1998 Pontiac Montana Owner Complaints

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 PONTIAC MONTANA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD INTERMITTENTLY STALL WHEN MAKING TURNS OR WHEN DECELERATING. THE CONTACT TOOK HER VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WHERE SHE WAS ADVISED THAT THEY COULD NOT DIAGNOSIS THE FAILURE WITHOUT IT OCCURRING IN THEIR PRESENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER FIVE ADDITIONAL TIMES BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE DEALER WAS FINALLY ABLE TO DIAGNOSE A TRANSMISSION FAILURE AFTER SIX PREVIOUS FAILED DIAGNOSTICS. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 07/03/14 MA

NHTSA ID

10585316

Incident

Feb 18, 1998

Mileage

100 mi

THE ENGINE JUST TURNED OFF WHILE STARTING TO TURN A CORNER. LOST POWER STEERING AND POWER BREAKS, BUT THE CAR JUST ROLLED ON. PUT CAR IN NEUTRAL AND TURNED KEY IT STARTED AND THEN DROVE NORMALLY. THIS HAS NOW HAPPENED 4 TIMES. THE PREVIOUS OWNER, WHEN CONTACTED, SAID, JUST RESTART THE CAR! DOES THIS RELATE TO GM IGNITION SWITCH RECALL? *TR

NHTSA ID

10568022

Incident

Mar 6, 2014

Mileage

115,230 mi

WHILE DRIVING AT REDUCED SPEED THROUGH URBAN AREAS, THE VEHICLE WILL INCREASE RPMS AS IF THE ACCELERATOR IS BEING DEPRESSED, EVEN THOUGH THE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN AT A CONSTANT SPEED WITH NO PRESSURE BEING APPLIED TO THE ACCELERATOR. IT IS UNSETTLING, BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL TO INSURE THAT YOU DO NOT RUN INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE IN FRONT OF YOU. THE CRUISE CONTROL IS TURNED OFF WHEN THIS OCCURS. IF THE VEHICLE IS SHUT DOWN AND RESTARTED, THE RPMS RETURN TO NORMAL. IF YOU CONTINUE DRIVING WHEN THIS SITUATION OCCURS, THE ENGINE RETURNS TO NORMAL ONCE YOU ARE ABLE TO INCREASE YOUR SPEED IN LESS CONGESTED AREAS. WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE USED RECENTLY, AND WE HAVE NO KNOWLEDGE OF ANY MAINTENANCE ISSUES. THE RECALLS THAT WE VIEWED ON YOUR WEBSITE DID NOT REFER TO THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE. ANY INSIGHT THAT YOU CAN OFFER WILL BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10546347

Incident

Aug 21, 2009

Mileage

126,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 PONTIAC MONTANA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SLIDING DOORS COULD NOT BE OPENED ELECTRONICALLY, ONLY MANUALLY. IN ADDITION, THE GEAR SHIFTER FAILED AND COULD ONLY BE SHIFTED INTO DRIVE OR REVERSE WITH FORCE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 234,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 239,000.

NHTSA ID

10465118

Incident

Feb 1, 2012

Mileage

234,000 mi

1998 PONTIAC MONTANA,LEFT FRONT TIRE BLEW OUT. THE CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND STRUCK THE MEDIAN BARRIER *BF OHIO TRAFFIC REPORT # 10-0246-90. *JB

NHTSA ID

10340075

Incident

May 3, 2010

I HAVE A 1998 PONTIAC TRANSPORT-MONTANA! THE DEALER INDICATES IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL OF THE 02V28600. I AM HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH THE STEERING AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL. IT IS NOW TO THE POINT I AM GOING TO HAVE TO REPAIR OR REPLACE THE PROBLEM PART AND IT IS OBVIOUS GM KNEW AND SHOULD REMEDY THE PROBLEM. ACCORDING TO THE DEALER MINE IS TOO NEW FOR THE RECALL EVEN THOUGH THEY KNOW THE PROBLEM AND HAVE FIXED IN VEHICLES THAT WERE BUILT ONLY MONTHS BEFORE. EA02033 FIXES THE VEHICLES UP TO OCTOBER 31 1997. MINE IS A 1998 WITH IDENTICAL PROBLEMS SEEING AS IT IS A TRANSPORT WITH MONTANA TRIM. I THINK THEY SHOULD FIX THIS BEFORE IT FAILS AND SOMETHING HAPPENS TO MY WIFE AND KIDS. I SPOKE WITH PONTIAC AFTER TALKING TO THE DEALER AND NEEDS LESS TO SAY I GOT NO PLACE. I KNOW TIMES ARE TOUGH BUT , COME ON YOU ARE MESSING WITH THE HEALTH OF MY FAMILY! *TR

