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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 →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

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

What owners actually said

228 reports
43,000 miles · Jan 15, 2004
EquipmentService Brakes, HydraulicStructure

THERE HAVE BEEN MANY PROBLEMS, MOST NOTABLE RECENTLY WHEN THE DRIVER'S SIDE SLIDING DOOR FEEL OFF AT 45000 MILES. GM WON'T PAY, IT'S NOT "UNDER WARRANTY". THIS DOOR HAS HAD CONTINUAL PROBLEMS WITH HITTING THE FRONT DOOR UPON CLOSING. REPAIR WAS SUPPOSED TO HAVE BEEN MADE BUT OBVIOUSLY INEFFECTUAL DUE TO EVIDENCE OF CH…

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THERE HAVE BEEN MANY PROBLEMS, MOST NOTABLE RECENTLY WHEN THE DRIVER'S SIDE SLIDING DOOR FEEL OFF AT 45000 MILES. GM WON'T PAY, IT'S NOT "UNDER WARRANTY". THIS DOOR HAS HAD CONTINUAL PROBLEMS WITH HITTING THE FRONT DOOR UPON CLOSING. REPAIR WAS SUPPOSED TO HAVE BEEN MADE BUT OBVIOUSLY INEFFECTUAL DUE TO EVIDENCE OF CHIPPED PAINT AT THE SITE WHERE DORS COLLIDE. COULD THIS HAVE PRECIPITATED THE DOOR FALLING OFF? SUPPOSEDLY THEIR WAS AN ADJUSTMENT MADE, COULD THIS ADJUSTMENT BEEN MADE INCORRECTLY TO DAMAGE THE DOOR? I FEEL IT IS UNACCEPTABLE THAT THIS DOOR HAS FALLEN OFF MY CAR AT 45000 MILES.

NHTSA ODI #10069605

60,008 miles · Jan 15, 2004
Power Train

THE TRANSMISSION SUN GEAR WENT OUT. THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REBUILT.

NHTSA ODI #10069439

57,982 miles · Jan 15, 2004
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

ON JUNE 17, 2003 WHILE DRIVING NEAR MY HOME MY BRAKES FAILED, TOTALLY, I HAD TO APPLY THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO AVOID BOTH MY HUSBAND AND I FROM GOING INTO THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY INTERSECTION. NO WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON NOTHING. I HAD JUST A FEW INCIDENTS OF THE BRAKE PEDAL SEEMING LIKE IT WAS GOING DOWN MAYBE A COUPLE OF TIMES THE D…

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ON JUNE 17, 2003 WHILE DRIVING NEAR MY HOME MY BRAKES FAILED, TOTALLY, I HAD TO APPLY THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO AVOID BOTH MY HUSBAND AND I FROM GOING INTO THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY INTERSECTION. NO WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON NOTHING. I HAD JUST A FEW INCIDENTS OF THE BRAKE PEDAL SEEMING LIKE IT WAS GOING DOWN MAYBE A COUPLE OF TIMES THE DAY BEFORE. BRAKES NEVER MADE ANY NOISES TO INDICATE THERE WAS A PROBLEM STARTING. MASTER CYLINDER HAD TO BE REPLACED

NHTSA ODI #10069150

Mileage unknown · Jan 6, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling

1/3/04 VAN FAILED TO START-REASON UNKNOWN. TOOK TO MECHANIC TO CHECK OUT AND DISCOVERED OIL LEAK IN THE ENGINE AT 50,000 THIS IS CRAZY, THIS TYPE OF THING SHOULD NOT HAPPEN AT 50,000 MILES THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A PROBLEM IN THE ENGINEERING OR PART THAT ARE BEING USED.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10052493

33,000 miles · Jan 2, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT ENGINE PROBLEMS. A VARIETY OF GASKETS WERE REPLACED; HOWEVER, ENGINE PROBLEMS STILL EXIST. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10052262

48,900 miles · Dec 30, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling

LOWER INTAKE MANAFOLD LEAKING COOLANT INTO ENGIN OIL.

NHTSA ODI #10051350

Mileage unknown · Dec 18, 2003
Fuel System, Other

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT GAS GAUGE PROBLEM. SOMETIMES GAS GAUGE REGISTERED EMPTY WHEN GAS TANK WAS FULL, AND FULL WHEN IT WAS EMPTY. TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND WAS TOLD THAT THE COST TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM WAS OVER $500.00. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10051791

82,000 miles · Dec 18, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling

MY WIFE AND I WERE ON A RURAL ROAD IN NORTHERN MICHIGAN WHEN OUR VAN STOPPED RUNNING WITH NO PRIOR PROBLEMS. WE ENDED UP WALKING ALMOST SEVEN MILES IN BITTER COLD TO GET BACK HOME. LATER ON WE LEARNED THAT THE DEX TYPE COOLANT HAD LEAKED INTO THE ENGINE AND CAUSED THE CAM TO FAIL.

NHTSA ODI #10050737

Mileage unknown · Dec 15, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT VEHICLE CUTTING OFF. TOOK VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC, AND MECHANIC STATED WATER WAS GETTING INTO THE OIL. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10050568

66,267 miles · Dec 12, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling

INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET LEAKED COOLANT INTO THE ENGINE CRANKCASE. THIS CAUSED HYDRAULIC LIFTER DAMAGE - LIFTERS HAD TO BE REPLACED AND GASKET REPLACED. ADDITIONAL ENGINE DAMAGE IS UNKNOWN AT THIS TIME.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10049665

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.

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

4

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.

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