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2001 Pontiac Montana

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Montana years

Owner complaints for the 2001 Pontiac Montana are substantially higher than the model-year median of 65.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

91 reports with mileage · 65 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 36 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 20 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 20 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

10 crash reports3 fire reports17 injury reports

Tires complaints

5 reports
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62,229 miles · Nov 6, 2007
Tires

ALL FOUR BIG O EURO TOUR TIRES PURCHASED AND A YEAR LATER, THE TREAD BELT SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE. NARROWLY AVOIDING A COLLISION I MANAGED TO GET THE VEHICLE INTO THE BIG O RETAIL CENTER, WHERE MY WARRANTY WAS NOT HONORED. NOT IN A POSITION TO DRIVE ELSEWHERE, I PURCHASED TWO NEW BIG O ASPEN TIRES. A YEAR LATER, THE TREAD BELT…

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ALL FOUR BIG O EURO TOUR TIRES PURCHASED AND A YEAR LATER, THE TREAD BELT SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE. NARROWLY AVOIDING A COLLISION I MANAGED TO GET THE VEHICLE INTO THE BIG O RETAIL CENTER, WHERE MY WARRANTY WAS NOT HONORED. NOT IN A POSITION TO DRIVE ELSEWHERE, I PURCHASED TWO NEW BIG O ASPEN TIRES. A YEAR LATER, THE TREAD BELT SEPARATING FROM THE TIRES ON THE OTHER TWO BIG O EURO TOUR TIRES. THESE TIRES WERE LISTED IN A RECALL JUST MONTHS AFTER MY PURCHASE, YET I EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10208071

Mileage unknown · Jul 31, 2007
Tires

IN THE PAST FEW MONTHS, I HAVE HAD 2 BULGES ON THE SIDEWALLS OF MY TIRES AS WELL AS A FLAT (AGAIN ON THE SIDEWALL PORTION OF THE TIRE), WHICH APPEAR TO BE A RESULT OF PRODUCT FAILURE. THE MASTERCRAFT SENSYS 01 215/70R15 WERE INSTALLED AT A DEALERSHIP ON THE FRONT OF MY 2001 PONTIAC MONTANA. UPON RETURN TO THE DEALER, HE REPLACED…

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IN THE PAST FEW MONTHS, I HAVE HAD 2 BULGES ON THE SIDEWALLS OF MY TIRES AS WELL AS A FLAT (AGAIN ON THE SIDEWALL PORTION OF THE TIRE), WHICH APPEAR TO BE A RESULT OF PRODUCT FAILURE. THE MASTERCRAFT SENSYS 01 215/70R15 WERE INSTALLED AT A DEALERSHIP ON THE FRONT OF MY 2001 PONTIAC MONTANA. UPON RETURN TO THE DEALER, HE REPLACED THE FAULTY TIRES AND RETURNED THEM TO THE DISTRIBUTOR. THE DISTRIBUTOR REPLACED ONE AT NO CHARGE TO THE DEALER AND CHARGED HIM FOR THE ONE WITH THE BULGE. THE OTHER TIRE WITH THE BULGE IS CURRENTLY SITTING AT THE DEALERSHIP, WAITING FOR A REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE DISTRIBUTOR TO VIEW IT, PRIOR TO REPLACEMENT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10197998

Mileage unknown · Oct 8, 2006
Tires

TIRE CAME APART ON INSIDE OF TIRE, THIS IS THE SECOND ONE IT HAPPENED TO, THE FIRST TIME WAS LAST SPRING, I THOUGHT IT WAS JUST A FLUKE UNTIL IT HAPPENED AGAIN. I LOOKED ON THIS WEB SITE TO SEE IF THERE WERE ANY RECALLS OR OTHER COMPLAINTS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS TIRE, BUT DIDN'T SEE ANY. WE HAD THE TIRE REPLACED AT SAM'S CLUB WH…

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TIRE CAME APART ON INSIDE OF TIRE, THIS IS THE SECOND ONE IT HAPPENED TO, THE FIRST TIME WAS LAST SPRING, I THOUGHT IT WAS JUST A FLUKE UNTIL IT HAPPENED AGAIN. I LOOKED ON THIS WEB SITE TO SEE IF THERE WERE ANY RECALLS OR OTHER COMPLAINTS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS TIRE, BUT DIDN'T SEE ANY. WE HAD THE TIRE REPLACED AT SAM'S CLUB WHERE WE HAD PURCHASED THE TIRES. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10170224

Mileage unknown · Jun 9, 2006
Tires

RE; TIRE FAILURE OF TBC CORPORATION ULTREX IV P215/70R15 97S, DOT # A3M3 3JY 1003. I HAD THESE TIRES ON MY PONTIAC MONTANA AND HAD APPROXIMATELY 35000 MILES ON THEM. EVEN THOUGH THEY HAD SOME MILES THERE WAS STILL PLENTY OF TREAD LEFT. WHILE DRIVING, A VIBRATION OCCURS THAT SEEMS LIKE THERE IS A TIRE BALANCE PROBLEM. THIS IS EV…

