RoadVitals

2005 Pontiac Montana Body & structure Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the body or structure system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Body & structure reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
21
Latest Jan 19, 2016
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
26%
of 81 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
8

What this page shows

Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2005 Pontiac Montana submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 21 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.

Owner reports naming body or structure

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Body & structureElectrical
Filed Jan 19, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 PONTIAC MONTANA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE REAR SLIDING DOOR OPENED. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 151,000.

NHTSA ID
10820937
Incident
Jan 19, 2016
Mileage
151,000 mi
Body & structureOther / unspecified
Filed Jan 19, 2016

[XXX] IS IN CUSTODY AN HIS CAR IS ABOUNDED ON THE 200 BLOCK OF HOBART AN VINE ST THE VAN DO NOT HAVE ANY WINDOWS NO TAGS ON IT AN ALL FOUR OF THE TIRES ARE FLAT I NEED DRIVE HERE DOT COM TO COME REPO THIS CAR BECAUSE ERIC IS IN JAIL AND CAN NOT MAKE ANYMORE PAYMENTS ON THE CAR ALSO ERIC TOOK THE TRACKING DEVICE OFF THE 'INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).'

NHTSA ID
10820914
Incident
Jan 15, 2016
Body & structureElectrical
Filed Jun 24, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 PONTIAC MONTANA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35MPH, THE DRIVER SIDE SLIDING DOOR OPEN INDEPENDENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. ALSO, THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE DVD PLAYER TURNED ON BY ITS SELF AND WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO TURN IT OFF IT WAS EXTREMELLY HOT TO THE TOUCH. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE WAS 23,000.

NHTSA ID
10605719
Incident
Mar 1, 2011
Mileage
23,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Nov 16, 2010

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 PONTIAC MONTANA SV6. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH THE REAR SLIDING DOOR OPENED AND THE CHILD SAFETY LOCK WAS ON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE NOTICED ON SEVERAL OCCASION THE DOOR DIDN'T LOCK PROPERLY. THE MANUFACTURER WILL BE NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WILL BE TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 110,131.

NHTSA ID
10365917
Incident
Nov 14, 2010
Mileage
110,131 mi
Body & structureElectrical
Filed Oct 27, 2010

I HAVE A HANDICAP ACCESSIBLE VAN MADE BY M.C. MOBILITY AND GM. MY AUTOMATIC SLIDING DOOR OPENS ITSELF AND EXECUTES THE RAMP AT DIFFERENT TIMES. ONCE I WAS AT THE DRIVE THRU AND PUT MY CAR IN PARK AND IT OPENED THE DOOR AND EXECUTED THE RAMP. OTHER TIMES IT HAS OPENED AND CLOSED BY ITSELF. ONE TIME DURING AN OUTDOOR EVENT SOME FOLKS WATCHED MY CAR FOR ENTERTAINMENT FOR 4 HOURS AND DURING THAT TIME PERIOD IT OPENED AND CLOSED ITSELF 14 TIMES. WE HAVE HAD THE DOOR WORKED ON MANY TIMES AND IT IS WELL DOCUMENTED AND I WOULD BE HAPPY TO SHARE THE DOCUMENTATION. THE WHEELS ON MY DOOR HAVE BEEN CHANGED SEVERAL TIMES I HAVE REPLACED MY CAR BATTERY AND THE BATTERIES OF BOTH KEY FOBS. RIGHT NOW IT HAS BEEN WORKING CORRECTLY FOR ABOUT 60 DAYS

NHTSA ID
10364668
Incident
Nov 29, 2006
Body & structureInterior & seats
Filed Oct 23, 2010

THE DRIVER SIDE SLIDING DOOR CONTINUES TO OPEN AND WHEN YOU LOCK IT MANUALLY IT CHIMES WHILE YOU ARE DRIVING. THE SENSORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED AND THE LOCK BUT NOTHING IS WORKING RIGHT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10361882
Incident
Oct 18, 2010
Body & structure
Filed Jun 16, 2010

