NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Electrical System complaints
9 reportsClear category filter95,000 miles · Feb 19, 2013
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting
THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE BRAKE LIGHTS CONSTANTLY GO OUT. I HAVE SPOKEN TO A MECHANIC AND HE TOLD ME THAT IT IS VERY COMMON FOR GM VEHICLES IN THIS MODEL YEAR RANGE TO HAVE TO REPLACE THE LIGHTING BANK IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLES ON BOTH SIDES. THE BANK WHICH CONTAINS THE BRAKE LIGHTS, THE BACK-UP LIGHTS, AND THE RUNNING L…
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THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE BRAKE LIGHTS CONSTANTLY GO OUT. I HAVE SPOKEN TO A MECHANIC AND HE TOLD ME THAT IT IS VERY COMMON FOR GM VEHICLES IN THIS MODEL YEAR RANGE TO HAVE TO REPLACE THE LIGHTING BANK IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLES ON BOTH SIDES. THE BANK WHICH CONTAINS THE BRAKE LIGHTS, THE BACK-UP LIGHTS, AND THE RUNNING LIGHTS FAILS AND THE BRAKE LIGHTS SEEM TO BE MOST AFFECTED. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE MY BRAKE LIGHTS APPROXIMATELY ONCE A MONTH FOR MULTIPLE YEARS. THERE HAVE BEEN MANY NEAR-COLLISIONS DUE TO BRAKE LIGHTS NOT OPERATING. THE THIRD BRAKE LIGHT AT THE TOP OF THE VEHICLE APPEARS TO NOT BE AFFECTED BY THIS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10498563
195,000 miles · Aug 6, 2010
Electrical System
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 PONTIAC MONTANA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SPORADICALLY, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AND WOULD NOT TURN OVER. THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE CONTACT WOULD ALLOW THE VEHICLE TO SIT FOR TEN MINUTES AFTER ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE. THE RADIO, AIR CONDITIONER …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 PONTIAC MONTANA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SPORADICALLY, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AND WOULD NOT TURN OVER. THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE CONTACT WOULD ALLOW THE VEHICLE TO SIT FOR TEN MINUTES AFTER ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE. THE RADIO, AIR CONDITIONER AND POWER WINDOWS WOULD OPERATE BUT THE VEHICLE STILL WOULD NOT START. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO THE ANTI-THEFT PASS LOCK SWITCH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 195,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 202,000.
NHTSA ODI #10347829
80,600 miles · Oct 12, 2009
Electrical SystemFuel System, Gasoline
THIS 2002 PONTIAC MONTANA HAS BEEN OWNED BY US SINCE NEW. IT NOW WILL NOT SHOW A VALID QUANTITY OF FUEL , THE GAUGE SHOWS FULL MOST OF THE TIME. WHEN IT DOES NOT IT IS BECAUSE IT SHOWS EMPTY AND THE WARNING BELL IS RINGING. TURNING OFF THE CAR AND RESTARTING IT STOPS THE BELL RINGING AND THE GAUGE SHOWS FULL AGAIN. I AM SEARCHI…
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THIS 2002 PONTIAC MONTANA HAS BEEN OWNED BY US SINCE NEW. IT NOW WILL NOT SHOW A VALID QUANTITY OF FUEL , THE GAUGE SHOWS FULL MOST OF THE TIME. WHEN IT DOES NOT IT IS BECAUSE IT SHOWS EMPTY AND THE WARNING BELL IS RINGING. TURNING OFF THE CAR AND RESTARTING IT STOPS THE BELL RINGING AND THE GAUGE SHOWS FULL AGAIN. I AM SEARCHING THE WEB TO FIND A FIX FOR THIS AND I FIND MANY MENTIONS OF THE PROBLEM BY OWNERS WHO HAVE NOT FLED A COMPLAINT WITH YOUR OFFICE. THIS VAN ALSO IS IN NEED OF A HEATER CORE REPLACEMENT, A PROBLEM THAT STARTED LAST YEAR IN EARLY 2008. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10287140
60,000 miles · Mar 3, 2009
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting
I BOUGHT 2002 PONTIAC MONTANA USED IN DEC. 2008. FIRST THE RADIO DISPLAY WENT COMPLETELY OUT. THEN AS I WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING LOT THE CAR SHUT OFF BY ITSELF... IT STARTED BACK UP AGAIN BUT I WAS IN TRAFFIC AND ALMOST CAUSED THREE CARS TO CRASH. THEN I NOTICED THAT MY DRIVER'S SIDE BRAKE LIGHT WENT OUT, AND A WEEK LATER THE…
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I BOUGHT 2002 PONTIAC MONTANA USED IN DEC. 2008. FIRST THE RADIO DISPLAY WENT COMPLETELY OUT. THEN AS I WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING LOT THE CAR SHUT OFF BY ITSELF... IT STARTED BACK UP AGAIN BUT I WAS IN TRAFFIC AND ALMOST CAUSED THREE CARS TO CRASH. THEN I NOTICED THAT MY DRIVER'S SIDE BRAKE LIGHT WENT OUT, AND A WEEK LATER THE PASSENGER SIDE BRAKE LIGHT WENT OUT. I HAVE BOUGHT REPLACEMENT BULBS AND IT STILL DOES NOT WORK (THE BAR ON TOP IS WORKING). THE RADIO/ CLOCK DISPLAY IS JUST AN INCONVENIENCE BUT BRAKE LIGHTS... THEY ARE IMPORTANT! I AM BRINGING TO THE DEALER TODAY TO INSPECT. I SEE THERE ARE MANY MANY COMPLAINTS FOR THIS AND SHOULD NOT BE OVERLOOKED!!! I HAVE MY FAMILY TO PROTECT! *TR
NHTSA ODI #10260549
67,615 miles · Oct 14, 2008
Electrical System
