2000 Pontiac Montana complaints

POWER SLIDING DOOR NEEDS A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF PRESSURE TO REVERSE CLOSING AND COULD CAUSE SERIOUS HARM. FUEL LEVEL INDICATOR MOVES UP AND DOWN RANDOMLY ONCE THE TANK GETS BELOW 1/3. PRESSURE CONTROL SOLENOID FAILING AFTER 65000 MILES CAUSING VERY HARD UP-SHIFTING AFTER TRANSMISSION WARMS UP. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE BACKING THE VEHICLE UP IN A DRIVEWAY, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN. THERE WAS A VERY LOUD CLUNKING NOISE AND THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD TURN BUT THE TIRES WOULD NOT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THE BOLT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE THAT HOLDS THE STEERING ROD TO THE STEERING SECTOR UNDER THE VEHICLE FELL OFF. THERE WERE NO PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE IS AWAITING REPAIRS.

2000 MONTANA LEAKED COOLANT FROM LOWER INTAKE GASKET. *TS *NM

MY 2000 PONTIAC MONTANA HAS COOLANT LEAKING INTO THE ENGINE THROUGH THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. I NOTICED THE PROBLEM TODAY WHEN I CHANGED THE OIL. PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED YET. AT ABOUT 50,000 MILES I HAD TO START ADDING A LITTLE COOLANT TO THE RESERVOIR WITH EVERY OIL CHANGE, BUT IT WASN'T ENOUGH TO NOTICE THE WATER IN THE OIL. NOW, WITH NEARLY 80,000 MILES THE LEAK IS BAD ENOUGH THAT THE COOLANT LIGHT RECENTLY CAME ON. *NM

AFTER TWO RECALLS FROM GM OVER SEVERAL MONTHS. DEALER AVOIDS REPAIRS. RIGHT ELEC. SLIDING DOOR RECALLED FOR HAZARDOUS INSIDE HANDLE. COULD BRAKE FINGERS. NO CORRECTION WAS BEEN ATTEMPTED. DEALER AVOIDS ORDERING PARTS SO REPLACEMENT CAN'T TAKE PLACE. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP PROPERLY. THE CONTACT DID THE REPAIR WORK AND FOUND THE FRONT BRAKE PADS HAD DISINTEGRATED AND THE REAR WHEEL CYLINDERS WERE LEAKING BRAKE FLUID. THE FRONT BRAKE PAD FELL OFF OF THE STEEL BACKING PLATE. THE PAD ON THE OTHER SIDE WAS BEGINNING TO SEPARATE. THESE WERE ORIGINAL GM PARTS. ALSO, THE ABS FAILED INTERMITTENTLY AND THE CONTACT DETERMINED THE CONNECTORS WERE DIRTY. UPDATED 2/21/2006 - *NM

VAN HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET THAT IS APPARENTLY EXTREMELY COMMON WITH THIS VEHICLE. IT COST ME ABOUT $800 TO HAVE THE REPAIR DONE AT A LOCAL MECHANIC. IT WOULD HAVE COST MORE THAN $1200 TO HAVE IT DONE AT THE DEALER. SHAME ON GM FOR NOT ISSUING A FULL RECALL FOR THIS OBVIOUS DEFECT! *JB

2000 PONTIAC MONTANA 3.4 LITER NUMEROUS COOLANT LEAKS AT INTAKE AREA AT ABOUT 60,000 MILES. ALSO COOLANT COOLER ALLOWED OIL TO GET IN TO THE COOLANT SYSTEM. I RETORQUED INTAKE AND ALEVIATED PROBLEM FOR ABOUT 10,000 MILES AND THEN CAME BACK. ENDED UP HAVING DEALER REPLACE INTAKE GASKETS AND THEY INFORMED ME THAT GM HAD REDESIGNED THE GASKETS BECAUSE OF AN EPIDEMIC OF THIS EXACT PROBLEM. THE DEALER DESIGNATED 1 MECHANIC TO SPECIALIZE WITH THIS DEFECT AND I TALKED TO THE MECHANIC AND HE INGFORMED ME THAT HE HAD DONE THIS SO MUCH THAT HE COULD DO THE WOKK IN ABOUT 3 HRS VERSUS THE ORIGINAL 6 TO 7 HOURS IT TOOK HIM THE FIRST TIME HIS QUOTE "YOU DO IT AS MUCH AS I HAVE AND YOU GET VERY EFFICIENT". GM SHOULD HAVE RECALLED AND MADE GOOD ON THE REPAIR. IN THE LAST 20 YEARS I HAVE BOUGHT 6 NEW GM VEHICLES AND I AM VERY DISSAPPOINTED THAT THE DEALER/CORPORATE WOULD NOT MAKE GOOD ON THE REPAIR. IT COST ME $550.00 FOR DEALER REPAIR. I WANT TO BE REIMBERSED FOR THE REPAIR COST FOR THIS IS A KNOWN DEFECT THAT GM CHOSE TO IGNORE OTHER THAT MAKING SURE THAT THE NEWER MONTANAS (3.4L) HAVE THE NEW DESIGNED GASKETS.

