Owner-reported complaints naming the airbag system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2000 Pontiac Montana submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 22 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 PONTIAC MONTANA. THE CONTACT STARTED THE VEHICLE AND THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED CONTINUOUSLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 PONTIAC MONTANA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH AND CRASHED INTO A TREE WHILE ATTEMPTING TO AVOID HITTING AN ANIMAL. THERE WAS DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE AND DRIVER SIDE DOOR. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY WITH THE SIGNIFICANT IMPACT. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED BRUISES ON THE BODY FROM THE TIGHTENING OF THE SEAT BELT. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED OF THE INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 131,042.
ADDITION TO FILED AIRBAG ACCIDENTS NHTSA-FARM BUREAU-STILL INSURING THE UNSAFE VEHICLE. AS I DRIVE WITH A HEAD INJURY. OTHER INJURYS AND EXPECTED TO CARE FOR ADULT CHILD WITH TBI. FARM BUREAU STOPPED PAYING HER PIP BENEFITS. NHTSA ID-=MY ACCIDENT 11-11-2010 DAUGHTERS 3-18-2010 SEATBELTS DID NOT LOCK DOWN. 2 TBI ACCIDENTS SAME YEAR. NO AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. NO ONE ASKED IF SEAT BELTS LOCKED.DID NOT KNOW TO REPORT. *TR
AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON EVERY FEW MILES. *TR
DAUGHTER-IN-LAW WAS DRIVING OUR 2000 MONTANA VAN AND REAR-ENDED A PICKUP TRUCK. CAUSED $3700 DAMAGE, BENT IN BUMPER, RADIATOR, A/C CONDENSER, HOOD AND BROKE HEADLIGHT. AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY IN THIS INSTANCE. *TR
DAUGHTER 23YRS OLD. BEGAN TO CROSS INTO INTERSECTION WITH TRAFFIC. A WHITE TRUCK CAME TURNING LEFT HITTING THE VEHICLE TO HER RIGHT AND CLIPPING THE FRONT RIGHT SIDE OF THE PONTIAC MONTANA. THE VEHICLE TO HER RIGHT LOST A PIECE OF THE BUMPER WHICH WAS A DODGE THEY DID NOT STOP.SHE LOST CONCIOUSNESS.FOUND HERSELF STOPPED.AND TRAFFIC WAS PASSING BY HER NO ONE STOPPED.PIECES OF THE CARS WERE LEFT IN THE INTERSECTION. WE HAVE PICTURES.HER AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. *TR
I WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT IN FRONT OF A HOSPITAL'S PEDESTRIAN WALKWAY. A WOMAN IN A 1994 SILVERADO TRUCK REAR ENDED ME. SHE WAS TRAVELING 35MPH. DID NOT SEE STOPPED TRAFFIC. MY STEERING WHEEL AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY NOR ANY OTHER AIRBAG. THE SECOND IMPACT THIS YEAR AND NO AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT INSURANCE,DEEMS VEHICLE STILL SAFE. THEY CAME AND LOOKED AT DAMAGE. KNOWING DAUGHTER SUFFERED A TBI IN MARCH FOR SAME DEFECT THEY ARE NOT RECOGNIZING. *TR
.A WHITE TRUCK TURNED LEFT INTO TRAFFIC. DROVE BETWEEN TWO VEHICLES HITTING THEM BOTH ABOUT 35 MPH..1 WAS A DODGE THE BUMPER AND PIECES WERE LEFT IN THE INTERSECTION.THE RIGHT FRONT END OF MY 2000 PONTIAC MONTANA WAS HIT AS THE TRUCK CONTINUED TURNING AND HEADED NORTH ON BALLENGER HWY.NO AIR BAG DEPLOYEMENT.DAUGHTER HAS A TBI. DAUGHTER WAS DRIVER. COMING HOME FROM COLLEGE.NO HELP.INSURANCE DENIES AN EVALUATION .DAUGHTER IS FAILING. WAS A COLLEGE STUDENT WORKED FULL TIME. TOLD THE IMPACT WAS NOT ENOUGH DAMAGE. PLPD INSURANCE FARM BUREAU. DISABILITY. TO DATE. *TR
AIRBAG LIGHT COMING ON. REPLACE SENSOR AND IT GOES OFF. THEN ABOUT 3MONTHS LATER IT COMES BACK ON. DEALER REPLACED SENSOR AGAIN. THIS HAS REPEATED ITSELF AGAIN AND AGAIN. IT IS BACK ON AND IS MAKING A CLICKING SOUND UNDER DASH. LIGHT IS OFF BUT CLICKING SOUND IS STILL THERE. IS IT WORKING? *TR
