2003 Pontiac Montana complaints

CELL PHONE CAR CHARGER WOULD NOT CHARGE WHEN PLUGGED INTO THE FRONT POWER SOURCE ADAPTER. GOT VEHICLE MANUAL, LOCATED FUSE, REMOVED BLOWN FUSE, REPLACED WITH EXACT SAME SIZE FUSE THAT WAS REMOVED-PER VEHICLE MANUAL. ONCE FUSE WAS REPLACED, PLUGGED IN CELL PHONE CHARGER, VEHICLE FILLED WITH SMOKE, YANKED CELL PHONE CHARGER OUT, OPENED HOOD AND PULLED OUT FUSE. FUSE WAS MELTED IN TWO. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER THE NEXT DAY, ADVISED THEM WHAT HAPPENED. CALLED ME LATER IN THE AM AND ADVISED ME EXTENDED WARRANTY WOULD NOT COVER COST OF REPAIRS, HAD TO HAVE WIRE HARNESS REPLACED AS SEVERAL WIRES HAD BEEN MELTED ALL THE WAY BACK TO FUSE BOX. DEALERSHIP BLAMED DAMAGE ON CELL PHONE CHARGER. IRONICALLY THEY WAS NO DAMAGE TO CELL PHONE CHARGER OR VISIBLE DAMAGE TO POWER SOURCE. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH ON DRY ROADS THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE BROADSIDED ANOTHER VEHICLE DUE TO AN IMPROPER TURN BY OTHER VEHICLE. SINCE THE SHOULDER BELT DID NOT HOLD THE CONTACT IN THE UPRIGHT POSITION, THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, THE CONTACT SUSTAINED SEVERE FACIAL LACERATIONS. THE INJURIES REQUIRED STITCHES, AND CAUSED SEVERE BRUISING. A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN, AND THE VEHICLE WAS CONSIDERED A TOTAL LOSS. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED BY A MECHANIC. UPDATED 05/30/06. *AK

THIS IS MY SECOND PONTIAC MINI VAN WITH A LEAKING INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. THE 1994 STARTED LEAKING AT 60K MILES,MY CURRENT VAN A 2003 IS LEAKING AT 45K MILES. IN MY 94 VAN THE ENGINE FAILED AT89K WITH RELIGIOUS OIL CHANGES AND COOLANT FLUSHES. MY MONTANA ALSO HAS HAD COOLANT AND OIL CHANGES OFTEN. I KNOW OF OTHERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. *NM

I NOTICED A STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE AFTER FILLING THE TANK. THERE WAS A LARGE PUDDLE OF GAS UNDER THE VEHICLE WITH FUEL DRIPPING FROM THE GAS TANK NEAR THE FILLER NECK. UPON INVESTIGATION IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE FUEL WAS LEAKING FROM A CRACK IN THE GAS TANK AT THE SEAM ABOVE THE POINT WHERE THE FILLER NECK CONNECTS ON THE SIDE OF THE TANK. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN DISASTROUS IF THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN PARKED IN THE GARAGE WHICH HAS AN OPEN FLAME SPACE HEATER. THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY DUE TO MILEAGE 52,000 MILES. I AM TRYING TO FIND A USED TANK TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE ONE. THE GM DEALER SERVICE MANAGER STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS OR SERVICE BULLETINS FOR THIS FAILURE. *NM

THE PASSENGER AUTO DOOR CONTINUES CLOSING WHEN OBJECTS OR PERSONS ARE IN ITS PATH. I AM A PETITE WOMAN AND IT TAKES ALL I HAVE IN ME TO PUSH THE DOOR BACK OPEN. MY HUSBAND IS A LARGE, MUSCULAR MAN AND HE STRUGGLES TO STOP THE DOOR FROM CLOSING ON HIM. IT HAS COME TOO CLOSE TO CATCHING MY CHILD ONE TIME TOO MANY. NOTICED THE PROBLEM SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASE IN NOV 2003 AND MENTIONED TO DEALER. DEALER SAYS THIS IS NORMAL ON ALL MONTANAS AND NOTHING CAN BE DONE. WILL IT TAKE MAJOR INJURIES BEFORE THIS PROBLEM IS CORRECTED? ALSO THE NON-AUTO DRIVER SLIDING DOOR DOES NOT STAY OPEN WHEN PUSHED ALL THE WAY OPEN ON FLAT PARKING SURFACES AND ESPECIALLY ON HILLSIDE PARKING. *NM

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLES UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS THE VEHICLES TURNS ITSELF OFF. WHILE AT STOP LIGHTS THE VEHICLE CHUGS AND THE RPM GAUGE DIVES DOWN. WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE AND AFTER THE ENGINE IS ON AND THE KEY HAS BEEN RELEASED, THE STARTER CONTINUES TO CRANK ON ITS OWN. *JB

