2005 Pontiac MONTANA: complaints, problems and recalls

THE DOOR DESIGN IS POOR. IF ONE IS NOT DIRECTLY UP AGAINST THE DOOR IT JAMS AND A CHILD COULD GET TRAPPED. IF ONE IS IN THE DOORWAY IT TAKES A LOT OF FORCE TO REOPEN THE DOOR.*AK THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE SLIDING DOOR POSES A SAFETY HAZARD FOR SMALL CHILDREN. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT A CHILD COULD NOT EXHERT THE FORCE NECESSARY TO CAUSE THE DOOR TO REOPEN AND COULD BE INJURED WHILE BEING DRAGGED / PUSHED BY TE DOOR UNTIL THEY ARE LODGED BETWEEN THE DOOR AND THE JAM. *TC

Owner-reported narrative. 600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10094662 at NHTSA ↗

THE POWER SLIDING DOOR BEGAN TO CLOSE WITHOUT WARNING. THE PASSENGERS WRIST WAS CAUGHT IN THE HANDLE OF THE DOOR. AS A RESULT, THE PASSENGER'S RIGHT WRIST WAS BROKEN . PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 15,759 miles reported. Look up ODI 10105393 at NHTSA ↗

2005 PONTIAC MONTANA PROBLEMS WITH THE HEAD RESTS AS WELL AS THE ARM REST.*MR THE REAR CENTER HEAD REST IS TOO LARGE AND IT CREATES A BAD BLIND SPOT WHEN LOOKING IN THE REAR VIEW MIRROR. *NM

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10117655 at NHTSA ↗

POWER SLIDING DOORS REQUIRE A LOT OF FORCE TO STOP AND REVERSE THE DIRECTION. I AM VERY CONCERNED FOR MY CHILDREN EXITING THE VAN. DEALERSHIP STATES THAT THIS IS NORMAL FOR THIS VAN BECAUSE AS THE VEHICLE AGES IT REQUIRES MORE FORCE TO CLOSE.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10122352 at NHTSA ↗

2005 PONTIAC MONTANA EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE WINDOWS AND THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS. *MR THE CONSUMER FOUND DAMAGE ON THE DOOR WHICH WAS REMEDIED, THEN THE CONSUMER REPORTED THAT BOTH WINDOWS ROLLED DOWN HARD. THE DRIVERS SIDE WAS FIXED BUT NOT THE PASSENGER SIDE. WIPER FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY AND WERE REPLACED, THEN THE PASSENGER WINDOW WOULD NOT ROLL UP. THE PASSENGER WINDOW WAS FIXED. THE DRIVER WINDOW DID NOT OPERATE PROPERLY AND THE VEHICLE STALLED ON A FEW OCCASIONS WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. *SC *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10122631 at NHTSA ↗

ON 1-7 JUNE 05, MY FAMILY AND I RENTED A 2005 PONTIAC MONTANA MINIVAN (SAME AS THE 2005 CHEVY UPLANDER) FOR A TRIP IN COLORADO. WE ATTACHED OUR TWIN BOYS CARSEATS TO THE LATCH SYSTEMS IN BOTH REAR CAPTAIN'S CHAIRS. WE CHECKED AND MADE SURE BOTH SEATS WERE SECURELY IN PLACE. IT WAS AT THIS TIME THAT WE NOTICED THAT THE REAR CAPTAINS CHAIRS LIFT UP IF THEY ARE PUSHED TOO FAR BACK (THE MECHANISM FOR ATTACHING THE CHAIRS TO THE FLOOR AUTOMATICALLY RELEASES WHEN THE CHAIRS ARE SLID BACK, I.E TO GIVE MORE LEG ROOM) WE FIRMLY SECURED BOTH CAPTAINS…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10124870 at NHTSA ↗

I JUST WANT TO INFORM YOU THAT I WAS NOT NOTIFIED BY GM OF EITHER OF THE 2 RECALLS ON MY 2005 PONTIAC MONTANA. THE FIRST AND WORST BEING ID#: 04V597000, WHICH I KNOW FOR SURE AFFECTS MY VEHICLE. THE OTHER BEING ID#: 05V061000, WHICH MAY NOT AFFECT ME DEPENDING ON WHICH SEATS I HAVE IN THE 2ND ROW.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10125061 at NHTSA ↗

MY 3 YEAR OLD SON PUSHED THE BUTTON TO CLOSE THE AUTOMATIC SLIDING SIDE DOOR AND THE DOOR CAUGHT HIS LEFT THUMB AND PART OF THE PALM. I TOOK HIM TO THE IMMEDIATE CARE CENTER AND HE HAD A BONE THAT WAS CHIPPED IN HIS THUMB. THEY PUT A SPLINT ON HIS THUMB AND WAS GOING TO RE X-RAY HIM IN ABOUT A WEEK. *NM

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10134973 at NHTSA ↗

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: 2005-02-18 (February 18, 2005)

ON CERTAIN MINIVANS, THE OUTBOARD RELEASE HANDLE ON THE IMPACT-SIDE SECOND-ROW BUCKET SEAT MAY BE ACTUATED AND THE REAR LATCHES MAY UNLATCH EARLY IN A SIDE IMPACT CRASH. THIS WAS DISCOVERED IN A SIDE IMPACT TEST RUN BY GM, UNDER CONDITIONS SIMILAR TO NHTSA'S NEW CAR ASSESSMENT PROGRAM (NCAP) SIDE IMPACT TEST.

