Page 2 of 2 · complaints 51–81 of 81

2005 Pontiac Montana complaints

Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 2005 record →

Visibility › Power Window Devices and Controls
Filed Nov 28, 200627,000 milesMI

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE DURING ALL WEATHER CONDITIONS, THE POWER WINDOW SWITCH WAS INOPERATIVE ON THE DRIVER SIDE, PASSENGER SIDE, AND IN THE REAR VENT. THERE WAS NO WARNING SIGNALS PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES, WHO COULD NOT BE DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED AND A CLAIM # WAS PROVIDED.

Latches/Locks/Linkages › Doors › Latch
Filed Nov 11, 200627,000 milesMI

THE DOOR OPENS BY ITSELF EVEN WHEN IT SHOULD BE LOCKED. *NM

Latches/Locks/Linkages › Doors › Latch
Filed Oct 2, 200640,000 milesNC

THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE INVOLVING ABS SYSTEM FOR MY 2005 PONTIAC SV6 MONTANA. ON OR ABOUT AUGUST 11, 2006 MY ABS LIGHT CAME ON WHILE UNDER NORMAL OPERATION OF THE VAN. THIS HAS BEEN AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM OVER THE PAST 6 WEEKS. I TOOK IT TO A LOCAL INDEPENDENT SHOP TO HAVE IT DIAGNOSED AND THE LOCAL SHOP INFORMED ME THAT THE CODES WERE TO NEW THAT I WOULD HAVE TO TAKE IT TO A DEALERSHIP. AFTER TAKING IT TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY DIAGNOSED IT AS HAVING AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. THERE WERE NO FAULTY MODULES BUT THAT THIS WAS A WIRING PROBLEM. I AM THE ONLY OWNER OF AN 05 PONTIAC MONTANA THAT I KNOW. RECENTLY I HAVE HAD VARIOUS OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THE POWER SLIDING DOOR INTERMITTENTLY OPENING WHENEVER YOU ENGAGE THE TRANSMISSION INTO REVERSE (RIGHT SIDE ONLY). MY 6 YEAR OLD SITS IN THE RIGHT REAR SEAT. HOPE THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. DOES THIS VEHICLE HAVE FAULTY WIRING OR DO I JUST HAVE BAD LUCK. *JB

Electrical System
Filed Sep 11, 200628,000 milesME

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE'S HEADLIGHTS HAD AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE THAT CAUSED THE LIGHTS TO FLICKER AND NOT REMAIN ILLUMINATED. PREVIOUSLY, THE BRAKE LIGHTS AND DASH LIGHTS HAD ALSO EXPERIENCED THIS ISSUE. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN TO THE SERVICE DEALER TWELVE TIMES, BUT WERE UNABLE TO CORRECT THE ISSUE. UPDATED 10/14/2006 - THE DEALER HAD REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR TO TRY TO ALLEVIATE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. THE REAR POWER WINDOWS SOMETIME WOULD NOT OPEN OR SHUT, THE REAR WASHER AND WIPER FAILED INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALER REPLACED THE WIRES, MOTORS REGULATORS, ETC. BU THE PROBLEMS RECURRED. THE CONSUEMR WAS GIVEN A 100,000 MILE WARRANTY ON THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THE TIRES STARTED CUPPING AND CAUSED SERIOUS ROAD NOISE. THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO LEAK OIL. THE DEALR REPLACED THE MAIN SEAL. *NM

Unknown or Other
Filed Aug 30, 200625,000 milesMN

TRIM STRIPS ON BOTH SIDES OF VAN WERE RUSTING EVEN THOUGH THEY WERE PLASTIC. WAS TOLD THAT THIS WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM, THERE SHOULD BE SERVICE BULLETIN ON IT, AND THAT THE PAINT SURFACE WAS NOT CLEANED PROPERLY BEFORE PAINTING IT, THEREFORE IRON/RUST WAS BLEEDING THROUGH. THIS HAPPENED ONLY ON THE TRIM STRIPS ON THE FRONT DOORS, NO WHERE ELSE ON VAN. STRIPS WERE REPLACED SINCE STILL UNDER WARRANTY AND NO PROBLEMS YET AFTER 2 MONTHS. *JB

