2002 Pontiac Montana Problems

LOWER/UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET FAILED AT 87160 MILES HEAD GASKET FAILED AT 142,500 MILES LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET FAILED AT 183170 MILES. *TR

BOUGHT MY CAR USED IN 2006,AIR BAG LIGHT HAS COME ON A FEW YEARS LATER,DEALER WON'T FIX IT BECAUSE I DON'T QUALIFY FOR RECALL,TELLS ME CAR CAME FROM CANADA. DEPENDING ON WHERE YOU CHECK MY VIN IS ALSO REGISTERED IN THE US. MY CAR IS NOW LEAKING COOLANT,ONE REPAIR SHOP IS SURE IT'S THE INTAKE GASKET,BUT I CAN'T GET THIS FIXED EITHER BECAUSE IT'S NOT UNDER RECALL YET I DID MY OWN RESEARCH AND FOUND MILLIONS OF PEOPLE ARE GETTING THE SAME PROBLEMS. I SURE WISH I COULD QUALIFY FOR AT LEAST ONE OF THE PROBLEMS I'M HAVING. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 PONTIAC MONTANA. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN AND PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED A STRONG ODOR OF FUEL EMERGING FROM THE REAR. THE CONTACT CHECKED UNDER THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED FUEL COMING OUT THE SIDE OF THE FUEL TANK WHERE THE SEAL WAS MAKING A PUDDLE ON THE FLOOR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED BY A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: A-31191114851. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 192,000.

THE FUEL TANK IS LEAKING AROUND THE SEAL WHERE THE ELBOW CONNECTES,. THIS SEAL HAS BEEN DISCONUTINED. THE DEALERSHIP SAID I WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THE FUEL TANK. I CANT AFFORD A NEW TANK. IF THEY CANT REPLACE THE SEAL THEY SHOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THE TANK, THERE HAS BEEN TWO RECALLS ON THE GAS TANK ON THIS VEHICLES. I AM LUCKY THAT MY VAN DIDNT CATCH ON FIRE GOING DOWN THE ROAD WITH ME AND TWO CHILDREN IN THE VAN, WE PUT SOME PUTTY ON IT FOR GAS LEAKS AND THAT HAS SLOW THE LEAK DOWN, I HAVE NOT CHOICE BUT TO DRIVE THE VAN MY ONLY WAY TO GO, I CANT AFFORD TO PUT A NEW GAS TANK FOR 725.00. I DONT THINK IT IS FAIR THAT THEY CAN DISCONTIUNED A SEAL LIKE THIS THAT AND NOT WILLING TO REPLACE A HAZARD PART LIKE THIS, I PUT MY LIFE AND THE GIRLS LIFE IN DANGER EVERYDAY WE GO OUT IN THE VAN BUT WE HAVE NOT CHOICE.

REALIZED EXCESS USE OF BRAKE FLUID. TRACED PROBLEM TO LEAKING REAR BRAKE LINE - STEEL LINE CORRODED THROUGH AT AXLE CLIP LOCATION. *TR

FRONT RIGHT WHEEL BEARING HAS BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES IN 20 MONTHS, AND CONSTANT ABS SENSOR PROBLEMS WITH THE SAME. ALSO BRAKES KEEP WEARING QUICKLY UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. *TR

THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE BRAKE LIGHTS CONSTANTLY GO OUT. I HAVE SPOKEN TO A MECHANIC AND HE TOLD ME THAT IT IS VERY COMMON FOR GM VEHICLES IN THIS MODEL YEAR RANGE TO HAVE TO REPLACE THE LIGHTING BANK IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLES ON BOTH SIDES. THE BANK WHICH CONTAINS THE BRAKE LIGHTS, THE BACK-UP LIGHTS, AND THE RUNNING LIGHTS FAILS AND THE BRAKE LIGHTS SEEM TO BE MOST AFFECTED. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE MY BRAKE LIGHTS APPROXIMATELY ONCE A MONTH FOR MULTIPLE YEARS. THERE HAVE BEEN MANY NEAR-COLLISIONS DUE TO BRAKE LIGHTS NOT OPERATING. THE THIRD BRAKE LIGHT AT THE TOP OF THE VEHICLE APPEARS TO NOT BE AFFECTED BY THIS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 PONTIAC MONTANA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SPORADICALLY, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AND WOULD NOT TURN OVER. THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE CONTACT WOULD ALLOW THE VEHICLE TO SIT FOR TEN MINUTES AFTER ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE. THE RADIO, AIR CONDITIONER AND POWER WINDOWS WOULD OPERATE BUT THE VEHICLE STILL WOULD NOT START. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO THE ANTI-THEFT PASS LOCK SWITCH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 195,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 202,000.