WAS DRIVING, TURNED WHEEL SLIGHTLY TO RIGHT, VEHICLE WOULDN'T RESPOND AND CONTINUED TO GO LEFT, TOTAL LOSS OF STEERING. WENT ACROSS LANE, HIT AT MODERATE SPEED A HYDRO POLE SEVERED AND MOVED 4 FEET BY IMPACT. AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. I RECEIVED MULTIPLE INJURIES, AS WELL AS MY 2 CHILDREN SUSTAINED WHIPLASH.*AK
NEW MARCH 2000. VAN ALWAYS RECEIVES REGULAR MAINTENANCE. THE FOLLOWING IS A HISTORY OF REPAIRS: 4/00 WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD NOT RETURN TO CLOSED POSITION - DEALER FIXED. 12/03 (37,179 MI) TPS SENSOR BREAKING DOWN CAUSING IDLE TO SURGE - DEALER REPLACED THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR, COMPLETED REPROGRAM ($255.14) 12/03 (37,182 MI) AIR BAG LIGHT COMING ON - DEALER REPLACED RIGHT FRONT SEAT BELT BUCKLE UNDER WARRANTY (LABOR $134.51). 12/27/03 (37,555 MI) WAS IN COLLISION (OTHER VEHICLE PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF ME AS I WAS COMING DOWN SMALL OVERPASS, HE WAS CITED). MY VAN SUSTAINED $4,500 IN FRONT END DAMAGES, HIS CAR WAS TOTALED. MY AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. NO ONE INJURED. 5/04 (40,983 MI) REAR HATCH WOULD NOT STAY UP - DEALER REPLACED BOTH HATCH PROPS ($258.73) 7/04 (43,437 MI) VAN WAS "SHIFTING" HARD, WOULD NOT PICK UP SPEED CORRECTLY. DEALER REPLACED PRESSURE CONTROL SOLENOID, FLUSHED TRANSMISSION AND REPLACED FRONT BRAKE PADS AND MACHINED ROTORS ($986.48). 12/04 (48,284 MI) VAN WOULD NOT START ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. KNOWN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP REPLACED BATTERY, CHECKED OIL LEAK. ($114.90). 4/05 (51,646 MI) LOW COOLANT LIGHT /CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMING ON. SAME INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP REPLACED INTAKE GASKETS, THERMOSTAT, SPARK PLUGS AND FILTER, AND OIL PUMP SHAFT 0-RING. CORRECTED AIR BAG LIGHT ($791.03) 6/05 PURCHASED NEW TIRES AND WERE TOLD NEEDED ALL NEW TIE RODS. WE WENT ON VACATION JULY 9, 2005 (OHIO TO VIRGINIA AND BACK). CONCERNED THAT THE VAN SHOOK TERRIBLY WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES ON LONG DOWNGRADES THROUGH WV AND VA. WE WERE TOWING NOTHING. THE VERY NEXT DAY, AFTER RETURNING HOME, THE VAN WOULD NOT START CONSISTENTLY. 7/05 (56,533 MI) TOLD THAT THE COMPUTER CRASHED. SAME INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP REPLACED ECM, CRANK SENSOR, IGN MODULE AND MACHINED FRONT ROTORS WHICH IF YOU REMEMBER WERE JUST DONE IN JULY OF 2004 ($982.02). AFTER RESEARCHING THE TRACK RECORD OF PONTIAC MONTANA, HAVE FOUND THAT MANY CONSUMERS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS. *NM
THE DOOR COMES UNLATCHED FROM THE PONTIAC MONTANA MINI VANS W/O POWER SLIDER ALSO. SUBSEQUENTLY MY VAN DOOR PASSANGER SIDE CAME OPEN SLAMMING OFF HALF ON THE ROAD AND THEN REMAINED ATTACHED TO THE TOP BUT THE TRACK WHEEL SNAPPED OFF, MAKING IT INPOSSIBLE TO PUT ON WITH OUT TOOLS AND THE MUSCLES TO EVEN LIFT IT. *AK
SRS BAG LIGHT STEADILY ON AND SEAT BELT LIGHT MAN ON DASH CHIMES FOR NO REASON AND BLINKS ON/OFF. TOOK IN TO PONTIAC 6/18/04, THEY FIXED WIRING HARNESS THAT DAY (UNCLEAR ON INVOICE) WE JUST BOUGHT THE VEHICLE IN MAY 2004. A FEW WEEKS LATER WE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AND TOOK IT BACK IN, JUST TO HEAR THAT IT WAS A CLUSTER THIS TIME, THEY CLAIM THEY'RE WERE TOYS UNDER THE SEAT AND A PLUG WAS BROKEN BUT THE ONLY TOYS IN THERE WERE LITTLE HOT WHEELS. SO, THEY PUT IN A NEW CLUSTER AND HERE WE ARE THREE WEEKS LATER AND I AM STILL HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE SEAT BELT MAN LIGHT AND THE SRS BAG LIGHT ON THE DASH. PONTIAC WILL LOOK AT IT AGAIN, THEY SAY, BUT I CANNOT SEE THAT ONE PART AFTER ANOTHER NEEDING TO BE REPLACED EVERY TWO WEEKS AND THE OUTCOME IS ALWAYS THE SAME WITH THE SAME ITEM DEFAULTING(SEAT BELT GUY LIGHT/SRS AIR BAG LIGHT ON DASH STAYS ON).*AK
