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1999 Pontiac Montana

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Montana years

Owner complaints for the 1999 Pontiac Montana are substantially higher than the model-year median of 65.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

105 reports with mileage · 130 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 99 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 32 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 32 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

16 crash reports2 fire reports12 injury reports

Vehicle Speed Control complaints

5 reports
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Mileage unknown · Mar 27, 2004
Vehicle Speed Control

1999 PONTIAC MONTANA VIN [XXX] GOOD WEATHER GOOD ROAD CONDITION. WHILE ATTEMPT TO ACCELERATE A BIT AT ABOUT 60 MPH THE CAR BEGAN TO ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN AS THOUGH THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS ON. TAPPED THE BRAKES AND MADE SURE THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS OFF BUT CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. PUT IT NEUTRAL AND THE ACCELERATION STOPPED. PROBL…

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1999 PONTIAC MONTANA VIN [XXX] GOOD WEATHER GOOD ROAD CONDITION. WHILE ATTEMPT TO ACCELERATE A BIT AT ABOUT 60 MPH THE CAR BEGAN TO ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN AS THOUGH THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS ON. TAPPED THE BRAKES AND MADE SURE THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS OFF BUT CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. PUT IT NEUTRAL AND THE ACCELERATION STOPPED. PROBLEM KEPT REPEATING AND DIDN'T NECESSARILY STOP WHEN IN NEUTRAL. THEN WHILE CAR WAS IN NEUTRAL AND COASTING AT ABOUT 50 MPH CAR SWITCHED INTO PARK ON ITS OWN AND STALLED. RESTARTED CAR AND GOT IT OVER TO THE SHOULDER AND TURNED IT OFF. TRIED TO RESTART BUT THE ENGINE RACED FURIOUSLY. CALLED FOR A TOW TRUCK. THE TOW TRUCK OPERATOR TURNED ON THE CAR AND PUT IT NEUTRAL TO POSITION IT TO WINCH IT UP THE FLATBED. THE CAR PUT ITSELF IN DRIVE AND RACED UP THE FLATBED WHICH WAS AT A STEEP SLOPE UNTIL IT STRUCK THE FRONT FRAME OF THE FLATBED AND THE DRIVER COULD TURN IT OFF. THIS WAS VERY SCARY. SOMEONE COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED.*AK INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10064030

55,000 miles · Jul 22, 2003
Vehicle Speed Control

AFTER HAVING MY VEHICLE SERVICED TO CHANGE THE OIL AND REPLACE THE AIR FILTER, I WAS DRIVING HOME A COUPLE OF DAYS LATER. I HAD JUST EXITED FROM I-70 ONTO HIGHWAY 59 NORTH, WHEN I ACCELERATED TO PASS A SLOW MOVING PICKUP TRUCK. WHEN I PUSHED DOWN ON THE PEDAL IT DID NOT RETURN TO THE NORMAL POSITION BUT REMAINED COMPLETELY OPEN.…

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AFTER HAVING MY VEHICLE SERVICED TO CHANGE THE OIL AND REPLACE THE AIR FILTER, I WAS DRIVING HOME A COUPLE OF DAYS LATER. I HAD JUST EXITED FROM I-70 ONTO HIGHWAY 59 NORTH, WHEN I ACCELERATED TO PASS A SLOW MOVING PICKUP TRUCK. WHEN I PUSHED DOWN ON THE PEDAL IT DID NOT RETURN TO THE NORMAL POSITION BUT REMAINED COMPLETELY OPEN. I WAS NOW DRIVING ON A TWO LANE HIGHWAY WITH CONSIDERABLE TRAFFIC AND MY ACCELERATOR WAS TO THE FLOOR GOING SOMETIMES AT SPEEDS OF 80 TO 90 MILES AN HOUR. AFTER HAVING MY DAUGHTER CHECK TO SEE IF THE PEDAL WAS STUCK, I MANAGED TO GET THE VEHICLE STOPPED BY ALTERNATING BETWEEN DRIVE AND NEUTRAL AND THEN PULLING TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD ONCE I HAD REACHED A PLACE WITH ENOUGH ROOM. THE VAN WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP IN BRAZIL, INDIANA AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT WHEN THE AIR FILTER WAS REPLACED A CLAMP HAD NOT BEEN POSITIONED CORRECTLY AND HAD CAUSED THE LINKAGE TO BE STUCK IN THE OPEN POSITION. EVEN AFTER ADVISING ANOTHER OIL SERVICE CENTER THIS CLAMP WAS AGAIN POSITIONED INCORRECTLY THE NEXT TIME THE AIR FILTER WAS CHANGED. LUCKILY, WE HAD CHECKED THIS BEFORE ANOTHER INCIDENT COULD HAPPEN. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10028807

