2000 Pontiac Montana Body & structure Problems

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 PONTIAC MONTANA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE REGARDING THE DOOR HANDLES ON HER VEHICLE. SHE WAS EXPERIENCING ISSUES WITH THE LOCKS ON THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE DOORS BECAUSE THEY COULD NOT BE OPENED FROM INSIDE THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V597000 (LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS) WAS SIMILAR TO THE FAILURES THE CONTACT WAS EXPERIENCING; HOWEVER, THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WOULD NOT REPAIR THE DEFECT UNDER THIS RECALL BECAUSE THE FAILURE WAS NOT INVOLVED WITH THE PREVIOUS RECALL THAT WAS ISSUED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 116000. UPDATED 02-18-09 THE SLIDING DOOR DIDNOT OPEN FROM THE INSIDE. UPDATED 02/18/09. *JB

NHTSA ID

10250754

Incident

Sep 20, 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 PONTIAC MONTANA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HER DAUGHTER'S LEG BECAME TRAPPED ON THE REAR SLIDING PASSENGER DOOR. THE DOOR IS SUPPOSED TO RETRACT WHEN AN OBJECT IS BLOCKING THE SENSOR. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR LOCKS ON ITS OWN. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT WOULD NOT PROVIDE A FREE DIAGNOSIS. THE CONTACT FEELS THAT THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD PAY FOR THE REPAIR COSTS BECAUSE SHE IS MAKING PAYMENTS ON THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 150,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

NHTSA ID

10224627

Incident

Apr 7, 2008

Mileage

120,000 mi

I HAVE 3 CHILDREN, ONE DISABLED. I SHOULD HAVE KNOWN FROM DAY 1 WHEN THE MANUAL SLIDING DOOR BROKE TWO WEEKS AFTER PURCHASE. ALMOST KILLED MY DISABLED CHILD WHEN IT SPRANG OPEN ON HIM. DEALER, SAID HE BROKE IT, A CHILD WITH FULL BODY MUSCLE DISORDERS WHO CAN'T LIFT A BRICK. NOW WE HAVE HAD UNENDING PROBLEMS WITH THE ENGINE, COOLANT LEVELS, THE CAR SMELLS LIKE BURNT PLASTIC OFTEN, TIMES WHEN I WENT TO START IT, NOTHING HAPPENED. NOW I AM TOLD THAT THE ENGINE WILL SEIZE SOON. INTERESTING SINCE I ALWAYS CHANGED THE FLUIDS ON TIME AND I HAVE ONLY OWNED IT FOR 5 YEARS. BOTH SIDE DOORS DO NOT WORK, AUTOMATIC WORKS SOMETIMES, MANUAL COMES OFF THE TRACK. ONE OF THE REAR PASSENGER SEATS DOES NOT FOLD PROPERLY. THE CAR OFTEN FEELS AS THOUGH IT HAS "BAD GAS" JERKING BACK AND FORTH WHILE DRIVING IT. I AM AFRAID, I HAVE THREE KIDS IN THE CAR USUALLY. I NEED A CAR AND NOW WITH NO MONEY AND NO ABILITY TO BUY A NEW ONE, I AM TOLD THAT THE CAR WILL SEIZE IF I DO NOT SPEND $4000 TO REPLACE THE ENGINE. I AM GETTING A SECOND OPINION BUT FROM WHAT I AM READING, IT SEEMS FEUDAL. SHAME ON GM!! WHY WASN'T THIS CAR RECALLED??? THIS IS A VAN, A FAMILY CAR!!! YOU WANT TO KILL CHILDREN???? I AM WRITING MY CONGRESSMAN AND THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU. THIS CAR SHOULD HAVE BEEN TAKEN OUT OF CIRCULATION UNTIL THE PROBLEMS WERE IRONED OUT. IF SOMETHING HAPPENS TO MY CHILDREN, I WILL MAKE IT MY PERSONAL CRUSADE TO SHUT DOWN ALL GM PLANTS. THE AMOUNT OF MONEY I PUT INTO THIS CAR IS RIDICULOUS WHEN I HAD A 20 YEAR OLD VOLVO THAT IS STILL RUNNING. SHAME ON AMERICA! THIS IS WHY OUR INDUSTRIES ARE FAILING AND WE MUST TURN TO FOREIGN COUNTRIES. SO I HAVE A CAR THAT I DO NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH. I SERIOUSLY HAVE NO MONEY TO REPLACE THE ENGINE NOR BUY A NEW CAR. I HAVE CHILDREN IN 3 DIFFERENT SCHOOLS THE OLDEST NEEDING THERAPIES EACH DAY THAT I MUST DRIVE HIM TO. WHAT AM I TO DO? *TR

