1997 Pontiac MONTANA: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
18 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
80,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1997 model year. Data snapshot: . 12 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine And Engine Cooling is the most frequently named component, appearing in 3 of 18 complaints (16.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 5.6% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 5.6% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 5.6% |
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 | 3 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe | 2 |
| Exterior Lighting:Headlights | 2 |
| Seat Belts | 2 |
| Structure | 2 |
| Suspension | 2 |
| Air Bags | 1 |
Engine And Engine Cooling: 3; Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe: 2; Exterior Lighting:Headlights: 2; Seat Belts: 2; Structure: 2; Suspension: 2; Air Bags: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 1 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 3 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 2 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 5 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 3; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 5; 150,000 and above: 0
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (5). 6 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 |
|---|---|
| 2001 | 1 |
| 2002 | 2 |
| 2003 | 5 |
| 2004 | 5 |
| 2005 | 3 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2010 | 1 |
2001: 1; 2002: 2; 2003: 5; 2004: 5; 2005: 3; 2006: 1; 2010: 1
Pattern summary
Engine And Engine Cooling leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 1 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 1 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 1 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10002242 · 2003-01-07 (January 7, 2003)
CONSUMER STATES THE VEHICLE LEAKS FUEL FROM THE ENGINE. *TS
Owner-reported narrative. 49,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10002242 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10012394 · 2003-04-03 (April 3, 2003)
INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET LEAK. MR. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 55,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10012394 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10013709 · 2003-03-31 (March 31, 2003)
BLOWN HEAD GASKET AFTER ONLY 50,000 MILES. NOT TO MENTION I HAD A BLOWN MANIFOLD GASKET 6 MONTHS BEFORE THIS!. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 50,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10013709 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10023220 · 2003-06-17 (June 17, 2003)
I HAVE A 1997 PONTIAC MONTANA MINIVAN. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT I HAVE THE DREADED INTAKE MANIFOLD LEAK. IT APPEARS THAT THIS IS A HUGE PROBLEM WITH THE 3.4 LITER ENGINE. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 80,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10023220 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10028509 · 2003-07-17 (July 17, 2003)
WE HAVE HAD LENS COVERS FALL OFF BOTH FRONT HEADLIGHTS. WHAT SHOULD NORMALLY BE A VERY LOW COST FIX HAS RESULTED IN REPAIR/LABOR COSTS OF OVER $300 FOR US AS YOU CANNOT REPLACE JUST THE LENS COVER. AS I WAS TOLD, THE "GLUE" WHOCH HOLDS THE LENS COVER ON BREAKS DOWN AND RESULTS IN THE LENS COVER FALLING OFF. THE ENTIRE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY HAS TO BE REPLACED (LAST YEAR PARTS ALONE WERE $130...THIS YEAR AROUND 90 FOR THE OTHER HEADLIGHT). THIS IS AN AWFUL DESIGN! IF I WERE ABLE TO REPLACE JUST THE LENS COVER (ONLY NEEDS TO BE GLUED BACK IN PLA…
Owner-reported narrative. 59,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10028509 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 10066908 · 2004-04-09 (April 9, 2004)
THE HEADLIGHT ON DRIVERS SIDE FELL OUT WHILE DRIVING. THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT FELL OUT AFTER THE TRUNK WAS CLOSED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 109,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10066908 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10070634 · 2004-01-15 (January 15, 2004)
A/C HEAT - AIR CONDITIONING / HEAT UNIT IN REAR OF VAN FAILED IN 2001. HAVE NOT ATTEMPTED TO HAVE IT REPAIRED TO DATE. A/C AND HEAT IS OK FRONT. BODY - PASSENGER AUTOMATIC SLIDING DOOR. RATTLED ALMOST FROM THE DAY WE BOUGHT THE CAR. IT ALSO AT TIMES WOULD NOT CLOSED (IN PARK). IT WOULD CLOSE AUTOMATICALLY UNTIL IT TOUCHED THE CAR BODY THEN WOULD RE-OPEN. THEY REPLACED THE POWER SLIDING DOOR UNLATCH ACTUATOR UNDER A RECALL. ENGINE - STARTING AT 48,000 MILES THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD START TO BLINK WHEN DRIVING, IMMEDIATELY THE VAN WOULD STA…
Owner-reported narrative. 15,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10070634 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
04V597000 · Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch
Reported: 2004-12-22 (December 22, 2004)
ON CERTAIN MINIVANS EQUIPPED WITH SECOND-ROW BUCKET SEATS OR CAPTAIN'S CHAIRS AND A POWER SLIDING DOOR ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE, A PASSENGER USING THE INTERIOR HANDLE TO OPEN THE POWER SLIDING DOOR COULD BE INJURED.
Consequence: IF A PASSENGER USES THE INTERIOR HANDLE TO OPEN THE POWER SLIDING DOOR AND HOLDS ONTO THE HANDLE WHILE IT IS BEING OPENED BY THE MOTOR, THE PASSENGER'S ARM MAY BE PUSHED INTO THE SEAT BACK OR ARMREST AND A WRIST OR LOWER ARM INJURY MAY RESULT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE POWER SLIDING DOOR INTERIOR HANDLE ON THE PASSENGER-SIDE. IF THE VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH A POWER OR MANUAL SLIDING DOOR ON THE DRIVER-SIDE, THE INTERIOR HANDLE WILL ALSO BE REPLACED FOR APPEARANCE REASONS. NOTE: BEFORE THE VEHICLE IS SERVICED, GM ADVISES OWNERS TO NOT USE THE INTERIOR DOOR HANDLE TO OPEN THE DOOR. THE DRIVER CAN OPEN AND CLOSE THE DOOR FROM SWITCHES AT THE DRIVER'S POSITION OR BY USING THE REMOTE KEY FOB. THE DRIVER SHOULD TELL PASSENGERS TO USE THE SWITCH LOCATED IN FRONT OF THE DOOR TO OPEN OR CLOSE IT. THE DRIVER SHOULD USE THE OVERRIDE SWITCH TO PREVENT OPERATION OF THE POWER DOOR BY CHILDREN OR BY OTHERS WHO ARE NOT FAMILIAR WITH ITS USE. THE OWNER NOTIFICATION LETTER MAILING WILL BE CONDUCTED IN PHASES WITH THE FIRST PHASE BEGINNING ON MAY 31, 2005. THE SECOND PHASE MAILING BEGAN ON JULY 18, 2005. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 31, 2005. PHASE 2 BEGAN ON JULY 18, 2005. PHASE 3 (FINAL PHASE) BEGAN ON AUGUST 24, 2005, TO ALL REMAINING CUSTOMERS. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438; PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668; OR OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-630-6537.
NHTSA campaign record ↗