1999 Pontiac MONTANA: complaints, problems and recalls

LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET LEAK CAUSING COOLANT/OIL MIX INTERNALLY ON A VEHICLE WITH ONLY 41K. CAUGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS 900MI TRIP. WOULD HAVE LIKELY CAUSED ENGINE TO SEIZE IF NOT CAUGHT BEFORE TRIP. OIL WAS CREAMY WHITE.

Owner-reported narrative. 41,050 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000696 at NHTSA ↗

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING THE INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACK CAUSING COOLANT FLUID TO LEAK ONTO THE ENGINE. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10001823 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE PASSENGER FRONT SEATBELT FAILED TO RESTRAIN THE PASSENGER UPON IMPACT, AND NIETHER DRIVER NOR PASSENGER AIRBAG DEPLOYED. HAD A FRONT END COLLISION. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. PH

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10002149 at NHTSA ↗

PASSENGER'S SIDE FRONT SEATBELT FAILED TO LOCK WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE PLOWED INTO CONSUMER'S VEHICLE FRONT END. NEITHER OF VEHICLE'S FRONTAL OR REAR AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. PH...*AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10002151 at NHTSA ↗

MY WIFE & I OWN A 1999 PONTIAC MONTANA. IN SEPTEMBER WITH 53,000 MILES WE NOTICED THAT THE LOW COOLANT LIGHT CAME ON. WE ADDED COOLANT AND ABOUT 2 WEEKS LATER THE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. I THEN CONTACTED MY PERSONAL MECHANIC (SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY). HE TOLD ME THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS BAD AND THAT THIS WAS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS TYPE OF ENGINE. HE ALSO TOLD ME THAT GM DEALERS TOLD HIM THAT IT WAS A RESULT OF THE INTAKE MANIFOLD BEING MADE OF PLASTIC AND THAT THE DEXCOOL WAS EATING UP THE GASKETS AND THE …

Owner-reported narrative. 53,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10003029 at NHTSA ↗

1999 PONTIAC MONTANA- COOLANT IN OIL- LEAKING INTAKE MAINIFOLD GASKET AND BAD WATER PUMP. 75,000 MILES AT TIME OF INCIDENT.

Owner-reported narrative. 77,100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10003050 at NHTSA ↗

I OWN A 1999 PONTIAC MONTANA AND AT 54,000 MILES BEGAN EXPERIENCING LOSS OF OIL AND COOLANT. I TOOK TO A REPAIR SHOP AND WAS TOLD THAT MY INTAKE MANIFOLD UPPER AND LOWER GASKETS NEED TO BE REPLACED, AS WELL AS MY THERMOSTAT AND GASKET. QUOTE $900 FOR REPAIRS.

Owner-reported narrative. 52,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10003102 at NHTSA ↗

FAILURE OF LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET ON MY 1999 PONTIAC MONTANA. INTERNET SEARCH PROVIDED EVIDENCE THAT THOUSANDS OF THESE ARE FAILING AND THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALL NOTICE TO DATE.

Owner-reported narrative. 38,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10003253 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2001-03-08 (March 8, 2001)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MINIVANS EQUIPPED WITH PASSENGER SIDE POWER SLIDING DOORS. THE DOOR CLOSES BUT MAY NOT BE LATCHED. IF THIS HAPPENS, THE POWER SLIDING DOOR CAN OPEN WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION, PARTICULARLY WHEN THE VEHICLE ASCENDS A HILL, MAKES A TURN, OR TRAVELS OVER A ROUGH ROAD SURFACE.

Consequence: AN UNRESTRAINED OCCUPANT COULD FALL OUT OF THE VAN AND BE INJURED.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW UN-LATCH ACTUATOR ASSEMBLY TO THE POWER SLIDING DOOR. THIS RECALL HAS BEEN CONTINUED UNDER SAFETY RECALL 01V-264. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-222-1020, PONTIAC AT 1-800-762-2737, OR OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-442-6537.

Reported: 2001-08-21 (August 21, 2001)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: 1997-2001 CHEVROLET VENTURE, PONTIAC MONTANA/TRANSPORT, AND OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE MINI VANS EQUIPPED WITH PASSENGER SIDE POWER SLIDING DOORS THAT WERE SERVICED IN CAMPAIGN 01013 (01V-067) FROM APRIL TO AUGUST 2001. ALSO 2001 CHEVROLET VENTURE, PONTIAC MONTANA, AND OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE MINI VANS EQUIPPED WITH PASSENGER SIDE POWER SLIDING DOORS ASSEMBLED IN JANUARY THROUGH APRIL 2001. THESE VEHICLES HAVE INADEQUATE FRONT WELDS. IF A FRONT WELD FAILS, THE ACTUATOR CAN JAM IN THE UNLATCHED POSITION AND, WHEN THE SLIDING DOOR CLOSES, IT WILL NOT BE LATCHED.

Consequence: IF THIS HAPPENS, THE POWER SLIDING DOOR CAN OPEN WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION, PARTICULARLY WHEN THE VEHICLE ASCENDS A HILL, MAKES A TURN, OR TRAVELS OVER A ROUGH ROAD SURFACE. AN UNRESTRAINED OCCUPANT COULD FALL OUT OF THE VAN AND BE INJURED.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND, IF REQUIRED, INSTALL A NEW POWER SLIDING DOOR UNLATCH ACTUATOR ASSEMBLY. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON OCTOBER 22, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-222-1020, PONTIAC AT 1-800-762-2737, OR OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-442-6537.

Reported: 2002-01-25 (January 25, 2002)

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES AND MINI VANS, THE DRIVER'S AIR BAG INFLATOR MODULES COULD PRODUCE EXCESSIVE INTERNAL PRESSURE. IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH THAT WOULD TRIGGER A DRIVER'S AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT, THE INCREASED INTERNAL PRESSURE CAN CAUSE THE INFLATOR MODULE TO EXPLODE.

Consequence: METAL AND PLASTIC DEBRIS COULD CAUSE SEVERE INJURY TO VEHICLE OCCUPANTS.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE DRIVER AIR BAG MODULE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN FEBRUARY 1, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT PONTIAC AT 1-800-762-2737.

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.

Reported: 1999-04-12 (April 12, 1999)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER MINI VANS. THE LEFT AND/OR RIGHT FRONT LOWER INSULATOR TO CRADLE CENTER METAL SLEEVE IS COLLAPSED, WHICH CAN RESULT IN LOSS OF CLAMP LOAD IN THE JOINT. IF THE CLAMP LOAD IS REDUCED OR LOST, THE BOLT CAN BE LOST OR BROKEN AND THE JOINT CAN SEPARATE.

Consequence: IF NOT REPAIRED, SEPARATION OF THE OPPOSITE SIDE JOINT COULD OCCUR RESULTING IN STEERING SHAFT SEPARATION.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE LEFT AND RIGHT FRONT LOWER CRADLE-TO-SUSPENSION INSULATORS AND THE ATTACHING BOLTS.