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2001 Pontiac Montana problems

The most common problem on the 2001 Pontiac Montana is engine and cooling, typically around 66,000 miles. It has 1.9 times the complaints of a typical Montana model year.

Typical year1.9x the typical complaints
Year score
45/100
Owner complaints
156
Recalls
9
Service bulletins
376
Worst area
Engine
Fuel economy
20mpg

The worst 2001 Pontiac Montana problems

Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.

Problems by type

Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.

Specific symptoms reported on the 2001 Pontiac Montana

Headlights 10Overheating 9Door locks 8ABS 7Fuel leak 6Wipers 5

Recalls 9

Fuel system, gasoline: storageReported August 8, 2007 · 20,594 vehicles affected
What is wrong
On certain vehicles, variations in the manufacturing process or exposure to high ambient temperatures may lead to fracture of the fuel tank inlet check valve (icv).
Risk
A fracture may allow fuel vapors to pass through and allow droplets of fuel to accumulate on the side of the fuel tank. Fuel leakage, in the presence of an ignition source, could result in a fire.
Remedy
Dealers will replace the fuel tank. The recall will be mailed in two phases with the first phase beginning on december 4, 2007. The second phase will be mailed on december 13, 2007. Owners may contact buick at 1‑866‑608‑8080; chevrolet at 1‑800‑630‑2438; or pontiac at 1‑800‑620‑7668. The vehicle population includes buick rendezvous and pontiac aztek vehicle built in may 2003; chevrolet venture and pontiac montana vehicles built from june through august 2002; and all vehicles registered in nevada, arizona, virgin islands, puerto rico, and hawaii.

Recall number 07V349000 · Recall details

Latches/locks/linkages: doors: latchReported December 22, 2004 · 717,302 vehicles affected
What is wrong
On certain minivans equipped with second-row bucket seats or captain's chairs and a power sliding door on the passenger side of the vehicle, a passenger using the interior handle to open the power sliding door could be injured.
Risk
If a passenger uses the interior handle to open the power sliding door and holds onto the handle while it is being opened by the motor, the passenger's arm may be pushed into the seat back or armrest and a wrist or lower arm injury may result.
Remedy
Dealers will replace the power sliding door interior handle on the passenger-side. If the vehicle is equipped with a power or manual sliding door on the driver-side, the interior handle will also be replaced for appearance reasons. Note: before the vehicle is serviced, gm advises owners to not use the interior door handle to open the door. The driver can open and close the door from switches at the driver's position or by using the remote key fob. The driver should tell passengers to use the switch located in front of the door to open or close it. The driver should use the override switch to prevent operation of the power door by children or by others who are not familiar with its use. The owner notification letter mailing will be conducted in phases with the first phase beginning on may 31, 2005. The second phase mailing began on july 18, 2005. The recall began on may 31, 2005. Phase 2 began on july 18, 2005. Phase 3 (final phase) began on august 24, 2005, to all remaining customers. Owners should contact chevrolet at 1‑800‑630‑2438; pontiac at 1‑800‑620‑7668; or oldsmobile at 1‑800‑630‑6537.

Recall number 04V597000 · Recall details

Equipment: other: owners/service/other manualReported July 15, 2003 · 1,707,825 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Certain minivans, passenger and sport utility vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 225, "child restraint anchorage system." the owner's manual does not explain the meaning of the location symbols for the child restraint lower universal anchorage system.
Risk
This does not meet the requirements of the standard.
Remedy
Owners will be provided with a supplement for their owner's manual. This supplement describes and shows the location symbols for the child restraint anchors that are located in the vehicle and on the child restraint or booster cushion. Owner notification began august 18, 2003. Owners should contact buick at 1‑866‑608‑8080, cadillac at 1‑866‑982‑2339, chevrolet at 1‑800‑630‑2438, gmc at 1‑866‑996‑9463, pontiac at 1‑800‑620‑7668, or oldsmobile at 1‑800‑630‑6537.