NHTSA ID

10216743

Incident

Feb 1, 2008

Mileage

50,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 PONTIAC MONTANA. AS THE PASSENGER SIDE SLIDING DOOR WAS CLOSING, A CHILD REACHED INTO THE VEHICLE TO PRESS THE BUTTON TO OPEN THE SLIDING DOOR. HOWEVER, THE SLIDING DOOR CONTINUED TO CLOSE AND SMASHED THE CHILD'S RIGHT HAND. THE CHILD'S HAND SUSTAINED CUTS AND BRUISES. THE CONTACT HAD TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND PRESS THE BUTTON TO RELEASE THE DOOR. THE DEALER HAS NOT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 98,751.

NHTSA ID

10194141

Incident

Jun 25, 2007

Mileage

98,751 mi

POWER SLIDING DOOR NEEDS A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF PRESSURE TO REVERSE CLOSING AND COULD CAUSE SERIOUS HARM. FUEL LEVEL INDICATOR MOVES UP AND DOWN RANDOMLY ONCE THE TANK GETS BELOW 1/3. PRESSURE CONTROL SOLENOID FAILING AFTER 65000 MILES CAUSING VERY HARD UP-SHIFTING AFTER TRANSMISSION WARMS UP. *NM

NHTSA ID

10159180

Incident

May 16, 2006

AFTER TWO RECALLS FROM GM OVER SEVERAL MONTHS. DEALER AVOIDS REPAIRS. RIGHT ELEC. SLIDING DOOR RECALLED FOR HAZARDOUS INSIDE HANDLE. COULD BRAKE FINGERS. NO CORRECTION WAS BEEN ATTEMPTED. DEALER AVOIDS ORDERING PARTS SO REPLACEMENT CAN'T TAKE PLACE. *NM

NHTSA ID

10150232

Incident

Nov 11, 2005

Mileage

60,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10131915

Incident

Aug 8, 2005

Mileage

37,182 mi

WELDING AT THE BASE OF THE DRIVER'S SEAT SEPARATED IN MY 2000 PONTIAC MONTANA VAN. THE VEHICLE HAD NO ACCIDENT, EVENT LEADING TO THE FAILURE IS UNKNOWN. BASE OF THE DRIVER'S SEAT IS MOVING WITH THE SEAT, THERE IS A 1/2 INCH GAP ON THE BOTTOM OF THE CAR AT THE WELDING. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO PONTIAC DEALERSHIP WHERE IT HAS BEEN INSPECTED. WHILE THEY COULD NOT GIVE AN EXPLANATION WHAT COULD HAVE CAUSED THE FAILURE, PONTIAC CUSTOMER SERVICE THINKS IT IS NORMAL TO HAVE SUCH A DEFECT IN A 5 YEAR-OLD VEHICLE DUE TO FATIGUE OF METAL...