FUEL TANK HAS LEAK. *JB

DT: CONSUMER HAS A BACK SLIDING PASSENGER DOOR ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE THAT OPENS AT RANDOM. SPEED IS NOT A FACTOR. WHEN PUTTING VEHICLE IN GEAR AND SOMETIMES IN PARK THE DOOR OPENS BY ITSELF. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP 3 TIMES FOR WORK BUT PROBLEM HAS STILL NOT BEEN RESOLVED. DEALER CLAIMS THAT THERE IS NO PROBLEM. AFTER VAN WAS PICKED UP ON FRIDAY NIGHT DOOR HAD BEEN SCRATCHED UP WITH SANDPAPER. THIS WAS UNDOCUMENTED ON THE PAPER WORK. ALL THAT WAS INCLUDED ON THE PAPER WORK WAS OIL CHANGE. THE VAN WAS TAKEN TO DEALER FOR OIL CHANGE, AND TO HAVE THE DOOR FIXED. THE RECEIPT ONLY MENTIONED OIL CHANGE. ALSO, IGNITION STARTED BY ITSELF. WHEN THE KEY WAS TURNED IN THE UPRIGHT POSITION THE VAN CRANKED ,AND DRIVER'S HAND WAS NOT ON THE KEY. IN ADDITION, THERE IS WATER IN FRONT HEADLIGHT COVER WHICH WAS REPLACED 3 TIMES . REAR HATCHBACK MALFUNCTIONED AND WAS TAKEN BACK TO DEALER FOR SERVICE. HATCHBACK WAS RECALLED, AND HAD ALREADY BEEN FIXED ONCE.*AK

TRIED TO USE EMERGENCY BRAKE. AND IT WOULDN'T WORK, EMERGENCY BRAKE CABLE BROKE, SOMEONE HAD PUT BAILING WIRE TO HOLD IT. DEALER HAS LOOKED AT IT 3 TIMES. MANUFACTURER HAS LOOKED AT IT. NO ONE SEEMS TO HAVE A CABLE TO FIT HIS VEHICLE. DEALER HAS TOLD MANUFACTURER THAT NO CABLES WILL FIT IT.*AK

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, 35-40 MPH, HEARD A POP THAT SOUNDED LIKE IT CAME FROM UNDER THE HOOD AREA, SMOKE STARTED COMING FROM UNDER HOOD AREA, PULLED TO SIDE OF ROAD AND EXITED VEHICLE, HAD SMOKE AND FIRE FROM UNDER HOOD AREA, TRIED TO GET BACK INTO THE VEHICLE, HAD SMOKE INSIDE VEHICLE AS WELL, VEHICLE DESTROYED IN FIRE, INSURANCE COMPANY REFUSING TO SETTLE CLAIM, CANNOT FIND SOURCE/LOCATION OF FIRE. *AK

WHEN PARKING THE VEHICLE AND OPENING EITHER THE PASSENGER OR DRIVER REAR DOORS THEY WILL CLOSE BY THEMSELVES. *AK

INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET IS FAILING...AND GM KNOWS OF THIS WIDESPREAD PROBLEM AND REFUSES TO FIX IT OUT OF WARRANTY. MY COOLANT WAS LEAKING OUT AND THEY WOULD NEVER FIND THE PROBLEM UNDER WARRANTY, AND NOW THEY REFUSE WITH 4 MONTHS OUT OF THE WARRANTY. AMAZING.*AK

A RECALL FOR THE AIR BAG WAS ISSUED. THE DEALER STATED THEY DID NOT KNOW WHEN THE PART WOULD BE AVAILABLE. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER : 03V051000. *TC

VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER FOR SERVICE. VEHICLE WAS GOING 35 MPH AFTER BEING PICKED UP, AND THE HOOD POPPED UP UNEXPECTEDLY. COST TO REPAIR DAMAGE WAS $1800.00. DEALER REFUSED TO PAY FOR DAMAGE.*AK

CHILD/PARENT CAN EASILY OPEN THE INTEGRATED CHILD SEAT HARNESS CHEST CLIP. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK *TC