1.) THERE WAS NO PRIOR INDICATION THAT A FAILURE WOULD HAPPEN. 2.) FUEL PUMP FAILED. CONSEQUENCES: ENGINE STALLED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND WOULD NOT START OR RUN WHICH LEFT US STRANDED BY THE ROADSIDE - THIS WAS THE FIRST INCIDENT WHICH OCCURRED AT 36,000 MILES AND 3 YEARS AFTER THE PURCHASE OF THE VEHICLE ON 12-24-2002. THE SECOND INCIDENT OCCURRED AT 56,500 MILES AND 5.5 YEARS AFTER THE PURCHASE OF THE VEHICLE ( ON 7-26-2005, ON 8-8-2005, ON 8-9-2005, ON 8-11-2005) AND AGAIN THE FUEL PUMP FAILED AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START NOR RUN. 3.) FOR THE FIRST INCIDENT THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL SERVICE STATION WHERE THE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED ( I MAY STILL HAVE THE OLD PUMP ). FOR THE SECOND INCIDENT THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED REPEATEDLY (3 TIMES) TO A DEALER FACILITY BECAUSE THE FUEL PUMP WOULD ONLY WORK INTERMITTENTLY. THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE NO START CONDITION THE FIRST TIME. THE SECOND TIME IT WOULD NOT START FOR THE MECHANIC SO HE DIAGNOSED IT AND DECLARED THAT THE FUEL PUMP RELAY SWITCH WAS DEFECTIVE AND REPLACED IT. AFTER RECEIVING THE VEHICLE AND DRIVING IT THE CAR WAS PARKED AND IT WOULD NOT START WHICH RESULTED IN MY WIFE AND KIDS HAVING TO WALK HOME. I WENT TO THE VEHICLE AND IT STARTED FOR ME SO I DROVE IT BACK TO THE REPAIR SHOP AND THE MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE NO START CONDITION. WE RECEIVED THE CAR BACK AND THE NEXT DAY IT WOULD NOT START AND WAS TOWED BACK TO THE REPAIR FACILITY AND THIS TIME WOULD NOT START FOR THE MECHANIC WHO THEN D

NEW MARCH 2000. VAN ALWAYS RECEIVES REGULAR MAINTENANCE. THE FOLLOWING IS A HISTORY OF REPAIRS: 4/00 WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD NOT RETURN TO CLOSED POSITION - DEALER FIXED. 12/03 (37,179 MI) TPS SENSOR BREAKING DOWN CAUSING IDLE TO SURGE - DEALER REPLACED THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR, COMPLETED REPROGRAM ($255.14) 12/03 (37,182 MI) AIR BAG LIGHT COMING ON - DEALER REPLACED RIGHT FRONT SEAT BELT BUCKLE UNDER WARRANTY (LABOR $134.51). 12/27/03 (37,555 MI) WAS IN COLLISION (OTHER VEHICLE PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF ME AS I WAS COMING DOWN SMALL OVERPASS, HE WAS CITED). MY VAN SUSTAINED $4,500 IN FRONT END DAMAGES, HIS CAR WAS TOTALED. MY AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. NO ONE INJURED. 5/04 (40,983 MI) REAR HATCH WOULD NOT STAY UP - DEALER REPLACED BOTH HATCH PROPS ($258.73) 7/04 (43,437 MI) VAN WAS "SHIFTING" HARD, WOULD NOT PICK UP SPEED CORRECTLY. DEALER REPLACED PRESSURE CONTROL SOLENOID, FLUSHED TRANSMISSION AND REPLACED FRONT BRAKE PADS AND MACHINED ROTORS ($986.48). 12/04 (48,284 MI) VAN WOULD NOT START ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. KNOWN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP REPLACED BATTERY, CHECKED OIL LEAK. ($114.90). 4/05 (51,646 MI) LOW COOLANT LIGHT /CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMING ON. SAME INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP REPLACED INTAKE GASKETS, THERMOSTAT, SPARK PLUGS AND FILTER, AND OIL PUMP SHAFT 0-RING. CORRECTED AIR BAG LIGHT ($791.03) 6/05 PURCHASED NEW TIRES AND WERE TOLD NEEDED ALL NEW TIE RODS. WE WENT ON VACATION JULY 9, 2005 (OHIO TO VIRGINIA AND BACK). CONCERNED THAT THE VAN SHOOK TERRIBLY WHEN APPLYING TH