WHILE DRIVING AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT STAYS ON ALL THE TIME. THE DEALER HAS BEEN INFORMED OF THE PROBLEM.*AK
DRIVING THROUGH AN INTERSECTION AND WAS BROADSIDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE AND THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *LA
AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON. THIS INDICATES THAT AIR BAGS WILL BE INOPERATIVE IN CASE OF AN ACCIDENT. DEALER CONTACTED, CANNOT FIX PROBLEM.*AK THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN FOR THE SAME REPAIR APPROXIMATELY EIGHT OR NINE TIMES. THE DEALERSHIP HAS DONE EVERYTHING PER GENERAL MOTORS. THIS VEHICLE WAS A PROGRAM VEHICLE. THE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AT 4000 MILES WITH THE GM OWNER BEFROE IT WAS SOLD TO THE CONSUMER. *JG
AIRBAG LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER AND HAD IT REPAIRED. BUT, CURRENTLY, DEALER CAN'T IDENTIFY PROBLEM BECAUSE IT KEEPS REOCCURRING.*AK
WAS TRAVELING 40-45MPH WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE WAS TRYING TO MAKE A TURN AROUND, U-TURN, AND CUT OFF PONTIAC. VEHICLE WAS HIT ON DRIVER'S REAR SIDE. UPON IMPACT WITH OTHER VEHICLE, AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. NO INJURIES.*AK
WE WERE INVOLVED IN AN AUTO ACCIDENT ON JULY 5, 2001 IN A HEAD-ON COLLISION WHICH KILLED MY HUSBAND IMMEDIATELY AND MY SON DIED TWO DAYS LATER DUE TO HEAD INJURIES. I WAS INJURED WITH RIB FRACTURES/ LOW BACK SPINAL FRACTURES AND MY LEFT LEG REQUIRED SURGERY. I AM UNABLE TO BEAR WEIGHT ON MY LEFT LEG FOR APPROXIMATELY SIX MONTHS. A CAR WAS GOING EAST ON I-40 AND I WAS GOING WEST. IT CROSSED THE MEDIAN TRYING TO MISS A LADDER THAT HAD FALLEN OUT OF ANOTHER VECHICLE AND IT HIT US HEAD-ON. AIRBAGS DID NOT INFLATE UPON IMPACT. FRONT PASSENGER DID INFLATE AFTER WE WERE REMOVED, AND VAN CAUGHT ON FIRE. MY SON MIGHT HAVE BEEN SAVED IF THE AIRBAGS HAD INFLATED SINCE THE CAR WENT DOWN THE SIDE OF MY VAN. WE ALL HAD OUR SEATBELTS ON. MY SON WAS ONLY SEVEN YEARS OLD. *AK
THE VAN HAS HAD MULTIPLE AIR BAG SYSTEM FAILURES AND THE DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN UNABLE TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM. GM REFUSES TO REPURCHASE THE VEHICLE EVEN THOUGH IT HAS A HISTORY OF ABS AND AIR BAG FAILURES. THE GM DISTRICT MANAGER ADMITTED THAT THEY HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE CENTRAL COMPUTER SYSTEM ON THE 2000 MONTANA. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE ORIGINAL COMPUTER SYSTEM AND THE REPLACEMENT ALSO FAILED. WE ARE PARTICULARLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE AIR BAG FAILURES. WE WILL NEVER KNOW IF THEY WORK UNTIL WE NEED THEM. AT THAT POINT IT'S A LITTLE LATE TO DISCOVER THAT THEY DON'T WORK. DO MONTANAS HAVE A HIGH RATE OF AIR BAG FAILURES DURING ACCIDENTS?
DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY GOING ABOUT 65 MPH, A CAR LOST CONTROL AND RAN INTO CENTER DIVIDER AND I COLLIDED WITH THAT CAR. THE PASSENGER SIDE BELT DID NOT HOLD MY WIFE BACK INTO HER SEAT. AIR BAGS DID GO OFF. HER FACE WAS BADLY HURT TWICE, ONCE BUY THE DASH FROM STOPPING VERY SHARPLY AND THE SEATBELT NOT HOLDING HER BACK AND THE OTHER BY THE AIR BAG SMACKING HER FACE WHEN WE COLLIDED. *AK
WHILE WIFE WAS DRIVING ABOUT 45 MPH ANOTHER VEHICLE CROSSED THE MID LINE AND CRASHED INTO CONSUMER'S VEHICLE HEAD-ON. UPON IMPACT, PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED, BUT DRIVER'S SIDE DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK
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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