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 PONTIAC MONTANA. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED AT NIGHT, THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT PANEL DIMMED. APPROXIMATELY ONE YEAR LATER, THE RADIO LIGHT IS 2/3 DIM. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 88,025 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,615. UPDATED 11/6/08 *CN THE MECAHNIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THE DASH CIRCUIT BOARD HAD…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 PONTIAC MONTANA. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED AT NIGHT, THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT PANEL DIMMED. APPROXIMATELY ONE YEAR LATER, THE RADIO LIGHT IS 2/3 DIM. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 88,025 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,615. UPDATED 11/6/08 *CN THE MECAHNIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THE DASH CIRCUIT BOARD HAD FAILED. UPDATED 11/10/08. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10245409
Mileage unknown · Jun 15, 2007
Electrical System
REF ERENCE TO COMPLAINT ODI ID NUMBER : 10133193. ON HOT DAYS WE ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM AS WELL. THIS PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED MORE THAN ONCE. THE GARAGE THAT WE TAKE THE VEHICLE TO HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM OR FIGURE OUT AS TO WHAT WAS WRONG WITH IT. ALSO THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER, WHERE THEY HAVE HOOKE…
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REF ERENCE TO COMPLAINT ODI ID NUMBER : 10133193. ON HOT DAYS WE ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM AS WELL. THIS PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED MORE THAN ONCE. THE GARAGE THAT WE TAKE THE VEHICLE TO HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM OR FIGURE OUT AS TO WHAT WAS WRONG WITH IT. ALSO THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER, WHERE THEY HAVE HOOKED UP SOME SORT OF RECORDING DEVICE, BUT OF COURSE THE PROBLEM DIDN'T APPEAR. WHEN IT DID HAPPEN WE HAD TO WAIT AT LEAST ONE HOUR TO THREE FOR IT TO FINALLY CRANK OVER. WE HAVE SPENT MONEY ON THE POSSIBLE FIXES, BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE PROBLEM WITH THE HEAT CONTINUED TO OCCUR. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10193477
70,000 miles · Jun 8, 2007
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingEquipment
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 PONTIAC MONTANA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEAD GASKET AND THE INTAKE GASKET HAD CORRODED FROM A COOLING LEAK. SHE ALSO EXPERIENCED OVERHEATING AND THE ONLY COOLANT THAT THE DEALER IS TELLING HER TO USE IS DEX COOL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THIS TYPE OF COOLANT HAS BEEN KNOWN TO CAUSE FAILURES AND …
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 PONTIAC MONTANA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEAD GASKET AND THE INTAKE GASKET HAD CORRODED FROM A COOLING LEAK. SHE ALSO EXPERIENCED OVERHEATING AND THE ONLY COOLANT THAT THE DEALER IS TELLING HER TO USE IS DEX COOL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THIS TYPE OF COOLANT HAS BEEN KNOWN TO CAUSE FAILURES AND THAT THERE SHOULD BE SOME OTHER TYPE OF COOLANT TO USE. SHE STATED THAT THE POWER DOOR ON THE PASSENGER SIDE HAS SIGNS OF CORROSION, THE FUEL GAUGE IS ERRATIC AND PREVENTS HER FROM KNOWING THE AMOUNT OF FUEL IN THE VEHICLE, THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT TIRE HUB IS LOOSE, THE OVERHEAD CONSOLE FOR THE TEMPERATURE AND COMPASS HAS FAILED, AND THE AIR CONDITIONING HAS A HOLE IN THE HOSE. ACCORDING TO THE MANUFACTURER, SINCE THE CONTACT CHANGED HER OWN OIL, THAT IS THE REASON SHE IS EXPERIENCING SO MANY FAILURES. THEREFORE, THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY ARE NOT LIABLE. THE VIN IS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 70,000.
NHTSA ODI #10192771
38,000 miles · Aug 17, 2005
Electrical System
ON VERY HOT DAYS, CAR CRANKS BUT DOESN'T START. AFTER CAR IS AT OPERATING TEMP. SOMETINES IT STARTS AFTER SETTING FOR 5 MINUTES, LAST TIME HAD TO WAIT OVER 3 HOURS. AAA DOESN'T UNDERSTAND THE PROBLEM EITHER.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10133193
27,000 miles · Jun 1, 2004
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling
ENGINE STOPPED WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING A LOW SPEED ON THREE SEPERATE TIMES. FIRST TIME WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF A RIGHT TURN AFTER TRAFFIC LIGHT CHANGE TO GREEN. THE SAME THING HAPPEND A SECOND TIME AS I PULL INTO A GAS STATION. THIS THIRD TIME HAPPEND AS I WAS LOOKING FOR PARKING SPACE IN THE PARKING LOT. IN AL…
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ENGINE STOPPED WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING A LOW SPEED ON THREE SEPERATE TIMES. FIRST TIME WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF A RIGHT TURN AFTER TRAFFIC LIGHT CHANGE TO GREEN. THE SAME THING HAPPEND A SECOND TIME AS I PULL INTO A GAS STATION. THIS THIRD TIME HAPPEND AS I WAS LOOKING FOR PARKING SPACE IN THE PARKING LOT. IN ALL THREE TIME, THE ENGINE STOPPED WITHOUT WARNING AND POWER STEERING WAS LOST. I WAS ABLE TO STOP THE CAR AND AFTER RESTART THE ENGINE AFTER SHIFT TO PARK. THE DEALER COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR AFTER EACH INCIDENT AS THERE ARE NO FAULT CODE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10074581