2001 Pontiac Montana Interior & seats Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 PONTIAC MONTANA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER SLIDING DOOR WOULD NOT LATCH WHEN CLOSING, CAUSING THE DOOR TO OPEN WHEN DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE LATCH FAILED. AFTER CONTACTING THE DEALER, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 01V067000 (LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH). THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

NHTSA ID

10734029

Incident

Jul 2, 2015

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 PONTIAC MONTANA. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT WHEN THE AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCK WAS DEPRESSED TO OPEN THE DOORS, THEY WOULD NOT OPEN. THE CONTACT HAD TO MANUALLY PUSH THE LOCK DOWN SO THAT IT WOULD FUNCTION PROPERLY. HE CONTINUED TO NOTICE THE FAILURE INTERMITTENTLY. IN NOVEMBER 2009, THE DOORS STOPPED LOCKING ALTOGETHER WHICH PROGRESSIVELY BECAME WORSE UNTIL THE DOORS WOULD NOT CLOSE. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO TOLD HIM THAT THERE WAS A RELATED RECALL FOR THE FAILURE BUT THE REPAIR HAD BEEN PERFORMED PREVIOUSLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE; THE DEALER INFORMED HIM THAT HE WOULD HAVE TO PAY A DIAGNOSTIC FEE TO HAVE THE VEHICLE INSPECTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 55,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 133,000.

NHTSA ID

10323952

Incident

Jun 15, 2006

Mileage

55,000 mi

MY MOM HAS A 2001 PONTIAC MONTANA . THIS WEEKEND, SHE PUT MY 19 MONTH OLD DAUGHTER IN HER CAR SEAT IN THE 2ND ROW SEAT. AT ONE POINT DURING THE WEEKEND, MOM STOPPED HARD AND THE SEAT WITH MY DAUGHTER IN IT FLIPPED FORWARD, WITH MY DAUGHTER IN IT. MY DAUGHTER'S FACE HIT THE DRIVER SEAT BACK. SHE GOT A BLOODY NOSE AND A BLACK EYE, AND FORTUNATELY THAT WAS ALL. AFTER SOME INVESTIGATION, I FOUND THAT WHEN A CAR SEAT IS INSTALLED WITH A TETHER, AND THE TETHER IS TIGHT, IT IS VERY EASY TO ACCIDENTALLY TRIGGER THE RELEASE OF THE SEAT BASE MECHANISM, ALLOWING THE SEAT TO TILT FORWARD. THE TETHER BRACKET IS ATTACHED TO THE BAR THAT IS PART OF THE MECHANISM FOR RELEASING THE SEAT. WHEN THE TETHER IS TIGHTENED, IT BEGINS TO MOVE THE MECHANISM. IT ONLY TAKES A GOOD BUMP, SUCH AS FORM SLIDING THE SEAT BACK ON ITS RAILS, TO COMPLETELY RELEASE THE SEAT AND ALLOW IT TO TILT FORWARD UNDER HARD BRAKING OR A COLLISION. *TR

NHTSA ID

10293927

Incident

Nov 29, 2009

Mileage

80,000 mi

WHILE I WAS ON A BUSINESS TRIP IN OCTOBER, 2007, MY WIFE CALLED ME AND ADVISED ME THAT SHE WAS UNABLE TO CLOSE THE MANUAL SLIDING DOOR ON THE DRIVER SIDE OF OUR PONTIAC MONTANA MINIVAN AFTER RETURNING HOME FROM RUNNING MY CHILDREN AROUND. SHE WAS FINALLY ABLE TO CLOSE IT AFTER SEVERAL FRUSTRATING ATTEMPTS. UPON RETURNING FROM MY TRIP THE FOLLOWING WEEK, I EXAMINED THE DOOR AND NOTICED THAT IT DID NOT CLOSE PROPERLY DUE TO THE MISALIGNMENT OF THE LATCH. IT SEEMS THAT THE DOOR MAY HAVE DRIFTED SLIGHTLY FROM ITS TRACK. I LOOKED CLOSELY AT THE LATCH MECHANISM AND NOTICED THAT THE BLACK PAINT HAD CAME OFF WHERE THE LATCH WAS SUPPOSED TO HAVE HOOKED ON. OBVIOUSLY, THE CONCERN THAT I HAVE IS THAT THE DOOR WILL UNLATCH WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION POTENTIALLY CAUSING HARM TO MY CHILDREN. THE MINIVAN IS ALMOST 7 YEARS OLD AND I CAN'T AFFORD TO INVEST A WHOLE LOT OF MONEY TO FIX WHAT SEEMS TO BE A MANUFACTURER DEFECT OR DESIGN FLAW. *TR