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited SlipCrash
Filed Aug 28, 200622,000 milesDE

THE ATTACHED DATE IS THE LATEST OF THE FAILURES. I ALREADY HAD A COMPLAINT SUBMITTED REGARDING A CRASH DUE TO ABS FAILURE ON DECEMBER 31, 2005. SINCE THE DAMAGE WAS FIXED FROM THE ACCIDENT AND THE ABS WAS SUPPOSEDLY FIXED, WE HAVE HAD MANY MORE ABS FAILURES. IT HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER 3 TIMES (THIS TIME BEING THE 3RD) AFTER THE INITIAL PROBLEM AND EACH TIME THEY SUPPOSEDLY FIX IT (BETWEEN THE WIRING HARNESS, THE EBCM, AND THE WHEEL SPEED SENSOR I DON'T KNOW WHAT IS CAUSING IT NOW). THEY KEEP TELLING US IT IS A NON-CRITICAL SYSTEM, BUT IT CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. WITH THE OTHER FAILURES AFTER THE ACCIDENT, THE ABS WOULD KICK IN FOR NO REASON, I REACT WITH MORE PRESSURE (SINCE I'M NOT EXPECTING THE ABS TO COME IN TO PLAY DURING A NORMAL BRAKING SITUATION), THEN FAIL IN THE MIDDLE OF A NORMAL STOP CAUSING A NEAR WHEEL LOCK-UP. I BELIEVE THIS IS A BIG SAFETY PROBLEM AND WARRANTS A GOOD LOOK. *JB

Electrical SystemFire
Filed Aug 15, 200629,000 milesDC

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE WHILE PARKED. THE FIRE WAS LOCALIZED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS CONSIDERED A TOTAL LOSS, AND A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN IN FOR SERVICE, AND THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS NOT DETERMINED.*AK

Latches/Locks/Linkages › Doors › Latch
Filed Jul 10, 2006500 milesVA

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE SLIDING DOOR TO THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SHUTTING PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER 3 TIMES. BOTH THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER DETERMINED THAT THEY COULD NOT FIX THE PROBLEM WITH THE SLIDING DOOR. THERE WERE NO ACCIDENTS WHICH BEFORE THE PROBLEMS WITH THE SLIDING DOOR, BUT THE CONTACT EXPRESSED THAT THE VEHICLE IS TOO DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. ONE DOES NOT KNOW WHEN THE DOOR WILL OPEN. THE DOOR COMES OFF OF THE TRACK AT TIMES.

Exterior Lighting › Headlights
Filed Jun 2, 2006600 milesAR

WHISTLE NOISE FROM FRONT OF VEHICLE AROUND 60 MPH. DEALER HAS REPLACED THE FRONT WINDSHIELD SEAL, DOOR SEAL, AND A GASKET UNDER THE HOOD BUT THIS HAS NOT HELPED. THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT THEY DIDN'T HEAR THE WHISTLE UNLESS THEY DROVE IT 90 MPH!!! I WAS TOLD THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH PONTIAC'S DESIGN AND IT CAN NOT BE FIXED. PASSENGER SIDE SLIDING DOOR DOESN'T STAY SHUT AND DOESN'T OPEN WHEN OUTSIDE HANDLE IS PULLED AND MOTOR RUNNING TOO LONG AND GRINDING AFTER DOOR HAS CLOSED. THE DOOR MOTOR HAS BEEN REPLACED YET THERE IS STILL A GRINDING NOISE WHEN THE DOOR SHUTS. HEADLIGHTS SURGING CAUSING ME TO CONSTANTLY BE BRIGHT LIGHTED BY ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT THIS IS NORMAL!*JB

Exterior Lighting › Headlights
Filed May 15, 200611,036 milesFL

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE HEADLIGHTS AND DASHBOARD LIGHTS PULSATE, BRIGHTER TO DARKER. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THIS WAS HOW THE VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED.