Recall number 03V250000 · Recall details

Air bags: frontalReported December 9, 2002 · 272 vehicles affected
What is wrong
On certain passenger, sport utility vehicles and mini vans, some of these vehicles have a passenger air bag that was manufactured without a check valve pin. An air bag without the check valve pin could produce increased pressure at the onset of the air bag deployment and reduced pressure afterward.
Risk
This could increase the severity of injury to a person who was not properly restrained and who was close to the passenger air bag at the time of deployment. It could also reduce the ab8ility of the air bag to protect a restrained front seat passenger.
Remedy
Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the passenger air bag. Owner notification began december 16, 2002. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact chevrolet at 1‑800‑222‑1020, pontiac at 1‑800‑762‑2737, oldsmobile at 1‑800‑442‑6537, or saturn at 1‑800‑553‑6000, prompt #3.

Recall number 02V329000 · Recall details

Seats: front assembly: reclinerReported December 13, 2001 · 75,816 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Vehicle description: certain mini vans built with second row 50/50 split bench seats or captain's chairs, fail to comply with the requirements of fmvss no. 225, "child restraint anchorage systems." the seat latch anchor wire diameter is greater than 6.1 mm.
Risk
If the connector for a latch-type child restraint is not attached correctly to the anchorage points, the restraint will not properly protect a child in the event of a crash.
Remedy
Dealers will inspect the latch anchor wires and repair those with an improper diameter. Owner notification began april 10, 2002. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact chevrolet at 1‑800‑222‑1020, oldsmobile at 1‑800‑442‑6537, or pontiac at 1‑800‑762‑2737.

Recall number 01V383000 · Recall details

Latches/locks/linkages: doors: latchReported August 21, 2001 · 248,737 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Vehicle description: 1997-2001 chevrolet venture, pontiac montana/transport, and oldsmobile silhouette mini vans equipped with passenger side power sliding doors that were serviced in campaign 01013 (01v‑067) from april to august 2001. Also 2001 chevrolet venture, pontiac montana, and oldsmobile silhouette mini vans equipped with passenger side power sliding doors assembled in january through april 2001. These vehicles have inadequate front welds. If a front weld fails, the actuator can jam in the unlatched position and, when the sliding door closes, it will not be latched.
Risk
If this happens, the power sliding door can open while the vehicle is in motion, particularly when the vehicle ascends a hill, makes a turn, or travels over a rough road surface. An unrestrained occupant could fall out of the van and be injured.
Remedy
Dealers will inspect and, if required, install a new power sliding door unlatch actuator assembly. Owner notification began on october 22, 2001. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact chevrolet at 1‑800‑222‑1020, pontiac at 1‑800‑762‑2737, or oldsmobile at 1‑800‑442‑6537.

Recall number 01V264000 · Recall details

Latches/locks/linkages: doors: latchReported March 8, 2001 · 477,011 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Vehicle description: minivans equipped with passenger side power sliding doors. The door closes but may not be latched. If this happens, the power sliding door can open while the vehicle is in motion, particularly when the vehicle ascends a hill, makes a turn, or travels over a rough road surface.
Risk
An unrestrained occupant could fall out of the van and be injured.
Remedy
Dealers will install a new un-latch actuator assembly to the power sliding door. This recall has been continued under safety recall 01v‑264. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact chevrolet at 1‑800‑222‑1020, pontiac at 1‑800‑762‑2737, or oldsmobile at 1‑800‑442‑6537.

Recall number 01V067000 · Recall details

Air bags: frontalReported February 1, 2001 · 38 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Vehicle description: passenger, sport utility vehicles and minivans. The passenger air bag inflator modules were built without the correct amount of generant, which produces the gas that fills the air bag. Some were built with a double load of generant and some were built without generant.
Risk
In the event of a crash that would trigger a passenger air bag deployment, a double load of generant can cause the inflator module to explode. If the air bag module explodes, metal and plastic debris could cause severe injury to vehicle occupant. A module with no generant would not inflate the air bag, and the occupants could receive more severe injuries.
Remedy
Dealers will replace the passenger air bag module. Telephone calls were made to owners on january 29, 2001. Follow up owner mailing began on april 17, 2001. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact chevrolet at 1‑800‑222‑1020, pontiac at 1‑800‑762‑2737, or saturn at 1‑800‑553‑6000.