Mileage unknown · May 25, 2001
Engine And Engine CoolingVehicle Speed Control

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING 55MPH ON HIGHWAY AND WENT TO PASS ANOTHER VEHICLE, AND ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS STUCK DOWN TO THE FLOOR. HE WAS ABLE TO PUT VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL, PULL OVER TO SIDE OF ROAD, AND SHUTDOWN. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. *AK WHILE HAVING OIL CHANGED, CONSUMER REQUEST…

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CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING 55MPH ON HIGHWAY AND WENT TO PASS ANOTHER VEHICLE, AND ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS STUCK DOWN TO THE FLOOR. HE WAS ABLE TO PUT VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL, PULL OVER TO SIDE OF ROAD, AND SHUTDOWN. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. *AK WHILE HAVING OIL CHANGED, CONSUMER REQUESTED TO HAVE THE AIR FILTER REPLACED, IN ORDER TO REPLACE AIR FILTER, THE THROTTLE CABLE CLAMP WAS LOOSENED TO GAIN ACCESS TO THE AIR FILTER HOUSING, IT WAS NOT LINED BACK UP PROPERLY CAUSING THE SUDDEN ACCELERATION. *SLC

NHTSA ODI #889217

Mileage unknown · Mar 27, 2000
Air BagsVehicle Speed ControlCrashInjury

WHILE PULLING INTO THE DRIVEWAY TRAVELING AT A LOW RATE OF SPEED, AND GRADUALLY DEPRESSING ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, VEHICLE SUDDELY ACCELERATED, CAUSING CONSUMER TO RUN INTO A BRICK HOUSE. UPON IMPACT, THERE WAS NO DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIR BAGS. ALSO SKID MARKS ON THE PAVEMENT SHOWED THAT THE BRAKES WERE BEING APPLIED. CONSUMER HAS …

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WHILE PULLING INTO THE DRIVEWAY TRAVELING AT A LOW RATE OF SPEED, AND GRADUALLY DEPRESSING ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, VEHICLE SUDDELY ACCELERATED, CAUSING CONSUMER TO RUN INTO A BRICK HOUSE. UPON IMPACT, THERE WAS NO DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIR BAGS. ALSO SKID MARKS ON THE PAVEMENT SHOWED THAT THE BRAKES WERE BEING APPLIED. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER. *AK *ML

NHTSA ODI #859232

Mileage unknown · Nov 30, 1999
Vehicle Speed Control

WHILE DRIVING A SNAP WAS FELT UNDER THE ACCELERATOR, AND VEHICLE ACCELERATED SUDDENLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY TO 80MPH. DEALER IS INSPECTING AND WILL REPAIR THE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #853486

Official recalls

5

04V597000 · Latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch

Dec 22, 2004

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: 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.

Remedy: 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 PREVENT OPERATION OF THE POWER DOOR BY CHILDREN OR BY OTHERS WHO ARE NOT FAMILIAR WITH ITS USE. THE OWNER NOTIFICATION LETTER MAILING WILL BE CONDUCTED IN PHASES WITH THE FIRST PHASE BEGINNING ON MAY 31, 2005. THE SECOND PHASE MAILING BEGAN ON JULY 18, 2005. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 31, 2005. PHASE 2 BEGAN ON JULY 18, 2005. PHASE 3 (FINAL PHASE) BEGAN ON AUGUST 24, 2005, TO ALL REMAINING CUSTOMERS. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438; PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668; OR OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-630-6537.

02V027000 · Air Bags:frontal

Jan 25, 2002

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES AND MINI VANS, THE DRIVER'S AIR BAG INFLATOR MODULES COULD PRODUCE EXCESSIVE INTERNAL PRESSURE. IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH THAT WOULD TRIGGER A DRIVER'S AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT, THE INCREASED INTERNAL PRESSURE CAN CAUSE THE INFLATOR MODULE TO EXPLODE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: METAL AND PLASTIC DEBRIS COULD CAUSE SEVERE INJURY TO VEHICLE OCCUPANTS.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE DRIVER AIR BAG MODULE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN FEBRUARY 1, 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 PONTIAC AT 1-800-762-2737.