NHTSA ID

10210140

Incident

Oct 12, 2007

Mileage

146,000 mi

MY FIVE YEAR OLD SON OPENED THE PASSENGER SLIDING DOOR AND STEPPED OUT FROM THE VAN. WHEN THE DOOR HAD BEEN CLOSING, HE FORGOT TO REMOVE A TOY FROM HIS SEAT, SO HE REACHED INSIDE AND THE SENSOR DIDN'T REGISTER THERE WAS SOMETHING BLOCKING AND CONTINUED TO CLOSE. WHICH THANKFULLY, MY HUSBAND WAS THERE TO PHYSICALLY OPEN THE SLIDING DOOR FROM CRUSHING MY LITTLE BOYS ARM EVEN FURTHER. MY SON HAD PART OF HIS ARM STUCK IN THAT DOOR!( RIGHT ABOVE HIS ELBOW.)MY LITTLE BOY WON'T EVEN SIT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE ANY LONGER. AND DOESN'T LIKE EVEN GOING NEAR THAT SIDE. SHOULDN'T THERE BE A BETTER, MORE SENSITIVE SENSOR ON THOSE DOORS? ONE TIME THE DOOR DIDN'T EVEN DISCONTINUE FROM CLOSING WITH MYSELF TESTING IT. *NM

NHTSA ID

10159637

Incident

Jun 8, 2006

Mileage

70,115 mi

NO EVENTS LEAD UP TO FAILURE. WHEN MY 5 YEARS OLD DAUGHTER OPENED THE DRIVER SIDE SLIDING DOOR OF OUR 2001 PONTIAC MONTANA EXTENDED MINIVAN FROM INSIDE, THE SLIDING DOOR FELL OFF AND LANDED ON THE GROUND ATTECHED ONLY BY BOTTOM BOLT.*AK IF ANY SMALL CHILD HAD BEEN PRESENT OUTSIDE THE MINIVAN THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN SEVERELY INJURED BY THE FALLING DOOR. WE HAVE BEEN THE SOLE OWNER OF THE MINIVAN, THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN GARAGED AND MAINTAINED. THE VEHICLE HAS ~42K MILES. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT LONG'S PONTIAC IN FRAMINGHAM, MA I AM CONCERNED THAT AS THESE FAMILY VEHICLES AGE A CHILD MAY BE INJURED FROM A FALLING DOOR. THE REPAIRS CONSISTED OF PARTS REPLACEMENT AND REPAIRING DAMAGED CAUSED TO OUTSIDE OF DOOR AS HIT DRIVEWAY SURFACE. NO MODIFICATIONS WERE KNOWN TO MAKE SURE THIS EVENT NOT HAPPEN AGAIN.

NHTSA ID

10112766

Incident

Jan 13, 2005

Mileage

42,000 mi

I HAVE A 2001 PONTIAC MONTANA VAN. APPROX 18MONTHS AFTER PURCHASING THIS VEHICLE NEW, I EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH THE PASSENGER SIDE POWER SLIDING DOOR. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP (3/03) WHERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AND THEY REPLACED THE CONTACTS. IN 6/03 I AGAIN EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS, THEY SANDED THE CONTACTS AND WORKED FOR A LENGTH OF TIME. THEY INSTRUCTED ME TO SAND THE CONTACTS WHEN THE PROBLEM REOCCURS. I HAVE EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH THE DOOR OPENING. I HAVE EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH THE DOOR NOT STAYING SHUT, MEANING WHEN THE BUTTON IS PUSHED AND THE DOOR CLOSES IT WILL REOPEN. MY MOST RECENT PROBLEM HAS OCCURED IN 2/05. THE POWER SLIDING DOOR WHEN OPENED WOULD OPEN AND THEN IMMEDIATELY START SHUTTING AGAIN. AGAIN I RETURNED IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY HAVE FIXED THIS PROBLEM. THIS POWER SLIDING DOOR HAS BEEN A CONTINUAL PROBLEM SINCE MARCH 2003.*AK