Recall number 01V026000 · Recall details

Seat beltsReported August 7, 2000 · 156,305 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles, light duty trucks, sport utility vehicles, and mini vans equipped with trw seat belt buckle assemblies. The buckle base of these seat belt assemblies were not properly heat treated and therefore do not pass the load bearing requirement of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 209, "seat belt assemblies."
Risk
In the event of a vehicle crash, the occupant may not be properly restrained.
Remedy
Dealers will inspect the vehicle's safety belt buckle assembly date codes and, if necessary, will replace any safety belt buckle assembly.

Recall number 00V228003 · Recall details

See all 9 recalls for the 2001 Pontiac Montana

Defect investigations

Power-sliding doorOpened September 17, 2004, closed December 22, 2004

Subject vehicles are available with an optional power sliding door.the interior handle is oriented in the vertical position in the door panel and lines up at the elbow level when the occupant is seated in the 2nd-row outboard position.if the occupant holds the interior handle in the thumb up position during power-assisted opening, the arm/wrist can be push back with force against the 2nd-row bucket seat or captain's chair seat back creating a risk of injury (other seating configurations have ample seat to door clearance to avoid entrapment of the lower arm).among the 103 total reports, there were 102 alleged injuries including arm/wrist, thumb and shoulder injuries.a count of injuries reveals that 76 injuries were a fractured or a broken arm/wrist requiring an immobilizing cast for four-to-six weeks.all injuries involve the right side power sliding door.the left side power sliding door is on far fewer vehicles, but more importantly, it produces less force.gm notified the agency by letter dated december 21, 2004, that it will recall model year 1997 though early 2005 gm u-van vehicles equipped with a right side power sliding door and with 2nd-row bucket seats or captain chairs (the federal safety agency recall #04v597).as part of the recall remedy, gm will replace the door handle with a flush mounted handle that will prevent an occupant from grasping the handle with the palm between the handle and door panel (thumb up orientation) and thus eliminate the potential for arm/wrist entrapment.this investigation is closed.

PE04064

Technical service bulletins for the 2001 Pontiac Montana 376

Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.

See all 376 bulletins for the 2001 Pontiac Montana

2001 Pontiac Montana fuel economy

Official EPA estimates in miles per gallon (MPGe for electric). Ranges cover trims that share the same engine.

EngineDriveCityHighwayCombined
3.4L 6‑cylFWD172420

What 2001 Pontiac Montana owners say

Most recent owner complaints, unedited.

Filed Dec 10, 2015 · Steering, Suspension · GA

My gearshift broke,fuel gage don't work,my car bounce up and down when driving sliding doors won't click open.when start car up and put in gear drive or revearse won't move just rive up.

Filed Jul 14, 2015 · Locks · VT

Tl* the contact owns a 2001 pontiac montana. The contact stated that the power sliding door would not latch when closing, causing the door to open when driving. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the latch failed. After contacting the dealer, the contact was informed that the vehicle was previously repaired under the federal safety agency campaign number: 01v067000 (latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch). The VIN was not available. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 90,000.

Filed May 12, 2015 · Airbags · TN · crash · 2 injuries

In left turn lane in the intersection..oncoming vehicle hit head on. Airbag failed to inflate on drivers side. Driver airlifted to trauma hosp.

Filed Apr 15, 2015 · Engine · 200,100 miles · FL

The van when in park will revive the engine and jump, when stopping with new brakes and all that fun stuff when the van is doing this reviving state it takes longer to stop and like the van is fighting it. It sometimes over shifts when in this state when taking off from a light (does the reviving thing when moving. I am afraid one day it is going to jump and hit something or some one or not stop.

Filed Aug 30, 2014 · Fuel system · 160,000 miles · TN

The tank leaks fuel at the inlet on the tank. Customer is able to put no more than enough gas in the tank where is below the level on the inlet on the tank.

Filed Aug 6, 2014 · Fuel system · 223,691 miles · IN

Tl* the contact owns a 2001 pontiac montana. The contact smelled gasoline fuel outside the vehicle and noticed a leak near the fuel tank. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified. The approximate failure mileage was 223,691.

