2000 Pontiac Montana complaints

POWER ASSISTED STEERING BECOMES HARD AT HIGH SPEED OR STEERING BECOMES LOOSE - DEALER COULD NOT IDENTIFY PROBLEM

HEAVY VALVE LIFTER NOISE - INDICATING POSSIBLE EARLY ENGINE FAILURE

WHILE TRAVELING AND WHEN RUNNING OVER TRASH ON HIGHWAY FUEL WIRES BECOME UNDONE, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL. *AK THE WIRING UNDER THE BODY BETWEEN FRONT TO BACK FRAME SUPPORT AND FUEL TANK WAS EXPOSED TO ROAD HAZARD. *YH

THE CRANK ARM ON THE WIPER MOTOR FAILED CAUSING THE WIPER ARM TO NOT RETURN TO THEIR HOME POSITION WHEN THE SWITCH IS TURNED OFF AFTER USE. NLM

DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY GOING ABOUT 65 MPH, A CAR LOST CONTROL AND RAN INTO CENTER DIVIDER AND I COLLIDED WITH THAT CAR. THE PASSENGER SIDE BELT DID NOT HOLD MY WIFE BACK INTO HER SEAT. AIR BAGS DID GO OFF. HER FACE WAS BADLY HURT TWICE, ONCE BUY THE DASH FROM STOPPING VERY SHARPLY AND THE SEATBELT NOT HOLDING HER BACK AND THE OTHER BY THE AIR BAG SMACKING HER FACE WHEN WE COLLIDED. *AK

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED STALLING, DEALER REPAIRED THE HARNESS LOCATED UNDER THE DRIVER'S SIDE, THERE WAS A SPACE THAT WAS TOO LARGE FOR THE CONNECTOR THAT WOULD CAUSE IT TO ARK AND STALL THE VEHICLE. *SLC

ORIGNAL FAILURE OF TRANSMISSION AT 5700 MILES DEALER INSTALLED A REMANUFACTURED TRANSMISSION, SECOND TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT 8600 MILES. DEALER HAS INSTALLED A SECOND REMANUFACTURED TRANSMISSION. *AK

WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH WINDSHIELD WIPERS BECAME INTERLOCKED AND MANGLED. DEALER SAID THEY WERE NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY BECAUSE THIS WAS NOT A FACTORY DEFECT. *AK THE PROBLEM REOCCURED AFTER THE DEALER HAD REPLACED THE WIPER BLADES. *YH

VEHICLE HAS HAD NUMEROUS OF TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO DEALER ON SIX DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. DEALER HAD REPLACED CABLES AND REINSTALLED TRANSMISSION, BUT PROBLEM STILL OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. DEALER HAS RECOGNIZED THE DEFECT, BUT HAS NOT FOUND AN ACTUAL REMEDY. WITH DEFECT CONSUMER DID NOT HAVE FULL CONTROL OF VEHICLE, WHICH COULD RESULT INTO AN AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT.*AK

WHILE DRIVING 65 ON FREEWAY THE LEFT REAR SLIDING DOOR WINDOW EXPLODED INTO THE CAR. MY DAUGHTER WAS SEATED THERE AND RECEIVED LACERATIONS ON HER LEFT HAND AND ARM. THE GLASS SHOWERED THE ENTIRE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE WITH GLASS. THE NOISE AS THE WINDOW

WHEN HEADLIGHTS ARE TURNED ON AT NIGHT, LIGHTS INSIDE DASHBOARD ARE SO BRIGHT THAT THEY CAUSE DISTRACTION TO CONSUMER WHILE DRIVING. CONSUMER ATTEMPTS TO DIM THE LIGHTS, BUT LIGHTS INSIDE THE DASHBOARD WOULD BE VERY DIM, AND DIFFICULT FOR CONSUMER TO SEE DASHBOARD INFORMATION. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE NOT RECOGNIZED THE LIGHTING AS A DEFECT, AND WILL NOT PROVIDE ANY REMEDY.*AK