01V264000 · Latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch

Aug 21, 2001

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: 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.

Remedy: 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.

01V067000 · Latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch

Mar 8, 2001

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: AN UNRESTRAINED OCCUPANT COULD FALL OUT OF THE VAN AND BE INJURED.

Remedy: 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.

99V071000 · Steering:gear Box:shaft Sector

Apr 12, 1999

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER MINI VANS. THE LEFT AND/OR RIGHT FRONT LOWER INSULATOR TO CRADLE CENTER METAL SLEEVE IS COLLAPSED, WHICH CAN RESULT IN LOSS OF CLAMP LOAD IN THE JOINT. IF THE CLAMP LOAD IS REDUCED OR LOST, THE BOLT CAN BE LOST OR BROKEN AND THE JOINT CAN SEPARATE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF NOT REPAIRED, SEPARATION OF THE OPPOSITE SIDE JOINT COULD OCCUR RESULTING IN STEERING SHAFT SEPARATION.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE LEFT AND RIGHT FRONT LOWER CRADLE-TO-SUSPENSION INSULATORS AND THE ATTACHING BOLTS.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

7

PE04064 · POWER-SLIDING Door

Opened Sep 17, 2004 · Closed Dec 22, 2004

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Structure:body:door

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 REVEALS THAT 76 INJURIES WERE A FRACTURED OR A BROKEN ARM/WRIST REQUIRING AN IMMOBILIZING CAST FOR FOUR-TO-SIX WEEKS.ALL INJURIES INVOLVE THE RIGHT SIDE POWER SLIDING DOOR.THE LEFT SIDE POWER SLIDING DOOR IS ON FAR FEWER VEHICLES, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, IT PRODUCES LESS FORCE.GM NOTIFIED THE AGENCY BY LETTER DATED DECEMBER 21, 2004, THAT IT WILL RECALL MODEL YEAR 1997 THOUGH EARLY 2005 GM U-VAN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A RIGHT SIDE POWER SLIDING DOOR AND WITH 2ND-ROW BUCKET SEATS OR CAPTAIN CHAIRS (NHTSA RECALL #04V597).AS PART OF THE RECALL REMEDY, GM WILL REPLACE THE DOOR HANDLE WITH A FLUSH MOUNTED HANDLE THAT WILL PREVENT AN OCCUPANT FROM GRASPING THE HANDLE WITH THE PALM BETWEEN THE HANDLE AND DOOR PANEL (THUMB UP ORIENTATION) AND THUS ELIMINATE THE POTENTIAL FOR ARM/WRIST ENTRAPMENT.THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.

EA03005 · Rear Axle Trailing Arm Failure

Opened Apr 23, 2003 · Closed Jan 12, 2004

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Suspension; Suspension:rear

ON NOVEMBER 18, 2002, ODI OPENED A PRELIMINARY EVALUATION (PE02-086) TO EVALUATE ALLEGATIONS OF REAR AXLE TRAILING ARM FAILURES IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES (U-VAN) WHICH INCLUDED TWO REPORTING CRASHES.ON APRIL 9, 2003, ODI UPGRADED PE02-086 TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA03-005) TO CONTINUE ITS EXAMINATION OF THE ISSUE. THE TRAILING ARM DESIGN IN THESE VEHICLES HAS BEEN USED IN THE U-VAN FROM MY 1997 THROUGH THE PRESENT.THE GM ANALYSIS CONCLUDED THAT THE SUBJECT TRAILING ARMS COULD CRACK OR BUCKLE IF THEY WERE DAMAGED DURING ASSEMBLY, PRE-DELIVERY HANDLING, OR SUBJECTED TO CERTAIN SERVICE RELATED ABUSE CONDITIONS SUCH AS IMPROPER TOWING OR JACKING.ANALYSIS OF ODI AND GM DATA HAS IDENTIFIED 19 INCIDENTS OF REAR AXLE TRAILING ARM FAILURES IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.THERE HAVE BEEN NO NEW REPORTS TO ODI OR GM IN THE LAST 12 MONTHS AND ONLY ONE NEW COMPLAINT IN THE LAST 21 MONTHS. DUE TO THE LOW COMPLAINT RATE AND THE ABSENCE OF A CONTINUING TREND IN REPORTED FAILURES, A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME AND FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED. THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DOES NOT EXIST. THE AGENCY WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES. FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, SEE THE ATTACHED CLOSING REPORT.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Suspension