WELDING AT THE BASE OF THE DRIVER'S SEAT SEPARATED IN MY 2000 PONTIAC MONTANA VAN. THE VEHICLE HAD NO ACCIDENT, EVENT LEADING TO THE FAILURE IS UNKNOWN. BASE OF THE DRIVER'S SEAT IS MOVING WITH THE SEAT, THERE IS A 1/2 INCH GAP ON THE BOTTOM OF THE CAR AT THE WELDING. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO PONTIAC DEALERSHIP WHERE IT HAS BEEN INSPECTED. WHILE THEY COULD NOT GIVE AN EXPLANATION WHAT COULD HAVE CAUSED THE FAILURE, PONTIAC CUSTOMER SERVICE THINKS IT IS NORMAL TO HAVE SUCH A DEFECT IN A 5 YEAR-OLD VEHICLE DUE TO FATIGUE OF METAL...

THE ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM ENGAGED ITSELF WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS UNDERGOING A REGULAR, NON-EMERGENCY STOP. THIS MADE THE STOPPING DISTANCE INCREASE SEVERELY AND COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT BY CAUSING ME TO RUN INTO ANOTHER OBJECT. EVIDENTLY, THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE FOR THE ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM IS DEFECTIVE. I HAVE TEMPORARILY DISCONNECTED THIS CONTROL TO PREVENT THE MALFUNCTION FROM OCCURING AGAIN.

DT: CONTACT STATES THE GAS GAUGE IS READING FULL AT ALL TIMES. IT DOESN'T SHOW THAT GASOLINE TANK IS EMPTY UNTIL THE VEHICLE RUNS OUT OF GAS. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TO A SERVICE DEALER. THIS HAS HAPPENED SINCE THE VEHICLE HIT 50,000 MILES. THE VEHICLE NOW HAS 58,000 MILES. *AK

FUEL GAUGE READS FULL WHEN EMPTY AND EMPTY WHEN UNDER 3/4 OF A TANK. MESSAGE CENTER ALARMS TELLING ME THAT I AM OUT OF FUEL BUT WHEN I STOP AT THE GAS STATION IT WILL ONLY HOLD NO MORE THAN FIVE DALLORS. ALSO I HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE BREAK LIGHTS REPLACED SEVREL TIMES. THE REAR MOTORIZED WINDOW ON THE DRIVER SIDE DOES NOT ALWAYS SHUT WHEN PRESSING THE BUTTON. AND ENGINE IS QUICK TO OVERHEAT. ALSO THE PASSANGER SLIDING DOOR DOES NOT ALWAYS LATCH PROPERLY, LOCK AND UNLOCK WHEN BUTTONS PRESSED. THE SAD THING ABOUT IT IS I HAVE ONLY HAD THE VAN FOR JUST UNDER A YEAR. THE VAN IS ONLY FIVE YEARS OLD AND I AM ALREADY HAVING THIS KIND OF PROBLEMS OUT OF IT. NEEDLESS TO SAY I WILL NEVER OWN ANOTHER PONTIAC (GM).

FUEL GAUGE DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY, POWER WINDOW ON DRIVER SIDE WILL NOT PROPERLY ROLL UP. FUEL GAUGE WILL SHOW FULL TANK WHEN IT IS ALMOST EMPTY.