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RE; TIRE FAILURE OF TBC CORPORATION ULTREX IV P215/70R15 97S, DOT # A3M3 3JY 1003. I HAD THESE TIRES ON MY PONTIAC MONTANA AND HAD APPROXIMATELY 35000 MILES ON THEM. EVEN THOUGH THEY HAD SOME MILES THERE WAS STILL PLENTY OF TREAD LEFT. WHILE DRIVING, A VIBRATION OCCURS THAT SEEMS LIKE THERE IS A TIRE BALANCE PROBLEM. THIS IS EVIDENT WHILE GOING SLOW AND MAKES THE VEHICLE WIGGLE OR VAVE THEN AS SPEED INCREASES IT BECOMES RATHER SEVERE VIBRATION. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON TWO OCCASIONS WITH THESE TIRES. THE FIRST TIME WHILE TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH THE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE. THE SECOND TIME APPROXIMATELY ONE MONTH LATER THE EXACT SAME THING HAPPENED TO ANOTHER TIRE WHILE TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 75 MPH. IN BOTH CASES THE TIRE DID NOT DEFLATE AND I WAS ABLE TO GET TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO PUT THE SPARE TIRE ON. THE TREAD JUST PEELED OFF LIKE THEY WERE RECAPPED TIRES CAUSING COSMETIC DAMAGE TO MY VEHICLE. FROM THE LOOK OF THE REMAINING CARCASS I WOULDN'T WANT TO HAVE DRIVEN ANY FURTHER ON IT AND FEEL LUCKY THAT THE TIRE KEPT PRESSURE AND DIDN'T BLOW OUT. I HAVE SINCE REMOVED THE REMAINING TWO TIRES FROM MY VEHICLE BECAUSE I DIDN'T WANT THIS TO HAPPEN AGAIN. IF THIS HAD ONLY HAPPENED ONCE I WOULDN'T BE TELLING YOU THIS STORY BUT TWO TIMES WITH THE EXACT SAME OCCURRENCE SEEMS MORE THAT JUST A COINCIDENCE. I HAVE MADE A CLAIM TO TBC FOR THE DAMAGE THAT OCCURRED DURING THE SECOND INCIDENT AND AM CURRENTLY HOLDING THAT TIRE IN CASE THEY NEED IT TO PROCESS MY CLAIM. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10159379

27,000 miles · Jan 7, 2004
Tires

THREE OUT OF THE FOUR TIRES DEVELOPED CRACKS IN THE SIDEWALL . *AK

NHTSA ODI #10053599

Official recalls

9

07V349000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage

Aug 8, 2007

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).

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: 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.

Remedy: 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.

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.

03V250000 · Equipment:other:owners/service/other Manual

Jul 15, 2003

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE STANDARD.

Remedy: 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.

02V329000 · Air Bags:frontal

Dec 9, 2002

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER, SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES AND MINI VANS, SOME OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE A PASSENGER AIR BAG THAT WAS MANUFACTURED WITHOUT A CHECK VALVE PIN. AN AIR BAG WITHOUT THE CHECK VALVE PIN COULD PRODUCE INCREASED PRESSURE AT THE ONSET OF THE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT AND REDUCED PRESSURE AFTERWARD.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS COULD INCREASE THE SEVERITY OF INJURY TO A PERSON WHO WAS NOT PROPERLY RESTRAINED AND WHO WAS CLOSE TO THE PASSENGER AIR BAG AT THE TIME OF DEPLOYMENT. IT COULD ALSO REDUCE THE AB8ILITY OF THE AIR BAG TO PROTECT A RESTRAINED FRONT SEAT PASSENGER.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE PASSENGER AIR BAG. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN DECEMBER 16, 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 CHEVROLET AT 1-800-222-1020, PONTIAC AT 1-800-762-2737, OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-442-6537, OR SATURN AT 1-800-553-6000, PROMPT #3.

01V383000 · Seats:front Assembly:recliner

Dec 13, 2001

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CERTAIN MINI VANS BUILT WITH SECOND ROW 50/50 SPLIT BENCH SEATS OR CAPTAIN'S CHAIRS, FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 225, "CHILD RESTRAINT ANCHORAGE SYSTEMS." THE SEAT LATCH ANCHOR WIRE DIAMETER IS GREATER THAN 6.1 MM.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THE CONNECTOR FOR A LATCH-TYPE CHILD RESTRAINT IS NOT ATTACHED CORRECTLY TO THE ANCHORAGE POINTS, THE RESTRAINT WILL NOT PROPERLY PROTECT A CHILD IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE LATCH ANCHOR WIRES AND REPAIR THOSE WITH AN IMPROPER DIAMETER. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN APRIL 10, 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 CHEVROLET AT 1-800-222-1020, OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-442-6537, OR 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.

01V026000 · Air Bags:frontal

Feb 1, 2001

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER, SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES AND MINIVANS. THE PASSENGER AIR BAG INFLATOR MODULES WERE BUILT WITHOUT THE CORRECT AMOUNT OF GENERANT, WHICH PRODUCES THE GAS THAT FILLS THE AIR BAG. SOME WERE BUILT WITH A DOUBLE LOAD OF GENERANT AND SOME WERE BUILT WITHOUT GENERANT.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH THAT WOULD TRIGGER A PASSENGER AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT, A DOUBLE LOAD OF GENERANT CAN CAUSE THE INFLATOR MODULE TO EXPLODE. IF THE AIR BAG MODULE EXPLODES, METAL AND PLASTIC DEBRIS COULD CAUSE SEVERE INJURY TO VEHICLE OCCUPANT. A MODULE WITH NO GENERANT WOULD NOT INFLATE THE AIR BAG, AND THE OCCUPANTS COULD RECEIVE MORE SEVERE INJURIES.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE PASSENGER AIR BAG MODULE. TELEPHONE CALLS WERE MADE TO OWNERS ON JANUARY 29, 2001. FOLLOW UP OWNER MAILING BEGAN ON APRIL 17, 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 SATURN AT 1-800-553-6000.

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.

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

1

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.