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2003 Pontiac Montana Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 84 complaints with NHTSA about the 2003 Pontiac Montana, most often about the fuel system (19% of complaints, typically around 78,000 miles). It is 4th of 8 Montana model years by number of complaints and has 5 recalls.
Most common 2003 Pontiac Montana problems
Fuel system
16 complaints · 19%Half of these problems showed up before 78,000 miles. Parts named most often: storage, delivery.
I filled my tank with gas and noticed the gas odor inside the vehicle immediately. Within the next two to three days the smell increased and I noticed it while walking around the vehicle outside. I took it for an oil change and they checked and found that there is a leak in the gas tank. There was no accident or…
Tl contact owns a 2003 Pontiac Montana. The contact noticed that the engine warning light illuminated on the instrument panel. In addition, he noticed fuel leaking from the vehicle when placing gasoline in the tank. He concluded that the fuel tank inlet check valve (icv) fractured, which allowed fuel vapors to pass…
Electrical
15 complaints · 18%Half of these problems showed up before 24,000 miles. Parts named most often: ignition, wiring.
2003 Pontiac Montana stalled while driving. The vehicle lost all power including steering and brakes. This has happened twice in the past 2 months. I drove the van to the dealership both times. No problems was found by dealership. I contacted Pontiac. They said if it happens again not to start it back up, they will…
Tl contact owns a 2003 Pontiac Montana. While driving approximately 5-10 MPH, the vehicle stalled and lost all power. All of the power doors locked, which prevented the contact from exiting the vehicle. She moved into the back seat and was able to open the sliding door to exit the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to the…
Lights
14 complaints · 17%Half of these problems showed up before 60,000 miles. Parts named most often: headlights, brake lights.
There has been a noticeable accumulation of water in the headlights of my 2003 Pontiac Montana. Only a matter of time before bulb shorts out. There has been some deterioration of illumination ability due to the water, particularly in the last year.
Brake lights stopped working. Checked brake light bulbs and found that plastic lamp bases were melted so the terminals no longer made contact in the sockets. Searching the internet, I found this to be a common problem with these vehicles. This is a serious safety issue and these vehicles should be recalled and…
Air bags
12 complaints · 14%Half of these problems showed up before 68,000 miles. Parts named most often: frontal, side/window.
: the contact stated while driving at 45 MPH on dry roads the contact's vehicle broadsided another vehicle due to an improper turn by other vehicle. Since the shoulder belt did not hold the contact in the upright position, the air bags did not deploy, the contact sustained severe facial lacerations. The injuries…
Tl contact owns a 2003 Pontiac Montana. The contact stated that the passenger side air bag deployed when she leaned over the seat. The failure made a very loud noise. The vehicle is currently at the dealer, but they have not yet determined the cause of the failure. The air bag has not been serviced. The contact stated…
Engine
12 complaints · 14%Half of these problems showed up before 79,000 miles. Parts named most often: engine, cooling system, exhaust system.
Tl contact owns a 2003 Pontiac Montana extended cab. The check engine light came on, the vehicle was squealing, shaking, and squeaking. The mechanic stated that it was missing a cylinder and the engine was loose. The rocker bolt fell off of the head of the rocker arm and the head had to be replaced. The failure…
The valve pulled out of rocker arm mid 2008 on #2 cal costing approx 600.00 repair again in 2009 the #3 cyl valve pulled out effecting another repair. Then a week later the #5 cyl has quit firing. This is the 3400 or 3.4 liter engine. My mechanic explained this was a common problem with this motor in the grand am or…
Body and structure
6 complaints · 7%Parts named most often: body.
1) water in headlight 2) hard to start 3) turns itself off while driving it! 4) squeaky brakes 5) 1/2 gallon of water dumps out of dash onto passenger floor board
Dt: consumer has a back sliding passenger door on the driver's side that opens at random. Speed is not a factor. When putting vehicle in gear and sometimes in park the door opens by itself. Vehicle was taken to the dealership 3 times for work but problem has still not been resolved. Dealer claims that there is no…
Doors and locks
5 complaints · 6%Parts named most often: doors.
