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2003 Pontiac Montana problems

The most common problem on the 2003 Pontiac Montana is fuel and propulsion system, typically around 88,400 miles. Its complaint count is close to a typical Montana model year.

Typical yearClose to a typical year
Year score
69/100
Owner complaints
84
Recalls
5
Service bulletins
455
Worst area
Fuel system
Fuel economy
18-20mpg

The worst 2003 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 2003 Pontiac Montana

Headlights 11Fuel smell 6Fuel leak 5

Recalls 5

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: frontal: driver side: inflator moduleReported February 14, 2003 · 130 vehicles affected
What is wrong
On certain mini vans, passenger and sport utility vehicles, some of these vehicles have a driver's side air bag that may not deploy as designed. In addition, the air bag inflator could rupture.
Risk
This could result in reduced capability of the air bag to protect the driver. Also if the air bag inflator ruptured, pieces of the inflator could strike and injure the vehicle occupants.
Remedy
Dealers will inspect, and if necessary, install a new driver's air bag. Owner notification began on march 11, 2003. 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, or pontiac at 1‑800‑762‑2737.

Recall number 03V051000 · 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 5 recalls for the 2003 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 2003 Pontiac Montana 455

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

See all 455 bulletins for the 2003 Pontiac Montana

2003 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 2003 Pontiac Montana owners say

Most recent owner complaints, unedited.

Filed May 20, 2022 · Airbags · OH · crash · 2 injuries

Van crashed with damage to the front when it ran off the road and went into a culvert/ditch and air bags did not deploy resulting in paralyzation of the wife of the owner after van had been apparently donated to Charity Cars as junk vehicle or salvage vehicle. Vehicle was apparently repaired by towing company and offered for sale at at a used car dealership in Zanesville, Ohio. The passenger side lower dashboard had a white wire hanging down which may have been connected to a defective replacement airbag. I am an attorney representing the owner and the owner's wife. Black box was analyzed in 2019, but not with the latest program.

Filed Nov 11, 2018 · Airbags, Seat belts · MI · crash · 1 injury

I was in a accident and hit a truck broadside. I ended up hitting the steering wheel with my chest. Not only was my seatbelt ineffective, but the airbag did not open. I did sustain chest injury. Iran a stop sign in town.

Filed Apr 11, 2018 · Steering · IL

While in a stationary mode after parking to get air for my tires, the steering column locked. Took about 20 minutes with assistance to unlock, this I feel is unsafe with the climate of the world today, you need to be able to get in your vehicle turn it on and be on your way. No image or document to upload just frustration.

Filed Aug 1, 2017 · Steering · 216,000 miles · IN

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 pontiac montana. While driving various speeds in wet conditions, the steering wheel seized intermittently without warning. In addition, the power steering made an abnormal winding noise. The dealer (stoops buick gmc, 1251 quaker blvd, plainfield, in, 46168, 317‑839‑7771) informed the contact that there were no recalls on the vehicle. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 216,000.

Filed Jul 29, 2016 · Airbags, Electrical · WI

Check the airbags something with brake light an electrical.

Filed Apr 18, 2016 · Fuel system · 149,000 miles · CA

Takata recall the federal safety agency campaign # 07349000 gm recall #06230 my van is leaking gas at the inlet valve and I see is recalled and cause a fire. I need to know how I get this recal fixed asap. Have children and do not feel safe driving the van or letting the children ride in my van. Smells like gasoline throughot vehicle and you can see the crack at the inlet valve.

Filed Jan 28, 2015 · Electrical, Lights · 128,000 miles · MI

We have to kept changing the brake lights in the back because they keep going out ever few weeks. We even went and bought a new stop signal switch but that wasn't it. We want to know if there was a recall on the brake light and the wiring and why they keep going out. We have had issues since we bought in june 2014. We are just tired of keep pouring money into it but I don't want an accident or to get pull over either. The only light that never has an issue is the brake bar on top.

Filed Jan 5, 2015 · Airbags · 106,000 miles · PA

Both side curtain airbags(inside seat) deployed without a vehicle accident or collision.. Both my wife and I were struck with the airbags. Our 4 children were in the vehicle at the time of deployment. None of them were struck directly but the noise involved was very loud and powder was present in the air following deployment. Vehicle is not worth repair according to gm . I had not planned to purchase another vehicle until the fall of 2015 but this vehicle is unsafe for my family. I need to have it he vehicle paid off due to safety so we can attempt to purchase another vehicle that is safe.

Filed Jan 1, 2015 · Engine · 125,000 miles · OH

After heading home from taking my son to the er, my temp gauge started to rise fast to the red lines while I was going down the street. I quickly pulled over, put it in park and shut my engine off. I got out out of the car and looked under neath. Coolant was pouring all over the ground under the engine. Obviously couldn't drive so I had to call the husband to pick us up and a tow truck. Took the van to two different garages and they both said the head gasket blew. I have found that gm knows about this problem and many have complained but yet not one recall on this issue. I have even seen this issue in the service note due to plastic parts. Garages are asking 15 hundred for repair!!!

Filed Oct 17, 2014 · Electrical, Steering · 3,400 miles · TN

Steering wheel locked up,ignition did not disengage when key was released,incident becoming more and more frequent.

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Other model years

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Questions about the 2003 Pontiac Montana

Is the 2003 Pontiac Montana reliable?

Owners have filed 84 complaints about the 2003 Pontiac Montana, close to a typical Montana model year.

What is the 2003 Pontiac Montana year score?

The 2003 Pontiac Montana scores 69 out of 100 (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 2003 Pontiac Montana?

Fuel and propulsion system, with 16 complaints, typically around 88,400 miles. Next is electrical (15).

How many recalls does the 2003 Pontiac Montana have?

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

Was there a recall on the 2003 Pontiac Montana fuel system?

Yes, 1 recall: 07V349000. Check your VIN to see if your car still needs the free repair.

What year does the Pontiac Montana have the most fuel system problems?

The Pontiac Montana model years with the most fuel system complaints are 2002 (21 complaints), 2001 (18 complaints) and 2000 (17 complaints).

What gas mileage does the 2003 Pontiac Montana get?

Official estimates for the 2003 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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