1999 Pontiac Montana from North America - Comments

Bought a '99 Montana in '02 and the first 3 years were real good, as far as the van went, and it went every where. It is my wife's primary vehicle, and she does enjoy the people mover aspect of it. In'05 the back head gasket failed, the first time, and I replaced both of them at that time. In '07 the back head gasket failed a 2nd time, and I paid $1,100 to have both replaced again, because it was so much fun, I decided to share the joy. Two weeks ago, the camshaft broke, while my wife was on the highway, and the van has sat ever since. While I've owned the van, the fuel gauge has stopped working, the drivers door window won't go up without an assist, a windshield wiper arm came off, literally, while on the highway, both headlights have fogged so much, that the park lights are now brighter, (amazingly, although scratched, they are quite clear).

The answer to the problems are easy to list, because any company that has been around as long as G.M. knows how to do what they do, and do it well. That answer is engineers, and the fools that allow them to change successful programs to justify their jobs. Think about it, electric windows have been on cars since the late forties, and with few problems. But just about every Montana has electric window failure, or switch failure. Doubt it? Go check the junkyards and every Montana will have the drivers door gutted, and the window switches will be missing.

The head gaskets were a bad design to start with, and apparently, they still are, which brings me to the camshaft failure, which can be traced to a couple of reasons, the primary among them being oil contamination (like when a head gasket blows, or a lower intake gasket fails) and coolant gets into the oil. (I've had engines fail on me before, some of them spectacularly, and not one has broken a camshaft)

The camshaft itself, as used in ALL the G.M. 3100 AND 3400 engines, is hollow, it's a pipe, quite literally, that has had the lobes heat shrunk to it. Generally speaking, in the past, camshafts were constructed of nodular iron, or cast iron, and were solid. This kept them relatively inexpensive, and generally forgiving of bad maintenance practices.

G.M., if faced by angry consumers would, as indicated in this blog, blame all the ills on everything EXCEPT where the blame lies, and that would be squarely on their own doorstep.

If you the motoring public, want a vehicle that will get you there and back, it is strongly advised that you buy ANY vehicle with the Buick 3800 V-6.But because G.M. has decided, in their infinite wisdom, to discontinue this line with the 1999 model year, they will become harder and harder to find in newer used cars. Be forewarned though that the later 3800's with the plastic intake, still had a bad gasket design, that is about the only problem, unless the owner is completely neglectful with respect to the routine maintenance. (oil changes specifically)

Vehicles with the 3800 V-6,will, with normal and routine maintenance, will go literally HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS of miles, (I had one, an '89 LeSabre, that had 450,000 miles on it when it was totaled).

All auto makers have made vehicles that you could absolutely count on, as well as their '99 Montana's. Obviously, it lies with the consumer to lift up those manufacturers that continue to meet the consumers expectations of reliable quality, with reasonable longevity

that constitutes a good value.

I have a 2000 Montana it has a few flaws, bought it when it was two years old or 27,000 miles.

Within the first year and half of owning my head gasket went, (received $400.00 back from the class action lawsuit), now with 146,000 miles on it.

My power locks and window doesn't work on drivers side.

My rocker panels are rotting right out, both sides.

My ABS light and several other warning lights seem to have minds of their own, they come on and off.

My van accelerates for no apparent reason and revs very high, everytime I take it in the shop for this, they say there is nothing wrong, so whatever.

My gas gauge always says I have more gas than I really have.

I know my van is getting old, but it isn't even ten years old. Way to go GM for building a gem, or should I say lemon.

My 2004 Pontiac Montana van accelerates for no apparent reason and revs very high. Seems to do this when it's warmed up.

What can be causing this???

My neighbor has an 1999 Montana that he wants to sell me for $500.00. After reading all of these comments, I was just thinking of buying the car for $300.00, park it in my driveway. This way me and the grandkids at night can use the car as a drive-in movie theater. I sure the DVD player in the vehicle still works.

My husband bought me a 99 Montana as a family car. I just use it for small drives to take the kids to school or soccer and such. This is THE worst vehicle I have ever owned. Driver's side window gets stuck, sliding door... mind of its own. Paint is bubbling on the back end and peeling off. NOW it is turning over fast but won't start. If I had money for another vehicle I would donate this one to our local high school for parts in the automotive class. I would feel horrible trying to pawn it off on an unsuspecting buyer.

We have a 2001 model and I have nothing but problems with it. I bought it with 50k and within a month the A/C went out. The next thing was the traction control light flashing on the dashboard. Followed by my rear lights not working and all my dash lights flashing when I would turn my signal on to make a turn. Now the thing won't start.

Same problems I suppose as with many other Montana vans. It is sitting in my driveway blocking my garage, so I guess I will have to have it towed to the repair shop. I hope folks read these posts and don't purchase a Montana for a family van.

