Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2001 Pontiac Montana submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 38 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.
The 25 most recent of 38, in the owner's own words
THE VAN WHEN IN PARK WILL REVIVE THE ENGINE AND JUMP, WHEN STOPPING WITH NEW BRAKES AND ALL THAT FUN STUFF WHEN THE VAN IS DOING THIS REVIVING STATE IT TAKES LONGER TO STOP AND LIKE THE VAN IS FIGHTING IT. IT SOMETIMES OVER SHIFTS WHEN IN THIS STATE WHEN TAKING OFF FROM A LIGHT (DOES THE REVIVING THING WHEN MOVING. I AM AFRAID ONE DAY IT IS GOING TO JUMP AND HIT SOMETHING OR SOME ONE OR NOT STOP. *TR
BOUGHT THIS 2001 PONTIAC MONTANA WITH 132000 MILES A WEEK BEFORE. GOING TO PICK UP MY SON FROM WORK, EARLY EVENING, 14 DEGREES OUTSIDE. I LOOK DOWN AND MY TEMPERATURE GAUGE SHOOT UP AND THE RED TEMP GAUGE COMES ON. I PULL OVER. BUBBLING FLUIDS IS ALL I HEAR. FIRST WE STARTED OFF WITH NO HEAT A FEW DAYS BEFORE THAT. WE HAD THE HEATER CORE FLUSHED OUT AND THAT SEEMED TO WORK. CHANGED THE WATER PUMP AND THERMOSTAT. O2 SENSORS NEED TO BE REPLACED (1+3). FUEL PUMP IS RUSTED. AND THE HYDROPONIC LIFTERS ARE LOUD. LIKE THE STYLE BUT HAVING PROBLEMS. NOTICED A FEW STEERING ISSUES. *TR
SERVICE TRACTION LIGHT STAYS ON. TURN SIGNAL LIGHTS BLINKED REALLY FAST AND THEY LIGHT UP EVERYTIME I PUSH ON THE BREAK. REPLACED BRAKES. PROBLEM CAUSED TAIL LAMP CIRCUIT BOARD AND LIGHT BULBS TO BURN OUT AND MELT CONNECTORS. WAS UNABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE BECAUSE PEOPLE ON THE ROAD WOULD NOT KNOW WHEN I WAS BREAKING AND COULD POSSIBLY RUN INTO ME. KNOCKING SOUND ON RIGHT WHEEL AND STEERING WHEEL IS LOOSE. REPLACED STABILIZERS AND SENSORS, ROTATED AND BALANCED WHEELS. SCARED THAT I MAY LOOSE CONTROL OF THE CAR BECAUSE IT CAUSES THE TRACTION TO TURN OFF AND THE VEHICLE SLIDES WHICH COULD LEAD TO A MULTI-CAR ACCIDENT. IT ALSO NEEDS NEW SHOCKS; THEY ARE LEAKING. VEHICLE IS RUNNING HOT AND IS EATING UP THE COOLANT. HAVE ALREADY PUT 2 GALLONS IN THE VEHICLE SINCE SEPT. WATER PUMP IS LEAKING. PASSENGER WINDOW KEEPS GETTING STUCK. DEALERSHIP SAYS THAT THE DOOR NEEDS TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE IT IS AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE. THE MAJORITY OF THE PROBLEMS THAT I AM HAVING ARE DUE TO ELECTRICAL ISSUES. IF YOU GOOGLE PROBLEMS WITH THIS PARTICULAR MODEL, YOU WILL FIND THAT THE COMPLAINTS ARE REGARDING THE SAME ISSUES THAT I HAVE STATED. I AM LOW INCOME AND CANNOT AFFORD TO KEEP SPENDING MONEY TO HYPOTHESIZE WHAT IS THE CAUSE. I NEED GM TO FIND OUT WHAT IS WRONG WITH THIS VEHICLE. I CAN'T GET OUT OF MY CONTRACT AND THIS VEHICLE IS A ROAD HAZARD. I NOTICED THE ISSUE WITH THE DOOR THE SAME THAT I TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE. THE DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO REPAIR IT EVEN THOUGH IT WAS ON THE INSPECTION REPORT. STILL DISPUTING ISSUE WITH THEM. I NOTICED THE PROBLEM WITH THE WHEEL IN APRIL AND HAVE BEEN CONSTANTLY TAKING IT BACK EVERY SINCE THE FIRST REPAIR WAS DONE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 PONTIAC MONTANA. THE CONTACT STATED HE NOTICED ENGINE COOLANT LEAKING FROM THE HEAD GASKET. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND THE DEALER ADVISED THE HEAD GASKET WAS DEFECTIVE AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT YET BEEN REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 102,000.
