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2002 Pontiac Montana problems

The most common problem on the 2002 Pontiac Montana is engine and cooling, typically around 56,000 miles. It has 1.6 times the complaints of a typical Montana model year.

Typical year1.6x the typical complaints
Year score
58/100
Owner complaints
126
Recalls
3
Service bulletins
427
Worst area
Engine
Fuel economy
18-20mpg

The worst 2002 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 2002 Pontiac Montana

ABS 9Fuel gauge 5Fuel leak 5

Recalls 3

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

Air bags: frontalReported August 9, 2002 · 133,221 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Certain passenger, mini vans, and sport utility vehicles have an air bag inflator on the driver's side that could fracture at a weld during a deployment.
Risk
Pieces of the inflator could strike and injure vehicle occupants and the air bag cushion would not inflate fully, reducing the capability of the bag to protect the driver.
Remedy
Dealers will inspect, and replace, if necessary, the air bag module assembly on the driver's side. Owner notification began august 15, 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 buick at 1‑800‑521‑7300, cadillac at 1‑800‑458‑8006, chevrolet at 1‑800‑222‑1020, gmc at 1‑800‑462‑8782, oldsmobile at 1‑800‑442‑6537, or pontiac at 1‑800‑762‑2737.

Recall number 02V222000 · Recall details

See all 3 recalls for the 2002 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 2002 Pontiac Montana 427

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

See all 427 bulletins for the 2002 Pontiac Montana

2002 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
3.4L 6‑cyl4WD162218

What 2002 Pontiac Montana owners say

Most recent owner complaints, unedited.

Filed Aug 22, 2017 · Fuel system · 192,000 miles · OR

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 pontiac montana. After the vehicle was driven and parked, the contact noticed a strong odor of fuel emerging from the rear. The contact checked under the vehicle and noticed fuel coming out the side of the fuel tank where the seal was making a puddle on the floor. The vehicle was not diagnosed by a dealer or an independent mechanic. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and provided case number: a-31191114851. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 192,000.

Filed Aug 5, 2017 · Fuel system · TN

The fuel tank is leaking around the seal where the elbow connectes,. This seal has been disconutined. The dealership said I would have to replace the fuel tank. I cant afford a new tank. If they cant replace the seal they should have to replace the tank, there has been two recalls on the gas tank on this vehicles. I am lucky that my van didnt catch on fire going down the road with me and two children in the van, we put some putty on it for gas leaks and that has slow the leak down, I have not choice but to drive the van my only way to go, I cant afford to put a new gas tank for 725.00. I dont think it is fair that they can discontiuned a seal like this that and not willing to replace a hazard part like this, I put my life and the girls life in danger everyday we go out in the van but we have not choice.

Filed Jan 25, 2017 · Fuel system · 98,850 miles · MI

The fuel tank inlet check valve can crack and leak recall.. I went out to take my kids to school and smelt gas. Looked underneath can see gas dripping.had it looked it and sure enough hole/crack in fuel tank and now the fuel gauge is not working .checked under the recall and mine is not in it..

Filed Dec 1, 2016 · Fuel system · 93,426 miles · MI

2002 pontiac montana. While the vehicle was parked in the garage, I smelled a strong odor of fuel outside the vehicle. I noticed a small amount of fuel spilling from the lower portion of the fuel tank. There were no warnings prior to the failure. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer for a diagnostic. The failure was related to a crack in the fuel tank inlet check valve. The VIN was not included in the federal safety agency campaign id number 07v349000 (fuel system, gasoline:storage), although the failures were identical. The vehicle has not been repaired. The failure mileage was 93,426. Also since this happening the gas tank does not read the gas amount correctly,its either full or low on fuel and light comes on.

Filed May 3, 2016 · Fuel system · 120,949 miles · ND

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 pontiac montana. The contact stated that there was an abnormal fuel odor coming from the rear of the vehicle. Upon inspection, the contact noticed that the fuel tank was fractured at the inlet. The vehicle was previously repaired; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was not included in the federal safety agency campaign number: 07v349000 (fuel system, gasoline). The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 120,949.

Filed Apr 22, 2015 · Fuel system · 151,763 miles · AR

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 pontiac montana. The contact stated that the fuel gauge on the vehicle does not reflect the actual amount of fuel in the tank. In addition, the fuel warning light flashed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 151,763.

Filed Jun 12, 2013 · Engine · 87,160 miles · MN

Lower/upper intake manifold gasket failed at 87160 miles head gasket failed at 142,500 miles lower intake manifold gasket failed at 183170 miles.

Filed Jun 12, 2013 · Transmission · 84,950 miles · MN

Passenger side wheel bearing failure - grinding.

Filed Jun 12, 2013 · Brakes · 224,750 miles · MN

Realized excess use of brake fluid. Traced problem to leaking rear brake line - steel line corroded through at axle clip location.

Filed Feb 19, 2013 · Electrical, Lights · 95,000 miles · IL

The driver and passenger side brake lights constantly go out. I have spoken to a mechanic and he told me that it is very common for gm vehicles in this model year range to have to replace the lighting bank in the rear of the vehicles on both sides. The bank which contains the brake lights, the back-up lights, and the running lights fails and the brake lights seem to be most affected. I have had to replace my brake lights approximately once a month for multiple years. There have been many near-collisions due to brake lights not operating. The third brake light at the top of the vehicle appears to not be affected by this.

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Other model years

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Questions about the 2002 Pontiac Montana

Is the 2002 Pontiac Montana reliable?

Owners have filed 126 complaints about the 2002 Pontiac Montana, 1.6 times a typical Montana model year.

What is the 2002 Pontiac Montana year score?

The 2002 Pontiac Montana scores 58 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 2002 Pontiac Montana?

Engine and cooling, with 25 complaints, typically around 56,000 miles. Next is fuel system (21).

How many recalls does the 2002 Pontiac Montana have?

3 recalls, covering fuel system, gasoline, latches/locks/linkages and air bags.

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 2002 Pontiac Montana get?

Official estimates for the 2002 Pontiac Montana range from 18 to 20 mpg combined. The most efficient version (3.4L 6-cyl, FWD) gets 17 city and 24 highway.

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