MY ABS SYSTEM ACTIVATES WITHOUT WARNING WHILE AT SLOW SPEEDS AND WHILE BRAKING. THERE ARE NO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS TO JUSTIFY THE ACTIVATION AND NO SERVICE ENGINE OR ABS LIGHTS ILLUMINATE WHEN THIS HAPPENS. WHEN THE ABS SYSTEM ACTIVATES, THE BRAKING DISTANCE INCREASES AND I'VE HAD TO ADJUST MY DRIVING SO I DO NOT HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE OR BRAKE INTO AN INTERSECTION. SINCE THIS BEGAN HAPPENING REGULARLY, I HAVE CHOSEN NOT TO DRIVE MY VEHICLE UNLESS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY AND NEVER WITH MY CHILDREN INSIDE. I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR A REPAIR ESTIMATE AND THEY FOUND CORROSION ON THE WHEEL SPEED SENSOR AND JUMPER HARNESS. I REFUSED THE REPAIRS AT THAT TIME DUE TO THE HIGH COST TO REPAIR. IN ADDITION, AT TIMES THE "SERVICE TRACTION SYSTEM" MESSAGE WILL ILLUMINATE ALONG WITH THE ABS AND TRAC OFF LIGHTS. THE ILLUMINATION OF THESE LIGHTS DOES NOT CORRESPOND TO THE ABS BRAKING PROBLEM, SO IT MAY NOT BE DIRECTLY RELATED.

DURING THE SECOND HALF OF 2004 I CALLED CUSTOMER SERVICE ABOUT A MONTANA 2000 MINI VAN FUEL SYSTEM PROBLEM. MY VAN HAD BEEN IN THE REPAIR SHOP MANY TIMES DURING THE WARRANTY PERIOD WITH PROBLEMS RELATED TO THE FUEL SYSTEM WIRING. *AK HARNESS TO THE FUEL PUMP TWICE. THEN HAD TO HAVE THE FUEL PUMP REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. ALL OF THE PROBLEM STARTED THE SAME WAY -STALL WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND WOULD NOT RESTART. (NOTE: A STALL ON THE ROAD IS VERY DANGEROUS DUE TO THE POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES). AFTER THE WARRANTY RAN OUT, YET ANOTHER FUEL PUMP WENT OUT IN THE SAME MANNER, EXCEPT THIS TIME, I WAS CHARGED OVER 800 DOLLARS PLUS A TOWING BILL. WHEN I COMPLAINED THAT THIS WAS AN ON-GOING PROBLEM THAT HAD OCCURRED UNDER WARRANTY AND MANY CALLS TO YOUR CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTER, I WAS TOLD THAT GM WOULD NOT REIMBURSE THE FULL AMOUNT AND TOWING WOULD NOT BE REIMBURSED. I TOLD THE REP AT THAT TIME THAT WAS NOT GOOD ENOUGH BUT DID NOT WIN THE BATTLE. TODAY I READ THAT GM WAS RECALLING 330,000 2000-2001 SUBURBAN AND YUKONS FOR STALLING AND NOT STARTING, AND IS RECALLING THEM TO REPLACE THE FUEL PUMP WIRES. I CHECKED THE FUEL SYSTEM UP ON THE 2000 MONTANA AND THE 2000 CHEVEROLET SUBURBAN, AND THEY HAVE THE SAME FUEL PUMP SYSTEM. SO TODAY, I CALLED CUSTOMER SERVICE AND ASKED FOR THE REST OF THE REPAIR AMOUNT AND TOWING EXPENSES,AND WAS TOLD THAT MY VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER THE RECALL.*AK NOW, IF THE SUBURBAN WITH THE SAME PUMP AND FUEL SYSTEM IS RECALLED WHY NOT THE MONTANA? HOW LONG

WHILE DRIVING THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. CONSUMER PULLED OFF THE ROAD , CALLED THE MECHANIC, WHO TOLD THEM TO CHECK THE WATER LEVEL, WHICH WAS FINE , THE ANTIFREEZE LEVEL WAS EMPTY. CONSUMER REFILLED THE ANTIFREEZE AND DROVE TO THE DEALERSHIP, WHO INDICATED THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET HAD GONE OUT, AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE VEHICLE JERKED AND VIBRATED UNCONTROLLABLY. THEVEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE FUEL INJECTORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM RECURRERD. *AK *ER

DEXCOOL ANTIFREEZE LEAKING FROM ENGINE. TOOK VEHICLE TO MY MECHANIC AND WAS TOLD IT HAD A FAULTING INTAKE GASKET. REPLACED ALL GASKETS AT A COST OF ALMOST $800. WAS TOLD GM REDESIGNED GASKET BUT DID NOT PLACE A RECALL ON THE PART. OLD PARTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE. *JB