NHTSA ID

10261534

Incident

Jan 1, 1999

Mileage

10,000 mi

I NOTICED I HAVE BEEN USING A LOT OF ANTIFREEZE IN THE VAN BUT NO LEAKS UNDER IT. I TOOK IT TO THE GARAGE TO CHANGE THE THERMOSTAT AND TO HAVE IT CHECKED OUT. THEY TOLD ME MY HEAD GASKETS ARE BAD AND NEED TO BE REPLACED, WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER HE SAID I NEEDED A NEW RADIATOR TOO! I HAVE BEEN LOOKING ON THE WEB AND FOUND MANY CONSUMERS WITH THE SAME COMPLAINT AS MINE. WHY HAVEN'T THESE 1998 PONTIAC MONTANA'S BEEN RECALLED? *TR

NHTSA ID

10255620

Incident

Jan 13, 2009

Mileage

109,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING ON MARCH 16,2004 I HIT BLACK ICE IN THE ROAD,WENT OFF THE ROAD, ROLLED OVER AND BOTH FRONT DOORS CAME OPEN BY THEMSELVES AND I SUFFERED A HEAD INJURY THAT I AM STILL RECOVERING FROM DUE TO THE DOORS OPENING. IT COULD HAVE BEEN ALOT MORE SEROIUS BECAUSE DURING ROLLOVER I FELT MY LEGS GO OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE.*AK

NHTSA ID

10100011

Incident

Mar 16, 2004

Mileage

177,000 mi

WHILE PARKED PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED INADVERTENTLY. AS A RESULT, WINDSHIELD SHATTERED WITHOUT WARNING. *AK

NHTSA ID

10076083

Incident

Jun 3, 2004

Mileage

115,000 mi

A YEAR AGO,I PUCHASED A PREVIOUSLY OWNED 1998 PONTIAC MONTANA TRANSPORT VAN WITH APPROXIMATELY 58,000 MILES ON IT. I AM A CERTIFICATED AIRCRAFT MECHANIC WITH OVER 10 YRS OF EXPERIENCE. SO, I AM AWARE OF POTENTIONAL PROBLEMS WITH USED VEHICLES. I DID NOT HAVE ANY PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE UNTIL 3 MONTHS AGO. WHEN I HAD A LOW COOLANT LIGHT COME ON. I IMMEDIATLEY CHECKED THE FLUID LEVEL AND IT WAS LOW. I THEN, BEGAN TO LOOK FOR A REASON FOR LOW COOLANT. I FOUND THE COOLANT LEAKING EXTERNALLY OUT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD AREA. I WAS ABLE TO PUT A SOCKET ON THE NEAREST INTAKE BOLTS AND FOUND THAT THEY WERE LOOSE. THIS TEMPORARILY STOPPED THE LEAK. SERVICED ALL THE FLUIDS. I ASSUMED THIS PROBLEM WAS FIXED. I DID NOT NOTICE ANY ENGINE NOISES, NO OTHER PROBLEMS, NOTHING ELSE. TWO WEEKS AGO, THE VAN AND IT LOST POWER MOMENTARILY, THEN A SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT CAME ON. NO OTHER PROBLEMS, VAN RESUMED PERFORMANCE. WHEN I INSPECTED THE VAN AND ITS COMPONENTS. IT HAD A CODE OF 300 WHICH MEANT "RANDOM MISFIRE" IN THE ENGINE. THIS IS A CODE THAT COULD BE GIVEN BY NUMEROUS REASONS. I ALLOWED THE VAN TO IDLE TO OPERATING TEMPERATURES. WHEN SUDDENLY THE ENGINE SHUTS DOWN. I IMMEDIATELY START IT BACK UP. NOW IT HAS NO OIL PRESSURE AND THE VALVES ARE RATTLING. I CONTACTED MY LOCAL PONTIAC DEALER TO SEE IF THEY WERE AWARE OF ANY RECALLS OR SERVICE BULLETINS RELATING TO THIS MODEL. THEY DID NOT KNOW OF ANY. I BEGAN TO RESEARCH THIS PROBLEM. I WAS ALARMED AT WHAT I HAD FOUND. APPARENTLY, THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT IS REPEATED OVER AND OVER WITH THIS PARTICULAR ENGINE AND COOLANT COMBINATION. SPECIFICALLY DEXCOOL, THE ORANGE COOLANT. IT IS SHOWING POSSIBLE INCOMPATIBILITIES BETWEEN THE COOLANT AND THE GASKETS USED ON THE INTAKE MANIFOLDS, HEADS AND OTHER VITAL ENGINE COMPONENTS. ONE OF THE WEB-SITES I RESEARCHED WAS WWW.GM-V6LEMONS.COM. I WOULD LIKE FOR GM TO RADIFY THIS INTO A RECALL( SERVICE BULLETIN) BECAUSE SO MANY OF US HAS SUFFERED FROM THIS POSSIBLE DEFECT.*AK