I WAS JUST DRIVING TO THE STORE AND ALL OF A SUDDEN WITHOUT WARNING MY VAN STARTED TO OVERHEAT AND SMOKE THE TEMP GOT TO ABOVE 260 AND IT JUST STOPPED IN THE ROAD. I HAD MY CHILDREN WITH ME AND HAD NO IDEA WHAT HAPPENED. MY 17 YEAR OLD SON HAD TO PUSH ME OUT OF THE ROAD AND I CALLED MY BROTHER AND HE DROVE OUT TO ME AND CHECKED THINGS OUT WHO IS A MECHANIC AND HE SAID I BLEW A HEAD GASKET, HE SAID THESE THINGS HAPPEN BUT IT SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED AT 79,000 MILES. I CALLED AROUND TO SEE HOW MUCH IT WOULD BE TO FIX AND SO FAR NO ONE WILL DO IT BECAUSE IT IS ALOT OF TROUBLE. *TR
WHEN DRIVING MY 2001 PONTIAC MONTANA AT HIGHWAY SPEED I START TO FEEL VERY DIZZY, GET HEADACHES, ALMOST FAINT. I WAS TOLD A CERTAIN VALVE NEAR THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, ALONG WITH THE OXYGEN SENSOR, THE MAF SENSOR, AND THE SPARK PLUGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. AFTER RESEARCHING THE INTERNET IT SEEMS THAT MANY 2001 MONTANAS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS. WHICH SEEMS TO ME TO BE VERY DANGEROUS. I HAVE ENDED UP IN THE URGENT CARE AND ALMOST PASSED OUR SEVERAL TIMES. I HAVE THREE YOUNG CHILDREN AND THEY ARE ALSO AFFECTED BY IT, AS WELL AS MY HUSBAND. I THINK THE DEALERSHIP NEEDS TO DO A RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE OR SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE. I HAVE OUTSTANDING MEDICAL BILLS AND AM LUCKY THAT MY AND MY FAMILY ARE STILL ALIVE. SO I AM GOING TO STILL RESEARCH AND SEE WHAT I NEED TO DO BECAUSE I AM GOING TO NEED TO GET THIS FIXED, GET ANOTHER VAN WHICH I CAN NOT AFFORD, OR GET AN ATTORNEY. THANKS FOR ANY ADVICE. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 PONTIAC MONTANA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO OVERHEAT. THE CONTACT MANEUVERED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND IT SHUT OFF COMPLETELY. HE WAITED APPROXIMATELY 30 MINUTES AND THEN RESTARTED THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY SHUT OFF AGAIN AND HE WAITED 30 MINUTES BEFORE RESTARTING IT TO DRIVE HOME. TWO DAYS LATER, THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC AND HE STATED THAT THERE WAS WATER IN THE ENGINE AND THE MANIFOLD INTAKE GASKET WAS CRACKED APPROXIMATELY TWO INCHES. THE DEALER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 178,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 177,950.