Electrical System
Filed May 10, 200621,000 milesWV

WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT THE HEADLIGHTS, DASH LIGHTS AND RADIO DIM, LIKE THEY ARE HAVING SURGES OF POWER. THE VOLUME ON THE RADIO ALSO GOES UP AND DOWN. I HAVE BEEN "SPOTLIGHTED" AT NIGHT BY ON COMING CARS BECAUSE THEY THINK I HAVE MY BRIGHT LIGHTS ON BUT THAT IS WHEN THEY ARE "SURGING". I HAVE BEEN TO TWO DIFFERENT DEALERS. ONE SAID IT WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE ELECTRIC POLLUTION PUMP AND THE OTHER SAID IT WAS RELATED TO THE CHARGING SYSTEM. BOTH HAVE STATED THAT GM HAS CONSIDERED THIS A NORMAL CONDITION. IN MY OPINION THIS IS DANGEROUS. *NM

Wheels › Rim
Filed Apr 11, 20065,000 milesMI

SINCE VEHICLE INCEPTION, ALL TIRES NEED AIR EVERY 2-3 WEEKS. AT 5000 MILES HIT A POTHOLE AND BENT RH FRONT RIM OUTSIDE BEAD (AIR PRESSURE GOOD). TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY ROTATED THE TIRES IN A X PATTERN RH FRONT TO LH REAR, LH FRONT TO RH REAR, ETC. LH REAR BECAME RH FRONT, WHICH AT 7200 MILES WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY THE RH FRONT RIM BEAD BREAKS AND THE BEAD PUNCTURES TIRE CAUSING MOMENTARY LOSS OF CONTROL. THERE WAS NO ONE IN THE AREA AT THE TIME AND VEHICLE WAS PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. *NM

Latches/Locks/Linkages › Doors › Latch
Filed Apr 11, 20063,000 milesMI

GETTING READY TO LEAVE FROM A SHOPPING CENTER DURING THE MIDDLE OF A SNOW STORM, MY WIFE AND I LOADED BOTH KIDS IN THE BACK OF THE VAN (1 AND 3 YEARS) AND TRIED TO CLOSE THE DOORS. THE AUTOMATIC DOORS WOULD NOT CLOSE. WE TRIED THE KEY FOB, THE UPPER ROOF CONSOLE BUTTONS AND THE BUTTONS ON THE B-POSTS. NOTHING WORKED. WE THEN TRIED MANUALLY TO CLOSE THE DOORS BUT THEY WOULD NOT LATCH. WE TURNED THE IGNITION KEY ON AND OFF THE 3 TIMES AND TRIED TO USE BUTTONS AFTER EACH RESTART. FINALLY AFTER TEN MINUTES OF TRYING WE GOT THEM TO CLOSE AND LATCH BY USING THE KEY FOB. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE REPAIR SHEET INDICATES THEY REPLACED THE MODULE AND THE FOBS. IT HAS ONLY HAPPENED ONCE SINCE THEN, BUT I AM NOT SURE IF THE REPAIR THAT WAS DONE IS ADEQUATE SINCE IT HAS HAPPENED AGAIN SINCE THE REPAIR. *NM

Unknown or Other
Filed Feb 9, 2006IL

WHISTLING NOISE FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VAN. THE PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED SINCE WE PURCHASED THE VAN. THE WINDSHIELD SEAL, DOOR SEAL, AND PASSENGER SIDE MIRROR HAVE BEEN REPLACED BUT THE PROBLEM STILL PERSISTS. *JB

Unknown or Other
Filed Feb 1, 2006MD

WINDOW STICKER INDICATED THAT MY VEHICLE CONTAINED STABILITRAK ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL. RECEIVED LETTER 3 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE INDICATING THAT THEY DID NOT INSTALL THE SYSTEM. DEALER HAS VERIFIED SYSTEM IS NOT INSTALLED. *NM

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited SlipCrash
Filed Jan 1, 200615,000 milesDE