ON NOVEMBER 18, 2002, ODI OPENED A PRELIMINARY EVALUATION (PE02-086) TO EVALUATE ALLEGATIONS OF REAR AXLE TRAILING ARM FAILURES IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES (U-VAN) WHICH INCLUDED TWO REPORTING CRASHES.ON APRIL 9, 2003, ODI UPGRADED PE02-086 TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA03-005) TO CONTINUE ITS EXAMINATION OF THE ISSUE. THE TRAILING ARM DESIGN IN THESE VEHICLES HAS BEEN USED IN THE U-VAN FROM MY 1997 THROUGH THE PRESENT.THE GM ANALYSIS CONCLUDED THAT THE SUBJECT TRAILING ARMS COULD CRACK OR BUCKLE IF THEY WERE DAMAGED DURING ASSEMBLY, PRE-DELIVERY HANDLING, OR SUBJECTED TO CERTAIN SERVICE RELATED ABUSE CONDITIONS SUCH AS IMPROPER TOWING OR JACKING.ANALYSIS OF ODI AND GM DATA HAS IDENTIFIED 19 INCIDENTS OF REAR AXLE TRAILING ARM FAILURES IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.THERE HAVE BEEN NO NEW REPORTS TO ODI OR GM IN THE LAST 12 MONTHS AND ONLY ONE NEW COMPLAINT IN THE LAST 21 MONTHS. DUE TO THE LOW COMPLAINT RATE AND THE ABSENCE OF A CONTINUING TREND IN REPORTED FAILURES, A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME AND FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED. THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DOES NOT EXIST. THE AGENCY WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES. FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, SEE THE ATTACHED CLOSING REPORT.

Suspension:rear

ON NOVEMBER 18, 2002, ODI OPENED A PRELIMINARY EVALUATION (PE02-086) TO EVALUATE ALLEGATIONS OF REAR AXLE TRAILING ARM FAILURES IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES (U-VAN) WHICH INCLUDED TWO REPORTING CRASHES.ON APRIL 9, 2003, ODI UPGRADED PE02-086 TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA03-005) TO CONTINUE ITS EXAMINATION OF THE ISSUE. THE TRAILING ARM DESIGN IN THESE VEHICLES HAS BEEN USED IN THE U-VAN FROM MY 1997 THROUGH THE PRESENT.THE GM ANALYSIS CONCLUDED THAT THE SUBJECT TRAILING ARMS COULD CRACK OR BUCKLE IF THEY WERE DAMAGED DURING ASSEMBLY, PRE-DELIVERY HANDLING, OR SUBJECTED TO CERTAIN SERVICE RELATED ABUSE CONDITIONS SUCH AS IMPROPER TOWING OR JACKING.ANALYSIS OF ODI AND GM DATA HAS IDENTIFIED 19 INCIDENTS OF REAR AXLE TRAILING ARM FAILURES IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.THERE HAVE BEEN NO NEW REPORTS TO ODI OR GM IN THE LAST 12 MONTHS AND ONLY ONE NEW COMPLAINT IN THE LAST 21 MONTHS. DUE TO THE LOW COMPLAINT RATE AND THE ABSENCE OF A CONTINUING TREND IN REPORTED FAILURES, A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME AND FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED. THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DOES NOT EXIST. THE AGENCY WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES. FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, SEE THE ATTACHED CLOSING REPORT.

PE02017 · Shoulder Harness Clip

Opened Feb 11, 2002 · Closed Aug 2, 2002

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts

No summary supplied.

EA01014 · Air Bag Inflator

Opened Jun 11, 2001 · Closed Aug 26, 2002

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module

No summary supplied.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module

Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module

PE00045 · Air Bag Tear During Deployment

Opened Nov 3, 2000 · Closed Jan 11, 2001

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags

No summary supplied.

SQ00014 · Unexpected Opening Of Sliding Door

Opened Jul 25, 2000 · Closed Oct 22, 2001

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Structure

There is no summary currently available

RQ00006 · Traction Control

Opened Feb 16, 2000 · Closed Apr 20, 2001

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic

No summary supplied.