Pontiac MONTANA problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
1,035 owner complaints analyzed
20 distinct recall campaigns
60,004 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1997 to 2008 model years. Data snapshot: . 600 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine And Engine Cooling is the most frequently named component, appearing in 81 of 1,035 complaints (7.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 152 | 14.7% |
| Transmission and shifting | 75 | 7.2% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 59 | 5.7% |
| Fuel system concerns | 51 | 4.9% |
| Steering behavior | 43 | 4.2% |
| Engine operation | 37 | 3.6% |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 81 |
| Electrical System | 65 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 64 |
| Structure:Body:Door | 63 |
| Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch | 62 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 58 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System | 56 |
| Air Bags | 46 |
Engine And Engine Cooling: 81; Electrical System: 65; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 64; Structure:Body:Door: 63; Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch: 62; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 58; Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System: 56; Air Bags: 46
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 88 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 121 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 165 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 91 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 85 |
| 150,000 and above | 50 |
Under 25,000: 88; 25,000 to 49,999: 121; 50,000 to 74,999: 165; 75,000 to 99,999: 91; 100,000 to 149,999: 85; 150,000 and above: 50
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (165). 435 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 |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 64 |
| 2001 | 77 |
| 2002 | 90 |
| 2003 | 133 |
| 2004 | 162 |
| 2005 | 108 |
| 2006 | 90 |
| 2007 | 51 |
| 2008 | 47 |
| 2009 | 36 |
| 2010 | 44 |
| 2011 | 35 |
| 2012 | 15 |
| 2013 | 15 |
| 2014 | 20 |
| 2015 | 20 |
| 2016 | 12 |
| 2017 | 4 |
| 2018 | 4 |
| 2019 | 2 |
| 2020 | 4 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2023 | 1 |
2000: 64; 2001: 77; 2002: 90; 2003: 133; 2004: 162; 2005: 108; 2006: 90; 2007: 51; 2008: 47; 2009: 36; 2010: 44; 2011: 35; 2012: 15; 2013: 15; 2014: 20; 2015: 20; 2016: 12; 2017: 4; 2018: 4; 2019: 2; 2020: 4; 2022: 1; 2023: 1
Pattern summary
Engine And Engine Cooling leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 152 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 75 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 59 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 10069397 · 2004-01-15 (January 15, 2004)
INTAKE GASKET FAILED ALLOWING COOLANT TO LEAK INTO OIL.68638 MILES VALVE LIFTER KNOCKING.74809 MILES STALLING OF ENGINE COMPLETE LOSS OF BRAKING AND STEERING. DESTRUCTION OF ENGINE.75110 MILES FAILURE OF CAMSHAFT. ENGINE THROWN INTO GARBAGE
Owner-reported narrative. 75,110 miles reported. Look up ODI 10069397 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10546347 · 2013-10-01 (October 1, 2013)
WHILE DRIVING AT REDUCED SPEED THROUGH URBAN AREAS, THE VEHICLE WILL INCREASE RPMS AS IF THE ACCELERATOR IS BEING DEPRESSED, EVEN THOUGH THE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN AT A CONSTANT SPEED WITH NO PRESSURE BEING APPLIED TO THE ACCELERATOR. IT IS UNSETTLING, BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL TO INSURE THAT YOU DO NOT RUN INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE IN FRONT OF YOU. THE CRUISE CONTROL IS TURNED OFF WHEN THIS OCCURS. IF THE VEHICLE IS SHUT DOWN AND RESTARTED, THE RPMS RETURN TO NORMAL. IF YOU CONTINUE DRIVING WHEN THIS SITUATION OCCURS, THE ENGINE …
Owner-reported narrative. 126,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10546347 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10052464 · 2004-01-06 (January 6, 2004)
THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION ON OUR MONTANA FAILED WITHOUT WARNING AND NOW NEEDS TO BE REPLACED TO THE TUNE OF $2500. I WAS DIRECTED TO THIS SITE AND SEE NUMEROUS TRANSMISSION FAILURES ON VARIOUS MODEL YEAR MONTANA/TRANSSPORTS. WHY IS THERE NO RECALL ON THESE? THIS VEHICLE WAS NEVER USED FOR TOWING, ON HILLY AREAS, ETC. ESSENTIALLY A TYPICAL USAGE OF SOME CITY, SOME HIGHWAY. ONLY 68,000 MILES AND NOW THIS?*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 68,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10052464 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10465118 · 2012-07-10 (July 10, 2012)
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.
