Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full
Data refreshed
Our database holds 235 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1999 Pontiac Montana. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Showing 1–25 of 235 · page 1 of 10
THE REAR PASSENGER SUSPENSION SYSTEM HAS FAILED AND THE TIRE IS SITTING ON THE TIRE-WELL. THE FRAME APPEARS TO BE LOOSE DUE TO RUST AND HAS CAUSED THE SPRING COIL TO POP OUT AND WOBBLE UNCONTROLLABLY. I WAS DRIVING WHEN THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED AND IT WOULD BEGIN TO "FISH TAIL" AROUND 40MPH OR WHEN I WOULD HIT BUMPS, MAKE TURNS OR SWITCH LANES.
AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AND TRANSMISSION SHIFT LEVER MOVES BUT DOES NOT ENGAGE TRANSMISSION. *TR
I HAD AN ACCIDENT WHERE A CAR FISH TAILED IN FRONT OF ME SLID DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF MINE. I HIT THE OTHER CAR WHILE GOING 40 MPH, IT WAS A T*BONE COLLISION. MY FRONT AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AT THE TIME OF COLLISION. AFTER GETTING OUT OF THE VEHICLE I NOTICED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WAS LAYING IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT WITH THE AIR BAG STILL INFLATED. I DO REMEMBER THAT FOR A LONG TIME BEFORE TODAY THE RED AIRBAG LIGHT WAS ON. I THOUGHT THIS WOULD CAUSE THE AIR BAGS NOT TO WORK. I DO HAVE PICTURES OF THE DAMAGE, AND THE DEFECT WITH THE AIR BAG. *TR
IT SEEMS THAT THE THIS PARTICULAR MAKE AND MODEL HAS KNOWN PROBLEMS WITH THE COOLING SYSTEM. ON A FAMILY TRIP TO VIRGINIA THE CAR STARTED TO OVERHEAT AND I STOPPED THE VEHICLE. WHEN PARKED RED FLUID WAS VISIBLE UNDER THE CAR AND UPON TESTING WAS FOUND OUT TO BE COOLANT LEAK. CAR WAS TOWED TO PA AND MECHANIC REPORTED LOSS AND REPLACEMENT OF RADIATOR/HOSES AND LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD (GASKET) A LABOR INTENSIVE WORK COSTING ABOUT 1700 TO FIX ALL THE ISSUE WITH THIS OVER HEATING. *TR
ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS AND REAR LIGHT FAILURE INCLUDING BREAKS AN TURN SIGNALS.*TR
1. EVENTS UNKNOWN 2. COOLING SYSTEM FAILURE, ALL THE TIME, UNDRIVEABLE 3. UNABLE TO CORRECT FAILURE. *TR
FIRST THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW STOPPED WORKING, THEN THE TAIL LIGHTS JUST WENT OUT ON THE 99 PONTIAC MONTANA. THEY WERE JUST WORKING AND THEN ON MY WAY HOME THEY JUST STOPPED WORKING. I REPLACED ALL BULBS AND THEY STILL AREN'T WORKING. WENT TO SEE A TECHNICIAN AND HE SAYS IT IS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. AFTER THAT THE RADIO DISPLAY FLICKERS IN AND OUT WHEN THE BRAKE IS PUSHED ON. I'VE SEARCHED TO SEE IF I COULD FIND AN ANSWER AS TO WHY THIS HAPPENED AND THERE ARE MANY WEBSITES WITH THE SAME COMPLAINTS AS I HAVE STATED HERE WITH THE SAME PROBLEMS. *TR
VEHICLE SPONTANEOUSLY CAUGHT FIRE WHILE STUCK IN SNOW DRIFT. FIRE WAS ALL CONSUMING - FIRE TRUCK HAD TO COME OUT IT OUT - JUST SHELL OF VAN WAS LEFT. WE WERE ABLE TO GET OUT AS FIRE WAS SLOW TO TAKE OFF. FIRE STARTED IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT. FIRE CHIEF SAID WE WOULD NEVER KNOW CAUSE AS NO ENGINE COMPARTMENT REMAINS. *TR
DEALER SOLD ME A PONTIAC MONTANA MINIVAN AND I ONLY HAD IT FOR 2 WEEKS, AND IT WON'T START, IT HAD A CARFAX REPORT THAT SAID IT WAS IN A CAR ACCIDENT, THIS WAS NOT TOLD OR REVEALED TO ME BY THE DEALER. NOW I AM STRANDED WITHOUT A CAR TO GET AROUND AND NO WARRANTY WAS GIVEN. I ASK FOR A WARRANTY THE SALESMAN SAID IT ONLY COMES WITH FINANCING. *TR
TWO SEPARATE GASKET PROBLEMS ON MY 1999 PONTIAC MONTANA MINI VAN. THE MOST RECENT WAS TODAY IN AUG. OF 2008 THE LOCAL GARAGE TOLD ME THAT MY VANS LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET NEEDED REPLACED FOR ABOUT $700. THE PROBLEM WAS NOTICED WHEN MY TEMPERATURE LIGHT CAME ON AND AFTER FILLING RADIATOR I SAW WATER LEAKING UNDERNEATH VEHICLE. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 PONTIAC MONTANA. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE SLIDING PASSENGER SIDE DOORS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE VEHICLE OCCASIONALLY OPEN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DOORS WERE NOT THE ELECTRIC DOORS THAT WERE RECALLED; HOWEVER, SHE IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT HAS NOT YET RESPONDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 125,000.