1.WHILE GETTING MY TIRES ROTATED, CARX NOTICED MY COOLANT WAS LEAKING. 2. ANTIFREEZE WAS GETTING INTO THE ENGINE, AND IF NOT FIXED WOULD DAMAGE IT. 2. TOOK CAR TO PONTIAC DEALER. BILL TO FIX WAS $650. REPLACED THE LOWER INTAKE GASKET. *JB

THE DOOR COMES UNLATCHED FROM THE PONTIAC MONTANA MINI VANS W/O POWER SLIDER ALSO. SUBSEQUENTLY MY VAN DOOR PASSANGER SIDE CAME OPEN SLAMMING OFF HALF ON THE ROAD AND THEN REMAINED ATTACHED TO THE TOP BUT THE TRACK WHEEL SNAPPED OFF, MAKING IT INPOSSIBLE TO PUT ON WITH OUT TOOLS AND THE MUSCLES TO EVEN LIFT IT. *AK

THE POWER SLIDING DOOR CLOSED UNEXPECTEDLY BRUISING THE PASSENGER. THE DOOR WAS UNABLE TO OPEN IMMEDIATELY WHEN THE OWNER PRESSED THE BUTTON. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *JB THE CONSUMER STATED THAT HE PUSHED THE BUTTON TO CLOSE THE DOOR AND IT CLOSED ON HIS WIFES LEG. THE CONSUMER REQUESTS THAT THE DOORS INCLUDE A SAFETY DEVICE THAT STOPS WHEN CONTACT IS MADE. *TC

LOW COOLANT LIGHT CAME ON. COULD SMELL BURNING COOLANT TURNS OUT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET WAS CRACKED CAUSING COOLANT TO LEAK. PAID $900 IN REPAIRS. CONTACTED GENERAL MOTORS AND THE WILL NOT DO ANYTHING AT THIS TIME. SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL CAR. THIS HAPPENED AT 71,000 MILES. *JB

REAR BRAKE-LIGHT SUB ASSEMBLY HOLDS BRAKE LIGHT BULBS. EVIDENTLY WHEN USED IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC IN METROPOLITAN AREAS SUCH AS NEW YORK METRO AND LOS ANGELES, BULB HEATING MELTS THE BULB HOLDING SUB- ASSEMBLY DIRECTLY RELEASING THE BULB CONTACTS AND CAUSING BRAKE LIGHT FAILURE. BULBS CONTINUE TO TEST OK!!! ISUAL INSPECTION REVEALS MELTED PLASTIC. WRONG PLASTIC FORMULA. *AK

I WON A 2000 PONTIAC MONTANA AND I NOTICED OVER THE PAST YEAR THAT I WAS LOOSING A LITTLE ANTI-FREEZE OVER TIME. THE RATE INCREASED OVER THE PAST MONTH UNTIL THE "ENGINE OVERHEATED LIGHT" CAME ON. WHEN TAKEN TO THE REPAIR SHOP, THEY TOLD ME THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET WAS LEAKING AND I WAS LOOSING ANTI-FREEZE THROUGH THE GASKET. THEY ALSO SAID THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR GM 3.1 AND 3.4 LITER ENGINES. *JB

I HAVE A 2000 PONTIAC MONTANA AND HAVE HAD A COOLANT LEAK PROBLEM. MY VAN HAS ONLY 66K MILES ON IT AND HAS BEEN IN 2 TIMES FOR COOLANT LEAKS. ON 11/26/04 I HAD A COOLANT LEAK AND HAD TO HAVE LOWER MANIFOLD GASKET REPLACED. ON 12/2/04, LEAKING COOLANT INTO THE INTERIOR AND NOW HAVE BAD HEATER CORE. I HAVE BEEN RESEARCHING AND THERE ARE MANY OTHER PROBLEMS OF THE SAME EXACT CAUSE. I BELIEVE THIS IS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT AND SHOULD BE COMPENSATED BACK WHAT I PAID OUT.*AK