2001 PONTIAC MONTANA BRAKE SYSTEM FAILURE. CUSTOMER STATES THAT HER BRAKE SYSTEM FAILED UNEXPECTEDLY. SHE WANTS GENERAL MOTORS TO REIMBURSE HER FOR FIXING THE VEHICLE. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED THE BRAKE LINE LEAKED ONTO THE ELECTRONIC BRAKE CONTROL MODULE WHICH CAUSED AN ELECTRICAL SHORT. THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET HAD TO BE REPLACED PREVIOUSLY ON THE VEHICLE. *JB UPDATED 12/12/2007 *BF UPDATED 12/12/07 *TR
THE COMPRESSOR FOR MY 2001 MONTANA, HAVING ONLY 68K MILES WAS DIAGNOSED AS DEFECTIVE BY JONES PONTIAC SERVICE IN LANCASTER. THERE WAS A CRACK IN THE COMPRESSOR, WHICH WASN'T CAUSED BY WEAR & TEAR. THE MANUFACTURER, PONTIAC REFUSED TO REPLACE THIS AT A DISCOUNTED COST. THE REPLACEMENT COST WAS $1,200. THE COMPRESSOR DOESN'T WORK, AND WOULD LEAK FREON INTO THE ATMOSPHERE IF USED. I HAVEN'T HAD THIS FIXED OR PERMITTED FREON TO BE FILLED INTO THE COMPRESSOR, SO I HAVEN'T USED THE COMPRESSOR. THE COMPRESSOR IS NEEDED TO DEFROST THE WINDOWS IN THE WINTER, WHICH COULD CAUSE A HAZARDOUS SITUATION. I BELIEVE PONTIAC SHOULD HOLD THE MANUFACTURER ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS ABNORMAL DEFECT, AND OFFER A 75% DISCOUNT ON THE PART. *TR
AT 95,000 MILES, MY 2001 PONTIAC MONTANA VAN BEGAN TO LEAK WATER AND I TOOK IT TO A LOCAL MECHANIC. HE INFORMED ME THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET WAS LEAKING AND THAT IT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED OR THAT IT WOULD DAMAGE THE ENGINE PERMANENTLY. IN ORDER TO VERIFY THE PROBLEM, I TOOK IT TO THE LOCAL PONTIAC DEALER AND THE DIAGNOSIS WAS CONFIRMED. BOTH GARAGES TOLD ME THAT THEY HAD REPAIRED THE SAME PROBLEM ON MANY OF THE SAME ENGINES THAT WERE USED IN CHEVROLETS, PONTIACS AND OLDSMOBILES. THE COST OF THE REPAIR WAS IN EXCESS OF $830. IF THESE ARE INHERENT PROBLEMS WITH THESE ENGINES, WHY HASN'T GM ISSUED A RECALL? I REPAIRED THE SAME PROBLEM WITH MY 1997 PONTIAC TRANSPORT MONTANA TWICE. WHEN ARE THEY GOING TO STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT AND REPAIR THE FLAWED DESIGN? *JB
I HAD NO HEAT IN MY VAN AND TOOK IT IN TO SEE WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. THE AUTOMOTIVE PLACE THAT I TOOK IT INFORMED ME THE GASKET WAS LEAKING FLUID AND NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED IMMEDIATELY OR IT COULD SEIZE THE MOTOR. I WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT THESE VEHICLES WERE KNOW FOR THIS PROBLEM. THE COST WAS TO REPAIR IT WAS IN EXCESS OF $850. A SUM WHICH I COULD NOT AFFORD BUT HAD TO PUT ON CREDIT AS I NEED THE VEHICLE TO GO BACK AND FORTH TO WORK. IF THIS MAKE AND MODEL ARE FAMOUS FOR THIS PROBLEM WHY HAVE THEY NOT BEEN RECALLED. IT WOULD SURE BE A GESTURE OF GOOD WILL ON PONTIAC IF THEY DID. *NM
THE AIR CONDITIONER COMPRESSOR HAS FAILED AND MY MECHANIC SAID HE HAS HAD A RASH OF FAILURES WITH THE GM PRODUCTS, IN FACT HE RECEIVED A TECH NOTICE TO THE EFFECT THAT HE COULD EXPECT A LOT OF TROUBLE WITH THIS PRODUCT. I CALLED GM WITH NO SATISFACTION, WITH SO MANY FAILURE THEY SHOULD TAKE SOME RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS FAILURE. THE COST FOR THIS ITEM INSTALLED IS OVER $800.00 AND FOR ANYONE ON RETIREMENT THIS IS A MAJOR EXPENSE. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW HOW MANY FAILURE OCCURRED AND HOW MANY COMPLAINTS GM HAS RECEIVED OVER THIS. I WOULD THINK THEY WOULD BE AFRAID TO RECALL THIS PRODUCT MAYBE IT WOULD PUT THEM OUT OF BUSINESS AS THEY ALREADY ARE IN DEEP TROUBLE FOR NOT SELLING A GOOD PRODUCT. THANKS. *NM