2002 PONTIAC MONTANA. CONSUMER STATES PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE WINDSHIELD *TGW LAST NOVEMBER, THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED DIAGONALLY TOWARD THE LEFT LOWER CORNER. UPON INSPECTION, IT WAS APPARENT THE WINDSHIELD HAD RELEASED FROM THE UPPER RIGHT CORNER. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A GLASS REPAIR SHOP AND THEY INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE ROOF/GLASS OPENING WAS RUSTED AND HAD TO BE REPAIRED/REPLACED BEFORE THEY WOULD REPLACE THE GLASS. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THERE WAS A SERVICE BULLETIN SPECIFYING THAT THE ROOF WAS TO BE REPLACED TO FIX THE CONDITION. *JB

THERE ARE 2 MAIN SAFETY CONCERNS WITH MY 2002 PONTIAC MONTANA THUNDER MINIVAN. FIRST, THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE BRAKE LIGHT HAS GONE OUT. EVEN WITH REPLACEMENT OF BULB AND FUSE, THE BRAKE LIGHT WILL NOT WORK. FROM RESEARCHING ON THE INTERNET, THIS SEEMS TO BE A DESIGN DEFECT AND A COMMON PROBLEM. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE!!! SECOND, THE REAR WINDSHIELD WIPER DOES NOT WORK. AGAIN, THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON 2002 PONTIAC MONTANA PROBLEM, AND AGAIN, IS A SAFETY CONCERN. *JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 PONTIAC MONTANA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 30 MPH WHEN SMOKE EMITTED FROM THE SEAT WARMERS IN THE FRONT PASSENGERS SEAT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DESTROYED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 141,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 PONTIAC MONTANA. WHILE CLOSING THE SLIDING DOOR THE CONTACT'S SON REACHED INTO THE VEHICLE AND IT CLOSED ON HIS HANDS. SHE WAS UNABLE TO OPEN THE DOOR ONCE IT CLOSED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT HAD TO OPEN THE DOOR. THE FAILURE CAUSED BRUISING AND SWELLING ON BOTH OF HIS HANDS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WERENO SENSORS ON THE SLIDING DOOR TO DETECT MOTION. THE DEALER HAS NOT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 50,000.*AK

2002 PONTIAC MONTANA. CONSUMER STATES PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE WINDSHIELD *TGW LAST NOVEMBER, THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED DIAGONALLY TOWARD THE LEFT LOWER CORNER. UPON INSPECTION, IT WAS APPARENT THE WINDSHIELD HAD RELEASED FROM THE UPPER RIGHT CORNER. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A GLASS REPAIR SHOP AND THEY INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE ROOF/GLASS OPENING WAS RUSTED AND HAD TO BE REPAIRED/REPLACED BEFORE THEY WOULD REPLACE THE GLASS. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THERE WAS A SERVICE BULLETIN SPECIFYING THAT THE ROOF WAS TO BE REPLACED TO FIX THE CONDITION. *JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 PONTIAC MONTANA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HAVING THE WINDSHIELD REPAIRED BY AN INDEPENDENT GLASS COMPANY, THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE FRAME NEAR THE TOP OF THE WINDSHIELD WAS RUSTED. DUE TO THE RUST, THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO PROPERLY INSTALL THE NEW WINDSHIELD BECAUSE IT WOULD INCREASE THE CHANCES OF THE WINDSHIELD SHATTERING OR SEPARATING. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED, BUT DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE WITH REPAIRS OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 188,000.

