Pontiac Montana engine failure problems

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 Jun 24, 2010 · Airbags, Driver assistance · 68,000 miles · WA · crash · 4 injuries

We have owned the car since oct 2005, purchased used from a saturn dealership. Car was involved in a gas tank recall, however we were notified nearly two years after we had a rupture that dropped an entire tank of fuel on the driveway and were told we were lucky to be alive having driven unknowingly with this leak. Tank was replaced under extended auto warranty. Multiple electrical problems: tail light goes out and is replaced, then driver headlight goes out. Water leaks inside drivers side headlight when it rains. The tail plug in for tail light bulb had gotten so hot it had melted the plug in both tail lights. Random electrical failure with windows and door locks occurring. Dash panel burned out, radio display bled out and radio then failed - would not turn off after button was pushed and had to be removed from the dashboard in order to avoid draining battery completely. Traction tire failure when engaged occurred in combination with power steering failure, cruise control failure, and on one occasion complete brake failure. No warning, no squealing, no grinding, no pulling to the side: just complete brake failure that resulted in an auto accident that injured 3 people. Non dealership mechanic checked the brakes and determined brake fluid leak/master cylinder caused the failure, stated regulatory system for brake system most likely resulted in leak. Mechanic also discovered drivers side front brake had seized and scoured the router and pad on the inside of the wheel. Brakes had been replaced two years prior and car had not been driven but for once a month short trips to the doctor for one of those years, the second year it was driven only 3 or 4 times and was parked in the driveway. Auto accident in may 2010 due to brake failure did not have air bag deployment in rear end collision. Car was broadsided on the passengers side in 2007 at a higher rate of speed and air bags also did not deploy. Injuries in both accidents. Car is a death trap.

Filed Nov 10, 2008 · Engine · 104,000 miles · WA

Catastrophic engine failure at only 104,000 miles without any warning. Probably due to dexcool but unable to participate in class action settlement because failure happened after class action deadline. This is still happening with these gm vehicles but no recall is being issued. In our case, had catastrophic engine failure in the middle of the highway, stranding us in a very dangerous position.

Filed Apr 22, 2008 · Airbags, Body · AR

2005 pontiac montana sv6 automatic sliding door opens while driving, bad sensor and broke cable was replaced. *cw the consumer also stated the engine failed, which ultimately LED to an engine replacement. The vehicle began shaking and misfiring. A bad plug and the stabilizing bar links were replaced. The undercarriage was cracked which was causing a loud knocking and thumping sound under the vehicle. The consumer also had the seats replaced with an after market leather kit because stains had formed on the seats due to moisture. The consumer later discovered a recall had been issued because the after market kit could cause the passenger sensing system to malfunction if the passenger sensing system malfunctions, the front air bag on the passenger side may be disabled when it should be enabled, or enabled when it should be disabled. The consumer was informed his vehicle was not included in the recall

Filed Feb 2, 2008 · Body, Engine · 50,000 miles · NY

I have 3 children, one disabled. I should have known from day 1 when the manual sliding door broke two weeks after purchase. Almost killed my disabled child when it sprang open on him. Dealer, said he broke it, a child with full body muscle disorders who can't lift a brick. Now we have had unending problems with the engine, coolant levels, the car smells like burnt plastic often, times when I went to start it, nothing happened. Now I am told that the engine will seize soon. Interesting since I always changed the fluids on time and I have only owned it for 5 years. Both side doors do not work, automatic works sometimes, manual comes off the track. One of the rear passenger seats does not fold properly. The car often feels as though it has "bad gas" jerking back and forth while driving it. I am afraid, I have three kids in the car usually. I need a car and now with no money and no ability to buy a new one, I am told that the car will seize if I do not spend $4000 to replace the engine. I am getting a second opinion but from what I am reading, it seems feudal. Shame on gm!! Why wasn't this car recalled??? This is a van, a family car!!! You want to kill children???? I am writing my congressman and the better business bureau. This car should have been taken out of circulation until the problems were ironed out. If something happens to my children, I will make it my personal crusade to shut down all gm plants. The amount of money I put into this car is ridiculous when I had a 20 year old volvo that is still running. Shame on america! This is why our industries are failing and we must turn to foreign countries. So I have a car that I do not know what to do with. I seriously have no money to replace the engine nor buy a new car. I have children in 3 different schools the oldest needing therapies each day that I must drive him to. What am I to do?