MY DAUGHTER HAD UN-BUCKLED HER SEAT BELT BECAUSE IT HAD LOCKED UP, SO I WENT TO MAKE A QUICK STOP SO I COULD BUCKLE HER BACK UP. I STEPPED ON THE BRAKES MODERATELY HARD AND THE ANTI-LOCKS ACTIVATED FOR ABOUT 1 SECOND, THEN SUDDENLY THE WHEELS COMPLETELY LOCKED UP AND THE VAN WENT INTO AN UNCONTROLLABLE SKID. I HIT AN 8" CURB HEAD ON, JUMPED OVER IT AND LANDED ON THE FRONT LAWN OF A MOTEL AND SKIDDED TO A STOP. THE FRONT TIRES POPPED, THE WHEELS WERE PUSHED ALL THE WAY BACK TO THE BACK OF THE WHEEL WELLS, THE FRAME IS BENT (BODY LINES DON'T LINE UP) AND I'M SURE THERE IS MUCH MORE WRONG WITH IT. THE ABS LIGHT AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT STARTED COMING ON ABOUT A WEEK EARLIER EVERY TIME THE TRACTION CONTROL KICKED IN. THE INFORMATION CENTER WOULD ALSO SAY "SERVICE TRACKING SYSTEM" AND "SERVICE ABS SYSTEM." I DID AS THE MANUAL SAYS; TURNED THE KEY OFF THEN TURNED IT BACK ON AND THE LIGHTS WOULD GO OUT. SO I ASSUMED EVERYTHING WOULD BE OK IN A BIND. THE DEALERSHIP IS TRYING TO SAY IT'S MY FAULT AND THAT THEY WILL BE FILING WITH MY INSURANCE COMPANY. THE POLICE REPORT NOTES THE ABS LIGHT WAS ON AFTER THE ACCIDENT. I HAVE PICTURES OF THE SKID MARKS AND THE DAMAGE, AND I AM NOTE SURE THE EDR THAT THIS VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH WOULD REFLECT THE SAME THING OR NOT. *JB

Seats › Front Assembly › Head Restraint
Filed Dec 21, 2005WI

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE HEAD RESTS IN THE VEHICLE WERE SIZED TOO LARGE AND INHIBITED THE DRIVER'S VIEW. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND REQUESTED SMALLER HEAD RESTS. THE DEALER WOULD NOT COMPLY WITH HER REQUEST. NO CORRECTIONS HAVE BEEN MADE. *AK UPDATED 1/11/2006. *NM

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Filed Dec 6, 2005800 milesOH

DT: THE CONTACT STATED WHEN RELEASING BRAKE PRESSURE ON AN INCLINE THE VEHICLE ROLLED BACK. THE PASSENGER'S AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. ALSO, WHILE DRIVING THE REMOTE CONTROL DOORS OPEN AND CLOSE, AND POWER DOOR LOCKS LOCK AND UNLOCK. THE DEALER NOTED THIS WAS NORMAL, AND NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE. *AK

Suspension › Front
Filed Nov 18, 20052,000 milesNY

DT: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE WOULD SWAY BACK AND FORTH REGARDLESS OF SPEED. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES, BUT THEY COULD NOT FIND THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. ANOTHER SAFETY CONCERN WAS THE AUTOMATIC DOOR. IT WAS NOT EQUIPPED WITH A SAFETY DEVICE TO KEEP THE DOOR FROM COMING OPEN WHEN IT WAS NOT INTENDED TO OPEN. FOR EXAMPLE, WHILE FUELING THE VEHICLE, IF SOMEONE ACCIDENTALLY HIT THE INSIDE HANDLE IT WILL NOT STOP UNLESS SHE MANUALLY TRIED TO CLOSE THE DOOR FROM THE OUTSIDE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED TO DETERMINE WHY THIS HAPPENED.*AK

Vehicle Speed Control › Cruise Control
Filed Oct 10, 20053,000 milesMO

DT: THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SPEED. THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE BY APPLYING THE BRAKE OR USING THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH. THE CONSUMER HAD TO PUT THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL THEN HIT THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE BRAKES BECAME VERY HOT AND STARTED SMOKING. AFTER A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF TIME THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. NO ACCIDENT RESULTED. WHEN THE CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR REPAIRS THE DEALERSHIP COULD NOT FIND THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. THE DEALER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER AND COULDN'T IDENTIFY WHAT CAUSED THE PROBLEM BUT SUGGESTED THE DEALER REPLACE THE CRUISE CONTROL MODULE. THE CRUISE CONTROL MODULE REPLACED AND EVERYTHING SEEMS TO BE WORKING PROPERLY NOW. *AK *NM