SEVERAL TIMES THERE HAS BEEN STRANGE NOISES FROM THE BACK OF THE CAR. REPORTED BUT NOTHING DONE. GETTING OFF AN INTERSTATE AND LEAVING THE STOP SIGN AND PULLING ONTO A STATE HIGHWAY BEGAN TO BUILD SPEED BUT CAR STARTED TO WOBBLE AT ABOUT 40 MPH. TRIED TO STOP BUT THE CAR WAS ALL OVER THE ROAD. COASTED TO STOP. THE BRACKET THAT HOLDS THE REAR AXLE IN PLACE SNAPPED. THERE WAS NO RUST, NO OTHER DAMAGE SIGHTED. SNAPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PART. REVIEWED BY GMC REPRESENTATIVE AND THE GARAGE. THEY REPLACE THE ENTIRE REAR "AXLE" ASSMEBLY AD THIS OCCURRED AT INTERSTATE SPEEDS, CONDITIONS WERE SUCH THAT I BELEIVE THAT THE CAR WOULD HAVE ROLLED OVER. AS I NOTED, IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO CONTROL. *AK

THE AUTOMATIC DOOR ON OUR 2003 MONTANA MINIVAN COMPLETELY CLOSED ON MY 4 YEAR OLD DAUGHTERS HAND YESTERDAY, BREAKING HER FINGER AND CAUSING BRUSING AND SWELLING.*MR

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER RESTARTED THE VEHICLE, AND TOOK IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. HOWEVER, DEALER WAS NOT ABLE TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

WHILE DRIVING, THE CONSUMER SMELLED GAS FUMES INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE MECHANIC REPAIRED THE PROBLEM ONCE, BUT THE CONSUMER CONTINUED TO SMELL GAS. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION. *JB

MONTANA KEEPS CUTTING OFF WITHOUT A WARNING AND IT WILL STOP DEAD IN TRAFFICE WITH OUT A WARNING. THIS HAS HAPPEN A TOTAL OF 7 TIMES. THE DEALERSHIP KEEPS TELLING ME THAT THERE IS NOTHING WRONG AND THAT THEY CAN NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE 2003 MONTANA. I BROUGHT THIS MONTANA BRAND NEW LAST YEAR 2003. THERE IS A SAFTY PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICAL. FROM VLS..05/05/04. *AK

WHILE DRIVING MY 2003 MONTANA STOPPED DEAD IN TRAFFICE. THE BRAKES LOCK AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED THE VEHICAL STOPPED DEAD WITH OUT ANY WARNING. IT HAS STOPPED IN TRAFFIC TWICE AND A TOTAL OF 7 TIME. EACH TIME I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER THEY SAID THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE MONTANA. FROM VLS 05/05/04. *AK

1) WATER IN HEADLIGHT 2) HARD TO START 3) TURNS ITSELF OFF WHILE DRIVING IT! 4) SQUEAKY BRAKES 5) 1/2 GALLON OF WATER DUMPS OUT OF DASH ONTO PASSENGER FLOOR BOARD

2004 PONTIAC MONTANA ROLLED OVER TWICE IN A VERY SERIOUS ACCIDENT IN ATLANTA, GEORGIA. IT WAS HIT FROM THE PASSENGER'S SIDE BY ANOTHER CAR. NO AIRBAGS, FRONT OR SIDE, DEPLOYED. *AK

I RENTED A 2003 PONTIAC MONTANA VAN FROM ALAMO CAR RENTAL IN MAY, 2003. WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM ARIZONA WITH FOUR OF MY FAMILY MEMBERS ON A CLEAR DAY, WITH GOOD ROAD CONDITION, AND WITHIN SPEED LIMIT; THE LEFT REAR TIRE HAD A BLOW OUT AND RESULTED IN A ROLL-OVER. THE TIRE BRAND WAS GENERAL. EVENTHOUGH THE POLICE INFORMED ALAMO THAT THE POLICE NEEDED TO RETAIN THE VAN TO INVESTIGATE THE CAUSE OF THE BLOW-OUT, ALAMO INSISTED ON RETRIEVING THE VAN. THEY DID NOT RESPOND TO MY WRITTEN OR PHONE REQUESTS FOR ACCESS TO THE TIRE AND PROCEEDED TO SALVAGE THE VAN. NOT ONLY THAT BUT THE SECOND VAN ALAMO SENT TO ME AT THE ACCIDENT SITE HAD LOW AIR PRESSURE ON ALL FOUR TIRES AND CONVEXITIES ON THE SIDEWALL OF THE FRONT PASSENGER TIRE. FROM SEARCHING YOUR SITE, I FOUND THAT VANS HAVE A HIGHER ROLL-OVER RATE THAN PASSENGER CARS. FURTHERMORE, THERE HAVE BEEN INCIDENCES OF SIDEWALL BUBBLES AND CONVEXITIES AS WELL AS TREAD SEPARATION OF GENERAL TIRES (IN ONE SITUATION, EVEN WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED). MY WISH IS FOR ALAMO TO HAVE BETTER SAFETY INSPECTION OF ITS VEHICLES AND TO REMEDY ITS QUESTIONABLE BUSINESS PRACTICES.