NHTSA ID

10072588

Incident

Apr 26, 2004

Mileage

69,000 mi

ON JULY 18, 2003 WE TOOK OUR 1998 PONTIAC MONTANA (58,000 MILES) TO DOMAILLE BUICK-MAZDA-MITSUBISHI IN ROCHESTER, MINNESOTA FOR A 3,000-MILE OIL CHANGE PRIOR TO LEAVING FOR OUR SUMMER VACATION. ON THAT DAY THE MECHANIC INFORMED US ABOUT EVIDENCE OF A LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET LEAK AND THE NEED FOR IMMEDIATE REPAIR. HE ADVISED US NOT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE FOR FEAR THAT THE ENGINE COULD SEIZE UP IN THE MIDDLE OF MAJOR TRAFFIC. THIS COSTLY PROBLEM, OF WHICH WE ARE NOW ACUTELY AWARE, IS FAIRLY COMMON AMONGST THIS LINE OF VEHICLE (CHEVY VENTURE AND OLDS SILHOUETTE). WE HAVE LEARNED VIA A PLETHORA OF INTERNET SOURCES THAT THE INCIDENCE OF THIS PROBLEM OCCURS REGARDLESS OF MILEAGE, AS SOME CONSUMERS ENDURED THIS PROBLEM WHILE STILL UNDER WARRANTY. THE MANUFACTURER RESPONSE TO THIS SERIOUS AND COSTLY MECHANICAL PROBLEM HAS BEEN TO REDESIGN THE GASKET FOR NEWER MODEL VEHICLES. IN THE MEAN TIME, CUSTOMER AFTER CUSTOMER HAS FORKED OUT THE COST OF THESE REPAIRS. WHILE WE SADLY REFER TO OURSELVES AS ONE OF THE LUCKY ONES IN THAT OUR REPAIR BILL TOTALED A MERE $850.00 (SEE ATTACHED) AND WE CAUGHT THE PROBLEM PRIOR TO OUR VACATION, AND THAT WE WERE NOT INJURED AS A RESULT OF THIS PROBLEM, OTHERS HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THEIR ENGINE AT THE COST OF $4000.00 OR MORE. THIS IS A MAJOR CONSUMER CONCERN DUE TO SAFETY. FOR EXAMPLE, ANY GM OWNER COULD EXPERIENCE SUDDEN AND UNEXPLAINED STALLING OF THEIR VEHICLE IN THE MIDST OF TRAFFIC, AS A RESULT OF A LEAKY INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. THE TRAFFIC EXPERIENCE COULD BE ON A COUNTRY ROAD OR ON A MAJOR INTERSTATE GOING 70+ MPH ... ENGINE SEIZING UP AND TRACTOR TRAILERS BEHIND YOU?!?!? THE DISASTROUS POSSIBILITIES ARE ENDLESS.