I OWN A 2002 PONTIAC MONTANA AND THIS MORNING WHEN I STARTED THE VEHICLE THE AIRBAG IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE EXPLODE. THERE IS ANY OTHER OWNER WITH THE SAME PROBLEM ON THIS 2002 MODEL. *TR

BOUGHT MY CAR USED IN 2006,AIR BAG LIGHT HAS COME ON A FEW YEARS LATER,DEALER WON'T FIX IT BECAUSE I DON'T QUALIFY FOR RECALL,TELLS ME CAR CAME FROM CANADA. DEPENDING ON WHERE YOU CHECK MY VIN IS ALSO REGISTERED IN THE US. MY CAR IS NOW LEAKING COOLANT,ONE REPAIR SHOP IS SURE IT'S THE INTAKE GASKET,BUT I CAN'T GET THIS FIXED EITHER BECAUSE IT'S NOT UNDER RECALL YET I DID MY OWN RESEARCH AND FOUND MILLIONS OF PEOPLE ARE GETTING THE SAME PROBLEMS. I SURE WISH I COULD QUALIFY FOR AT LEAST ONE OF THE PROBLEMS I'M HAVING. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 PONTIAC MONTANA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEAD GASKET AND THE INTAKE GASKET HAD CORRODED FROM A COOLING LEAK. SHE ALSO EXPERIENCED OVERHEATING AND THE ONLY COOLANT THAT THE DEALER IS TELLING HER TO USE IS DEX COOL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THIS TYPE OF COOLANT HAS BEEN KNOWN TO CAUSE FAILURES AND THAT THERE SHOULD BE SOME OTHER TYPE OF COOLANT TO USE. SHE STATED THAT THE POWER DOOR ON THE PASSENGER SIDE HAS SIGNS OF CORROSION, THE FUEL GAUGE IS ERRATIC AND PREVENTS HER FROM KNOWING THE AMOUNT OF FUEL IN THE VEHICLE, THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT TIRE HUB IS LOOSE, THE OVERHEAD CONSOLE FOR THE TEMPERATURE AND COMPASS HAS FAILED, AND THE AIR CONDITIONING HAS A HOLE IN THE HOSE. ACCORDING TO THE MANUFACTURER, SINCE THE CONTACT CHANGED HER OWN OIL, THAT IS THE REASON SHE IS EXPERIENCING SO MANY FAILURES. THEREFORE, THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY ARE NOT LIABLE. THE VIN IS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 70,000.

GOODYEAR ASSURANCE TRIPLE TREAD---P215 70R15 SIDEWALL BLEW OUT ---25000 MILES---VERTICAL STRAIGHT LINE FAILURE-- INSIDE OUT IN NATURE. *JB

PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL BEARING FAILURE - GRINDING. *TR

FRONT RIGHT WHEEL BEARING HAS BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES IN 20 MONTHS, AND CONSTANT ABS SENSOR PROBLEMS WITH THE SAME. ALSO BRAKES KEEP WEARING QUICKLY UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. *TR

THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE BRAKE LIGHTS CONSTANTLY GO OUT. I HAVE SPOKEN TO A MECHANIC AND HE TOLD ME THAT IT IS VERY COMMON FOR GM VEHICLES IN THIS MODEL YEAR RANGE TO HAVE TO REPLACE THE LIGHTING BANK IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLES ON BOTH SIDES. THE BANK WHICH CONTAINS THE BRAKE LIGHTS, THE BACK-UP LIGHTS, AND THE RUNNING LIGHTS FAILS AND THE BRAKE LIGHTS SEEM TO BE MOST AFFECTED. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE MY BRAKE LIGHTS APPROXIMATELY ONCE A MONTH FOR MULTIPLE YEARS. THERE HAVE BEEN MANY NEAR-COLLISIONS DUE TO BRAKE LIGHTS NOT OPERATING. THE THIRD BRAKE LIGHT AT THE TOP OF THE VEHICLE APPEARS TO NOT BE AFFECTED BY THIS. *TR

