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2000 Pontiac Montana Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 228 complaints with NHTSA about the 2000 Pontiac Montana, most often about the engine (32% of complaints, typically around 60,000 miles). It is the most complained-about Montana model year since 2000 and has 5 recalls.
Most common 2000 Pontiac Montana problems
Engine
72 complaints · 32%Half of these problems showed up before 60,000 miles. Parts named most often: engine, cooling system, exhaust system.
My parents bought a 2000 Montana van in november of 2002. It seems to be leaking antifreeze. The local gm dealer where they purchased it, says it is the intake manifiold gaskets. For $2,500 they could repair the problem. I took the matter up with the owner of the dealership, and showed him a copy of a gm service…
2000 Pontiac Montana 3.4 liter numerous coolant leaks at intake area at about 60,000 miles. Also coolant cooler allowed oil to get in to the coolant system. I retorqued intake and aleviated problem for about 10,000 miles and then came back. Ended up having dealer replace intake gaskets and they informed me that gm had…
Body and structure
31 complaints · 14%Half of these problems showed up before 50,000 miles. Parts named most often: body, frame and members.
Problems with transmission and molding strips on sliding doors. 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…
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. The consumer stated that he pushed the button to close the door and it closed on his wifes leg. The consumer requests…
Electrical
22 complaints · 10%Half of these problems showed up before 101,000 miles. Parts named most often: ignition, wiring, starter assembly, instrument cluster/panel.
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.
Tl contact owns a 2000 Pontiac Montana. The contact stated that the power sliding door does not lock. The dealer stated that no recalls were available. The failure has been ongoing for five days. The vehicle was taken to a body shop, but the mechanic could not determine the cause of the failure. The mechanic removed…
Air bags
22 complaints · 10%Half of these problems showed up before 96,500 miles. Parts named most often: frontal, side/window.
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.
Daughter-in-law was driving our 2000 Montana van and rear-ended a pickup truck. Caused $3700 damage, bent in bumper, radiator, A/C condenser, hood and broke headlight. Airbags did not deploy in this instance.
Visibility and wipers
19 complaints · 8%Half of these problems showed up before 65,000 miles. Parts named most often: power window devices and controls, windshield wiper/washer, glass, side/rear, rearview mirrors/devices.
I just wanted to know if it is normal for these to go as soon as the warranty is over. The paint, I argued with the dealer and they finally agreed to pay for it. The ABS brakes went just after the warranty, they won't help me there. The passenger sliding door will not lock automatically. No price for repair yet.
The windshield frame rusted and the seal became unglued. This resulted in windshield developing cracks in the top passenger side corner. The dealership repaired the cracks, but this would continue to occur because of the rust. The cause of the rust was undetermined.
Fuel system
17 complaints · 8%Half of these problems showed up before 115,500 miles. Parts named most often: delivery, storage, fuel injection system.
Fuel gauge does not work properly, power window on driver side will not properly roll up. Fuel gauge will show full tank when it is almost empty.
I did not realize every owner of a Pontiac Montana all had same problems. Every owner. Here is one of the websites. Http://forums.edmunds.com/discussion/comment/3340529. The dealer sold me a Pontiac Montana. The second day I drove it, I ran out the gas because the gas gauge read full, but actually it was empty. I did…
Transmission
16 complaints · 7%Half of these problems showed up before 57,500 miles. Parts named most often: automatic transmission.
Problems with transmission and molding strips on sliding doors. 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…
Transmission went out at around 44000 miles. Dealer said the "lip seal" failed inside transmission, after taking it in several times for diagnosis. Would not assist with repair cost. Ended up having it repaired at aamco. A/c is currently out on the low setting (#1). Not yet repaired. Just repaired the cooling…
Brakes
14 complaints · 6%Half of these problems showed up before 65,000 miles. Parts named most often: antilock, foundation components, antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip, power assist.
I just wanted to know if it is normal for these to go as soon as the warranty is over. The paint, I argued with the dealer and they finally agreed to pay for it. The ABS brakes went just after the warranty, they won't help me there. The passenger sliding door will not lock automatically. No price for repair yet.
My ABS system activates without warning while at slow speeds and while braking. There are no adverse weather conditions to justify the activation and no service engine or ABS lights illuminate when this happens. When the ABS system activates, the braking distance increases and I've had to adjust my driving so I do not…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2000 Pontiac Montana recalls
Doors and locks: latch
Risk: If a passenger uses the interior handle to open the power sliding door and holds onto the handle while it is being opened by the motor, the passenger's arm may be pushed into the seat back or armrest and a wrist or lower arm injury may result.
