2003 Pontiac MONTANA problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
84 owner complaints analyzed
5 distinct recall campaigns
50,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2003 model year. Data snapshot: . 61 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 11 of 84 complaints (13.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 13 | 15.5% |
| Fuel system concerns | 10 | 11.9% |
| Steering behavior | 7 | 8.3% |
| Engine operation | 4 | 4.8% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 4 | 4.8% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 1.2% |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 11 |
| Exterior Lighting | 11 |
| Air Bags | 7 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 5 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly | 5 |
| Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch | 5 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 4 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 4 |
Electrical System: 11; Exterior Lighting: 11; Air Bags: 7; Fuel System, Gasoline: 5; Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly: 5; Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch: 5; Air Bags:Frontal: 4; Engine And Engine Cooling: 4
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 18 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 10 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 10 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 12 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 6 |
| 150,000 and above | 5 |
Under 25,000: 18; 25,000 to 49,999: 10; 50,000 to 74,999: 10; 75,000 to 99,999: 12; 100,000 to 149,999: 6; 150,000 and above: 5
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (18). 23 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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2003 | 9 |
| 2004 | 13 |
| 2005 | 7 |
| 2006 | 12 |
| 2007 | 5 |
| 2008 | 7 |
| 2009 | 9 |
| 2010 | 6 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2012 | 3 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 2 |
| 2015 | 3 |
| 2016 | 2 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2018 | 2 |
| 2022 | 1 |
2003: 9; 2004: 13; 2005: 7; 2006: 12; 2007: 5; 2008: 7; 2009: 9; 2010: 6; 2011: 1; 2012: 3; 2013: 1; 2014: 2; 2015: 3; 2016: 2; 2017: 1; 2018: 2; 2022: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 13 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 10 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 7 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 10008133 · 2003-02-26 (February 26, 2003)
DURING THE FIRST BRAKING, THE VEHICLE BRAKE LET GO FOR A BRIEF SECOND. THIS HAPPENS ON DRY PAVEMENT DURING A NORMAL STOP. IT WAS EXPLAINED FROM THE DEALER THAT THE RUST BUILD-UP ON THE ROTORS MAY BE CAUSING THE BRAKE TO LOCKUP CAUSING THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES TO FUNCTION. THIS IS A VERY SCARY SITUATION WHEN PULLING UP TO A STOP WITH A CAR IN FRONT OF YOU AND THE CAR WILL LURCH FORWARD WITH YOUR FOOT PUSHING DOWN ON THE BRAKE PEDAL.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10008133 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10011898 · 2003-03-17 (March 17, 2003)
THE GEARS WAS ABLE TO SHIFT WITHOUT THE BRAKE BEING APPLIED.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. 2,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10011898 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10044051 · 2003-10-15 (October 15, 2003)
CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING IN NEW VAN FILLED IT UP WITH GAS, AND WOKE UP THE NEXT MORNING AND GAS WAS LEAKING ALL OVER THE PLACE. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, WHO FOUND THAT FUEL TANK WAS CRACKED, CAUSING GAS TO LEAK. CONSUMER STATED HE AND HIS WIFE COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED IF SOMEONE THREW A CIGARETTE OR A MATCH OUT OF THE WINDOW NEAR VEHICLE.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10044051 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10135764 · 2005-09-08 (September 8, 2005)
FUEL TANK HAS LEAK. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 16,850 miles reported. Look up ODI 10135764 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10049103 · 2003-12-03 (December 3, 2003)
2003 PONTIAC MONTANA STALLED WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER INCLUDING STEERING AND BRAKES. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE IN THE PAST 2 MONTHS. I DROVE THE VAN TO THE DEALERSHIP BOTH TIMES. NO PROBLEMS WAS FOUND BY DEALERSHIP. I CONTACTED PONTIAC. THEY SAID IF IT HAPPENS AGAIN NOT TO START IT BACK UP, THEY WILL HAVE VAN TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. I AM NOT TOTALLY SATISFIED WITH THEIR RESPONSE FOR SAFETY REASONS. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 16,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10049103 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10068316 · 2004-05-05 (May 5, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING MY 2003 MONTANA STOPPED DEAD IN TRAFFICE. THE BRAKES LOCK AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED THE VEHICAL STOPPED DEAD WITH OUT ANY WARNING. IT HAS STOPPED IN TRAFFIC TWICE AND A TOTAL OF 7 TIME. EACH TIME I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER THEY SAID THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE MONTANA. FROM VLS 05/05/04. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 14,898 miles reported. Look up ODI 10068316 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10074010 · 2004-05-20 (May 20, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER RESTARTED THE VEHICLE, AND TOOK IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. HOWEVER, DEALER WAS NOT ABLE TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10074010 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10249816 · 2008-11-25 (November 25, 2008)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC MONTANA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5-10 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND LOST ALL POWER. ALL OF THE POWER DOORS LOCKED, WHICH PREVENTED THE CONTACT FROM EXITING THE VEHICLE. SHE MOVED INTO THE BACK SEAT AND WAS ABLE TO OPEN THE SLIDING DOOR TO EXIT THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE BATTERY WAS DEAD. AFTER FURTHER DIAGNOSTIC TESTING, THE DEALER REALIZED THAT THE THEFT MODULE WAS DEFECTIVE. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE STARTED. THE CONTACT IS CONCERNED TH…
Owner-reported narrative. 32,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10249816 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10339878 · 2010-06-24 (June 24, 2010)
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 TAI…
Owner-reported narrative. 68,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10339878 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10176862 · 2006-12-23 (December 23, 2006)
THE WIPERS ON OUR 2003 PONTIAC MONTANA WITH ROUGHLY 48000 MILES, STARTED MOVING SLOWLY EVEN WHEN SET IN THE FASTEST WIPER SETTING. TOOK IT TO A LOCAL GARAGE THAT REPLACED THE WIPER MOTOR. WIPERS WERE STILL SLOW. TOOK IT TO A GM DEALER ON 10/4/06. THEY COULD NOT FIND THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM AND GREASED THE MECHANICAL ARMS (WIPER TRANSMISSION). A FEW DAYS LATER IN A DRIVING RAIN THE WIPERS STOPPED MOVING COMPLETELY. TOOK IT BACK TO THE GM DEALER 10/16/06. THEY REPLACED THE WIPER TRANSMISSION AND WIPER MOTOR FOR A BILL IN EXCESS OF $1000. …
Owner-reported narrative. 48,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10176862 at NHTSA ↗