MY 2000 PONTIAC MONTANA WITH A 3.4 LITRE ENGINE WAS LEAKING FLUID ON THE GARAGE FLOOR. I TOOK IT TO A LOCAL MECHANIC AND THE TECHNICIAN SAID THAT THE INTAKE GASKET WAS THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. HE REPLACE THE INTAKE GASKET AND BOLTS. THE TOTAL COST WAS $674.94. THE TECHNICIAN ALSO MENTIONED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH GM V-6 ENGINES.*AK

NOTICED THAT COOLANT HAD TO BE ADDED EVEN THOUGH NO APARENT LEAK OR OVERHEATING ON MY 2000 PONTIAC MONTANA. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER IT WAS AN INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET LEAK AND WOULD COST $970 TO FIX. I FOUND THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM ON THIS MODEL ENGINE EITHER DUE TO THE DEX COOL COOLANT OR THE GASKET. IF THIS SIN'T FIXED, IT COULD LEAD TO BEING STRANDED OR STUCK IN A DANGEROUS LOACATION.*AK

AT 26,000 MILES MY VAN STARTED LEAKING COOLANT, ALOT OF IT. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP NEARBY AND THE MECHANIC TOOK A QUICK LOOK AND SAID IT WOULD NEED THE ENGINE PULLED AND ALL THE RUBBER RINGS OR GASKETS IN THE ENGINE REPLACED BECAUSE THEY WERE LEAKING AND IT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. HE SAID THEY NEED TO BE REPLACED WITH BETTER QUALITY ONES BECAUSE THAT WAS THE REASON THEY WERE LEAKING, THAT THEY BROKED DOWN QUICKLY BECAUSE THEY WERE INFERIOR. AND ALL THIS WOULD COST ME AROUND $1,000. UPDATED 07/24/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) *AK

LOWER INTAKE GASKET FAILED. MDEALERSHIP REPAIRED AT MY COST SHORTLY AFTER, THE CAM SHAFT BROKE. I WILL NOT PAY TO FIX. *AK

WHEN DRIVING ANY SPEED REAR DRIVER SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT AND SEPARATED. CONSUMER PULLED OVER AND CHANGED THE TIRE. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. FIRESTONE, INSIGNIA, 21570/R15. *AK

I READ OF YOUR INVESTIGATION IN AUTOMOTIVE NEWS. MY 12 YR OLD DAUGHTER'S WRIST WAS BROKEN LAST SUMMER WHILE ATTEMPTING TO OPEN THE DOOR OF OUR 2000 MONTANA. SHE GRABBED THE HANDLE FROM INSIDE AND AS THE DOOR MOVED OPEN IT BENT HER WRIST BACKWARD. IT DIDN'T STOP, DESPITE THE RESISTANCE. IT WAS BROKEN IN THE GROWTH PLATE AND DID NOT REQUIRE A CAST BUT WAS SPLINTED FOR 2 WEEKS. *JB PE04064.PCO

SRS BAG LIGHT STEADILY ON AND SEAT BELT LIGHT MAN ON DASH CHIMES FOR NO REASON AND BLINKS ON/OFF. TOOK IN TO PONTIAC 6/18/04, THEY FIXED WIRING HARNESS THAT DAY (UNCLEAR ON INVOICE) WE JUST BOUGHT THE VEHICLE IN MAY 2004. A FEW WEEKS LATER WE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AND TOOK IT BACK IN, JUST TO HEAR THAT IT WAS A CLUSTER THIS TIME, THEY CLAIM THEY'RE WERE TOYS UNDER THE SEAT AND A PLUG WAS BROKEN BUT THE ONLY TOYS IN THERE WERE LITTLE HOT WHEELS. SO, THEY PUT IN A NEW CLUSTER AND HERE WE ARE THREE WEEKS LATER AND I AM STILL HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE SEAT BELT MAN LIGHT AND THE SRS BAG LIGHT ON THE DASH. PONTIAC WILL LOOK AT IT AGAIN, THEY SAY, BUT I CANNOT SEE THAT ONE PART AFTER ANOTHER NEEDING TO BE REPLACED EVERY TWO WEEKS AND THE OUTCOME IS ALWAYS THE SAME WITH THE SAME ITEM DEFAULTING(SEAT BELT GUY LIGHT/SRS AIR BAG LIGHT ON DASH STAYS ON).*AK