ONCE THE AUTOMATIC SLIDING DOOR IS ACTIVATED IT CAN ONLY BE STOPPED BY A BUTTON, NO AMOUNT OF PRESSURE WILL STOP THE DOOR FROM CLOSING. THE MANUAL STATES THAT THE AMOUNT OF PRESSURE WILL HAVE TO INCREASE AS IT GETS CLOSER TO THE CLOSING POINT, BUT WE (SERVICE GUY) AND MYSELF COULD NOT STOP AFTER AN INCH OF MOVEMENT. HAVE TRIED THIS ON OTHER MONTANA'S WITH THE SAME RESULT. SINCE NO FORCE CAN STOP THIS DOOR, PEOPLE OR THINGS COULD GET CAUGHT. LOOKING FOR IT TO OPERATE LIKE AN ELEVATOR DOOR ESENTIALLY. WHEN ENOUGH FORCE IS APPLIED THE DOOR STOPS OR REVERSES. THERE IS AN OVERRIDE IN THE CAR TO DISABLE THE AUTOMATIC DOOR, BUT THEN IT IS SO DIFICULT TO OPEN MANUALLY THAT IT IS NOT A DESIREABLE SITUATION. *AK

THE BRACKET AND FRAYED CABLE THAT HOLDS THE SPARE TIRE FAILED CAUSING THE TIRE TO FALL TO THE GROUND WHILE DRIVING. NLM

WHILE WIFE WAS DRIVING ABOUT 45 MPH ANOTHER VEHICLE CROSSED THE MID LINE AND CRASHED INTO CONSUMER'S VEHICLE HEAD-ON. UPON IMPACT, PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED, BUT DRIVER'S SIDE DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK

SEVERAL DAYS PRIOR TO ENGINE OVERHEATING EXPERIENCED ELECTRICAL AFFECTING THE RADIO -- THEN ENGINE OVERHEATED REQUIRING VEHICLE TO BE TOWED -- TWO MORE TIME THAT SAME WEEK AFTER BEING REPAIRED EACH TIME THE ENGINE OVERHEATED -- ON THIRD TIME MFG. REPLACED ENGINE COMPLETELY. THREE WEEKS AFTER NEW ENGINE INSTALLED THE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH RADIO REOCCURRED AS WELL AS INTERIOR & EXTERIOR LIGHTS FLICKERING FOLLOWED A FEW DAYS LATER WITH THE "NEW" ENGINE OVERHEATING. IN REPAIR SHOP NOW FOR FOURTH REPAIR.*AK

VEHICLE STALLS WHILE DRIVING, AND WILL INTERMITTENTLY START. ALSO, SLIDING DOORS LOCK UP. DEALER INSPECTED VEHICLE & MOVED THE SPARK PLUG OVER THINKING IT WAS CAUSING THE DISRUPTION. *AK

ENGINE WENT WIDE OPEN, HAD TO TURN KEY OFF TO KILL MOTOR. LUCKY WE WERE ON A BACK ROAD WITH NO TRAFFIC,WE ALSO HAVE TEENAGE DRIVERS, THEY MAY HAVE PANICED AND IT COULD HAVE TURNED OUT REALLY BAD!!*AK

WHEN TEMP IS 30 OR BELOW THE WINDSHIELD STARTS TO BUILD ICE ABOUT 4 INCHES AROUND THE WHOLE GLASS AREA, WIPERS START TO FREEZE UP AND BALL OF ICE AROUND THE BLADES

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STEERING FAILED. STEERING WHEEL KEPT TURNING, CONSUMER HAD NO CONTROL OVER VEHICLE.*AK