Fix: Dealers will replace the power sliding door interior handle on the passenger-side. If the vehicle is equipped with a power or manual sliding door on the driver-side, the interior handle will also be replaced for appearance reasons. Note: before the vehicle is serviced, gm advises owners to not use the interior door handle to open the door. The driver can open and close the door from switches at the driver's position or by using the remote key fob. The driver should tell passengers to use the switch located in front of the door to open or close it. The driver should use the override switch to p
Full defect summary
On certain minivans equipped with second-row bucket seats or captain's chairs and a power sliding door on the passenger side of the vehicle, a passenger using the interior handle to open the power sliding door could be injured.
Doors and locks: latch
Risk: If this happens, the power sliding door can open while the vehicle is in motion, particularly when the vehicle ascends a hill, makes a turn, or travels over a rough road surface. An unrestrained occupant could fall out of the van and be injured.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and, if required, install a new power sliding door unlatch actuator assembly. Owner notification began on october 22, 2001. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact chevrolet at 1-800-222-1020, pontiac at 1-800-762-2737, or oldsmobile at 1-800-442-6537.
Full defect summary
Vehicle description: 1997-2001 chevrolet venture, pontiac montana/transport, and oldsmobile silhouette mini vans equipped with passenger side power sliding doors that were serviced in campaign 01013 (01v-067) from april to august 2001. Also 2001 chevrolet venture, pontiac montana, and oldsmobile silhouette mini vans equipped with passenger side power sliding doors assembled in january through april 2001. These vehicles have inadequate front welds. If a front weld fails, the actuator can jam in the unlatched position and, when the sliding door closes, it will not be latched.
Doors and locks: latch
Risk: An unrestrained occupant could fall out of the van and be injured.
Fix: Dealers will install a new un-latch actuator assembly to the power sliding door. This recall has been continued under safety recall 01v-264. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact chevrolet at 1-800-222-1020, pontiac at 1-800-762-2737, or oldsmobile at 1-800-442-6537.
Full defect summary
Vehicle description: minivans equipped with passenger side power sliding doors. The door closes but may not be latched. If this happens, the power sliding door can open while the vehicle is in motion, particularly when the vehicle ascends a hill, makes a turn, or travels over a rough road surface.
Seat belts
Risk: In the event of a vehicle crash, the occupant may not be properly restrained.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the vehicle's safety belt buckle assembly date codes and, if necessary, will replace any safety belt buckle assembly.
Full defect summary
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles, light duty trucks, sport utility vehicles, and mini vans equipped with trw seat belt buckle assemblies. The buckle base of these seat belt assemblies were not properly heat treated and therefore do not pass the load bearing requirement of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 209, "seat belt assemblies."
Fuel system: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Risk: In a vehicle rollover accident, if an ignition source is present, a fire could result.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the vehicles to locate and replace those fuel tanks that could have inoperative rollover valves.
Full defect summary
Vehicle description: mini vans with extended wheelbase. Some of these vehicles have inoperative fuel tank rollover valves and fuel leakage would exceed the permissible amount in a rollover test. This does not comply with the requirements of fmvss no. 301, "fuel system integrity."
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Power-sliding door
Summary
Subject vehicles are available with an optional power sliding door.the interior handle is oriented in the vertical position in the door panel and lines up at the elbow level when the occupant is seated in the 2nd-row outboard position.if the occupant holds the interior handle in the thumb up position during power-assisted opening, the arm/wrist can be push back with force against the 2nd-row bucket seat or captain's chair seat back creating a risk of injury (other seating configurations have ample seat to door clearance to avoid entrapment of the lower arm).among the 103 total reports, there were 102 alleged injuries including arm/wrist, thumb and shoulder injuries.a count of injuries reveal
Shoulder harness clip
Air bag inflator
Unexpected opening of sliding door
Summary
There is no summary currently available
Questions about the 2000 Pontiac Montana
- What are the most common problems with the 2000 Pontiac Montana?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: engine (72 complaints, typically around 60,000 miles); body and structure (31 complaints, typically around 50,000 miles); electrical (22 complaints, typically around 101,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2000 Pontiac Montana have?
- 5 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from December 22, 2004 (doors and locks). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2000 a bad year for the Pontiac Montana?
- It is the most complained-about Montana model year since 2000, with 228 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.