: THE VEHICLE FELT AS IF IT WAS GOING TO STALL WHEN IDLED DUE TO DIRTY INJECTOR(S), THERE WAS NOISE ON DRIVER SIDE OF THE ENGINE, THE HORN WOULD GO OFF BY ITSELF/DEALER UNABLE TO DUPLICATE, THE COVER IN THE REAR HATCH ON THE LEFT SIDE DID NOT STAY IN PLACE AND REINSTALLED THE P…

Owner-reported narrative. 13,305 miles reported. Look up ODI 10017567 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10031021 · 2003-08-07 (August 7, 2003)

WHEN THE VEHICLE IS PLACED IN GEAR THERE IS A SCRAPING NOISE. THIS NOISE WAS FIRST NOTICEABLE IN REVERSE ONLY. HOWEVER IT STARTED HAPPENING IN DRIVE AS WELL. ALSO WHEN BRAKING AT INTERSECTIONS THE ENGINE COMPLETELY DISENGAGES AND FREE WHEELS. THEN WHEN ACCELERATING AGAIN IT TAKES A SECOND OR TWO FOR THE TRANSMISSION TO RE-ENGAGE. THE DEALERSHIP HEARD THE NOISE AND EXPERIENCED THE PROBLEM. THEN THE TRANSMISSION COMPLETELY BROKE ON THEIR DRIVE DURING THIS PROBLEM'S EVALUATION. THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED AFTER ONLY 41,500 MILES. T…

Owner-reported narrative. 41,547 miles reported. Look up ODI 10031021 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10125918 · 2005-07-08 (July 8, 2005)

DT: CONTACT STATES: THE GAS TANK CRACKED AT THE SEAMS AND IS LEAKED GASOLINE. THE GAS TANK WAS MADE OF PLASTIC AND CANNOT BE FIXED.. SHE CALLED A DEALER, AND THE DEALER WAS GETTING LOTS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME THING. BUT GM HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN FIXED YET; BUT SHE WAS GOING TO HAVE IT FIXED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. *AK *SC

Owner-reported narrative. 62,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10125918 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10047805 · 2003-11-12 (November 12, 2003)

THE VEHICLE'S TIE ROD FAILED. THIS CAUSED THE STEERING WHEEL TO PULL TO THE LEFT. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *PH

Owner-reported narrative. 30,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10047805 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10068198 · 2004-05-03 (May 3, 2004)

DEXCOOL COOLANT LEAKED OUT OF THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET OVERHEATED AND STALLED ON THE HIGHWAY.HAD TO HAVE THE GARAGE REPLACE THE INTAKE GASKET,VALVE COVER GASKET AND THE CYLINDER HEAD GASKET. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 60,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10068198 at NHTSA ↗