NHTSA ID

10057074

Incident

Jul 18, 2003

Mileage

58,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING ALONG HWY 101 THE OVERHEAT LIGHT TURNED ON AND THE TEMPERATURE GAGE JUMPED TO OVER THE LIMIT. WE PULLED OVER AND CHECKED THE VEHICLE, IT WAS NOT HOT. HOWEVER, THE GAGE WOULD NOT RETURN TO NORMAL, CAUSING THE VEHICLE THE CHUG AND HAVE VERY LITTLE DRIVE UNTIL 15 MINUTES DOWN THE ROAD IT KICKED BACK INTO NORMAL LIKE A BAT OUTTA HELL. THIS, ALONG A MOUNTAINOUS FAST MOVING HIGHWAY WITH LOGGING TRUCKS ON MY TAIL; NOT A VERY SAFE SITUATION. ON THIS SAME TRIP, THE PASSENGER WINDOW WOULD NOT GO BACK UP, @ 55MPH AND 40 DEGREES, IT WAS NOT PLEASANT.*AK

NHTSA ID

10056680

Incident

Feb 4, 2004

BLOWN HEAD GASKET AT 98001 MILES. LEAKING ENGINE COOLANT.*AK

NHTSA ID

10054632

Incident

Jan 19, 2004

Mileage

97,995 mi

WE HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH BOTH THE LEFT AND RIGHT POWER WINDOWS. THE RIGHT POWER WINDOW STARTED STICKING HALF WAY UP. IT WAS REPAIRED AT 36,000 52,000 AND 80,000 MILES. THE SYMPTOMS WERE ALWAYS THE SAME EXCEPT AT 80,000 THE WINDOW STUCK DOWN (DURING A VERY RAINY WEEKEND). IT WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRENTY AND WE HAD TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR. NOW AT 90,000 MILES THE DRIVER WINDOW IS STICKING HALF WAY UP AGAIN. IT WILL TOTALLY FREEZE SOON. THE PASSANGER WINDOW, WHICH WAS ALIGNED AND LUBED AT 80,000 MILES IS STUCK IN THE UP POSITION. WE CAN'T MAKE IT GO DOWN AT ALL. HELP

NHTSA ID

10069874

Incident

Sep 15, 2003

Mileage

36,000 mi

WE PURCHASED THE 1998 PONTIAC MONTANA IN MARCH 1998. SINCE WE PURCHASED THE CAR, WE HAVE HAD THE RIGHT TURN SIGNAL SOCKET REPLACED THREE TIMES DUE TO MALFUNCTION. IN OCTOBER 2002, WE TOOK THE AUTOMOBILE IN FOR PROBLEMS NOTED. IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT WE NEEDED TO REPLACE THE TURN SIGNAL SOCKET AGAIN, REPLACE THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR, REPLACE THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDES DOOR POWER WINDOW MOTORS, REPLACE THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET, AND THEY WORKED ON THE SLIDING DOOR FOR THE FIFTH TIME DUE TO A RECALL. THE TOTAL ESTIMATE FOR THE PENDING WORKS CAME TO $3500.00 PLUS. I CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER WITH ME CONCERNS, BUT MY CONCERNS FELL ON DEAF EARS. ALL THE AGREED TO HELP ME WITH WAS THE PRICE ON THE PARTS OF THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR AND THAT WE WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE LABOR AND ALL OF THE MAJOR REPAIRS/REPLACEMENTS BECAUSE THEY FELT THAT WE DID NOT HAVE ANYMORE WARRANTY ON THE AUTOMOBILE. THE SERVICE MANAGER ADVISE ME TO TRADE IN THE VEHICLE SINCE IT WOULD BE EXPENSIVE TO DO THE JOBS REQUIRED, BUT WE THOUGHT IT NOT TO AT THIS TIME. WE EVEN SUGGESTED THAT THERE MIGHT NOT BE A NATIONAL RECALL ON THE ITEMS, BUT WE STRONGLY FEEL THAT THIS PARTICULAR VAN HAS A DEFECT. WE ARE ASKING YOU TO PLEASE HELP US TO RESOLVE OUR CONCERNS.

NHTSA ID

10069870

Incident

Nov 15, 2002

INTAKE GASKET FAILED ALLOWING COOLANT TO LEAK INTO OIL.68638 MILES VALVE LIFTER KNOCKING.74809 MILES STALLING OF ENGINE COMPLETE LOSS OF BRAKING AND STEERING. DESTRUCTION OF ENGINE.75110 MILES FAILURE OF CAMSHAFT. ENGINE THROWN INTO GARBAGE

NHTSA ID

10069397

Incident

Jul 15, 2003

Mileage

75,110 mi

CURRENTLY RUNNING, BUT NOT FOR LONG. LOW COOLANT LIGHT ON LIFTERS CLANGING. 75,000 MILE NOW..... RUNNING LIKE CRAP. I SEE THAT THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ON THIS MATTER WITH MAJOR ENGINE REPAIRS. $$$$$$ WHEN IS GM GOING TO RECALL???????