NHTSA ID

10128755

Incident

Jul 10, 2005

Mileage

100,200 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10108308

Incident

Jan 8, 2005

Mileage

88,852 mi

THE POWER SLIDING DOOR CLOSED UNEXPECTEDLY BRUISING THE PASSENGER. THE DOOR WAS UNABLE TO OPEN IMMEDIATELY WHEN THE OWNER PRESSED THE BUTTON. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *JB THE CONSUMER STATED THAT HE PUSHED THE BUTTON TO CLOSE THE DOOR AND IT CLOSED ON HIS WIFES LEG. THE CONSUMER REQUESTS THAT THE DOORS INCLUDE A SAFETY DEVICE THAT STOPS WHEN CONTACT IS MADE. *TC

NHTSA ID

10105470

Incident

Sep 30, 2004

Mileage

48,000 mi

I READ OF YOUR INVESTIGATION IN AUTOMOTIVE NEWS. MY 12 YR OLD DAUGHTER'S WRIST WAS BROKEN LAST SUMMER WHILE ATTEMPTING TO OPEN THE DOOR OF OUR 2000 MONTANA. SHE GRABBED THE HANDLE FROM INSIDE AND AS THE DOOR MOVED OPEN IT BENT HER WRIST BACKWARD. IT DIDN'T STOP, DESPITE THE RESISTANCE. IT WAS BROKEN IN THE GROWTH PLATE AND DID NOT REQUIRE A CAST BUT WAS SPLINTED FOR 2 WEEKS. *JB PE04064.PCO

NHTSA ID

10093108

Incident

Jul 15, 2003

DRIVER SIDE REAR STRUT/SHOCK MOUNT, PART OF THE INNER WHEELHOUSE ASSY., RUSTED AT A WELD AND CRACKED IN BOTH DIRECTIONS, NOT SURE WHEN IT HAPPENED BUT IT HAS BEEN LIKE THAT FOR A LONG TIME. THE CRACK IS RUSTED ALL THE WAY DOWN THE CRACK IN BOTH DIRECTIONS UNTIL THE RIPPED PART STARTS WHERE THE PART FINALLY FAILED. THEN IT RIPPED OUT DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. VAN HAS NEVER BEEN WRECKED. TOOK IT TO THE GM DEALERSHIP THEY SAID IT WAS A DEFECTIVE PART, BODY SHOP THAT FIXED IT SAID THE SAME THING. AFTER THREE MONTHS AND MANY PHONE CALLS TO THE DEALER (S) WE HAVE FINALLY GOT IT TO THE POINT WHERE THEY ARE CALLING IT A PRODUCT LIABILITY. TOOK A GM REP. TO TAKE THE TIME TO COME AND SEE IT. ORIGINALLY THEY DID NOT BOTHER SINCE THEY WERE ORIGINALLY CALLING IT A WARRANTY ISSUE AND WERE BLOWING US OFF. THE GENERAL MANAGER AT THE DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN VERY HELPFUL HOWEVER. AFTER HE LOOKED AT IT HE REOPENED THE CASE, BUT THEY DONT SEAM TO BE VERY HELPFUL AT THE CUSTOMER SERVICE NUMBER THAT IS SUPPOSED TO BE ORGANIZING THIS WHOLE THING. AND NO ONE THERE RETURNS PHONE CALLS. I HAVE TAKEN A LOT OF HIGH QUALITY DIGITAL PICTURES, AND STILL HAVE THE PART. *NM

NHTSA ID

10062449

Incident

Dec 26, 2003

Mileage

68,000 mi

THERE HAVE BEEN MANY PROBLEMS, MOST NOTABLE RECENTLY WHEN THE DRIVER'S SIDE SLIDING DOOR FEEL OFF AT 45000 MILES. GM WON'T PAY, IT'S NOT "UNDER WARRANTY". THIS DOOR HAS HAD CONTINUAL PROBLEMS WITH HITTING THE FRONT DOOR UPON CLOSING. REPAIR WAS SUPPOSED TO HAVE BEEN MADE BUT OBVIOUSLY INEFFECTUAL DUE TO EVIDENCE OF CHIPPED PAINT AT THE SITE WHERE DORS COLLIDE. COULD THIS HAVE PRECIPITATED THE DOOR FALLING OFF? SUPPOSEDLY THEIR WAS AN ADJUSTMENT MADE, COULD THIS ADJUSTMENT BEEN MADE INCORRECTLY TO DAMAGE THE DOOR? I FEEL IT IS UNACCEPTABLE THAT THIS DOOR HAS FALLEN OFF MY CAR AT 45000 MILES.

