2000 Pontiac Montana problems
The 2000 Pontiac Montana has 310 complaints on file with NHTSA. The largest share (19%) concerns engine. Next are body & structure (10%) and electrical system (7%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 310 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Engine 19% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 16 and 4
- Injuries and deaths
- 30 and 2
- Typical mileage
- 65,000 miles 155 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 2 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 24 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 39 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 29 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 21 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 10 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 6 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 5 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 14 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 5 |
| 200k+ miles | 0 |
What the data shows
Of the 155 complaints that include odometer readings, half describe a problem before roughly 65,000 miles. For engine specifically, the median reported mileage is about 55,000 miles (41 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 16 complaints mention a crash; 4 complaints mention a fire; 30 injuries reported; 2 deaths reported.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 2000 ranks 2nd most-complained-about out of 10 model years of the Pontiac Montana with enough data (209 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 5 safety recall campaigns.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
We were involved in an auto accident on july 5, 2001 in a head-on collision which killed my husband immediately and my son died two days later due to head injuries. I was injured with rib fractures/ low back spinal fractures and my left leg required surgery. I am unable to bear weight on my left leg for approximately six months. A car was going east on I-40 and I was going west. It crossed the median trying to miss a ladder that had fallen out of another vechicle and it hit us head-on.
Was driving, turned wheel slightly to right, vehicle wouldn't respond and continued to go left, total loss of steering. Went across lane, hit at moderate speed a hydro pole severed and moved 4 feet by impact. Air bags did not deploy. I received multiple injuries, as well as my 2 children sustained whiplash.
Driving on the freeway going about 65 MPH, a car lost control and ran into center divider and I collided with that car. The passenger side belt did not hold my wife back into her seat. Air bags did go off. Her face was badly hurt twice, once buy the dash from stopping very sharply and the seatbelt not holding her back and the other by the air bag smacking her face when we collided.
Transmission went out at around 44000 miles. Dealer said the "lip seal" failed inside transmission, after taking it in several times for diagnosis. Would not assist with repair cost. Ended up having it repaired at aamco. A/C is currently out on the low setting (#1). Not yet repaired. Just repaired the cooling system. Dealer said it was an internal leak. Van kept getting low on coolant, had to keep filling it up, however never saw a leak.
I just wanted to know if it is normal for these to go as soon as the warranty is over. The paint, I argued with the dealer and they finally agreed to pay for it. The ABS brakes went just after the warranty, they won't help me there. The passenger sliding door will not lock automatically. No price for repair yet.