1999 Pontiac Montana EX review from North America
"Good value, but only purchase with extended warranty and expect some problems"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
Intake Manifold Gasket 105,000
New Plugs and Wires 105,000
New Radiator 110,000
Front Brake Pads and Rotors 110,000
Water Pump 105,000
New Wheel Hubs 115,000
New Struts 115,000
New Drive Shafts 115,000
Camshaft Sensor 155,000
New Coil Packs 155,000.
General comments?
A very good design which has poor execution and reliability. I don't understand why GM can't do better than this. Attractive design, good driving characteristics, roomy, fun to drive, economical and utilitarian. Poor quality components.
This is the 2nd Montana we've owned. The first (2000) we bought new and kept for 3 years (55k miles). We had no real problems.
In a budget crunch I bought a 1999 for $6,000 off EBay (High Mileage, $105,000). Overall, I'm happy. I paid so little for the van that the $3,000 in repairs have been worth it (we've put 50,000 miles on the van).
On the good side, the van has never left us stranded. On the bad side, there have been a lot of repairs. I have a lot of experience working on cars and have been able to identify most of the problems pretty readily.
This car's motor is challenging to work on. It's shoehorned into the engine compartment so that even routine maintenance is challenging. For instance, to change the rear three spark plugs, you must take the two front engine mounts apart and use a ratcheting strap to rotate the engine forward. Even then, they're very difficult to get to. With practice, it gets easier to work on, but you'll need a mechanic who has experience with these vans. Otherwise, the mechanic will likely become frustrated and not do a very good job.
Recommended reviews
| 1999 - Montana Extended 3.4 V6 I was happy in the beginning, but now would never buy another |
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| This car should have been recalled long ago, and GM should fix everyone's Montana for free! |
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Yes |
| Model year | 1999 |
| Year of manufacture | 1999 |
| First year of ownership | 2003 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2006 |
| Engine and transmission | 3.4 V6 Gas Automatic |
| Performance marks | 7 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 2 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 7 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | 7 / 10 |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 3 / 10 |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 105000 miles |
| Most recent distance | 150000 miles |
| Previous car | Pontiac Montana |
| Date of Entry | 15th January, 2006 |