I WOULD LIKE TO REPORT A POSSIBLE MANUFACTURE DEFECT OF MY 2000 PONTIAC MONTANA. THERE WAS ELECTRICAL DAMAGE WITHIN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT DUE TO THE FACTORY (WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS ASSEMBLED) MISS ROUTING OF THE HARNESS FROM THE POSITIVE CABLE OF THE BATTERY. THE HARNESS WAS FOUND, BY THE MECHANIC, TO BE ROUTED OVER THE AIR CONDITIONER, WHICH IN-TIME BURNED THROUGH TO THE BARE WIRES, WHICH IN-TURN SHORTED OUT CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE PCM AND BATTERY PLUS BURNED OUT MOST OF THE WIRING CONNECTED TO THE POSITIVE CABLE OF THE BATTERY. ACCORDING TO THE MECHANIC WHO PREFORMED THE REPAIRS, THIS PROBLEM APPEARS TO BE A MANUFACTURE DEFECT AND CONSIDERING THE YEAR AND MILEAGE OF THE VEHICLE THIS SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPEN. THE PCM, BATTERY AND WIRING HAD TO BE REPLACED, WITH NEW HARNESS; IN ADDITION THE MECHANIC HAD TO RE-ROUTE THE HARNESS UNDER THE ENGINE IN ORDER TO PREVENT IT FROM BURNING UP AGAIN IN THE FUTURE. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AND HAD TO BE TOWED TO A LOCAL PONTIAC DEALER. TOTAL REPAIR BILL $823.00 NOT INCLUDING TOWING.*AK

INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET LEAKING COOLANT. REPLACEMENT OF INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET, COOLING SYSTEM FLUSH, OIL AND FILTER CHANGE.*AK

MY 2000 MONTANA VAN WOULD NOT START AT 18000 MILES AFTER TOWING TWICE TO THE DEALER FOUND CONNECTOR TO FUEL PUMP BAD. THEN AT 20000 MILES WIRE HARNESS TO FUEL PUMP. THEN AT 25000 MILES FUEL PUMP WENT OUT. NOW AT 55000 MILE THE VAN SUDDENLY STALLED DRIVING AT 65 MILES AN HOUR MAKING STEERING AND BRAKING DIFFICULT. DEALERSHIP FOUND FUEL PUMP OUT. THE LAST TIME THE BILL WAS 870.00 TOTAL. GM HAS SAID THAT THEY WILL PAY 50% OF THE REPAIRS MINUS TOWING. I FEEL THAT THIS IS A DEFECT THAT HAS BEEN APPARENT SINCE THE BEGINNING AND THAT THEY SHOULD PAY FOR THE ENTIRE COST OF THE REPAIR AND TOW. THIS IS ALSO A SAFETY PROBLEM BECAUSE MY WIFE NEARLY LOST CONTROL OF THE VAN WHEN THE PUMP WENT OUT.*AK

HEAD GASKET FAILURE, WHICH ALOT OF OTHER PEOPLE WITH 2000 PONTIAC MONTANAS HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT ALSO...GM IS DOING NOTHING ABOUT THIS AND THEY KNOW ABOUT THE PROBLEM.*AK

WAS HAVING A LOUD WHOOPING SOUND TOOK TO DEALERSHIP TO HAVE CHECKED OUT NO ONE COULD FIGURE OUT THE SOUND SO THEY CHECK A/C AND SAID THE A/C COMPRESSOR WAS GOING OUT AND REPLACED IT SINCE THEN I HAVE HAD THE VAN IN THE SHOP CAUSE A/C WILL NOT WORK 3 TIMES SINCE I HAVE NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A NOTHER COMPLAINT ABOUT A LOUD SOUND NO ONE COULD FIGURE OUT TO AND MY LOUD SOUND IS STILL HAPPENING.*AK

UPPER AND LOWER MANIFOLD GASKET COOLANT LEAKS. (DEALER CLAIMS THAT THEY ARE DOING 10 A WEEK ON THIS VEHICLE). *AK

WINDSHIELD WIPERS ON 2000 MONTANA AND OTHER VANS WIPERS WITH DELAY INSTEAD OF GOING DOWN WHEN SHUT OFF THEY POP UP AND STAY UP.!! *AK

VEHICLES STALLED AT ANY SPEED WITHOUT WARNING. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, AND DEALER SAID THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE FUEL PUMP. THE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED TWICE. *AK

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET WHICH WAS CAUSING A COOLANT LEAK INTO THE ENGINE. INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET WAS REPLACED BY DEALER. *AK THE CONSUMER FEELS THIS PART SHOULD NOT HAVE FAILED AT 48,000 MILES. *NM