NHTSA ID

10068715

Incident

Jun 15, 2003

Mileage

75,000 mi

THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION ON OUR MONTANA FAILED WITHOUT WARNING AND NOW NEEDS TO BE REPLACED TO THE TUNE OF $2500. I WAS DIRECTED TO THIS SITE AND SEE NUMEROUS TRANSMISSION FAILURES ON VARIOUS MODEL YEAR MONTANA/TRANSSPORTS. WHY IS THERE NO RECALL ON THESE? THIS VEHICLE WAS NEVER USED FOR TOWING, ON HILLY AREAS, ETC. ESSENTIALLY A TYPICAL USAGE OF SOME CITY, SOME HIGHWAY. ONLY 68,000 MILES AND NOW THIS?*AK

NHTSA ID

10052464

Incident

Dec 29, 2003

Mileage

68,000 mi

ON JULY 18, 2003 WE TOOK OUR 1998 PONTIAC MONTANA (58,000 MILES) TO DOMAILLE BUICK-MAZDA-MITSUBISHI IN ROCHESTER, MINNESOTA FOR A 3,000-MILE OIL CHANGE PRIOR TO LEAVING FOR OUR SUMMER VACATION. ON THAT DAY THE MECHANIC INFORMED US ABOUT EVIDENCE OF A LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET LEAK AND THE NEED FOR IMMEDIATE REPAIR. GM HAS A VEHICLE OWNER SATISFACTION PROGRAM INITIATED IN RESPONSE TO THE PROBLEMS NOTED WITH THEIR INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. GM REDESIGNED THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET AND REPLACED THE GASKET AT NO COST TO THE OWNERS OF 1999-2003 MODEL CARS. THIS REPAIR WAS NEITHER COVERED UNDER THE ORIGINAL WARRANTY OR THE SERVICE BULLETIN ISSUED TO THE DEALER IDENTIFYING THE PROBLEM. GM HAS BEEN UNRESPONSIVE TO MY COMPLAINT. I BELIEVE THAT I SHOULD BE REIMBURSED FOR THE COST OF THIS REPAIR, WHICH EXCEEDED $800.00. *LA

NHTSA ID

10047598

Incident

Jul 18, 2003

Mileage

58,000 mi

THE AUTOMATIC SLIDING DOOR CONTINUES TO OPEN AND CLOSE. WHEN STARTING UP THE VEHICLE AND PUTTING IT INTO GEAR, THE DOORS STOP OPENING AND CLOSING. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED A RECALL REPAIR WAS PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. IN FOR THE DOORS TO OPERATE PROPERLY, THE OVERRIDE BUTTON HAD TO BE ENGAGED. *JB *NM

NHTSA ID

10044657

Mileage

86,900 mi

CAR STALLING AT ANY SPEED. CAR STALLED,ENGINE DESTROYED.*AK

NHTSA ID

10028787

Incident

Jul 12, 2003

Mileage

74,809 mi

1998 MONTANA VAN WOULDN'T CRANK AT WORK, THEN WAITED AND IT CRANKED. SECOND TIME IT STOPPED IN ROAD, THEN CRANKED UP. LATER TRIED TO CRANK AND IT WOULDN'T. HAD TO TOW VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP, WHO STATED THAT WIRES WERE CORRODED THAT AFFECTED SENSORS. *JB

NHTSA ID

10018760

Incident

May 8, 2003

THE ENGINE LOCKED UP. DEALER NOTIFIED. PH

NHTSA ID

10006533

Incident

Jan 15, 2003

BOTH HEADLAMP LENS FELL OFF THE REFLECTORS, THEN BULBS BURNT OUT DUE TO SNOW CONTACTING BULBS.DEALER SAYS ITS A COMON PROPLEM BUT PONTIAC WILL NOT ADDRESS THE ISSUE.

NHTSA ID

10003056

Incident

Jan 18, 2003

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE BRAKE ROTORS ARE WEARING AND WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES THE VEHICLE WILL HAVE A HEAVY VIBRATION AND EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALER NOTIFIED. MR

NHTSA ID

8020584

Incident

Sep 5, 2002