IllustrationLOW COOLANT LIGHT CAME ON. COULD SMELL BURNING COOLANT TURNS OUT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET WAS CRACKED CAUSING COOLANT TO LEAK. PAID $900 IN REPAIRS. CONTACTED GENERAL MOTORS AND THE WILL NOT DO ANYTHING AT THIS TIME. SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL CAR. THIS HAPPENED AT 71,000 MILES. *JB
2000 Pontiac Montana
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Montana years
Owner complaints for the 2000 Pontiac Montana are substantially higher than the model-year median of 65.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Montana years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
40–25K
2325–50K
3350–75K
1875–100K
14100–150K
16150K+
108 reports with mileage · 120 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 69 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Structure. Review the 31 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Air Bags. Review the 22 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
14 crash reports4 fire reports22 injury reports
Engine And Engine Cooling complaints
69 reportsI WON A 2000 PONTIAC MONTANA AND I NOTICED OVER THE PAST YEAR THAT I WAS LOOSING A LITTLE ANTI-FREEZE OVER TIME. THE RATE INCREASED OVER THE PAST MONTH UNTIL THE "ENGINE OVERHEATED LIGHT" CAME ON. WHEN TAKEN TO THE REPAIR SHOP, THEY TOLD ME THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET WAS LEAKING AND I WAS LOOSING ANTI-FREEZE THROUGH THE GAS…
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I WON A 2000 PONTIAC MONTANA AND I NOTICED OVER THE PAST YEAR THAT I WAS LOOSING A LITTLE ANTI-FREEZE OVER TIME. THE RATE INCREASED OVER THE PAST MONTH UNTIL THE "ENGINE OVERHEATED LIGHT" CAME ON. WHEN TAKEN TO THE REPAIR SHOP, THEY TOLD ME THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET WAS LEAKING AND I WAS LOOSING ANTI-FREEZE THROUGH THE GASKET. THEY ALSO SAID THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR GM 3.1 AND 3.4 LITER ENGINES. *JB
I HAVE A 2000 PONTIAC MONTANA AND HAVE HAD A COOLANT LEAK PROBLEM. MY VAN HAS ONLY 66K MILES ON IT AND HAS BEEN IN 2 TIMES FOR COOLANT LEAKS. ON 11/26/04 I HAD A COOLANT LEAK AND HAD TO HAVE LOWER MANIFOLD GASKET REPLACED. ON 12/2/04, LEAKING COOLANT INTO THE INTERIOR AND NOW HAVE BAD HEATER CORE. I HAVE BEEN RESEARCHING AND…
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I HAVE A 2000 PONTIAC MONTANA AND HAVE HAD A COOLANT LEAK PROBLEM. MY VAN HAS ONLY 66K MILES ON IT AND HAS BEEN IN 2 TIMES FOR COOLANT LEAKS. ON 11/26/04 I HAD A COOLANT LEAK AND HAD TO HAVE LOWER MANIFOLD GASKET REPLACED. ON 12/2/04, LEAKING COOLANT INTO THE INTERIOR AND NOW HAVE BAD HEATER CORE. I HAVE BEEN RESEARCHING AND THERE ARE MANY OTHER PROBLEMS OF THE SAME EXACT CAUSE. I BELIEVE THIS IS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT AND SHOULD BE COMPENSATED BACK WHAT I PAID OUT.*AK
MY 2000 PONTIAC MONTANA WITH A 3.4 LITRE ENGINE WAS LEAKING FLUID ON THE GARAGE FLOOR. I TOOK IT TO A LOCAL MECHANIC AND THE TECHNICIAN SAID THAT THE INTAKE GASKET WAS THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. HE REPLACE THE INTAKE GASKET AND BOLTS. THE TOTAL COST WAS $674.94. THE TECHNICIAN ALSO MENTIONED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH…
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MY 2000 PONTIAC MONTANA WITH A 3.4 LITRE ENGINE WAS LEAKING FLUID ON THE GARAGE FLOOR. I TOOK IT TO A LOCAL MECHANIC AND THE TECHNICIAN SAID THAT THE INTAKE GASKET WAS THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. HE REPLACE THE INTAKE GASKET AND BOLTS. THE TOTAL COST WAS $674.94. THE TECHNICIAN ALSO MENTIONED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH GM V-6 ENGINES.*AK
NOTICED THAT COOLANT HAD TO BE ADDED EVEN THOUGH NO APARENT LEAK OR OVERHEATING ON MY 2000 PONTIAC MONTANA. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER IT WAS AN INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET LEAK AND WOULD COST $970 TO FIX. I FOUND THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM ON THIS MODEL ENGINE EITHER DUE TO THE DEX COOL COOLANT OR THE GASKET. IF THIS SIN'T FIXED, I…