DRIVER SIDE REAR STRUT/SHOCK MOUNT, PART OF THE INNER WHEELHOUSE ASSY., RUSTED AT A WELD AND CRACKED IN BOTH DIRECTIONS, NOT SURE WHEN IT HAPPENED BUT IT HAS BEEN LIKE THAT FOR A LONG TIME. THE CRACK IS RUSTED ALL THE WAY DOWN THE CRACK IN BOTH DIRECTIONS UNTIL THE RIPPED PART STARTS WHERE THE PART FINALLY FAILED. THEN IT RIPPED OUT DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. VAN HAS NEVER BEEN WRECKED. TOOK IT TO THE GM DEALERSHIP THEY SAID IT WAS A DEFECTIVE PART, BODY SHOP THAT FIXED IT SAID THE SAME THING. AFTER THREE MONTHS AND MANY PHONE CALLS TO THE DEALER (S) WE HAVE FINALLY GOT IT TO THE POINT WHERE THEY ARE CALLING IT A PRODUCT LIABILITY . TOOK A GM REP. TO TAKE THE TIME TO COME AND SEE IT. ORIGINALLY THEY DID NOT BOTHER SINCE THEY WERE ORIGINALLY CALLING IT A WARRANTY ISSUE AND WERE BLOWING US OFF. THE GENERAL MANAGER AT THE DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN VERY HELPFUL HOWEVER. AFTER HE LOOKED AT IT HE REOPENED THE CASE , BUT THEY DONT SEAM TO BE VERY HELPFUL AT THE CUSTOMER SERVICE NUMBER THAT IS SUPPOSED TO BE ORGANIZING THIS WHOLE THING. AND NO ONE THERE RETURNS PHONE CALLS. I HAVE TAKEN A LOT OF HIGH QUALITY DIGITAL PICTURES, AND STILL HAVE THE PART. *NM

RECENTLY A NUMBER OF GM CAR/VANS HAVE EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH THE 3100 ENGINE. A GREAT NUMBER OF THEM HAVE A "LOW COOLANT" INDICATION WITH THE RESULT BEING A NEW INTAKE MANIFOLD WITH A COST OF $700 TO $1000. IS THERE A PROBLEM WITH THIS ENGINE. *JB

TRANSMISSION SHIFTS HARD FROM GEAR TO GEAR. *JB

I HAVE A 2000 PONTIAC MONTANA WITH A 3.4 LITER ENGINE. I HAD THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET REPLACED IN JANUARY OF 2003 BECAUSE THE COOLANT WAS LEAKING OUT. IT COST ABOUT $600 TO DO THIS. I RECENTLY CHANGED THE OIL ON FEBRUARY 29, 2004 AND NOTICED COOLANT IN THE OIL AGAIN. I AM NOW WORKING WITH THE MECHANIC AGAIN TO FIX THE PROBLEM. APPARENTLY THERE IS A QUALITY CONTROL PROBLEM AT GM REGARDING THEIR MANIFOLD GASKETS. I KNOW OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. A FRIEND OF MINE OWNS A 2003 GRAND AM WITH A 3.4 LITER AND THEY HAD TO HAVE THEIR INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET REPLACED TWICE. MY BROTHERS RICH AND STEVE ALSO OWNED GM TRUCKS THAT NEEDED THE INTAKE GASKETS REPLACED.*AK

THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET HAD TO BE REPLACED ON MY 2000 PONTIAC MONTANA AT 109,000 MILES. MY DAUGHTER HAS A 2001 PONTIAC MONTANA WITH ABOUT 47,000 MILES AND SHE NEEDS TO REPLACE THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET ALSO. SOUNDS LIKE THE GASKET MAY HAVE BEEN SUBSTANDARD. *AK

GAS GAUGE FLUCTUATED AND ANTIFREEZE LEAKING. DIAGNOSED AS LEAKING INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET AND WIRING HARNESS FOR FUEL ASSEMBLY WAS CORRODED DUE TO EXPOSURE TO MOISTURE - REPAIR BILL $1400. *JB

MY SON HAD HIS EAR HURT WHEN THE AUTOMATIC VAN DOOR TRIED TO CLOSE ON IT. I DID CALL THE MANUFACTURE AND COMPLAINED. *CB