I too bought a used 1999 Montana Van used for 2400.00 cash, I guess after reading this I should be happy. Test drove this vehicle from a private owner, said it was his parents, engine looked clean and had no problems with the test drive, bought it two weeks later. That is when our story starts, with the money pit.

I had my van the first week, engine starts losing acceleration, and starts sounding like a diesel. My mechanic says, he talks to the dealers around and they tell him, the engine is toast at 92,000 miles.

The outside of the van is very clean, has the hood defect too of paint pealing, the back hatch handle inside is junk, my radio speaks Chinese quite often, and flashes when it wants, my DIC indicator does not read correct temps, but correct direction. My front headlights are terrible, and we are replacing them with OEM.

My mechanic figures that sludge has built up in the lifters, and one is going,.Estimate is now 600.00 to replace that. To have the engine work done and getting the motor to run decent took 16 days of it being away, and it still has a ticking sound.

Power steering is very loud, and now the van engine revs and stalls when it's in park, like it has a mind of its own and it's staying. When the engine is warm now, it doesn't want to start easily, hard start.

Now we are wondering if the water pump is going, because the steering has changed and the stalling is starting to happen more frequent. I am hoping one of the two fixes will help. I don't want this new used vehicle to be a lemon, but full steam ahead; I guess; LOL.

I cannot afford a payment, but we have replaced a defective stabilizer bar, control arms bad, bushing in the motor mounts, flushing the oil and filters numerous times, and now I read all this.

I do like my van a lot, but cannot believe all the lemons out there. God willing I can drive it for a year and send it packing. I don't know how I will ever resell this vehicle, I wouldn't know where to start if someone asked are there any problems. I ran into a man that was such a good liar, and we have a real bad lemon. To date we have put into this van about 4130.00 total, not such a bargain... say my prayers, and I want in the class action suite also...

I've had my 98 Transport / Montana for a couple of years,and the only problem I have had with is my windows get stuck when I roll them down. So now reading about the problems, I have my fingers crossed that nothing will happen... I really love my van.

I guess I should add my misery to everyone else's. We purchased our 2001 Montana sometime in early 2006. We bought the extended service contract on it and thankfully so. At the time of purchase, it had roughly 65000 miles on it. It now has 105,000 miles on it and here is the laundry list of issues we have had:

- Rear wiper motor went at 80,000 miles

- 95,000 miles replaces mass air flow sensor, oil sensor and fuel filter.

- Have had driver side wheel bearing replaced 4 times in the last 6 months.

- Just replaced the thermostat which fixed coolant temp indicator. SES light still on and is going back to mechanic tomorrow. Told it was a evap leak. (Can't wait to see the cost of this)

- Replaced passenger side headlamp. Filled with water and shorted out the bulb.

- Passenger side window barely moves.

- Radio and heating/Ccooling lights slowly burning out.

- Replaced tie rod at time of bearing replacement.

This vehicle has cost me more by far than any vehicle I have ever owned. What a ripoff.

I plan on trading this in very soon and getting non GM vehicle.

My wife and I purchased a used 2000 Pontiac Montana Van with the 3.4L engine. It had 75,000 miles at the time of purchase. Everyone's comments about their vehicle sounds similar to the problems we are having.

1.) External coolant leak from the manifold gasket. We were getting by with topping off the coolant bottle, but leak is getting worse. No coolant in the oil, and can smell it burning on the exterior of the engine.

2.) ABS light on. Getting play in one of the wheel bearings?

3.) Gasket around windshield has let go. Flaps in the breeze t highway speed.

4.) Wiper motor transmission failed. Cracked plate where the pin engages the two separate plates that drive the wiper arm assembly. GM dealer wanted $90.00 for the replacement part. Repaired with a solid metal dowel from the hardware store for $1.50 and some creative thinking.

5.) Passenger side power window works sometimes.

6.) Passenger side sliding door only locks sometimes.

7.) Backlighting for the radio burnt out and is now only partially lit.

8.) Traction control doesn't work anymore. Probably related to the ABS system problem.

9.) Rear interior strap on the tailgate is broken.

10.) Driver side headlamp is filling with water.

11.) Transmission will shift very hard at times.

12.) Slow speed wobble between 15 - 25 mph.

We normally have taken pride in keeping our vehicles well maintained and cared for. Of all our GM vehicles owned over the years, we have never had this much trouble. This Montana seems to be a money pit, and is always needing work to try and make it through to the next week or month. We now have 127,000 miles on it and have owned it for 2 years. Will be glad to see it go and sorry to hear that so many of you are having all these problems. GM really should rethink how they treat customers and do something to make it right, when so many are stuck with these flawed lemons.

Disgruntled in Minnesota.