WHILE DRIVING NORTH ON US-57 IN ILLINOIS, WE EXPERIENCED A FAILURE OF OUR BRAKING SYSTEM, APPARENTLY FROM A SEVERED BRAKE LINE. WHILE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING, WE EXITED THE HIGHWAY AT EXIT #283, GILMAN, ILLINOIS. AS WE WENT UP THE RAMP, MY WIFE BEGAN BRAKING, AND THE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR, WHILE BARELY SLOWING THE VEHICLE. THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT WAS NOT ON BEFORE THIS POINT, BUT CAME ON AFTER SEVERAL PUMPS OF THE PEDAL. SHE PUMPED THE PEDAL A FEW TIMES, AND GOT SOME BRAKING, AND STOPPED AT THE STOP SIGN AT THE END OF THE RAMP. AT THIS POINT WE DETERMINED THAT WE HAD ENOUGH BRAKING ABILITY TO CONTINUE TO THE GAS STATION WHICH WAS ABOUT 50 YARDS FROM US. IN THE PARKING LOT OF THE GAS STATION I CHECKED THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER AND FOUND THE FLUID RESERVOIR EMPTY. I THEN CHECKED UNDER THE VEHICLE FOR LEAKS, AT WHICH TIME I DISCOVERED THE BRAKE LINE, COMING FROM THE LEFT SIDE TO THE RIGHT, AT THE POINT AT WHICH IT PASSES IN FRONT OF AND OVER THE TOP OF THE SQUARE, TUBULAR STEEL AXLE HOUSING,TO BE SEVERED. IN THIS SHORT SPAN OF THE BRAKE LINE, WHICH HAS A SPIRAL STEEL WIRE PROTECTOR AT THIS POINT, SOME OBJECT,(APPARENTLY),IMPACTED THE LINE AND SMASHED IT AGAINST THE AXLE HOUSING WITH ENOUGH FORCE TO NOT ONLY FLATTEN IT, BUT ALSO SEVER IT, IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FLATTENED AREA. I FEEL THAT SOME TYPE OF GUARD SHOULD BE INSTALLED IN FRONT OF THE BRAKE LINE AT THE POINT WHERE IT CROSSES IN FRONT OF THE STEEL AXLE HOUSING. *AK

WHEN DRIVING STEERING WHEEL IS DIFFICULT TO TURN TO THE LEFT, CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER REPLACED POWER STEERING PUMP AND THE RACK AND PINION WHICH DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

FRONT ATTACHMENTS OF THE REAR SEATS HAD ALL OF A SUDDEN BECOME LOOSE W/O WARNING. VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, AND REAR SEATS WENT ALL THE WAY BACK. ONE PASSENGER WAS OCCUPYING THE SEATS AT THAT MOMENT, BUT WAS ABLE TO AVOID INJURY. THE EFFECT OF THIS COULD CAUSE SERIOUS INJURIES TO CONSUMER'S CHILDERN THAT SIT IN SAFETY SEATS OR TO ANY OTHER PASSENGER. *AK

WE WERE DRIVING OUR BRAND NEW MONTANA VAN AT ABOUT 25 MILES PER HOUR WHEN THE ENGINE JUST STOPPED. WE HAD ALL OTHER ELECTRICAL WORKING (DOORS, WINDOWS, TV) BUT THE MOTOR WOULD NOT TURN OVER. IT WAS DIFFICULT TO STEER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THIS WAS AT 731 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. WE HAD IT TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP AND AFTER 3 DAYS THEY CLAIMED IT WAS A BLOWN FUSE. WE PICKED UP THE VAN AND TRIED TO DRIVE IT HOME. WE MADE IT 40 MILES AND IT DIED AGAIN. APPEARS TO BE THE SAME PROBLEM. HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP IN OUR HOME TOWN AND THEY HAVE HAD IT FOR 4 DAYS AND STILL CAN NOT FIND OUT WHAT HAS CAUSED IT TO STOP. IN THE MEANTIME, THEY ARE RACKING UP THE MILES ON OUR NEW VEHICLE AND EVEN IF THEY GIVE US THE VAN BACK, WE ARE NOT SURE WE WILL EVER FEEL SAFE IN IT AGAIN. BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF STEERING AND BRAKING CONTROL WHEN THIS HAPPENS, WE ARE AFRAID THAT THERE MAY BE AN ACCIDENT, OR THAT WE COULD GET STRANDED ANYWHERE. THIS IS A MAJOR CONCERN. THE MINOR PROBLEM WAS THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDSHIELD WIPER FLIPPED OVER THE SIDE OF THE VEHICLE AND SCRATCHED AND DENTED THE PASSENGER DOOR FRAME. A LITTLE LOSS OF CONTROL. PLEASE INFORM US IF THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE MONTANAS AND THE ENGINE QUITTING. THANK YOU. *AK