Owner-reported narrative. 234,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10465118 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10128679 · 2005-07-13 (July 13, 2005)
PONTIAC TRANSPORT MONTANA WAS PARKED IN A PARKING LOT FOR 1/2 HOUR OR SO AND BECAME INGULFED IN FLAMES. FIRE MARSHALL THINKS IT WAS FROM BATTERY/ ELECTRIC. DESTROYED OUR CAR AND 5 OTHERS. NO HUMANS HURT...THANK GOD IT WAS PARKED AND MY SON WAS NOT DRIVING IT.
Owner-reported narrative. 100,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10128679 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 552563 · 2000-06-08 (June 8, 2000)
THE ELECTRICAL SLIDING DOOR MALFUNCTIONED DUE TO THE DOOR MODULE FAILURE. YH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 552563 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10051512 · 2004-01-02 (January 2, 2004)
THE MOST IMPORTANT PROBLEM THAT I HAVE HAD WITH THIS CAR IS THAT WHEN MAKING RIGHT HAND TURNS, GOING APPROX 5-10 MILES AN HOUR, THE CAR WILL SHUT ITSELF OFF COMPLETELY. IN ORDER TO RETURN DRIVING, THE CAR MUST BE PUT INTO PARK AND THEN RESTARTED. THIS HAS OCCURRED MANY TIMES. THE CAR HAS BEEN TAKEN TO SEVERAL DIFFERENT PROFESSIONALS AND NO ONE HAS AN EXPLANATION. THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL SMALLER PROBLEMS AS WELL, MANY OF WHICH I HAVE SEEN REPORTED IN THIS WEB PAGE. THUD IN GAS TANK, LEAKING COOLANT, DRIVER AUTO WINDOW MALFUNCTION, AS WELL A…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10051512 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10121607 · 2005-05-19 (May 19, 2005)
I HAVE A 1999 PONTIAC MONTANA WITH A 3.4LTR ENGINE. AFTER 40,000 MILES I BEGAN HAVE FUEL INJECTOR MALFUNCTIONS. ON AUGUST 4, 2004, AFTER SEVERAL INJECTOR CLEANINGS, I DECIDE TO HAVE ALL THE INJECTORS REPLACED WITH OEM GM INJECTORS. UNFORTUNATELY THIS DID NOT CURE THE PROBLEM SINCE I HAVE LATER DISCOVERED, THE OEM INJECTORS FOR GM'S 3.4LTR ENGINES HAVE AN INHERANT DEFECT - THE MAGNET THAT IS USED TO OPEN AND CLOSE THE INJECTOR IS VERY WEAK. WHEN EVER THE INJECTOR ENCOUNTERS SMALL DIRT PARTICLES THE INJECTOR REMAINS SHUT, THEREFORE CAUSING THE…
Owner-reported narrative. 40,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10121607 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10028787 · 2003-07-22 (July 22, 2003)
CAR STALLING AT ANY SPEED. CAR STALLED,ENGINE DESTROYED.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 74,809 miles reported. Look up ODI 10028787 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10057074 · 2004-02-12 (February 12, 2004)
ON JULY 18, 2003 WE TOOK OUR 1998 PONTIAC MONTANA (58,000 MILES) TO DOMAILLE BUICK-MAZDA-MITSUBISHI IN ROCHESTER, MINNESOTA FOR A 3,000-MILE OIL CHANGE PRIOR TO LEAVING FOR OUR SUMMER VACATION. ON THAT DAY THE MECHANIC INFORMED US ABOUT EVIDENCE OF A LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET LEAK AND THE NEED FOR IMMEDIATE REPAIR. HE ADVISED US NOT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE FOR FEAR THAT THE ENGINE COULD SEIZE UP IN THE MIDDLE OF MAJOR TRAFFIC. THIS COSTLY PROBLEM, OF WHICH WE ARE NOW ACUTELY AWARE, IS FAIRLY COMMON AMONGST THIS LINE OF VEHICLE (CHEVY VENTURE…
Owner-reported narrative. 58,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10057074 at NHTSA ↗
Recalls by model year
All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.
Recall campaigns
Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1997 | 1 |
| 1998 | 3 |
| 1999 | 5 |
| 2000 | 5 |
| 2001 | 9 |
| 2002 | 3 |
| 2003 | 5 |
| 2004 | 3 |
| 2005 | 5 |
| 2006 | 2 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 1 |
1997: 1; 1998: 3; 1999: 5; 2000: 5; 2001: 9; 2002: 3; 2003: 5; 2004: 3; 2005: 5; 2006: 2; 2007: 1; 2008: 1