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NOTICED THAT COOLANT HAD TO BE ADDED EVEN THOUGH NO APARENT LEAK OR OVERHEATING ON MY 2000 PONTIAC MONTANA. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER IT WAS AN INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET LEAK AND WOULD COST $970 TO FIX. I FOUND THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM ON THIS MODEL ENGINE EITHER DUE TO THE DEX COOL COOLANT OR THE GASKET. IF THIS SIN'T FIXED, IT COULD LEAD TO BEING STRANDED OR STUCK IN A DANGEROUS LOACATION.*AK
AT 26,000 MILES MY VAN STARTED LEAKING COOLANT, ALOT OF IT. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP NEARBY AND THE MECHANIC TOOK A QUICK LOOK AND SAID IT WOULD NEED THE ENGINE PULLED AND ALL THE RUBBER RINGS OR GASKETS IN THE ENGINE REPLACED BECAUSE THEY WERE LEAKING AND IT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. HE SAID THEY NEED TO BE REP…
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AT 26,000 MILES MY VAN STARTED LEAKING COOLANT, ALOT OF IT. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP NEARBY AND THE MECHANIC TOOK A QUICK LOOK AND SAID IT WOULD NEED THE ENGINE PULLED AND ALL THE RUBBER RINGS OR GASKETS IN THE ENGINE REPLACED BECAUSE THEY WERE LEAKING AND IT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. HE SAID THEY NEED TO BE REPLACED WITH BETTER QUALITY ONES BECAUSE THAT WAS THE REASON THEY WERE LEAKING, THAT THEY BROKED DOWN QUICKLY BECAUSE THEY WERE INFERIOR. AND ALL THIS WOULD COST ME AROUND $1,000. UPDATED 07/24/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) *AK
LOWER INTAKE GASKET FAILED. MDEALERSHIP REPAIRED AT MY COST SHORTLY AFTER, THE CAM SHAFT BROKE. I WILL NOT PAY TO FIX. *AK
INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET LEAKING COOLANT. REPLACEMENT OF INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET, COOLING SYSTEM FLUSH, OIL AND FILTER CHANGE.*AK
HEAD GASKET FAILURE, WHICH ALOT OF OTHER PEOPLE WITH 2000 PONTIAC MONTANAS HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT ALSO...GM IS DOING NOTHING ABOUT THIS AND THEY KNOW ABOUT THE PROBLEM.*AK
WAS HAVING A LOUD WHOOPING SOUND TOOK TO DEALERSHIP TO HAVE CHECKED OUT NO ONE COULD FIGURE OUT THE SOUND SO THEY CHECK A/C AND SAID THE A/C COMPRESSOR WAS GOING OUT AND REPLACED IT SINCE THEN I HAVE HAD THE VAN IN THE SHOP CAUSE A/C WILL NOT WORK 3 TIMES SINCE I HAVE NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A NOTHER COMPLAINT ABOUT A LOUD SOUND …
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WAS HAVING A LOUD WHOOPING SOUND TOOK TO DEALERSHIP TO HAVE CHECKED OUT NO ONE COULD FIGURE OUT THE SOUND SO THEY CHECK A/C AND SAID THE A/C COMPRESSOR WAS GOING OUT AND REPLACED IT SINCE THEN I HAVE HAD THE VAN IN THE SHOP CAUSE A/C WILL NOT WORK 3 TIMES SINCE I HAVE NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A NOTHER COMPLAINT ABOUT A LOUD SOUND NO ONE COULD FIGURE OUT TO AND MY LOUD SOUND IS STILL HAPPENING.*AK
Official recalls
504V597000 · 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.
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.
00V228003 · Seat Belts
Aug 7, 2000
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."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, THE OCCUPANT MAY NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE VEHICLE'S SAFETY BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLY DATE CODES AND, IF NECESSARY, WILL REPLACE ANY SAFETY BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLY.
99V268000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings
Sep 29, 1999
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."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IN A VEHICLE ROLLOVER ACCIDENT, IF AN IGNITION SOURCE IS PRESENT, A FIRE COULD RESULT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE VEHICLES TO LOCATE AND REPLACE THOSE FUEL TANKS THAT COULD HAVE INOPERATIVE ROLLOVER VALVES.
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
4PE04064 · 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.
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
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