Dt: consumer has a back sliding passenger door on the driver's side that opens at random. Speed is not a factor. When putting vehicle in gear and sometimes in park the door opens by itself. Vehicle was taken to the dealership 3 times for work but problem has still not been resolved. Dealer claims that there is no…
Visibility and wipers
4 complaints · 5%Parts named most often: defroster/defogger/hvac system, windshield wiper/washer, power window devices and controls.
The wipers on our 2003 Pontiac Montana with roughly 48000 miles, started moving slowly even when set in the fastest wiper setting. Took it to a local garage that replaced the wiper motor. Wipers were still slow. Took it to a gm dealer on 10/4/06. They could not find the source of the problem and greased the mechanical…
I have a 2003 Pontiac Montana. The driver side window would roll down fine using the power switch. But rolling it up is a problem. It rolls up crooked and is slow. Had to grab the glass by my hand and help. I took it to a garage and we replaced the slider for the glass, the old one looked loose at the joints that…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2003 Pontiac Montana recalls
Fuel system: storage
Risk: A fracture may allow fuel vapors to pass through and allow droplets of fuel to accumulate on the side of the fuel tank. Fuel leakage, in the presence of an ignition source, could result in a fire.
Fix: Dealers will replace the fuel tank. The recall will be mailed in two phases with the first phase beginning on december 4, 2007. The second phase will be mailed on december 13, 2007. Owners may contact buick at 1-866-608-8080; chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438; or pontiac at 1-800-620-7668. The vehicle population includes buick rendezvous and pontiac aztek vehicle built in may 2003; chevrolet venture and pontiac montana vehicles built from june through august 2002; and all vehicles registered in nevada, arizona, virgin islands, puerto rico, and hawaii.
Full defect summary
On certain vehicles, variations in the manufacturing process or exposure to high ambient temperatures may lead to fracture of the fuel tank inlet check valve (icv).
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.
Equipment: owners/service/other manual
Risk: This does not meet the requirements of the standard.
Fix: Owners will be provided with a supplement for their owner's manual. This supplement describes and shows the location symbols for the child restraint anchors that are located in the vehicle and on the child restraint or booster cushion. Owner notification began august 18, 2003. Owners should contact buick at 1-866-608-8080, cadillac at 1-866-982-2339, chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438, gmc at 1-866-996-9463, pontiac at 1-800-620-7668, or oldsmobile at 1-800-630-6537.
Full defect summary
Certain minivans, passenger and sport utility vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 225, "child restraint anchorage system." the owner's manual does not explain the meaning of the location symbols for the child restraint lower universal anchorage system.
Air bags: inflator module
Risk: This could result in reduced capability of the air bag to protect the driver. Also if the air bag inflator ruptured, pieces of the inflator could strike and injure the vehicle occupants.
Fix: Dealers will inspect, and if necessary, install a new driver's air bag. Owner notification began on march 11, 2003. 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 buick at 1-800-521-7300, cadillac at 1-800-458-8006, chevrolet at 1-800-222-1020, gmc at 1-800-462-8782, or pontiac at 1-800-762-2737.
Full defect summary
On certain mini vans, passenger and sport utility vehicles, some of these vehicles have a driver's side air bag that may not deploy as designed. In addition, the air bag inflator could rupture.
Air bags: frontal
Risk: Pieces of the inflator could strike and injure vehicle occupants and the air bag cushion would not inflate fully, reducing the capability of the bag to protect the driver.
Fix: Dealers will inspect, and replace, if necessary, the air bag module assembly on the driver's side. Owner notification began august 15, 2002. 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 buick at 1-800-521-7300, cadillac at 1-800-458-8006, chevrolet at 1-800-222-1020, gmc at 1-800-462-8782, oldsmobile at 1-800-442-6537, or pontiac at 1-800-762-2737.
Full defect summary
Certain passenger, mini vans, and sport utility vehicles have an air bag inflator on the driver's side that could fracture at a weld during a deployment.
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
Questions about the 2003 Pontiac Montana
- What are the most common problems with the 2003 Pontiac Montana?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: fuel system (16 complaints, typically around 78,000 miles); electrical (15 complaints, typically around 24,000 miles); lights (14 complaints, typically around 60,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2003 Pontiac Montana have?
- 5 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from August 8, 2007 (fuel system). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2003 a bad year for the Pontiac Montana?
- It is 4th of 8 Montana model years by number of complaints, with 84 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.