2003 Pontiac Montana Extended Luxury Edition review from North America

Replaced Left Front Wheel Bearing at 80,000 miles, my mechanic recommended because I was going to tow a trailer. Bearing was actually had only a little play in it.

Radio display lost half its back-lighting at 3 years, 67,000 miles.

Check engine light came on for one week at 60,000 miles, but then went out and has functioned well ever since. (maybe I didn't tighten fuel cap enough?)

This vehicle has been very reliable. We live near a fast stretch of I-95 in Virginia and put this van through very tough conditions, at one point hauling 6 carpoolers 60 miles a day in everything from high speed driving to stop and go in 105 degree heat. It handles like a car, and has plenty of power.

I have never had to obtain service for any engine or transmission problem. The only issue that came close was the service engine soon light, which on-star confirmed was a fuel tank pressure code, linked to not tightening the cap enough. It reset after a week.

I tow a 2,200 pound camper trailer and never have a problem. The transmission handles it smoothly and while you do know it's back there on a hill, it still can maintain 65mph even on the hills (recently towed to Pigeon Forge, TN and back from Northern VA and had no problem. The best is the stability with the trailer. The long wheelbase eliminates any sway. I even tried to get it to sway a little and it settled itself out.

That being said, I will say this: Interior is very loose, i.e. it creaks and rattles, especially when going around corners or into driveways, kinda sounds like a pirate ship at sea.

The light out on the radio is annoying, especially since it is part of the on-star phone number display. Not even gonna try to replace it, though. Maybe if the other light goes out.

Overall, this continues to be a very reliable van. You're gonna buy a lot of tires, but the engine and transmission are bulletproof. My friend has a 1999 Chevy Venture with the same configuration and has 260k miles on his.