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING 25MPH VEHICLE JUST STOPPED. LAST FRIDAY WHILE TRAVELING THERE WAS A LOUD CRACKING NOISE, AND VEHICLE JUST SHUT OFF. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WAS FINE, BUT THE ENGINE WASN'T OPERABLE. *AK

HUSBAND AND CHILDREN IN VEHICLE WHEN MAJOR GAS LEAK WAS DETECTED ON HOT EXHAUST SYSTEM. GARAGE THAT REATTACHED FUEL RETURN LINE AND INSTALLED RETAINING WIRE TIES INDICATE THAT THIS IS AN UNCOMMON LIFE-THREATENING EVENT. REPORTED TO DEALER--DEALER TO CHECK VEHICLE THIS WEEK AND TO NOTIFY MANUFACTURER. *AK

REAR WINDOW BROKE TO PIECES WHILE THE DRIVER'S DOOR WAS BEING SHUT. YH

WE PURCHASED THE PONTIAC MONTANA AS A FAMILY VEHICLE. WE HAVE A 2 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER AND ANOTHER BABY DUE IN MAY. WE DISCOVERED, AFTER WE PURCHASED THE VAN, THAT THE REAR BUCKET SEATS HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE SEAT BELT SYSTEM THAT DOES NOT SAFELY RESTRAIN A CHILD SEAT. WE CONSULTED THE PA STATE POLICE (TROOPER DANIEL WHITE) ABOUT THE PROBLEM. HE SAID THAT THE SEAT BELT SHAFT IS TOO FAR FORWARD TO SAFELY HARNESS THE SEAT IN PLACE. HE SAID THAT HE DOES NOT KNOW OF CHILD SEAT THAT WOULD SAFELY WORK IN THIS VAN. HE SAID THAT OUR DAUGHTER COULD DIE IN AN ACCIDENT WITH THE WAY THE CHILD SEAT FITS IN THE VAN. WE CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP AND THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY SAID WE COULD PURCHASE NEW SEATS WITH BUILT IN CHILD RESTRAINTS. WE DO NOT WISH TO DO THIS BECAUSE OUR NEW BABY STILL WILL NOT BE ABLE TO RIDE IN THOSE CHILD RESTRAINTS UNTIL HE/SHE IS AT LEAST A YEAR OLD. PLUS, WE DO NOT AGREE THAT WE SOULD PAY FOR NEW SEATS SINCE IT WAS CLEAR THAT IT WAS OUR INTENTION THAT THIS WOULD BE A FAMILY VEHICLE AND WE WILL HAVE 2 SMALL CHILDREN. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY COULD ORDER US A SEAT BELT EXTENSION BUT, TROOPER WHITE DOES NOT THINK THAT WILL SOLVE OUR PROBLEM. THAT SAID, OUR REAL PURPOSE FOR WRITING THIS TO YOU IS THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THERE IS SOME WAY TO LET OTHER OWNERS OF THE 2000 PONTIAC MONTANA KNOW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. WE DROVE AROUND FOR 2 WEEKS BEFORE WE REALIZED THERE WAS A MAJOR PROBLEM. WE FEEL IT IS QUITE POSSIBLE THAT THERE ARE PARENTS OUT THERE WITH THIS VA

PASSENGER SIDE POWER SLIDING DOOR DOES NOT CLOSE ALL THE TIME. IT HAS A FAILURE RATE OF ABOUT 30% OF THE TIME. VEHICLE HAS BEEN BACK TO THE DEALER SIX TIMES, AND NEITHER GM OR DEALER CAN FIX IT. *AK