2005 PONTIAC MONTANA. CONSUMER STATES PROBLEM WITH FRONT PASSENGER DOOR *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR HAD TO BE REPAIRED TWICE IN LESS THAN ONE YEAR AT A COST OF $117.69. THE SECOND TIME, THE CONSUMER HAD TO PAY $ 109.82. THE DEALER REPLACED THE DOOR PANEL CLIPS AND DOOR HANDLE. *JB

NHTSA ID
10336966
Incident
May 26, 2009
Body & structureOther / unspecified
Filed Jan 9, 2009

I HAVE A PROBLEM DAILY WITH THE PASSENGER SIDE POWER SLIDING DOOR, WHEN I CLOSE THE DOOR IT COMES BACK OPEN. I HAVE TO OPEN AND CLOSE THE DOOR SEVERAL TIMES FOR THE ALARM CHIME TO STOP AND THE DOOR COMPLETELY CLOSE. I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO DEALER WHO CLAIMS TO HAVE FIXED THE PROBLEM WHEN THE VAN WAS UNDER WARRANTY, BUT THAT'S NOT TRUE BECAUSE THE PROBLEM STILL CONTINUES! THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE ESPECIALLY SINCE I HAVE SMALL CHILDREN. I HAVE TAKEN MY VEHICLE TO 4 DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS WHO HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM. I BELIEVE IT SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THE POWER SLIDING DOOR FOR THE 2005 PONTIAC MONTANA. *TR

NHTSA ID
10254427
Incident
May 15, 2008
Body & structureInterior & seats
Filed Oct 10, 2008
6 injuries reported

BOUGHT CAR USED. IT DINGED AND SALESMAN SAID DOOR JUST NOT CLOSED PROPERLY. WE BROUGHT IT IN 2 WEEKS LATER AS DOOR DECIDES WHEN IT WANTS TO CLOSE. DRIVER'S SIDE REAR DOOR TO 2005 PONTIAC MONTANA MINIVAN. DEALER ALIGNED DOOR. STILL WON'T CLOSE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10245070
Incident
Aug 4, 2008
Mileage
39,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Jul 24, 2008

AUTOMATIC SLIDING DOOR WAS NOT CLOSING. AUTOMATIC DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN. AUTOMATIC SLIDING DOOR CAME OPEN WHILE DRIVING WITH KIDS IN THE CAR. *TR

NHTSA ID
10235670
Incident
Jun 7, 2008
Mileage
32,700 mi
Body & structureSeat belts
Filed Jul 8, 2008

BEGINNING AT 15K MILES THE POWER SLIDING DOORS BEGAN NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. THE WOULD AUTOMATICALLY OPEN AS IF THERE WAS AN OBSTRUCTION IN THE DOORWAY. AT 18K MILES THERE WAS A COMPLETE FAILURE TO THE MOTOR DRIVE ASSEMBLY. AFTER REPAIR BOTH DOORS CONTINUED TO AUTO OPEN. DURING NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS AT INTERSTATE SPEED THE DOOR DID COME OPEN WITH NO PASSENGERS IN IT. WHEN THE DOORS ARE NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY YOU MUST DEACTIVATE LOCK OUT ROCKER SWITCH ON OVERHEAD CONSOLE, THEN MANUALLY CLOSE. IF YOU RE-ENERGIZE THE LOCK OUT SWITCH DOOR WILL AUTO OPEN. AT TIMES THE DOOR AJAR CHIME WILL SOUND WHILE THE DOORS ARE SHUT AND LOCKED AND WILL NOT TURN OFF, ONCE TO THE POINT OF RUNNING OUT THE BATTERY. WHEN DOORS DO NOT WANT TO SHUT THEY FORCE THEMSELVES OPEN REPEATEDLY. MULTIPLE OCCASIONS A MONTH SINCE 2006, I HAVE HAD IT IN FOR SERVICE NUMEROUS TIMES WITH NO SUCCESS. THE MOTOR AND CONTROL LOGIC SITS ADJACENT TO THE REAR SEATBELT MECHANISM. BOTH SEATBELTS IN THE 3RD ROW ARE NOT WORKING PROPERLY SINCE THEY HAVE ATTEMPTED TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID
10233500
Incident
Jul 1, 2006
Mileage
15,000 mi
AirbagsBody & structureEngine+2 more
Filed Apr 22, 2008