I BOUGHT 2002 PONTIAC MONTANA USED IN DEC. 2008. FIRST THE RADIO DISPLAY WENT COMPLETELY OUT. THEN AS I WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING LOT THE CAR SHUT OFF BY ITSELF... IT STARTED BACK UP AGAIN BUT I WAS IN TRAFFIC AND ALMOST CAUSED THREE CARS TO CRASH. THEN I NOTICED THAT MY DRIVER'S SIDE BRAKE LIGHT WENT OUT, AND A WEEK LATER THE PASSENGER SIDE BRAKE LIGHT WENT OUT. I HAVE BOUGHT REPLACEMENT BULBS AND IT STILL DOES NOT WORK (THE BAR ON TOP IS WORKING). THE RADIO/ CLOCK DISPLAY IS JUST AN INCONVENIENCE BUT BRAKE LIGHTS... THEY ARE IMPORTANT! I AM BRINGING TO THE DEALER TODAY TO INSPECT. I SEE THERE ARE MANY MANY COMPLAINTS FOR THIS AND SHOULD NOT BE OVERLOOKED!!! I HAVE MY FAMILY TO PROTECT! *TR

2002 MONTANA GASKET WAS FAULTY AND HAD TO BE REPLACED.*MR TRANSMISSION GAVE OUT ON THE MINIVAN. HAVE ALSO HAD OTHER SMALLER REPAIRS, WHICH CONSUMER BELIEVE WERE DUE TO MANUFACTURER ERROR. *BF

I PURCHASED A PONTAIC MONTANA FROM ROGERS PONTAIC IN CHICAGO IN MARCH 2002. IN MAY OF 2003 I BEGIN TO EXPERIENCE TROUBLE WITH THE TRANSMISSION. THE FRIST OCCASION OCCURED IN MAY OF 2003.(REPAIRED,BUT THE VECHICLE DID NOT OPERATE THE WAY I THOUGHT IT SHOULD) I TOOK IT BACK TO THE PONTAIC DEALER - GROSSINGER IN LINCOLNWOOD, IL. BUT, THEY SAID EVERYTHING WAS OK) THE SECOND BEING NOVEMBER OF 2003. ( THE REPAIR WORK DONE WAS GREAT! THE VECHICLE WORKED AS GOOD AS WHEN IT WAS FIRST PURCHASED) BUT, I HAVE BEGUN TO EXPERIENCE THE SAME SYMPTOMS AS BEFORE HERE IN AUGUST 2004. THIS HAS LED ME TO BELIEVE THAT A DEFECT IS IN THE TRANSMISSION OF THIS VECHICLE. MY ONLY SOLUTION WOULD BE FOR THE MANUFACTURER (PONTAIC - GMC) TO REPLACE THE VECHICLE WITH A NEW ONE. I DO NOT WANT TO CONTINUALLY HAVE THE TRANSMISSION REPAIRED. AFTER THE WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED, I WILL HAVE TO PAY THE COST OF A DEFECT THAT HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE THE VECHICLE WAS PURCHASE.

AIR CONDITIONING DOESN'T WORK, 2) CONDENSER/COMPRESSOR FAILED. VERY COSTLY REPAIR, UNAE TO FIX IT AT THIS TIME DUE TO COST. *AK

THE A/C ON MY 2002 MONTANA VAN WAS BLOWING WARM IN APRIL 2006. AT THAT TIME MY VAN HAD 54K MILES ON IT. SINCE SUMMER WAS RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER, I BROUGHT THE VAN TO MY MECHANIC AND AN A/C LEAK TEST WAS PERFORMED. $961.91 LATER, THE A/C CONDENSER WAS REPLACED ALONG WITH THE NECESSARY PARTS FOR IT. (OFFICIAL DIAGNOSIS = REPLACE LEAKING A/C CONDENSER. EVACUATE AND RECHARGE SYSTEM TO SPECS) AUGUST CAME AND ONCE AGAIN THE A/C WAS ACTING UP. THE AIR WAS NOT VERY COLD AND THERE WAS A HISSING / FLUTTERING NOISE COMING FROM THE VENTS. I BROUGHT THE VAN BACK TO MY MECHANIC. AT THIS TIME THE MILEAGE WAS 58K. THIS TIME IT WAS THE REAR A/C LINE/HOSE THAT WAS THE PROBLEM. MY MECHANIC STATED THAT HE TYPICALLY SEES THE REAR A/C OF MONTANA VANS HAVING ISSUES FIRST, NOT THE CONDENSER. AND HE HAD CHECKED THE REAR FIRST BACK IN APRIL AND IT WAS FINE. SO, $482.64 LATER THE FOLLOWING HAD BEEN FIXED: "REMOVE & REPLACE LEAKING REAR EVAPORATOR FEED A/C TUBE. EVACUATE AND CHARGE SYSTEM TO SPECS." AFTER READING THE OTHER COMPLAINTS, I FEEL THAT THERE MAY BE A PATTERN HERE OR AT LEAST GM DID NOT USE EFFICIENT PARTS WHEN THEY PUT THE A/C UNITS IN THESE VEHICLES. *JB

THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT DOES NOT LOCK ON 1ST TRY. SOMETIMES IT TAKES SEVERAL TRIES BEFORE THE SEAT BELT ACTUALLY LOCKS. THEN SOMETIMES IT WILL COME UNDONE WHILE DRIVING. NOT A VERY SAFE FEELING! *TR

THE SEAT BELT ON THE DRIVERS SEAT COMES UNLATCHED WITHOUT ANY CAUSE OR WARNING WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. THE SEAT BELT IS CHECKED AND DOUBLE CHECKED EACH TIME IT IS LATCHED AND IT PASSES AS BEING LATCHED. WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD THE SEAT BELT LATCH RELEASES THE SEAT BELT CAUSING THE DRIVER TO BECOME DISTRACTED FROM THE ROAD. GENERAL MOTORS AND ITS DEALER DO NOT THINK THIS IS A PROBLEM THEREFORE WILL NOT REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE SEAT BELT OR ITS COMPONETS TO MAKE THE VEHICLE SAFE TO DRIVE. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 PONTIAC MONTANA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEAD GASKET AND THE INTAKE GASKET HAD CORRODED FROM A COOLING LEAK. SHE ALSO EXPERIENCED OVERHEATING AND THE ONLY COOLANT THAT THE DEALER IS TELLING HER TO USE IS DEX COOL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THIS TYPE OF COOLANT HAS BEEN KNOWN TO CAUSE FAILURES AND THAT THERE SHOULD BE SOME OTHER TYPE OF COOLANT TO USE. SHE STATED THAT THE POWER DOOR ON THE PASSENGER SIDE HAS SIGNS OF CORROSION, THE FUEL GAUGE IS ERRATIC AND PREVENTS HER FROM KNOWING THE AMOUNT OF FUEL IN THE VEHICLE, THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT TIRE HUB IS LOOSE, THE OVERHEAD CONSOLE FOR THE TEMPERATURE AND COMPASS HAS FAILED, AND THE AIR CONDITIONING HAS A HOLE IN THE HOSE. ACCORDING TO THE MANUFACTURER, SINCE THE CONTACT CHANGED HER OWN OIL, THAT IS THE REASON SHE IS EXPERIENCING SO MANY FAILURES. THEREFORE, THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY ARE NOT LIABLE. THE VIN IS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 70,000.

THE VAN WAS NOT EQUIPPED WITH A WARNING SENSOR TO INDICATE WHEN THE SLIDING DOOR WAS CLOSING. THIS RESULTED IN TODDLER'S FOOT BEING TRAPPED IN THE SLIDING DOOR WHEN IT WAS CLOSED. THE TODDLER ONLY SUSTAINED A SCRATCH BECAUSE HE WAS WEARING WINTER BOOTS AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT.*AK

PROBLEM WITH THE HEAD GASKET DURING NORMAL DRIVING CONDITION STARTING BY OVER HEATING LOOK LIKE A THERMOSTAT PROBLEM BUT IS NOT. HEAD GASKET FAIL AND GAS FROM THE CYLINDERS ESCAPE TO THE BLOCK OF THE ENGINE CAUSING TO OVER HEAT AND DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE.

VEHICLE WAS GOING 15-20 MPH WHILE CROSSING A BRIDGE. FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE CONTROL ARM BROKE IN HALF WITHOUT WARNING, CAUSING VEHICLE TO CRASH INTO STEEL SUPER STRUCTURE OF BRIDGE. VEHICLE DIDN'T HIT ANYTHING PRIOR TO THE CRASH, AND VEHICLE LOST COMPLETE STEERING. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *AK MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED. REAR DRIVE ASSEMBLIES ALSO HAD TO BE REPLACED. DEALER HAS ATTEMPTED TO REPAIR THREE TIMES. *TT

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 PONTIAC MONTANA. WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 40 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE MADE IT ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE FOR THE DRIVER TO MAINTAIN CONTROL IN STEERING THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 91,000.