Structure › Body › Door › Hinge and Attachments
Filed Sep 23, 200512,252 milesOH

PASSENGER ELECTRIC CARGO DOOR DID NOT OPEN ELECTRICALLY AFTER OUTSIDE DOOR HANDLE WAS USED TO RELEASE LATCHING MECHANISM. VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN WITH NO INDICATION THROUGH THE MONITORING/WARNING SYSTEM THAT THE DOOR WAS NOT FULLY CLOSED AND LOCKED. UNDER GM CASE# 8477192, IT WAS DECIDED TO REPLACE THE DOOR LATCH ACTUATOR FOR A VOLTAGE SPIKE ISSUE. *NM

Latches/Locks/Linkages › Doors › Latch
Filed Sep 20, 200525 milesOH

DT: THE CALLER WAS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE PASSENGER'S SIDE SLIDING DOOR. THE MOTOR RAN EVEN AFTER THE DOOR WAS SHUT. ONCE, THE DOOR DID NOT RETRACT WHEN HER CHILD WAS GETTING OUT, AND THE DOOR TRAPPED HER. CHILD WAS NOT HURT. DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. DEALER SHAVED THE DOOR ON THE INSIDE AND REPLACED THE MOTOR. THE CALLER STATED THAT THE MOTOR STILL RAN AT TIMES AFTER THE DOOR WAS CLOSED. MANUFACTURER SAID BECAUSE THEY WENT TO COURT THEY WILL HAVE TO START OVER AGAIN WITH REPORTING THE PROBLEMS WITH THE VAN. A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN BECAUSE THE CALLER'S PURSE WAS STOLEN OUT OF THE VAN AFTER A RECALL ON THE AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS. RECALL WORK WAS DONE ON THE LOCKS.*AK

Vehicle Speed ControlCrash1 injured
Filed Sep 6, 20056,700 milesFL

DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 PONTIAC MONTANA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE IT ACCELERATED, CAUSING IT TO CRASH INTO A TREE. SHE WAS DRIVING SLOWLY DOWN A DRIVEWAY. BYSTANDERS STATED THAT THERE WAS A GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE WHEN THIS WAS HAPPENING. THE CONTACT STATED SHE COULD NOT CONTROL THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A BODY SHOP, THE BODY SHOP DECLARED THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. THE CONSUMER HAS NOT CONTACTED THE SERVICE DEALER TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL MALFUNCTIONING. THE CONSUMER HAS NOT CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER.*AK

Structure › Body › Door1 injured
Filed Aug 31, 2005KY

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

Structure › Body › Door
Filed Jun 13, 2005DE

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.

Seats › Mid/Rear Assembly
Filed Jun 9, 2005TX

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 CHAIRS INTO THE FLOOR, PULLING UP FIRMLY ON BOTH SEVERAL TIMES. HOWEVER, ON DAY 1 OF OUR TRIP, WHILE COMING TO A FAST STOP, ONE OF MY SON'S CAPTAINS CHAIRS FLEW UP AND ALMOST HIT THE PASSENGER'S SIDE SEAT. WE ONCE AGAIN SECURED BOTH SEATS TO THE GROUND. WE CONTINUED ON OUR TRIP. WHILE RETURNING THE CAR TO THE RENTAL AGENT AND AGAIN COMING TO A STOP, THE OTHER CAPTAIN'S CHAIR (WHICH HAD BEEN SECURE THE ENTIRE TRIP) RELEASED FROM THE FLOOR, SENDING MY OTHER SON INTO THE BACK OF THE PASSENGERS SIDE SEAT BACK. THANK GOODNESS HE WAS FASTENED INTO THE CAR SEAT. THIS IS A HORRIBLE DEFECT IN THE DESIGN OF THESE SEATS, AND SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED. WE WERE LUCKY NOT TO HAVE INJURIES.

Unknown or Other
Filed May 27, 2005MI

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.

Visibility
Filed May 23, 2005OH

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

Seats › Front Assembly › Head Restraint
Filed Apr 8, 2005FL

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

Latches/Locks/Linkages › Doors › Latch1 injured
Filed Dec 28, 200415,759 milesMD

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

Structure › Body › Door
Filed Nov 1, 2004600 milesWI

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

Reading these

NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

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