"My folks own an '03 Montana with about 40k miles on it. No problems to report except routine maintenance. Guess that blows your "theories" out of the water."
Report back here after another year or two and I'll bet you will change your tune.
I have a 2000 montana it is very good on gas the only problem is;that I have with it, there is water leaking where the lights are in front of my mirror on top atleast 1 cup of water there is no hole on my roof I have no complaints beside that.
I bought my 2002 Montana with 68K on it. It now has 104K and all I've done was front brake pads and rotors. It has been the best car we ever owned. It primarily has to do with the first owner and impecable maintenance records. If you follow the manufacturers recommendations for preventative maintenance, you won't have near the problems. I will continue to support GM. Funny thing is... the reason I found this site was that I wanted to see what problems I should be expecting because nothing has gone wrong!
I have a used 2002 Montana. I Have this car for almost 3 years. Only had to put a new AC system and brakes roughly around 2000.00.
I love my mini van. I am looking into buying a 2006/07 this week.
Most late model used vehicles offered for sale on a dealer lot come from the dealer auctions. Most of these vehicles that are sold at the dealer auctions come from car rental companies. Most rental vehicles are abused either by the rental customer or the rental company employees. People drive the crap out of rental vehicles!
Pontiac Montanas, like every other auto product have their own set of particular problems. To name a few Montana problems, the intake manifold gasket (plenum gasket) will leak, the rear main seal will leak, the headlight assembly will take on moisture (leak or condensation) and the power window mechanism will screw up.
My advise to anyone buying a used Montana van is to buy it from a dealer where you can purchase a FULL, zero deductible warranty covering seals and gaskets. Do not plan on owning this vehicle without a FULL warranty.
If your Montana van causes you no trouble or extra expense, go buy lottery tickets with the money you save on repairs. Why? Because you are very LUCKY!
I would rather own My 1982 ford half ton, then 10 Montana's.
(the reason I say this is because I own a Montana now)
and one problem is better then 10...
I bought my 2002 montana new and at 64,000 miles the intake manifold gaskets and head gasket had to be replaced. Now it is at the shop for a oil leak. With all the intake and head gasket problems GM should have had a recall.
I bought a 2002 Pontiac Montana 7 months ago. GM had an excellent idea when this van was made. Rides great and feels rugged like an SUV or pickup. Since we have bought this van I had GM replace the rear-end 3 times the passenger side power window has failed the gas gauge stopped working and the rear power slider has stopped working several times. As crazy as this sounds I love this van. We have owned many vans this is hands down the best riding, handling, most comfortable van I have ever owned. The dealership is making good on our Montana and I just might try another. Vehicles are a crap shoot and giving how they were maintained you just don't know how long there going to last. If you can't afford the repairs or get an extended warranty stay away from the Montana.
I bought a 2002 Pontiac Montana brand new in December 2002. It now has 66,000 miles. It has had one front hub bearing go bad, transmission valve body problem from factory, later out of warranty transmission had to be rebuilt (at 50,100 miles), VersaTrak 4WD had to be repaired, one front ABS sensor went bad, one rear hub bearing assembly went bad, now head gasket is leaking coolant. What kind of impeccable maintenance do you think one can do to prevent these kind of problems? NONE!
I had planned on buying a 2002 Montana, but with more negative comments than positive I don't need another headache. I have a 1998 Plymouth Grand Voyager and a 1999 Dodge Grand Caravan both are dead. The 99 just threw a $10.00 pin thru the housing and destroyed the tranny on a well maintained van... 2,000 to 3,000 grand for a new tranny and labor is just to much... only 72,000 miles... usually throws the pin over 80,000... the 98 blew the seal on the tranny...600 dollars... then the front main seal on the block... so now a nice steady flow of oil...can't say the oil isn't changed often! Now the head gasket... okay it does have 170,000 miles... earlier 4 cycle caravan... 2 head gaskets and 3 engines later it lies in a junk yard...
I amd not happy with Chrysler products either... Fords Turn.
I have a 2002 Montana bought used w/only 17,000 miles. It has been great and I have always loved it as far as the ride and room. It started when the A/C went out after 2 years of having it. So I decided just to live without the A/C. I never had any major work done except in the last year a hub bearing and headlights since they started filling with water. Not bad until I hit 100K miles (which is still pretty good) now my gas gauge is out, passenger window doesn't work, driver side works "sometimes", rear wiper out, my fog lamps go out about 2 weeks after I have them replaced, the rear windows sometimes do not want to close and the lights on the radio went out. So I don't know what station I am listening to or what time it is. Just this week took it in to fix A/C (Condenser out) so getting it fixed ($900+) and they also tell me intake gasket ($770) needs replaced, Bushings need placed ($680). I really love my van, but it is almost paid off and now I can't even afford to make the last years payments because I owe so much for repairs... more than I could sell the van for :- (
I have a 2001 Pontiac Montana and I will never by a GM product again. I have replaced the intake gasket for $800. I am now replacing the heads and head gaskets for approximately $2000 (and the van has never overheated!).
Last summer I had to rebuild the front wheel cylinders, I got off cheap on that because my brother-in-law did it for me.
The AC doesn't work and I'm not paying to fix it.
My husband has the 2002 Grand Am - I wouldn't buy one of those again either. He is facing the same problems with his Grand Am that I am dealing with on my Montana.
GM should have recalled these vehicles, now they have lost a customer for good, and I live in a GM town.
I bought a 2001 Montana brand new march 2001, and at 100,000 km leaking antifreeze by head gasket. Changed control arm for wiper at 136,000 km, changed gas gauge at 147,000 km.
Transmission hose under radiator rusted; changed at 148,000 km
and today I am changing hub & bearing at front wheels. With all the head gasket problems, GM should have had a recall.
I think the gaskets are not compatible with Dex-Cool antifreeze.
I LOVE MY MONTANA!!! I bought a 2002 Montana in October 2006 with 85,000 miles. Now I have 240,000 miles on it!! I drive over 350 miles every night of the week with no problems! Very reliable as you can see with my high mileage in a year and half. Oil changes weekly, two front wheel bearings, and four new tires (twice). That's it! My van is awesome! My kids sit in the two rear seats with the middle seats out so there is tons of leg room! Looking forward to drive to Michigan next for Nascar! Go Newman! Go Stewart! Go Jimmy! Ya. That's right.
If you want a foreign made car why not live in a foreign country?Do you people realize that electronics, clothes, toys, power tools, just to name a few items are not made here and we lose thousands of jobs each year. keep buying foreign made cars and the big 3 will be gone too. Remember Pearl Harbor, support USA not japan, china.Your children will thank you.