Consequence: IF THE REAR LATCHES OF THE SEAT RELEASE EARLY IN A SEVERE SIDE IMPACT, THE FRONT OUTBOARD LATCH MAY DISENGAGE AND INCREASE THE POTENTIAL FOR INJURY TO THE OCCUPANT OF THE SEAT.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REMOVE THE SEAT LATCH RELEASE HANDLE AND INSTALL A BLACK PLASTIC CAP OVER THE EXPOSED METAL STUD TO ELIMINATE THE SIDE IMPACT SAFETY CONCERN FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 5, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SATURN AT 1-800-972-8876, CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, AND PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668.

Reported: 2005-06-20 (June 20, 2005)

CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 135, 'PASSENGER CAR BRAKE SYSTEMS.' TO MEET THE STANDARD, THE VEHICLE MUST NOT MOVE FOR FIVE MINUTES WHEN STOPPED ON A STEEP HILL WITH THE PARKING BRAKE APPLIED AND THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL (N). SOME OF THESE VEHICLES FAILED THIS TEST.

Consequence: WHEN THE PARKING BRAKE IS RELEASED, THE DRIVER MAY NOTICE UNINTENDED BRAKING WHEN ACCELERATING, DECELERATING, OR COASTING, AND A NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. UNINTENDED VEHICLE MOVEMENT COULD OCCUR INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT FOR PARKING BRAKE LEVER SLIPPAGE AT EACH REAR BRAKE CALIPER AND REPLACE THE CALIPER IF LEVER SLIPPAGE IS IDENTIFIED. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 14, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BUICK AT 1-866-608-8080, CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668, OR SATURN AT 1-800-972-8876.

Reported: 2006-10-31 (October 31, 2006)

CERTAIN VEHICLES ORIGINALLY BUILT WITH CLOTH SEATS THAT WERE EQUIPPED WITH AN AUTOMATIC AIR BAG PASSENGER SENSING SYSTEM AND LATER REUPHOLSTERED WITH AFTERMARKET LEATHER SEAT COVER KITS ARE INVOLVED. TESTING HAS INDICATED THAT THE AFTERMARKET LEATHER SEAT COVERS CAN CAUSE THE PASSENGER SENSING SYSTEM TO MALFUNCTION.

Consequence: IF THE PASSENGER SENSING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONS, THE FRONT AIR BAG ON THE PASSENGER SIDE MAY BE DISABLED WHEN IT SHOULD BE ENABLED, OR ENABLED WHEN IT SHOULD BE DISABLED. IN EITHER CASE, IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH THAT REQUIRES AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT, A FRONT PASSENGER'S LEVEL OF INJURY MAY BE INCREASED.

Remedy: BECAUSE A REPLACEMENT LEATHER SEAT COVER THAT IS COMPATIBLE WITH THE PASSENGER SENSING SYSTEM IS NOT AVAILABLE, GENERAL MOTORS (GM) WILL REPURCHASE THESE VEHICLES IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TERMS STATED IN GM'S LETTER TO OWNERS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 6, 2006. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT GM AT 1-877-477-1022 TO BEGIN THE PROCESS OF REPURCHASING THEIR VEHICLE.

Reported: 2010-03-19 (March 19, 2010)

THE BRAUN CORPORATION HAS NOTIFIED NHTSA ABOUT A DEFECT IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2005-2008 GENERAL MOTORS MOBILITY CONVERSION, HANDICAPPED ACCESSIBLE LOW FLOOR MINIVANS. DURING CONVERSION, THE DRIVER OR PASSENGER SIDE TRAILING ARM MODIFICATION MAY NOT HAVE BEEN ADEQUATELY WELDED.

Consequence: A SQUEAKING OR CLUNKING NOISE MAY DEVELOP. THE TRAILING ARM BUSHINGS MAY PREMATURELY WEAR AND THE TRAILING ARM MAY FRACTURE OR SEPARATE, ALLOWING THE REAR AXLE TO BECOME PARTIALLY SEPARATED FROM THE CHASSIS INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND WILL HAVE A SUPPLY OF RETROFIT PARTS AVAILABLE TO REMEDY THE VEHICLES FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 4, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BRAUN AT 1-800-488-0359.