NHTSA ID

10069605

Incident

Nov 15, 2002

Mileage

43,000 mi

PROBLEMS WITH TRANSMISSION AND MOLDING STRIPS ON SLIDING DOORS.*MR A VEHICLE WITH ONLY 49360 MILES THE SOLENOID WENT OUT ON THE TRANSMISSION COSTING $914.04 IN REPAIRS. ON EACH SLIDING DOOR, THERE WAS A LONG BLACK RUBBER MOLDING STRIP ON THE BOTTOM OF THE DOOR FRAME THAT KEPT FALLING DOWN IN TO THE DOOR TRACK. THE CONSUMER HOPED THAT THE DEALERSHIP CAN RESOLVE PROBLEMS WITH DEFECTIVE VEHICLES, BECAUSE IT SEEMED TO BE A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN AND COULD RESULT IN A TRAGEDY. *CB *JB

NHTSA ID

10034518

Incident

Jul 17, 2003

Mileage

49,360 mi

THE LEFT FRONT PRETENSIONER WAS OPEN AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE AIR BAG LIGHT STAYED ON, WHICH WAS CAUSED BY THE FAULTY SEAT BELT TENSIONER. *TS. ALSO THE POWER SLIDING DOOR DID NOT RETURN WHEN IT WAS OPENED

NHTSA ID

10026194

Incident

Jun 24, 2003

Mileage

23,800 mi

PROBLEMS WITH PAINT, GASKETS, BRAKES AND COOLING SYSTEM. *MR THERE WAS A HISSING NOISE WHICH HAD COME FROM THE TIRE AREA DUE TO MISALIGNMENT, LOW COOLANT LIGHT HAD COME ON, THE GASKETS ,OIL PUMP AND DRIVE O-RING WERE REPLACED, THE BRAKE PEDAL HAD GONE TO THE FLOOR WHILE STOPPED AT A LIGHT WHICH HAPPENED MORE THAN TWICE AND SEEMED AS IF THEY WEREN'T GOING TO WORK AT ALL AND HAD TO PUMP THE PEDAL TO BRING THE PEDAL BACK ENOUGH TO ALLOW STOPPING. THERE WAS AN INCIDENT WHERE THE CONSUMER HAD TO ACTIVATE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT. THE WARNING LIGHT NEVER HAD COME ON. THE MASTER CYLINDER WAS REPLACED, THE FRONT BRAKE PADS, RESURFACED ROTORS, CLEANED AND ADJUSTED REAR BRAKES. OTHER PROBLEMS ARE AS FOLLOWED: THE TRIM ON THE DRIVER SIDE WINDSHIELD HAD COME APART, THE HANDLE ON THE BACK LATCH HAD COME OFF, AND BOTH TURN SIGNAL BULBS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *SCC *JB

NHTSA ID

10026606

Incident

Aug 2, 2001

Mileage

29,885 mi

CONSUMER NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE REAR VENTS. DEALER DETERMINED THE REAR WIRING HARNESS HAD MELTED, CAUSED BY WATER INTRUSION IN REAR QUARTER PANEL. TS

NHTSA ID

10001706

Incident

Dec 26, 2002

AUTOMATIC SLIDING DOOR HAS SENSOR THAT FAILED TO RESPOND IF OCCUPANT WAS NOT CLEAR OF CLOSING. THIS ALLOWED DOOR TO CONTINUOUSLY CLOSE EVEN WITH PRESSURE APPLIED BY OWNER. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ID

8013547

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE SLIDING DOOR ON DRIVER SIDE KEEPS COMING OPEN, WILL NOT LATCH. DEALER CONTACTED , CAN NOT IDENTIFY PROBLEM.*JB

