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2004 Pontiac Montana

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2004 Pontiac Montana do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 65.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

31 reports with mileage · 8 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.

  • Electrical System. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Latches/locks/linkages. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

8 crash reports1 fire reports8 injury reports

Latches/locks/linkages complaints

5 reports
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42,221 miles · May 15, 2007
Latches/locks/linkages

I HAVE A 2004 PONTIAC MONTANA VAN WITH A PASSENGER SIDE POWER SLIDING DOOR. MY GRANDSON PUSHED THE POWER BUTTON WHILE I WAS IN THE DOORWAY AND THE DOOR SQUASHED ME PRETTY HARD, NO BRUISES OR INJURIES THOUGH. IT CONCERNED ME BECAUSE I HAVE YOUNG GRANDCHILDREN. I PLAYED WITH THE DOOR TO SEE HOW MUCH FORCE IT TAKES TO STOP IT WI…

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I HAVE A 2004 PONTIAC MONTANA VAN WITH A PASSENGER SIDE POWER SLIDING DOOR. MY GRANDSON PUSHED THE POWER BUTTON WHILE I WAS IN THE DOORWAY AND THE DOOR SQUASHED ME PRETTY HARD, NO BRUISES OR INJURIES THOUGH. IT CONCERNED ME BECAUSE I HAVE YOUNG GRANDCHILDREN. I PLAYED WITH THE DOOR TO SEE HOW MUCH FORCE IT TAKES TO STOP IT WITH MY HAND. I HAD TO PUSH HARD AND IT PUSHED ME BACKWARDS A WAYS BEFORE I COULD STOP IT. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPROGRAMMED THE DOOR, WHICH DID NOTHING TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THE NEXT DAY AFTER READING THE MANUAL THAT SAID IT TAKES MORE FORCE TO STOP IT THE MORE CLOSED THE DOOR IS, I PLAYED WITH IT SOME MORE BUT THIS TIME I COULDN'T REVERSE THE DOOR AT ALL WITH MY HAND PUSHING AGAINST IT WITH ALL MY WEIGHT, STARTING WHEN THE DOOR WAS FULLY OPEN. I THEN STUCK A PENCIL IN THE OPENING, WHICH THE DAY BEFORE WAS ABLE TO REVERSE THE DOOR THOUGH IT DID PUT A GOOD DENT IN THE WOOD. THIS TIME IT SNAPPED THE PENCIL IN TWO AND HALF WAS COMPLETELY SHUT INTO THE DOOR. I SHUDDER TO THINK WHAT THIS WOULD DO TO MY LITTLE 18 MONTH OLD GRANDDAUGHTHER'S FINGERS. THE SERVICE CENTER WAS VERY NICE BUT THEIR HANDS ARE TIED BECAUSE SUPPOSEDLY, THIS IS HOW THIS DOOR WORKS. THE SERVICE CENTER TRIED OTHER DOORS OF THE SAME MODEL AS MINE AND THEY ALL WORKED LIKE MINE. I EXPERIMENTED WITH A FRIEND'S HONDA ODYSSEY POWER DOOR AND IT STOPPED MUCH EASIER. THIS IS NOT SAFE! I DISABLED THE DOOR WITH THE OVERHEAD BUTTON FOR THE SAKE OF MY GRANDCHILDREN SO BASICALLY I PAID FOR A FEATURE THAT I DON'T DARE USE.

NHTSA ODI #10190826

Mileage unknown · Jul 27, 2006
Latches/locks/linkagesInjury

AUTOMATIC SLIDING PASSENGER DOOR WILL CLOSE ON ANYTHING IN IT'S PATH. IT TAKES WAY TOO MUCH PRESSURE TO FORCE THE DOOR BACK WHEN IT IS CLOSING ON SOMETHING. I'VE HAD IT CLOSE ON MY HAND (VERY PAINFUL) AND MY 5 YR OLD GOT HER ARM CAUGHT IN IT, SHE HAD A VERY BAD BRUISE ACROSS THE UPPER PART OF HER ARM. JUST GRATEFUL IT WASN'T BRO…

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AUTOMATIC SLIDING PASSENGER DOOR WILL CLOSE ON ANYTHING IN IT'S PATH. IT TAKES WAY TOO MUCH PRESSURE TO FORCE THE DOOR BACK WHEN IT IS CLOSING ON SOMETHING. I'VE HAD IT CLOSE ON MY HAND (VERY PAINFUL) AND MY 5 YR OLD GOT HER ARM CAUGHT IN IT, SHE HAD A VERY BAD BRUISE ACROSS THE UPPER PART OF HER ARM. JUST GRATEFUL IT WASN'T BROKEN. I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS HAS NOT BEEN PART OF A RECALL. SEEMS TO BE A WHOLE LOT MORE DANGEROUS THAN PREVIOUS RECALLS. DEALERSHIP REALLY HAS NO COMMENT OR SOLUTION WHEN THIS PROBLEM IS MENTIONED TO THEM. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10163583

