1999 Pontiac Montana Extended 3.4 V6 from North America
Summary:
I was happy in the beginning, but now would never buy another
Faults:
I have a 1999, Pontiac Montana, Extended Base. I Like the way it runs, when it runs. It has good power and pickup, great cargo capacity, a nice smooth ride, and a solid feel.
However, it sounds like I have had the same problem that most other GM vehicles have had.
At 74,000 miles I started noticing the coolant light going off and on intermittently and I was loosing coolant, but could not tell where as there was no visible leak. One morning there was a puddle of coolant under the van so I took it to the mechanic to find the intake manifold gasket went out. I had purchased an extended warranty so it was repaired at almost no cost to me... the first time.
About 2 years and 40,000 miles later the gasket began to leak again. This time, no warranty and I paid $800 to get it fixed.
The mechanic that repaired it the second time said that it is a very well known issue and that he repairs a minimum of one a week and that mine was the third this week... and it was only Wednesday! This seems like a rather high number of this type of repairs for just one shop to be seeing.
To have this many reports of this problem, you would think GM would do something about a recall, but I've found nothing except further complaints of the same and similar issues.
I now am beginning to experience the dreaded hard shifting from the transmission intermittently and am dreading the repair cost.
General Comments:
I am currently trying to sell my Montana and purchase a new vehicle which will, hopefully, have fewer problems. I have made the decision that I will not ever purchase another GM vehicle until I hear reports that they've improved their vehicles.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No
Review Date: 26th August, 2004
30th Sep 2004, 08:48
I too have a 1999 Montana and have exp. all the same problems. At 56,000 I exp. "hard shifting" and put in a new transmission that cost $ 2,500.00. This was in March of 2004. Last week, Sept 2004, I had the intake manifold and gaskets replaced as the antifreeze was leaking into the oil/engine?? I was also told by my repair man that the gaskets have a 100% failure rate and this was a very common repair among these vehicles. The cost to me was $ 600.00. Today, Sept 30, 2004 I dropped both my children off at school, after dropping the first one off, my car restarted, but it was a bit odd sounding, I dropped the second child off and returned to a completly dead car. My van is being towed to my mechanic. He believes it is the battery, starter, or alternator, possilbe all three. I find this very frustrating as the van has so little miles. I am very upset with this vehicle and am sorry to say would never purchase from Pontiac again.