DURING A VEHICLE COLLISION/ROLL OVER AT 55 MPH FRONT AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. CONSUMER SUSTAINED MINOR FACE INJURIES. *AK

A BOUNCY WOBBLE OCCURS AT SPEED BETWEEN 30-55 MPH. A LURCH OCCURS AFTER BREAKING BEFORE THE VEHICLE STARTS TO ROLL. THESE PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN STATED AS BEING PRESENT BUT NO ONE SEEMS TO BE ABLE TO FIX THEM. WE REFUSE TO TAKE THE VEHICLE ON THE HIGHWAY AS IT SHAKES AND BOUNCES. AXLE PROBLEM, CV JOYCE PROBLEM, SUSPENSION HAVE BEEN SUGGESTED, BUT NOTHING DONE. *NLM

2003 PONTIAC MONTANA STALLED WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER INCLUDING STEERING AND BRAKES. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE IN THE PAST 2 MONTHS. I DROVE THE VAN TO THE DEALERSHIP BOTH TIMES. NO PROBLEMS WAS FOUND BY DEALERSHIP. I CONTACTED PONTIAC. THEY SAID IF IT HAPPENS AGAIN NOT TO START IT BACK UP, THEY WILL HAVE VAN TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. I AM NOT TOTALLY SATISFIED WITH THEIR RESPONSE FOR SAFETY REASONS. *NLM

CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING IN NEW VAN FILLED IT UP WITH GAS, AND WOKE UP THE NEXT MORNING AND GAS WAS LEAKING ALL OVER THE PLACE. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, WHO FOUND THAT FUEL TANK WAS CRACKED, CAUSING GAS TO LEAK. CONSUMER STATED HE AND HIS WIFE COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED IF SOMEONE THREW A CIGARETTE OR A MATCH OUT OF THE WINDOW NEAR VEHICLE.*AK

WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT. GENERAL GT2000 TIRE. *AK

THE WELD THAT HOLDS THE LIFT WHEEL PIN IS NOT ADEQUATE TO HOLD THE WEIGHT OF THE TRAILER. *AK

THE REAR SEAT BELT ON THE FAILED TO RELEASE, THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *JB

THE GEARS WAS ABLE TO SHIFT WITHOUT THE BRAKE BEING APPLIED.*JB

DURING THE FIRST BRAKING, THE VEHICLE BRAKE LET GO FOR A BRIEF SECOND. THIS HAPPENS ON DRY PAVEMENT DURING A NORMAL STOP. IT WAS EXPLAINED FROM THE DEALER THAT THE RUST BUILD-UP ON THE ROTORS MAY BE CAUSING THE BRAKE TO LOCKUP CAUSING THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES TO FUNCTION. THIS IS A VERY SCARY SITUATION WHEN PULLING UP TO A STOP WITH A CAR IN FRONT OF YOU AND THE CAR WILL LURCH FORWARD WITH YOUR FOOT PUSHING DOWN ON THE BRAKE PEDAL.*JB

VENTILATION SYSTEM BLOWS AIR INTO CABIN THROUGH INSTURMENT-LEVEL DASHBOARD VENTS, EVEN WHEN FAN IS OFF AND VEHICLE STATIONARY, AND EVEN WHEN FAN IS ON BUT DIRECTED TO FOOT ONLY OR DEFROSTER ONLY. PONTIAC DEALER SERVICE DEPT AND PONTIAC NATIONAL CUSTOMER SERVICE CLAIM THIS IS NORMAL. I HAVE NEVER SEEN THIS ON ANY OTHER VEHICLE. THERE IS NO WAY TO SHUT OFF THE FLOW FROM THE MIDDLE (OVER THE RADIO) VENTS. TEHRE IS A "WHEEL" TO BLOCK THE FLOW TO THE CENTER-LEFT AND CENTER-RIGHT VENTS ABOVE THE RADIO, BUT NO SUCH CONTROL FOR THE CENTER-CENTER VENT--IT ONLY ADJUSTS UP/DOWN. THIS IS CAUSING DISCOMFORT BUT ABOVE ALL CAN DRY EYES OUT WHILE DRIVING. IT MAKES NO SENSE. EVEN THE SERVICE ADVISOR IMMEDIATELY THOUGHT IT WAS A DEFECT. HE CHANGED HIS MIND WHEN HE FOUND THE SAME CONDITION ON OTHER 2003 MONTANA ON LOT. I SUBMIT THAT THIS IS NOT NORMAL AND MAY REFLECT A DESIGN AND/OR MANUFACTURING DEFECT THAT HAS SAFETY IMPLICATIONS. PLEASE NOTE THAT RECIRUCLATE IS DESIGNED NOT TO WORK IN ALL MODES EITHER.