Mileage unknown · Sep 29, 2005
Latches/locks/linkages

DT: CONTACT OWNS A 2004 PONTIAC MONTANA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT BOTH POWER SLIDING DOORS TOOK A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF STRENGTH TO KEEP THEM OPEN. IF SOMEONE WAS ENTERING THROUGH THE DOOR THEY COULD BE BADLY INJURED BY THE DOOR CLOSING ON HIM. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP AND THE MANUFACTURER, THEY STATED THAT THE PO…

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DT: CONTACT OWNS A 2004 PONTIAC MONTANA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT BOTH POWER SLIDING DOORS TOOK A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF STRENGTH TO KEEP THEM OPEN. IF SOMEONE WAS ENTERING THROUGH THE DOOR THEY COULD BE BADLY INJURED BY THE DOOR CLOSING ON HIM. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP AND THE MANUFACTURER, THEY STATED THAT THE POWER OF THE MOTOR IN THE CABLE CAUSED THE DOOR TO SHUT. THEREFORE, THERE WAS NOTHING THAT THEY COULD DO ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT HE DID NOTICED THIS DEFECT FROM THE TIME OF PURCHASE OF THE VEHICLE.*AK *JB

NHTSA ODI #10134463

Mileage unknown · Jan 6, 2005
Latches/locks/linkagesInjury

POWER DOOR OF A PONTIAC MONTANA SUV (ALAMO RENTAL CAR) TRAVELED BACKWARDS, PINNED MY WRIST AGAINST THE FRAME AND SEAT OF THE VEHICLE. AND MY WRIST WAS BROKEN. SAME CAR WA SUBSEQUENTLY RECALLED BECAUSE OF SIMILAR INJURIES.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10105886

8,000 miles · Dec 23, 2004
Back Over PreventionLatches/locks/linkagesCrash

I HAVE TWO COMPLAINTS THAT NO ONE SEEMS TO BE INTERESTED IN. FIRST ONE IS THE BACK UP SENSOR NOT CORRECTLY INSTALLED. PEOPLE AT THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT SAID IT WAS WORKING FINE, BUT IT ONLY WORKED OCCASIONALLY. IT FINALLY SHOWED ME THAT IT WASN'T WORKING ON A DATE THAT I BACKED INTO A PARKED CAR NOT KNOWING IT WAS SO CLOSE, AND …

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I HAVE TWO COMPLAINTS THAT NO ONE SEEMS TO BE INTERESTED IN. FIRST ONE IS THE BACK UP SENSOR NOT CORRECTLY INSTALLED. PEOPLE AT THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT SAID IT WAS WORKING FINE, BUT IT ONLY WORKED OCCASIONALLY. IT FINALLY SHOWED ME THAT IT WASN'T WORKING ON A DATE THAT I BACKED INTO A PARKED CAR NOT KNOWING IT WAS SO CLOSE, AND I HAD TO MAXIMIZE ALL THE SPACE I COULD TO GET OUT OF MY PARKING SPACE. LUCKILY, THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO THEIR OR MY VEHICLE, BUT IT'S THE IDEA OF A PART OF MY VEHICLE THAT I PAID EXTRA FOR NOT WORKING. ALSO, AFTER HEARING OF THE RECALL ON THE MOTORIZED DOOR, I THOUGHT IT WAS FOR THE PRESSURE THE DOOR PUT ON AND OBJECT BEFORE REALIZING THERE WAS SOMETHING THERE, BUT APPARENTLY IT'S ONLY FOR THE HANDLE ON THE INSIDE. YOU MIGHT WANT TO QUESTION HOW HARD THE DOOR SHUTS BEFORE IT WILL RETRACT WHEN AN ARM, LEG, BODY, ETC IS IN IT. I'M A GROWN WOMAN AND HAVE BEEN HURT BY THE DOOR BEFORE BY ACCIDENTLY HITTING THE BUTTON ON THE DOOR PANEL OR WHEN KEYS ARE IN MY POCKET. I'D HATE TO SEE HOW BAD ONE OF MY KIDS WOULD BE HURT WITH IT.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10104432

Official recalls

3

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.

04V177000 · Equipment:other:labels

Apr 8, 2004

CERTAIN MINIVANS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 213, "CHILD RESTRAINT SYSTEMS." THESE VEHICLES DO NOT HAVE TEXT AND FORMATTING ON THE WARNING LABEL ATTACHED TO THE AVAILABLE SECOND-ROW INTEGRAL CHILD RESTRAINT AS SPECIFIED BY AMENDMENTS TO THE STANDARD.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Not supplied

Remedy: OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH REPLACEMENT LABELS AND INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON JULY 23, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438 OR PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668.

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.