NHTSA ID

8010792

CONSUMER'S HAND GOT CAUGHT IN THE HANDLE OF THE SLIDING DOOR, CAUSING CONSUMER'S WRIST TO TWIST AND BREAK. ONCE THE DOOR HAS STARTED TO OPEN THERE IS NO WAY TO STOP IT FROM OPENING. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK PE04064.PCO

NHTSA ID

8004446

Incident

Jan 6, 2002

ELECTRONIC DOOR INSIDE OF VEHICLE OPENED AND CLOSED INTERMITTENTLY. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ID

8003133

Incident

Jul 1, 2001

WHILE PUTTING CHILD IN BACKSEAT SLIDING PASSENGER DOOR CLOSED ON CONSUMER, AND DID NOT OPEN AS IT SHOULD. INSTEAD IT PINNED HER BETWEEN DOOR AND FRAME OF VEHICLE. ON 20 OCT0BER 2001 WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH SAME SLIDING DOOR OPENED. BOTH RECALLS ON SLIDING DOOR HAD BEEN DONE PRIOR TO THIS. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE BACK TO DEALER 3 TIMES AFTER RECALL REPAIRS WERE DONE, UNABLE TO REMEDY PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID

899738

Incident

Sep 1, 2001

THE CHILD INADVERNTLY HIT THE BUTTON TO CLOSE THE DOOR AND WAS CLOSE TO THE DOOR WHEN IT CLOSED AND CAUGHT HER UPPER ARM

NHTSA ID

9004689

Incident

Sep 4, 2001

RECALL 01V067000 REPAIRS WERE DONE. SOON AFTER SLIDING DOOR WOULD OPEN UP ON ITS OWN. VEHICLE TAKEN TO DEALER 4 TIMES, COULD NOT REMEDY. CONSUMER CURRENTLY HAD MORE PROBLEMS WITH SLIDING DOOR THAN PRIOR TO RECALL BEING PREFORMED.*AK CONSUMER STATES SLIDING DOOR CONTINUES TO OPEN WHILE IN MOTION, VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT DEALER FOR CONSIDERATION IN A VEHICLE BUY BACK. *SLC

NHTSA ID

892328

Incident

Jun 8, 2001

MY THREE YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WAS STARTING TO ENTER OUR MINIVAN AS THE POWER SLIDING DOOR WAS CLOSING. SHE REACHED IN TO STOP THE DOOR AND REVERSE IT (BY PRESSING THE INTERIOR BUTTON)AND THE DOOR CLOSED ON HER HAND AND SHUT. AN ADULT HAD TO COME AND OPEN THE DOOR BEFORE HER HAND COULD BE FREED. THE DOOR IS SUPPOSED TO REVERSE WHEN RESISTANCE IS ENCOUNTERED. I HAVE TRIED TO STOP THE DOOR AND THE AMOUNT OF RESISTANCE IT TAKES TO STOP THIS DOOR WOULD BRUISE MY ARM AND DEFINATELY CRUSH HER HAND OR ANY OTHER BODY PART INCLUDING HER HEAD. LUCKILY ONLY ONE SIDE OF HER HAND WAS STUCK AND SEVERELY BRUISED AND NOW SWOLEN AND BRUISED ACROSS HER KNUCKLES AND DOWN HER HAND. THE POWER OF THIS DOOR EXCEEDS ANY POWER BROUGHT ABOUT BY A GARAGE DOOR AND THEY SEEM TO HAVE HIGHER SAFETLY STANDARDS THAN A MINIVAN WHICH IS GEARED TOWARD FAMILES WITH CHILDREN. I BROUGHT THIS TO PONTIAC'S ATTENTION AND RECEIVED NO EXPLANATION OR ANSWERS. I THINK THERE SHOULD BE A BEAM, AS IN GARAGE DOORS, OR AN ADJUSTMENT TO THE RESISTANCE NEEDED TO REVERSE THE DOOR BEFORE MORE SERIOUS ACCIDENTS OCCUR.*AK

NHTSA ID

747990

Incident

Jul 1, 2001