Filed Nov 26, 2007 · Engine · VA

Every year, a week or two after turning on the heat in the van, the heater stops blowing warm air. While sitting at idle the temp gauge rises extremely high. Every year the dealer has fixed the problem. This year they are telling me that I need a new engine! After researching online, here and at respected sites such as edmonds.com it seems to me like these problems should have been addressed long before I even bought my van so many years ago!!!!

Filed Mar 13, 2007 · Engine · CA

Driving the van I noticed the vehicle started to over heat. I turned it off and waited 1 hour for it to cool down. Started it up again after filling the radiator, with the engine running I made sure the coolant was at the correct level. Within 5 min the car overheated again and this time it died before I could turn it off. I have been told it would be best to replace the engine at 4100.00 for that. I searched the internet and found out there are many other van owners with the same problem. They used a rubber seal without steel so that it coolant leaks into the engine and mixes with the oil, and dries out the camshaft and then it breaks. In canada there is already a class action lawsuit for this reason. They (manufacture) know there is a problem but wont say that it is there fault. I am also looking to find someone to take the case as I currently have a lswn ornament due to I don't have the 4100 to replace the engine.

Filed May 1, 2006 · Engine · 45,499 miles · IL

This is my second pontiac mini van with a leaking intake manifold gasket. The 1994 started leaking at 60k miles,my current van a 2003 is leaking at 45k miles. In my 94 van the engine failed at89k with religious oil changes and coolant flushes. My montana also has had coolant and oil changes often. I know of others with the same problem.

Filed Apr 16, 2006 · Engine · 99,000 miles · CT

My 1999 pontiac montana has had persistent problems with a faulty intake manifold gasket where antifreeze is required to be added every few weeks. The manifold gasket was replaced by a gm dealership at 65,000 miles, but shortly after began to leak again. The vehicle has now at 99,000 miles has had a catastrophic engine failure, and an estimated $5,000 repair. I believe the engine has ceased as a result of the faulty intake manifold gasket.

Filed Jan 15, 2004 · Engine · 70,030 miles · PA

My 99 montana (70,030 miles but never a problem) failed on us about 15 miles east of hagerstown md while returning to pittsburgh from ocean city on 7/13/2003. The short story is that the engine failed with little prior warning and had to be replaced. There was a catastrophic failure of the intake manifold gasket, I have it as well as photos. The leaking coolant mixed with the engine oil and the resulting emulsified combination resulted in a ruined engine in a very short time. The engine had new oil because I changed it on 7/5 at 69,000 miles as specified in owner's manual prior to leaving pittsburgh. I still have the old oil in my garage and it is in good condition. I had the van towed 180 miles to my dealer, the power of bowser, so that they could tell me that there's nothing they or gm can do for me. The local gm service rep looked at it on 7/17 and said no goodwill warranty as did the people at pontiac customer relations. (1-800-pmcares should be 1-800-wesayno). The people gm "empowers" to make these decisions are not technically trained such that they can even understand what happened and yet they make the decision that it's tough luck. I wouldn't be so upset about this situation if I had done something that contributed to the failure of the engine. But, I'm a fanatic, I change my oil every 3k and do all the other stuff that's recommended in the owner's manual. There is no way that a competently designed and manufactured engine should experience the type of failure that the engine in my montana had. I've had no choice but to have the engine replaced at a cost of $4,100. I just paid it off in may. The fact that gm has internally recognized a problem with the gasket via internal service bulletins and didn't give their customers this information is malpractice as far as I'm concerned. I'd be in jail if I did this in my work. We pursued action with the bbb auto line but, were turned down for an arbitration hearing based on the mileage.