2000 Pontiac Montana from North America - Comments

I bought a used 1999 Montana mini Van:

It still moves, but we've had more than a few interesting adventures with this van. After having the heater core replaced by the dealer we took a long family trip. Thank god for the cooling water indicator. It worked. We were traveling at night so had to make it from point "a" to point "b". We went from 50 miles per gallon to 10 miles per gallon of cooling water to our destination. A few gallon containers and and waiting for the indicator light to go on we made it. So much for good workmanship by our dealer. I replacement of those hard to reach $2 heater hoses mounted over the exhaust manifold located by the fire wall.

Interior lights always drain the battery so we keep them off.

Sliding door has worked for several years and been very cool, but it is now done.

Automatic power windows, wow, that passenger door window will not work. The flimsy mechanism needs to be replaced. I load the guides up with silicon spray and pray.

I hear the intake manifold gasket doesn't work on these cars, that must be why the red fluid is steaming off the engine every time I park. Accessibility to repair this and the water pump, thermostat, ect. is an issue with most cars these days.

Transmission is slipping in first and now second gear. Especially after fast deceleration.

I'll be fixing the break shudder tomorrow and will see how those front bearings are doing.

Anyone want to buy this thing or should I just take it to the dump? I think I'll just take it to the dump...

I have owned a 1999 Montana for 8 1/2 years now. We had several things replaced luckily they where still under warranty. We did find with the passenger side power window that if you take the handle off and reconnect the wires it works just fine. Our gas gauge did stop working and that's a big pain in the you know where.

Hello all Montana lovers.

I bought our Montana new off the lot in June of '02 to take a big trip. Several hours later in the middle of a rainstorm on a four lane highway, we turned on the wipers and gleefully watched them collide and disappear into the storm. The dealer said I deserved it for not making sure that there was no ice on the window before I started them... in June... moron. No I do not live in the North Pole. Even on warranty he refused to replace all the busted mechanisms (I argued with him for hours). Yup real winner this place. I swear to God I'm not lying.

Now since then our van has been fine, except for the wipers constantly colliding and falling off the windshield. However, just recently, it started jumping and misfiring. The lights in the cab come on and stay on, and the radio does not shut off! ha ha ha. At least my power door still works...haha.

I live a little out of town and kicked a mouse out of there, so I was thinking he had a jolly with the wiring... sigh... I guess I gotta go diggin sometime to see if he chewed it up.

I have owned my Pontiac Montana for about 5 years (198,000kms) and I can't complain as much of some other owners have.

I really used to be a lover of GM, and although I would definitely buy another, it has opened my eyes to imports.

The first year we had the van we had no real problems other than the infamous brake lights. Which we have recently heard you can solve by taking them apart and replacing some small resistor. Don't know, we'll see.

My husband would often claim that the fuel gauge didn't work, but I have not had a single problem with the fuel gauge not working. I'll even tell you that the gas light works, with the price of gas I find myself emptying the car.

I have no complaints about the suspension components, either, up until this year it hasn't clunked a single bit, and the air ride certainly levels the car. I'm sure some of the clunk I hear is bearings and maybe steering linkages.

I have seen the ABS light come on and stay on and even scarier, the airbag light. That does scare me and I still haven't figured that out.

When I hit bumps now, the traction light pops on for a sec, most likely a loose connection, I know my traction still works.

I won't complain about the torque, either, it's pulled our three ATVs and sea doo for the 5 years we've had it.

I am a little angry about the headlights, however, because I also like a few others spent time to blow dry the moisture out and reseal some of the seals with gasket maker, I even wet sanded them to make the clear again.

The windshield wipers have started hitting each other, now. I buy an inch smaller than they call for now, I'm not complaining, it's a little thing.

Never had a problem with the engine or tranny, not one bit, my engine doesn't really even tick, especially compared to other mini vans.

Definitely have electrical problems, but I haven't had any mechanical problems, at least not yet.

Remember most of you have vehicles which are almost 10 years old. No excuses now, but things are bound to wear and break. Good luck all..

I leased a three year old at 64,000 km's. Before my first lease payment the engine seized. It was just out of warranty. GM and the dealership agreed to replace the motor only because I showed that it had numerous oil changes, good thing because the price quoted was $7000.

The list of problems goes on and on.

A/C only worked for one year.

Replaced driver window switch 5 times. Now window will not go all the way down. Hubby says the inside mechanism is worn out.

Drivers door interior lock does not work.

Headlamps full of water, cloudy and reflector coating gone.

Handle on hatch long gone.

Auto leveling disconnected, no longer works.

Remaining fuel level on overhead gage wrong. Outside temp. laughable.

Electric sliding door has mind of its own. No longer works.

Drivers seat belt had to be replaced. It ripped.

6 wheel bearings replaced.

Wiper motor replaced once, wipers stop it up position just repaired again by my husband.

Stopped to pick up wipers off the road about 6 times.

Radio display has not been seen in years.

Possessed vehicle has locked itself while warming up in my driveway.

Rear shocks replaced twice.

Parking brake line hanging down again.

Front grill repaired by my handy husband.

Rear end clunks some time on shifting but this has been going on for 4 years with no repairs yet.

I will say one thing for sure the mice love my Montana and have set up home more than once in the area at the back of the glove box where the Hepa filter lives. The funny sound the heater fan was making was due to excessive Kleenex bedding at rear of glove box. Expensive filter removed and area cleaned many times. It was clogged with leaves and pine needles. Heat did improve somewhat, but nothing close to what it should be.

I guess it could be worse considering she now has 347,000 km's and still running. Keeping my fingers crossed for now.

05/14/2009. I have a Pontiac montana.haven't had any problems so far until now, had it put on an analyzer code came up (torque converter circuit stuck on). anyone had this problem?

Hmm, I bought my 1999 Montana with 62000 miles on it. Changed the head gasket once ($700), got a partial rebate for that. I now have 219,000 miles on this van.

I started with the electrical problems about a month ago. This has been a wonderful family hauler for four kids for the last 9 years! I have had great service from this vehicle. It doesn't owe me a penny. It has every option sold for this van.

5/28/10 We just bought a 2000 Montana and have some vapor (evap) emissions problems that brought the check engine light on. And now the transmission wants to shifts hard between 1st and second, and it was fine when we bought it 1 week ago, and now I'm really doing my research on this GM, I'm disgusted and will never buy another GM again... sad, just sad.

Paid 2 grand for the van, and another 2 grand for a transmission. I should have just bought a 4000 dollar van instead of being cheap and buying this Montana with all the bells and whistles.

The only good thing about this van is it looks great and does have a lot of nice features, but to what extent? $$$$$$$$$$$$