I HAVE A 1999 PONTIAC MONTANA IN WHICH WE BOUGHT ALMOST 2 YEARS AGO FROM A USED CAR DEALERSHIP. AROUND MAY WE TOOK OUR 8 YR. OLD SON TO A BASEBALL GAME AND WHEN WE WENT TO TAKE OUR THEN 16 MONTH OLD SON OUT FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE AND IT CAME COMPLETELY OFF TRACK....IT'S PASSENGER SIDE SLIDING DOOR {NOT ELECTRIC} HAS CAME OFF TRACK WHILE DRIVING AROUND A CORNER AND GOING OVER BUMPS,AT LEAST 8 TIMES AND COUNTING. IT IS HAVING PROBLEMS EXACTLY LIKE THE ELECTRIC, IT COMES COMPLETELY OFF TRACK AND HAS TO BE PUT ON. MY 2 YEAR OLD SON HAD BEEN SITTING ON THAT SIDE, WHAT HAPPENS IF HE WAS TO FALL OUT? NOW THE DRIVER SIDE SLIDING DOOR IS STARTING TO HAVE PROBLEMS. PLEASE CONTACT ME ASAP TO FIX THE PROBLEM FREE OF CHARGE, OR I WILL HAVE TO GET A LAWYER. THANKS *TR
EVERY YEAR, A WEEK OR TWO AFTER TURNING ON THE HEAT IN THE VAN, THE HEATER STOPS BLOWING WARM AIR. WHILE SITTING AT IDLE THE TEMP GAUGE RISES EXTREMELY HIGH. EVERY YEAR THE DEALER HAS FIXED THE PROBLEM. THIS YEAR THEY ARE TELLING ME THAT I NEED A NEW ENGINE! AFTER RESEARCHING ONLINE, HERE AND AT RESPECTED SITES SUCH AS EDMONDS.COM IT SEEMS TO ME LIKE THESE PROBLEMS SHOULD HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED LONG BEFORE I EVEN BOUGHT MY VAN SO MANY YEARS AGO!!!! *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 PONTIAC MONTANA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO OVERHEAT. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE HEAD GASKET. THE DEALER STATED THAT COOLANT LEAKED INTO THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIRS, WHICH TOTALED $1,800. ONE WEEK AFTER A ROUTINE MAINTENANCE REPAIR, THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING NORMALLY; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MECHANIC ALSO STATED THAT THIS TYPE OF FAILURE SHOULD NOT HAVE RECURRED. THE CONTACT MAILED A COMPLAINT TO THE COMPANY AND HAS OWNED THE VEHICLE FOR TWO YEARS. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 121,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 131,000.
WHEN DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED (60MPH OR GREATER) THE WIPER WILL OVER RUN THE WINDSHIELD WHEN INITIALLY TURNED ON. THIS IS RESULTING IN DESTROYING THE BLADE AND CREATING A SAFETY PROBLEM. IT HAS HAPPENED FOR SEVERAL YEARS BUT THE GM DEALERS TELL ME THEY HAVE NEVER HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM. I WAS TOLD BY A FORMER BOSCH (CURRENT MANUFACTURER) VICE-PRESIDENT THAT WHEN BOSCH PURCHASED THIS MANUFACTURING LINE FROM UT AUTOMOTIVE, THEY NOTICED THE PROBLEM AND ADVISED G.M. OF THE ISSUE. G.M. CHOSE TO DO NOTHING. WHILE MY CAR IS OLDER, THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN PRESENT EVEN WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS NEWER. I AM REPORTING IT NOW BECAUSE IT IS GETTING WORSE. *TR *UPDATED 12/12/07 *BF UPDATED 12/12/07 *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 PONTIAC MONTANA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA RECALL # 02V027000 (AIR BAGS:FRONTAL). THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED BY A DEALER. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 146,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 PONTIAC MONTANA. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE JERKED AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE MANIFOLD GASKETS SHOULD BE REPLACED. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE MANIFOLD GASKETS, WATER PUMP, THERMOSTAT, AND SEALER. TWO YEARS LATER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MECHANIC FLUSHED THE TRANSMISSION. APPROXIMATELY A YEAR AND A HALF LATER, THE FAILURE RECURRED FOR THE THIRD TIME AND THE MECHANIC FLUSHED THE TRANSMISSION ONCE MORE. TEN MONTHS LATER, THE VEHICLE BEGAN JERKING AGAIN. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE RADIATOR CAP AND FLUSHED THE TRANSMISSION, BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUES TO OCCUR. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 138,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 63,000.
INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET FAILURE FRIED THE 3.4L V6 ENGINE. REPLACEMENT ENGINE IS SHOWING THE SAME PROBLEMS. *JB
I WAS JACKING UP MY 1999 PONTIAC MONTANA USING THE CAR JACK, AND THE SCREW ON THE JACK STRIPPED OUT, DROPPING THE VAN. THERE WAS NO DAMAGE AS I WAS STILL LIFTING THE VEHICLE, BUT UNDER THE CORRECT CIRCUSTANCES IT COULD BE A SEVER ACCIDENT.*AK
DRIVING THE VAN I NOTICED THE VEHICLE STARTED TO OVER HEAT. I TURNED IT OFF AND WAITED 1 HOUR FOR IT TO COOL DOWN. STARTED IT UP AGAIN AFTER FILLING THE RADIATOR, WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING I MADE SURE THE COOLANT WAS AT THE CORRECT LEVEL. WITHIN 5 MIN THE CAR OVERHEATED AGAIN AND THIS TIME IT DIED BEFORE I COULD TURN IT OFF. I HAVE BEEN TOLD IT WOULD BE BEST TO REPLACE THE ENGINE AT 4100.00 FOR THAT. I SEARCHED THE INTERNET AND FOUND OUT THERE ARE MANY OTHER VAN OWNERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. THEY USED A RUBBER SEAL WITHOUT STEEL SO THAT IT COOLANT LEAKS INTO THE ENGINE AND MIXES WITH THE OIL, AND DRIES OUT THE CAMSHAFT AND THEN IT BREAKS. IN CANADA THERE IS ALREADY A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT FOR THIS REASON. THEY (MANUFACTURE) KNOW THERE IS A PROBLEM BUT WONT SAY THAT IT IS THERE FAULT. I AM ALSO LOOKING TO FIND SOMEONE TO TAKE THE CASE AS I CURRENTLY HAVE A LSWN ORNAMENT DUE TO I DON'T HAVE THE 4100 TO REPLACE THE ENGINE. *JB
TL* - THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 PONTIAC MONTANA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE THE BRACKET , BIG STEEL BAR - UNIVERSAL JOINT, WHICH HOLDS THE AXLE IN PLACE BROKE RIGHT IN THE CENTER, AND THE WHEEL WENT RIGHT UNDER THE BUMPER AND ALMOST FLIPPED THE VEHICLE OVER. UNIVERSAL JOINT SHEARED OFF, LETTING THE AXLE RIP THROUGH HARNESS SENSOR HUB, STEEL BRAKE LINE, SHOCKS, MUFFLER, RUBBER INSULATORS, AND THE REAR COIL SPRINGS WERE FOUND ON THE GROUND. THE CONTACT WAS PULLING OUT OF A SCHOOL PARKING LOT DRIVING 2 MPH AND IN THE MIDDLE OF A TURN WHEN THIS HAPPENED. THE CONTACT HAS PICTURES OF THE INCIDENT. THE CONTACT FILED A CLAIM WITH THE MANUFACTURER ,AND THE MANUFACTURER DENIED ANY RESPONSIBILITY. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE BOTH 12700.*AK
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON ENTERING THE VEHICLE, THERE WERE NOTICEABLE WATER PUDDLES ON THE FLOOR OF BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDES. THERE WAS ALSO A NOTICEABLY FOUL SMELL COMING FROM THE INTERIOR CARPETS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, WHO REFERRED THE CONTACT TO A SERVICE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE AIR CONDITIONER DRAIN ELBOW WAS MISSING. THERE WERE NO REPAIRS MADE. UPDATED 10/25/06. *JB
MY VAN SHOWED NO SIGN OF HAVING ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT. THEN ON THE WAY HOME FROM WORK IT DIED AT A LIGHT. IT MADE AWFUL NOISES AND WOULD NOT START. I TOWED IT FIRST TO ONE REPAIR SHOP AND IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH NEEDING THE ENGINE REPLACED. THEN I TOWED IT TO THE DEALER FOR A SECOND OPINION AND WAS TOLD THE SAME THING. I WAS TOLD AT THE REPAIR SHOP THAT AN ENGINE WITH ONLY 79,000 MILES SHOULD NOT GO OUT LIKE THIS AND IT WAS DUE TO THE FAILURE OF GM PARTS. IT STILL HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED A YEAR LATER. *JB
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED, WHILE DRIVING IN HEAVY RAIN AT 50 MPH., THE WIPER BLADES ON THE WINDSHIELD COLLIDED WITH EACH OTHER. THE DRIVER SIDE BLADE/ASSEMBLY WAS TORN FROM THE WIPER ARM AND THE PASSENGER BLADE/ASSEMBLY WAS TWISTED OUT OF POSITION FOR PROPER OPERATION. UPDATED 07/25/06. *JB
NO INJURIES YET. WHEN I GET INTO MY MINIVAN AND START THE ENGINE, THE AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON SOMETIMES. IF I TURN OFF THE ENGINE AND MOVE THE SEAT A LITTLE THEN RESTART THE VAN IT WILL SOMETIMES GO OUT. I HAVE GONE TO SEVERAL WEB SITES AND THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE EXPERIENCING THIS AND THEY HAVE SAID THAT THE AIR BAG WIRES GOES UNDER THE SEAT THAT IS WHY WHEN YOU MOVE THE SEAT IT WILL SOME TIMES CORRECT IT. *JB
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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