2005 PONTIAC MONTANA SV6 AUTOMATIC SLIDING DOOR OPENS WHILE DRIVING, BAD SENSOR AND BROKE CABLE WAS REPLACED. *CW THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE ENGINE FAILED, WHICH ULTIMATELY LED TO AN ENGINE REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE BEGAN SHAKING AND MISFIRING. A BAD PLUG AND THE STABILIZING BAR LINKS WERE REPLACED. THE UNDERCARRIAGE WAS CRACKED WHICH WAS CAUSING A LOUD KNOCKING AND THUMPING SOUND UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER ALSO HAD THE SEATS REPLACED WITH AN AFTER MARKET LEATHER KIT BECAUSE STAINS HAD FORMED ON THE SEATS DUE TO MOISTURE. THE CONSUMER LATER DISCOVERED A RECALL HAD BEEN ISSUED BECAUSE THE AFTER MARKET KIT COULD CAUSE THE PASSENGER SENSING SYSTEM TO MALFUNCTION IF THE PASSENGER SENSING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONS, THE FRONT AIR BAG ON THE PASSENGER SIDE MAY BE DISABLED WHEN IT SHOULD BE ENABLED, OR ENABLED WHEN IT SHOULD BE DISABLED. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED HIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL *JB

NHTSA ID
10226153
Incident
Mar 13, 2007
Body & structureBrakes
Filed Mar 7, 2008

BOTH SLIDING DOORS PROBLEM MALFUNCTIONING. DRIVER SLIDER WILL NOT OPEN UNTIL YOU MANUALLY UNLOCK FROM DOOR. PASSENGER DOOR WILL OPEN WITHOUT NOTICE EVEN AFTER NEW MOTOR/MECHANISM REPLACED BY DEALER. ABS SYSTEM FAILURE REPAIRED THREE TIMES IN TWO WEEKS BY DEALER. *TR

NHTSA ID
10220352
Incident
Dec 26, 2007
Mileage
32,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Dec 6, 2007

THE "AIR SHOCKS" THAT PROPEL AND HOLD UP THE LIFTGATE OF OUR 2005 PONTIAC MONTANA SV6 FAILED. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF POSSIBLE FAILURE PRIOR TO THE ACTUAL FAILURE. THE LIFT GATE IS EXTREMELY HEAVY AND IT POSES A SAFETY HAZARD. IT DOES NOT HOLD ITSELF UP ONCE OPENED AND SHOULD IT FALL, THE HEAVY LIFTGATE DOOR WOULD SLAM SHUT INJURING ANYTHING OR ANYONE IN ITS WAY. WE HAVE USED IT ON THE RARE OCCASION THAT WE HAD TO, AND IT IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT AND HEAVY TO HOLD UP AND OPEN, AND WE MUST GINGERLY CLOSE IT TO PREVENT THE BACK WINDOW FROM BREAKING SHOULD IT CLOSE TOO HARD. WE WERE FORTUNATE THAT OUR FAILURE OCCURRED WHEN WE WERE TRYING TO OPEN IT AND IT WOULDN'T OPEN AS IT SHOULD. WE FEAR THAT A SEVERE INJURY OR DEATH COULD RESULT SHOULD THE FAILURE OF THE LIFTGATE OCCUR WHILE IT IS ALREADY OPEN. *TR

NHTSA ID
10211043
Incident
Oct 20, 2007
Mileage
88,032 mi
Body & structureInterior & seats
Filed Dec 1, 2007

SIDE PASSENGER DOOR OPENS ON IT OWN. *TR

NHTSA ID
10210464
Incident
Nov 17, 2007
Mileage
31,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Jun 12, 2007
1 injury reported

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 PONTIAC MONTANA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED ON A HILL OR SMALL ANGLE, THE REAR SLIDING DOOR CLOSED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DOOR HIT HER ON THE ELBOW AND LEFT A BAD BRUISE ON HER ARM. THE DEALER DID NOT INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 17,116 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 16,500.