DEXCOOL COOLANT LEAKAGE SIGNS OUT OF INTAKE MANIFOLD, SERVICE PROFESSIONAL REPORTED IT AS A PROBLEM WITH GM 3.4 ENGINES AND WOULD LEAD TO COSTLY ENGINE REPAIR IF NOT FIXED. REPLACED GASKETS ETC COST $956. 66000 KLM. *NM
COOLANT LEAK AT INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. *NM
VEHICLE WAS NOT PRODUCING HEAT FOR OCCUPANT COMPARTMENT. NOTICED THAT COOLANT WAS LOW. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER WITH PRIOR KNOWLEDGE FROM YOUR SITE REGARDING THE INTAKE MANIFOLD ISSUES WITH THE MONTANA AND OTHER GM VEHICLES. THE INTAKE MANIFOLD ON MY VEHICLE HAS FAILED, AND IS LEAKING COOLANT. NO COOLANT EVER REACHED THE GROUND, AS IT WAS EVAPORATING ON THE ENGINE. THERE IS A PETITION IN LINE WITH OVER 10,00 SIGNATURES REQUESTING A RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE. *NM
I HAD THE OIL CHANGED AND THEN A FEW DAYS LATER THE VAN DEVELOPED A LEAK OF A RED/PINK FLUID. I TOOK IT IN TO THE PLACE WHERE I HAD THE OIL CHANGED AND THEN TO A LOCAL PONTIAC DEALER WHO ALSO FOUND THE SAME PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE LOWER GASKET WENT BAD. IT WOULD TAKE 1200 TO 1500 USD TO REPLACE IT. BOTH THE LOCAL PONTIAC DEALERSHIP AND THE GOODYEAR TIRE DEALERSHIP THAT FIRST CHANGED MY OIL SAID THAT IT THEY FOUND IT A COMMON REPLACEMENT ON THIS ENGINE, THE 3.4 L GM. *NM
BOUGHT A 2001 PONTIAC MONTANA WITH 102,400 MILES ON IT AND WITHIN THREE DAYS OF OWNERSHIP THE INTAKE GASKETS ARE BLOWN. REPAIRS ARE ESTIMATED TO BE $700-$900 WITHOUT KNOWING IT HAS DONE MORE DAMAGE THAN THAT. LOOKED ONLINE AND FOUND A WEBSITE THAT OVER 9600 PEOPLE HAVE SIGNED THAT THEY HAD PROBLEMS WITH THAT SAME ENGINE 3.4L V6. THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALL FROM GM AND I THINK THAT THERE SHOULD BE. WHY ARE WE STUCK WITH A BILL THAT HIGH, WHEN IT SUPPOSEDLY GOT RECTIFIED IN 2002 VEHICLES. I AM SURE THAT THERE IS MORE PEOPLE OUT THERE THAT HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH THE HEAD AND INTAKE GASKETS ON THESE VEHICLES THAT HAS NOT YET SIGNED THE PETITION. THE WEBSITE ADDRESS IS: HTTP://WWW.PETITIONONLINE.COM/GMCNSMRS/PETITION.HTML PLEASE REVIEW! THANK YOU. *NM
CAR BEGAN LEAKING ENGINE COOLANT FROM THE BACK OF THE ENGINE WITH ONLY 60,000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. UPON EXAMINATION, IT WAS FOUND THAT THE COOLANT LEAK WAS COMING FROM THE LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. THIS CAR HAS ALWAYS RUN HOT (BETWEEN THE HALF WAY MARK AND THE RED AREA OF THE GAUGE). THE CAR FINALLY OVERHEATED. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THAT THERE WAS NO COOLANT IN THE ENGINE, HOWEVER THE BURP TANK WAS NEARLY FULL, WITH NO SPILLAGE. THE DEALERSHIP INSISTED THAT IT OVERHEATED BECAUSE OF THE LEAKING INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. WE RELUCTANTLY AGREED TO REPLACE THE GASKET TO A TUNE OF $1,376.00. THE CAR STILL RUNS TOO HOT IN MY OPINION, BUT HAS NOT YET OVERHEATED. *NM
I BOUGHT A 2001 PONTIAC MONTANA W/40,900 MI.IN JULY 2004, ON 8/18/2005 THE HEAD GASKET BLEW OUT W/44,800MI.I TOWED TO LOCAL GARAGE WHERE I WAS TOLD TO TAKE TO THE DEALER WHERE I BOUGHT IT, BECAUSE OF THE "WELL KNOWN PROBLEMS WITH THE 3.4L ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM" I HAVE BEEN QUOTED A PRICE OF $1325.00, GM SAID THAT THEY WILL PAY $300.00
INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET LEAKING CAUSING DEXCOOL TO LEAK INTO ENGINE. GASKET HAD TO BE REPLACED. GM HAS ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND WILL DO NOTHING TO HELP THE CONSUMER. SERVICE BULLETIN # 03-06-01-010 BE AWARE!!!!! BULLETIN SAYS NEW GASKET MUST BE MADE FROM A DIFFERENT TYPE OF MATERIAL IN ORDER TO CORRECT PROBLEM. IF THIS IS THE CASE WHY SHOULD WE HAVE TO COVER THE EXPENSIVE REPAIRS???? SOMTHING HAS TO BE DONE!
I OWN A 2000 CHEVY LUMINA AND A 2001 PONTIAC MONTANA BOTH HAVE 6 CYLINDER ENGINES AND I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE HEAD GASKET ON BOTH OF THESE VEHICLES. ONE HAS 50,000 MILES AND THE OTHER HAS 70,000 MILES. THE MECHANIC THAT DID THE REPAIRS SAID HE IS REPLACING THE HEAD GASKET GM'S 6 CYLINDER VEHICLES ALL THE TIME.
I TOOK MY VAN FOR A FREE SAFETY CHECK AND THE MECHANIC SAID I HAD AN INTAKE LEAK WHICH COULD DO SOME MAJOR DAMAGE IF IT WASN'T REPAIRED. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND THEY AGREED IT WAS LEAKING, AND FOUND A TIE ROD PROBLEM. ALONG WITH THOSE PROBLEMS THEY SAID MY TENSIONER ON MY FRONT SEAT BELT BROKE. THESE REPAIRS ARE OVER $1,000. IF ALL THESE OTHER PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM I WOULD SURE LIKE AN EXPLANATION. MY DEALERSHIP SAID IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE VANS. THAT SURE SOUNDS LIKE THE VEHICLE SHOULD BE RECALLED!*AK
AFTER CHECKING THIS WEB SITE, I FOUND 8 RECALLS ON MY VEHICLE. I HAVE NEVER RECIEVED A NOTICE FROM GMOR PONTIAC ON ANY OF THESE RECALLS. IN ADDITION, WHILE THE CAR WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY, THERE WAS AN ANTIFREEZE LEAK INTO THE MANIFOLD AND THAT PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN LISTED IN THE RECALL ITEMS. I WAS TOLD IT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM BY THE DEALERSHIP. ADDITIONALLY, AFTER SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ABOUT MY CAR HORN - HONKING SPORADICALLY THE DEALERSHIP WAS UNALBE TO FIND THE PROBLEM. I HAVE HAD THE CAR 4 YEARS AND THIS HAS OCCURRED AT LEAST 10 TIMES.*AK
LEAKING DEXCOOL, NEEDS MAINIFOLD GASKET, VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH MONTANAS AND GM IS AWARE OF IT AND RELEASED A SERVICE BULLETIN ON IT # 03-06-01-010 REQUIRING A NEW INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET BE INSTALLED BUT AT OWNERS EXPENSE. CRAZY!*AK
2001 PONTIAC MONTANA WITH 38K MI. OBSERVED COOLANT LOSS WITH NO VISIBLE LEAK. DEALER DIAGNOSED INTAKE MANIFORLD FAILURE, REPAIR COST OF $971, NO WARRANTY COVERAGE. *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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