NHTSA ID

10111984

Incident

Feb 13, 2005

Mileage

26,000 mi

I WOULD LIKE TO LET YOU KNOW ABOUT THE 2001 PONTIAC MONTANA MINI VAN THAT I HAVE. AFTER ABOUT 3 MONTHS THAT I OWNED THE VAN MY TWO SLIDING DOORS (NOT POWER SLIDING) THE LOCKS ON THEM EITHER STARTED TO EITHER NOT LOCK OR WOULD LOCK AND STICK. THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM FOR AWHILE AS WELL AS THE REAR POWER WINDOW MOTORS ARE OUT AND THE WINDOWS WILL NOT OPEN AT ALL THIS JUST HAPPENED WITHOUT ANY WARNING AND I THINK THAT THIS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BEFORE SOMETHING DOES HAPPEN TO ANY ONE. *JB

NHTSA ID

10104617

Incident

Apr 5, 2004

Mileage

63,000 mi

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IS MALFUNCTIONING. REAR WINDOWS HALF OPEN AND WILL NOT CLOSE. FRONT WINDOWS WILL OPEN, BUT WILL NOT CLOSE. LIGHTS (INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL) WILL FLICKER IF I TURN ON THE RADIO, WINDSHIELD WIPERS, RAISE OR LOWER WINDOWS. LOCKS WILL ENGAGE AND DISENGAGE ON THEIR OWN OVER AND OVER AGAIN, EVEN IF THE VEHICLE IS AT REST. BRAKES ARE CONSTANTLY GOING BAD. I HAVE HAD TO GET THE BRAKES FIXED 4 TIMES IN THE PAST 18 MONTHS. A/C IS NOT WORKING. NO COLD AIR COMES OUT, ONLY HEAT.*AK

NHTSA ID

10060536

Incident

Mar 5, 2004

GAS LEAKING UNDER THE DRIVER SEAT AND UNDER THE HOOD. ALSO, GAS WAS POURING OUT FROM THE MOTOR. *LA THE WINDOW FAILED TO OPEN, THE CONSUMER IS CURRENTLY WAITING ON A NEW MOTOR. THE REAR BRAKES WERE LEAKING, THE TIE RODS HAD TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THEY WERE LOOSE, THE LEFT REAR STUCK BECAME STUCK, WHEN THE GEAR WAS TAKEN OUT OF PARK AND PLACED INTO DRIVE AND THE CONSUMER PROCEEDED TO ACCELERATE THE VEHICLE JERKED, THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED, THE DEALER DETERMINED THE EMISSION SYSTEM WAS DRAGGING, THE DRIVER SIDE MIRROR VIBRATED, THE BUMPER COVER WAS LOOSE. WHEN THE CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO TURN THE KEY IN THE IGNITION, THE VEHICLE DID NOT START, THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE CONSUMER'S CONCERN. THE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR WAS LEAKING AND THE FUEL FILTER WAS REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT GO OVER 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHIFTED AND THEN RETURNED TO NORMAL SPEED. THE PLASTIC ON THE DRIVERS SEAT WAS LOOSE. *JB

NHTSA ID

10061147

Mileage

3,060 mi

POWER SLIDING DOOR ON A PONIAC MONTANA MINIVAN: THE PASSENGER WAS OPENING THE POWER SLIDING DOOR FROM THE INSIDE AND GOT HER FOREARM TRAPPED BETWEEN THE INSIDE DOOR HANDLE AND THE SEAT (HAND PULLING BACK ON THE HANDLE AND AS THE DOOR SLID OPEN HER ELBOW WAS PINNED AGAINST THE SEATBACK). SINCE THE DOOR DID NOT AUTOMATICALLY REVERSE, IT CONTINUED TO OPEN AND EVENTUALLY BROKE ONE OF THE BONES IN JONIT'S FOREARM. *AK

NHTSA ID

10028486

Incident

Feb 10, 2002

PROBLEMS WITH PASS SIDE POWER SLIDING DOOR. IT OPENS BACK UP AFTER IT IS ALMOST SHUT. DOOR DOESN'T UNLOCK ITSELF UNLESS YOU BANG ON IT. OPENED ONCE BY ITSELF. HAS BEEN IN FOR SEVICE 3 TIMES BUT NOT REPAIRED.TS

NHTSA ID

10002851

Incident

Sep 15, 2002

Mileage

29,000 mi

HORN SOUNDS ON ITS OWN WHILE DRIVING, WITH NO INPUT FROM DRIVER. ALSO, ALARM SOUNDS (USUALLY ONLY 4 TIMES) FOR NO REASON EVEN WHEN NO ONE IS NEAR VEHICLE IF KEY IS USED TO LOCK THE DOORS, AS IF IT WAS SUSCEPTIBLE TO ELECTRICAL INTERFERENCE. DEALER CAN NOT FIND CAUSE OF PROBLEM. DT

