1997 Pontiac Montana

ON NOVEMBER 18, 2002, ODI OPENED A PRELIMINARY EVALUATION (PE02-086) TO EVALUATE ALLEGATIONS OF REAR AXLE TRAILING ARM FAILURES IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES (U-VAN) WHICH INCLUDED TWO REPORTING CRASHES.ON APRIL 9, 2003, ODI UPGRADED PE02-086 TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA03-005) TO CONTINUE ITS EXAMINATION OF THE ISSUE. THE TRAILING ARM DESIGN IN THESE VEHICLES HAS BEEN USED IN THE U-VAN FROM MY 1997 THROUGH THE PRESENT.THE GM ANALYSIS CONCLUDED THAT THE SUBJECT TRAILING ARMS COULD CRACK OR BUCKLE IF THEY WERE DAMAGED DURING ASSEMBLY, PRE-DELIVERY HANDLING, OR SUBJECTED TO CERTAIN SERVICE RELATED ABUSE CONDITIONS SUCH AS IMPROPER TOWING OR JACKING.ANALYSIS OF ODI AND GM DATA HAS IDENTIFIED 19 INCIDENTS OF REAR AXLE TRAILING ARM FAILURES IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.THERE HAVE BEEN NO NEW REPORTS TO ODI OR GM IN THE LAST 12 MONTHS AND ONLY ONE NEW COMPLAINT IN THE LAST 21 MONTHS. DUE TO THE LOW COMPLAINT RATE AND THE ABSENCE OF A CONTINUING TREND IN REPORTED FAILURES, A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME AND FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED. THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DOES NOT EXIST. THE AGENCY WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES. FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, SEE THE ATTACHED CLOSING REPORT.

ODI IDENTIFIED 59 REPORTS WITH THE ALLEGED DEFECT.ODI WAS ABLE TO CONTACT 44 OF THE 59 CONSUMERS IN ORDER TO DETERMINE THE SPECIFIC CAUSE OF THE LATCH PROBLEMS.OF THE 44 OWNERS CONTACTED, ODI DETERMINED THAT FOUR FAILURES WERE DUE TO AN OUT-OF-TOLERANCE LATCH PLATE, AND THAT 23 FAILURES WERE DUE TO A DISPLACED BUCKLE HOUSING COVER.THE REMAINING 17 FAILURES HAD INDETERMINABLE CAUSES.OF THE 59 REPORTS, THERE WERE THREE ALLEGED MINOR INJURIES.NO LEGAL CLAIMS OR LAWSUITS HAVE BEEN FILED WITH REGARD TO THIS ALLEGED DEFECT.BASED ON THE LIMITED NUMBER OF REPORTS, AND A DECLINING REPORT TREND, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME AND FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEARED TO BE WARRANTED.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DOES NOT EXIST.THE AGENCY WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES. SEE ADDITIONAL SUMMARY REPORT.

I RECENTLY SAW THAT TOYOTA VOLUNTARILY RECALLED SOME OF THEIR VEHICLES DUE TO FAILURES OF THE CABLE THAT HOLDS THEIR SPARE TIRES IN PLACE. I HAD THIS EXACT SAME FAILURE OCCUR TO ME ON A 1997 PONTIAC MONTANA VAN. THE ACTUAL FAILURE OCCURRED ON 1/21/08. I WAS PARKED IN A PARKING LOT WHEN THE SPARE TIRE SUDDENLY SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE AND FELL ONTO THE GROUND. THE METAL CABLE ON THE SPARE TIRE WINCH HAD FAILED DUE TO CORROSION AND ALLOWED THE TIRE TO FALL. HAD THIS HAPPENED EVEN 20 MINUTES EARLIER, WHEN I WAS DRIVING ON THE EXPRESSWAY, THE TIRE WOULD HAVE BEEN BOUNCING AROUND ON THE HIGHWAY, IN MOVING TRAFFIC. I WAS CONCERNED THAT THIS WAS LIKELY A GENERIC GM PROBLEM AND THE CHANCE OF SOMEONE GETTING SERIOUSLY INJURED, OR WORSE, WAS VERY HIGH IF A SPARE TIRE WAS BOUNCING LOOSE ON THE HIGHWAY. ON 2/6/08, I PERSONALLY REPORTED THIS INFORMATION TO THE DEALER FROM WHICH I HAD PURCHASED THE VEHICLE NEW. I WAS TOLD THEY WOULD REPORT THE INFORMATION TO GENERAL MOTORS. ON 2/25/08, I EMAILED MY CONTACT AT THE DEALER TO SEE IF THEY HAD GOTTEN ANY RESPONSE FROM GM. I NEVER GOT A RESPONSE TO THAT EMAIL. ON 3/4/08, I CALLED PONTIAC CUSTOMER SERVICE AND REITERATED MY CONCERN WITH THE DEFICIENT GM DESIGN. I WAS ASSIGNED REFERENCE NUMBER 71-608132149. I SPOKE TO A COUPLE OF CUSTOMER SERVICE TYPES, THE LAST BEING A SUPERVISOR SUPPOSEDLY. HE INFORMED ME HE DID NOT INTEND TO TAKE THIS MATTER (MY CONCERN) ANY FURTHER IN THE GM ORGANIZATION, THAT HE WOULD PERSONALLY TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY INJURIES RESULTING FROM FAILED SPARE TIRE WINCHES ON PONTIACS. THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS, GM HAS THE SAME PROBLEM AS TOYOTA. TOYOTA HAS RECALLED THEIR VEHICLES TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE, GM HAS DONE NOTHING. I NEVER GOT A RECALL NOTICE. THIS ISSUE IS OUT THERE AND SOMEONE COULD VERY LIKELY BE SERIOUSLY INJURED OR WORSE IF GM DOES NOT ADDRESS IT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10329297