NHTSA ID
10193019
Incident
Jun 1, 2006
Mileage
16,500 mi
Body & structureExterior lighting
Filed Jun 2, 2006

WHISTLE NOISE FROM FRONT OF VEHICLE AROUND 60 MPH. DEALER HAS REPLACED THE FRONT WINDSHIELD SEAL, DOOR SEAL, AND A GASKET UNDER THE HOOD BUT THIS HAS NOT HELPED. THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT THEY DIDN'T HEAR THE WHISTLE UNLESS THEY DROVE IT 90 MPH!!! I WAS TOLD THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH PONTIAC'S DESIGN AND IT CAN NOT BE FIXED. PASSENGER SIDE SLIDING DOOR DOESN'T STAY SHUT AND DOESN'T OPEN WHEN OUTSIDE HANDLE IS PULLED AND MOTOR RUNNING TOO LONG AND GRINDING AFTER DOOR HAS CLOSED. THE DOOR MOTOR HAS BEEN REPLACED YET THERE IS STILL A GRINDING NOISE WHEN THE DOOR SHUTS. HEADLIGHTS SURGING CAUSING ME TO CONSTANTLY BE BRIGHT LIGHTED BY ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT THIS IS NORMAL!*JB

NHTSA ID
10158836
Incident
Nov 13, 2005
Mileage
600 mi
Body & structure
Filed Sep 23, 2005

PASSENGER ELECTRIC CARGO DOOR DID NOT OPEN ELECTRICALLY AFTER OUTSIDE DOOR HANDLE WAS USED TO RELEASE LATCHING MECHANISM. VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN WITH NO INDICATION THROUGH THE MONITORING/WARNING SYSTEM THAT THE DOOR WAS NOT FULLY CLOSED AND LOCKED. UNDER GM CASE# 8477192, IT WAS DECIDED TO REPLACE THE DOOR LATCH ACTUATOR FOR A VOLTAGE SPIKE ISSUE. *NM

NHTSA ID
10137396
Incident
Sep 21, 2005
Mileage
12,252 mi
Body & structure
Filed Aug 31, 2005
1 injury reported

MY 3 YEAR OLD SON PUSHED THE BUTTON TO CLOSE THE AUTOMATIC SLIDING SIDE DOOR AND THE DOOR CAUGHT HIS LEFT THUMB AND PART OF THE PALM. I TOOK HIM TO THE IMMEDIATE CARE CENTER AND HE HAD A BONE THAT WAS CHIPPED IN HIS THUMB. THEY PUT A SPLINT ON HIS THUMB AND WAS GOING TO RE X-RAY HIM IN ABOUT A WEEK. *NM

NHTSA ID
10134973
Incident
Aug 31, 2005
Body & structure
Filed Jun 13, 2005

I JUST WANT TO INFORM YOU THAT I WAS NOT NOTIFIED BY GM OF EITHER OF THE 2 RECALLS ON MY 2005 PONTIAC MONTANA. THE FIRST AND WORST BEING ID#: 04V597000, WHICH I KNOW FOR SURE AFFECTS MY VEHICLE. THE OTHER BEING ID#: 05V061000, WHICH MAY NOT AFFECT ME DEPENDING ON WHICH SEATS I HAVE IN THE 2ND ROW.

NHTSA ID
10125061
Incident
Jun 12, 2005
Body & structure
Filed Nov 1, 2004

THE DOOR DESIGN IS POOR. IF ONE IS NOT DIRECTLY UP AGAINST THE DOOR IT JAMS AND A CHILD COULD GET TRAPPED. IF ONE IS IN THE DOORWAY IT TAKES A LOT OF FORCE TO REOPEN THE DOOR.*AK THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE SLIDING DOOR POSES A SAFETY HAZARD FOR SMALL CHILDREN. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT A CHILD COULD NOT EXHERT THE FORCE NECESSARY TO CAUSE THE DOOR TO REOPEN AND COULD BE INJURED WHILE BEING DRAGGED / PUSHED BY TE DOOR UNTIL THEY ARE LODGED BETWEEN THE DOOR AND THE JAM. *TC

NHTSA ID
10094662
Incident
Sep 21, 2004
Mileage
600 mi

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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .