2000 Pontiac Montana Extended from North America - Comments

25,000 miles - Transmission slipping,

but no problem found by dealer

-Engine idles rough;reprogrammed

PCM & cleaned fuel injectors

-Both sliding door glass panels

shake when open

-Noise in steering noted;but no

problem found by dealer

28,200 miles - Vehicle would not move

when put into reverse or drive;

no problem found by the dealer.

30,710 miles - Check engine light on -

dealer said it was a broken

connector to EGR.

32,033 miles - battery leaking acid -

replaced battery under warranty

-air bag light stays on;

replaced air bag pretensioner

-replaced inoperative shocks

for rear hatch

-replaced lower intake

manifold gasket for oil leak

on top of engine

-replaced driver's power window

module; window was going down

by itself

32,242 - Engine light on; replaced EGR

valve - do you see a pattern

yet??!

35,465 - Second notation for noise in

steering; no problem found by

dealer

-Replace loose weatherstrips

on both sliding doors.

51,281 - Interior & exterior lights

pulsates when on along with

engine idle;replace a

generator voltage screw per

bulletin

-Now a clunking noise noted

when turning; dealer states

that it was a noisy A/C

compressor & replaced that

56,954 - Both sliding door lower hinges

are rusting (perhaps due to

faulty weatherstripping

previuosly replaced??!) Not

under warranty!

-steering is noted as noisy and

loose; no problem found

-replace leaking rear wheel

cylinders

-Alas! There IS a transmission

problem! Replaced Trans under

GMPP Extended warranty

60,504 - Rear driver's taillight in-op;

not covered-repl.on my own

with GM parts

This is wear it gets good...

62,805 - Ck engine light on;EGR valve

code set-The dealer wanted

to charge me for this repair

after the three previous

repairs!!! I refused and

demanded to speak to the

Pontiac Representative to no avail...

63,307 - Got Pontiac to buy the EGR

valve replacement, but now the

battery is leaking again!!!

Pontiac refused to pay for the

THIRD battery in 36 months! I

tried to explain that there is

some type of electrical problem

with this van due to the

numerous problems, but they

would not admit that there was

any correlation. I purchased a

new GM battery and pray that

this will be the last one for

at least the 60 months that

they are supposed to last!!!

I have been a Pontiac owner since my first car 18 years ago. I now plan to purchase a Toyota when this is paid off in a year. I can't wait for the dealer to say the steering needs replaced and it won't be covered, either!

Other than the obvious electrical, transmission and steering problems who wouldn't like this van?

I would tend to agree with the writer. I bought my 2000 Montana in August of 2003. Unfortunately did not buy the extended warranty. Within one month the van would not start, fuel pump out. Had to pay $600 to replace this. Approximately 7 months later same thing happened. Fuel pump replaced again and also fuel filter. Less than a week later, same thing. This time they said they replaced the fuel pump relay switch. Less than a week after that, same thing again. Are you starting to see my pattern. This time it was a corroded wire. They drove the van for a day, same thing again. This time they said it was a short in a wire. They have now had my van for nine days straight and do not have it fixed. Since the beginning of June it has been towed three times and basically I have only been able to drive it for about 10 days total. I have had the van for only 10 months and they have replaced 3 fuel pumps, fuel filter, fuel pump relay switch and I still do not have a van that runs.

I also owned a 2000 Pontiac Montana. Within two months of purchasing a brand new vehicle, the sliding door fell off. Yes, completely off. I was on a cross country move from California to Virginia. Practically, taped it on and continued on. Several minor things happened through the year. Then, the engine light turned on every time I started the car. I took it to the dealer, 6 times in seven days. Each time, they wiped off the gas cap (who knows the reasoning?). Finally, we got stranded on the highway when all power stopped working and the gas gauge fell to empty with a full tank of gas in. Got it towed yet again. The rubber stripping around the doors fell off numerous times. The back door made significant creaks each time it was opened. Pontiac issued me an extended warranty since the car didn't work most of the time. I had more time to sit in dealerships than they did. I finally got the engine light off for a period of two days and traded up to a Honda Odyssey. What a blessing. It has been about 2 1/2 years and I still cringe when I think of people purchasing a Montana. I have three small children and a husband who fought our van most of the way.

I own a 1997 Pontiac Transport and have experienced numerous irritating problems.

Passenger window motor replaced once, and a switch replaced one year later.

Interior lights stay on - use overhead switch to disengage.

Sliding side door does not operate with automatic switch.

Air conditioner lines were replaced to the tune

of $1000.00 approx. 2 years ago. Same problem now. It appears the lines, which run the full length of the vehicle, are exposed to the elements (road salt, snow, rain etc.. Poor design!)

Today, I turned off the ignition and the doors locked, activating the alarm. I was trapped in my own vehicle.