NHTSA ID

769714

THE VEHICLE WAS STOLEN AND INVOLVED IN A HIGH SPEED WRECK WHICH NEITHER AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE OWNER INDICATED THAT THE SEATS DETACHED FROM THE FLOOR BOARD. NLM THE CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE ROLLED SEVERAL TIMES AND SLID ON ITS TOP. THE DEALER TOLD THE CONSUMER THAT THE AIR BAGS WOULD ONLY DEPLOY AT A CERTAIN SPEED AND ANGLE. *SCC

NHTSA ID

8019405

Incident

Aug 31, 2002

I THINK THERE MUST BE SOME ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTION IN MY VAN'S WIRING. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF OTHER'S HAVE REPORTED SUCH TROUBLE. THIS FIRST STARTED WITH MY TURN SIGNALS. THEY WOULD COME ON BY THEMSELVES WHILE I WAS DRIVING. EITHER THE RIGHT OR LEFT OR SOMETIMES BOTH WOULD JUST START BLINKING, OR NOTHING WOULD SHOW ON THE DASH COLUMN BUT YOU COULD HEAR THE CLICKING. THAT WAS 02/02. ON AUGUST 28,2002 I HAD JUST STARTED THE VAN AND PULLED AWAY FROM MY DAUGHTER'S SCHOOL WHEN A SMALL STREAM OF SMOKE BEGIN TO LEAK FROM THE ODOMETER AREA OF THE DASH. THE DEALER IS JUST ACROSS THE HIGHWAY SO I DECIDED TO TRY AND MAKE IT. I HAD NOT EVEN GONE A BLOCK BEFORE WHITE SMOKE HAD FILLED THE FRONT CABIN AREA AND WAS FILLING THE VAN. I PULLED OVER SHUT OFF THE IGNITION, GOT MY 2 CHILDREN OUT AND CALLED THE DEALER FOR HELP. THEY THINK WHEN I TURNED OFF THE SWITCH THE FIRE WENT OUT. I WAITED 30 MINUTES FOR THEM TO COME ACROSS THE STREET TO GET ME BUT NO ONE SHOWED. THE MAN AT THE BODY SHOP WHERE I STOPPED TOOK US OVER TO THE DEALER. THEY NOW SAY THE CLUSTER SHORTED OUT AND HAS BEEN REPLACED WITH A NEW ONE. THEY ALSO SAY THEY HAVE SPRAYED TO HELP THE SMOKE SMELL. THEY INSIST THE VAN IS SAFE BUT I DO NOT FEEL LIKE TAKING A CHANCE WITH MY CHILDREN IN THE VAN. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF YOU HAVE HAD ANY SIMILAR REPORTS BECAUSE PONTIAC SAYS THIS IS THE FIRST THEY HAVE HEARD OF SUCH. PLEASE GIVE ME YOUR OPINION ON MY VAN'S SAFETY. I AM VERY WORRIED ABOUT THE VAN'S LONG TERM LIFE.*AK

NHTSA ID

766469

Incident

Aug 28, 2002

WHEN OPENING DOOR CONSUMER'S RIGHT THUMB GOT CAUGHT IN SLIDING DOOR HANDLE. ALSO, HANDLE WAS TRAPPED BETWEEN CONSUMER'S FINGERS AND THUMB, WHICH MADE IT VERY DIFFICULT TO RELEASE. THIS WAS A RENTAL VEHICLE. *AK RIGHT REAR DOOR OPENED ON CONSUMERS RIGHT WRIST, ELBOW, AND SHOULDER, CONSUMER COULD NOT GET HIS HAND OUT OF THE DOOR HANDLE, CONSUMER STATES THAT THE DRIVER DOOR OPEN SWITCH SHOULD BE DISABLED OR INACTIVATED, AND ALSO THE SWITCH ON THE DOOR COLUMN RIGHT SIDE BEHIND THE PASSENGER SHOULD BE REMOVED, CONSUMERS FINGER WAS INJURED, VEHICLE HAD BEEN RENTED FROM NATIONAL RENT A CAR. *SLC

NHTSA ID

892468

Incident

Jun 28, 2001

WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT HEADLIGHTS AND INTERIOR LIGHTS WOULD OCCASIONALY DIM. DEALER HAS ADVISED CONSUMER THAT DEFECT WAS DUE TO GENERATOR THAT DROPPED POWER FROM CONTROL MODULE, BUT DID NOT HAVE A REMEDY. *AK

NHTSA ID

888200

Incident

Sep 1, 2000