Filed Apr 19, 2014 · Electrical, Transmission · 165,000 miles · MS · crash

I backed up to the laundry to wash clothes and proceeded to put the car in park and get out to get clothes out of the back. I pushed the brake and thought I had put the car in park because the key came out. When I started to step out of the van to get my clothes out of the back and my foot came off the brake, the car was still running and backed into a block wall. The wall was destroyed, but no one was hurt. The back door of the van is crushed. After a close examination of the ignition lock I found that the key will come out in any position, including running. I had thought the key was not supposed to come out except in the off position. Is this correct? I attempted to find out if it was in the gm recall from my local gm dealer and they claimed ignorance of anything and everything. Including even what constitutes a defective switch and what it is supposed to do and not do. It's like pulling teeth trying to get them to say anything. They say the factory sends them a list affected cars and they will not touch anything else no matter what the circumstances. The smell of gasoline is strong at times but a cursory examination by a mechanic doesn't show anything. After viewing the recalls concerning gas leaks I am worried. Can you tell me by the VIN how many of the recalls shown on your page this vehicle has had and what it has missed before it burns me to death?

Filed Mar 2, 2014 · Engine, Fuel system · 3 miles · MI

Bought this 2001 pontiac montana with 132000 miles a week before. Going to pick up my son from work, early evening, 14 degrees outside. I look down and my temperature gauge shoot up and the red temp gauge comes on. I pull over. Bubbling fluids is all I hear. First we started off with no heat a few days before that. We had the heater core flushed out and that seemed to work. Changed the water pump and thermostat. O2 sensors need to be replaced (1+3). Fuel pump is rusted. And the hydroponic lifters are loud. Like the style but having problems. Noticed a few steering issues.

Filed Aug 22, 2013 · Fuel system · 147,583 miles · FL

In 2010 I learned my vehicle had an outstanding recall notice (07v349000) for a defective gas tank. I had the tank replaced by the dealer. Yesterday evening I noticed a strong odor of gasoline when I stepped near my vehicle. I went to my local ase certified mechanic and had him inspect the gas tank. He found it was leaking significantly at the filler neck. I then took the car to the dealer that had done the replacement. I requested they replace the defective tank. The told me the warranty was good for only one year or 12,000 miles. I told them that did not make sense. They replaced a supposedly defective unit with a defective unit. There is no visible damage to the gas tank. I got in touch with gm customer service dept. And they advised me to have the car inspected by the dealer and we would proceed from there. They will charge me $58 ( I don't know if it is taxable or not) to get the ball rolling. The mileage at the time of the original replacement was 122,727. The current mileage is 147,583. That equates to a little over 8,000 miles per year, in florida.

Filed Oct 4, 2012 · Acceleration, Fuel system · NC

For some time now I have been having incidents where my gas pedal is hung up or stuck. I am to the point now I am scared to drive it. I have small children and everytime we get in the van its a danger.

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Questions about the 2001 Pontiac Montana

Is the 2001 Pontiac Montana reliable?

Owners have filed 156 complaints about the 2001 Pontiac Montana, 1.9 times a typical Montana model year.

What is the 2001 Pontiac Montana year score?

The 2001 Pontiac Montana scores 45 out of 100 (below average). The score compares it with the other model years of the Pontiac Montana: 75 is a typical year, 50 means twice the usual complaints, and serious complaints and recalls lower it.

What is the most common problem with the 2001 Pontiac Montana?

Engine and cooling, with 38 complaints, typically around 66,000 miles. Next is electrical (20).

How many recalls does the 2001 Pontiac Montana have?

9 recalls, covering fuel system, gasoline, latches/locks/linkages and equipment.

What year does the Pontiac Montana have bad engine?

The Pontiac Montana model years with the most engine complaints are 1999 (100 complaints), 2000 (72 complaints) and 2001 (38 complaints).

What gas mileage does the 2001 Pontiac Montana get?

Official estimates for the 2001 Pontiac Montana range from 20 mpg combined. The most efficient version (3.4L 6-cyl, FWD) gets 17 city and 24 highway.

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