Incident

Jan 21, 2008

Mileage

120,000 mi

ANTIFREEZE LEAK; LEAD TO REPLACEMENT OF LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET (VERY COSTLY) ABOUT 4 YEARS AGO. NEEDS REPLACING AGAIN. DEALERSHIP WARNS OF EXCESSIVE ENGINE DAMAGE DUE TO ANTIFREEZE IN THE MOTOR OIL. *NM

NHTSA ID

10152769

Incident

Mar 15, 2006

Mileage

115,000 mi

PONTIAC TRANSPORT MONTANA WAS PARKED IN A PARKING LOT FOR 1/2 HOUR OR SO AND BECAME INGULFED IN FLAMES. FIRE MARSHALL THINKS IT WAS FROM BATTERY/ ELECTRIC. DESTROYED OUR CAR AND 5 OTHERS. NO HUMANS HURT...THANK GOD IT WAS PARKED AND MY SON WAS NOT DRIVING IT.

NHTSA ID

10128679

Incident

Jul 11, 2005

Mileage

100,000 mi

DT CONTACT STATES HIS PASSENGER SAFETY BELT IN HIS VEHICLE IS LOCKED, ORIGINALLY DESIGNED A CHILD SAFETY FEATURE. THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE IN THE MIDDLE ROW, CENTER AND RIGHT SIDE SEAT IS COMING APART. *NM

NHTSA ID

10120777

Incident

May 12, 2005

DRIVING DOWN A TWO LANE FREEWAY, VEARING TO THE RIGHT AND I REARENDED A CAR. THE SEATBELTS DID NOT LOCK AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT WORK..THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED AND EVERYTHING WAS SAID TO BE WORKING FINE..THE VAN IS FULLY LOADED AND ALL THE ELCTRONICS ARE WORKING PERFECTLY, AS FAR AS I KNEW.*AK

NHTSA ID

10110502

Incident

Feb 13, 2005

INTERMITTENTLY VEHICLE HAD DIFFICULTY MAKING A LEFT TURN, OR WAS UNABLE TO MAKE A LEFT TURN WHILE IN MOTION . CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE CONCERNING THIS PROBLEM BACK IN OCTOBER 23, 2003. BUT WAS NOT ABLE LOCATE THAT INFORMATION IN NHTSA DATA BASE. *AK

NHTSA ID

10079884

Incident

Jun 15, 2004

Mileage

106,000 mi

THE HEADLIGHT ON DRIVERS SIDE FELL OUT WHILE DRIVING. THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT FELL OUT AFTER THE TRUNK WAS CLOSED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10066908

Incident

Feb 1, 2003

Mileage

109,000 mi

LENS COVER OVER THE HEADLIGHTS FELL OUT OF BOTH HEADLIGHTS ON SEPERATE OCCCASIONS. I HAD TO BUY THE WHOLE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY. I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND THEY JUST FELL OUT AND BROKE ON THE ROAD. WE CURRENTLY HAVE A PROBLEM WITH IT OVERHEATING HAVE REPLACE THERMOSTAT AND WATER PUMP STILL HAVING SAME PROBLEM. NOT FIXED YET. THE POWER SLIDING DOOR ALARMS THAT IT IS OPEN FOR NO APPARENT REASON. THE DOOR HAS NOT OPENED AND CLOSED BY THE POWER FOR SEVERAL MONTHS. IT HAS TO BE MANNAULLY OPENED. WE HAVE ALSO REPLACED THE BOTH AIR SHOCKS IN THE REAR OF THE VAN. CAN'T GET THE RADIATOR CAP FROM RADIATOR HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO REMOVE SINCE IT WAS BOUGHT.

NHTSA ID

10071083

Incident

May 15, 2003

Mileage

80,000 mi

This Preliminary Information communicates to the dealer the process for downloading or updating operating software for the Tire Pressure Monitor, Active Fuel Injector tester, multi media tester, PICO Scope, GR8 starting/charging tester  and Vehicle Data Recorder tools, giving website address and step by step instructions to complete the update.

THIS TECHNICAL BULLETIN PROVIDES A PROCEDURE TO REPROGRAM THE MEDIA DISC PLAYER WITH THE LATEST CALIBRATIONS TO CORRECT A CONDITION OF THE REAR ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEM NOT OPERATING AS INTENDED IN COLDER AMBIENT TEMPERATURE AREAS DUE TO CALIBRATION CONCERNS.

Vehicle Recalls

Expanded Availability for Remanufacture and Return (R&R) Electronic Control Modules

INFORMATION ON ERROR CODES ON RADIO DISPLAY THEIR CAUSE AND CORRECTIVE ACTION. *EH

POWER DOOR LOCKS INOPERATIVE. *MR