10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
5 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
29,524 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

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problem #16

Apr 082014

Montana 6-cyl

  • 96,700 miles
Airbag light came on and transmission shift lever moves but does not engage transmission.

- Griffith, IN, USA

problem #15

Feb 042013

Montana 6-cyl

  • 260,375 miles
I had an accident where a car fish tailed in front of me slid directly in front of mine. I hit the other car while going 40 mph, it was a T*bone collision. My front air bags deployed at the time of collision. After getting out of the vehicle I noticed that the passenger side air bag was laying in the front passenger seat with the air bag still inflated. I do remember that for a long time before today the red airbag light was on. I thought this would cause the air bags not to work. I do have pictures of the damage, and the defect with the air bag.

- Whitehall, OH, USA

problem #14

May 232006

Montana 6-cyl

  • miles
No injuries yet. When I get into my minivan and start the engine, the air bag light comes on sometimes. If I turn off the engine and move the seat a little then restart the van it will sometimes go out. I have gone to several web sites and there are many people experiencing this and they have said that the air bag wires goes under the seat that is why when you move the seat it will some times correct it.

- Manteca, CA, USA

problem #13

Dec 192004

Montana 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 35,330 miles
I owned a 1999 Pontiac Montana van. On the December 19, 2004 around 2300 hours my grandson was driving the van on the us 31 bypass in South bend in. He was headed westbound around 50 to 55 miles per hour. It had rained and snowed some then it froze. A car in front of my grandson spun out of control, and he panicked and hit the brakes, and spun out into the concrete median dividing wall. There was considerable damage to the front of the van. Radiator was shoved into the block with fender, hood and bumper damage. One thing that didn't happen was the air bag did not go off on the drivers side or passenger side of the vehicle. There is a apparent defect in the system. The van has 35,330 miles on it. The insurance company deemed it totaled, and it will be or was salvaged. My grandson had minor injuries to his knee, and a seat belt abrasion to the left side of his neck. Thank you

- South Bend, IN, USA

problem #12

Jul 192004

Montana 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
While driving 35 mph SRS light appeared on the dashboard and remained on. Consumer was able to maintain control of the vehicle, and drove it to the dealer for inspection. Mechanic determined that air bag sensor needed to be replaced.

- Kimberling City, MO, USA

problem #11

Jul 152003

Montana

  • Automatic transmission
  • 44,982 miles
Intake manifold leaking coolant into the engine oil on my 3.4 liter engine. After complaining to Pontiac & the BBB, GM offered to pay 50% of the repair cost. Faulty oxygen sensor & leaking fuel pressure regulator oh December 16, 2003. Since original complaint, keyless remote failed on 7/15/03 & seat belt pretensioner failed causing airbag light to go on, July 28, 2003

- Rosemount, MN, USA

problem #10

Dec 152002

Montana

  • Automatic transmission
  • 35,000 miles
Engine: Intake manifold gasket leaking. I followed thru with a complaint to the BBB and to Pontiac's 800 number. I was told I needed to have the van diagnosed at a GM dealer before anything could be done by Pontiac. My dealer quality Pontiac in cocoa, Florida looked at the van and agreed the intake manifold gasket was leaking (November 2002). Quality informed me it would be about $500 to repair. A phone call to Pontiac's 800 # put pressure on the dealer and they performed the work for $100 plus extra for a coolant flush. The total was around $180. Supposedly the work came with a 12 month 12000 mile warranty. I think the van had 58000 miles on it when this work was performed. Looking back I have a feeling it started leaking earlier. Today we have 70500 miles on the van and the check engine light is coming on. The codes indicate that engine cylinder 5 is misfiring. We had new spark plugs put in and will now try new spark plug wires. If that doesn't fix it then we may need to put in new fuel injectors. My complaints to date with this vehicles are: 1. original tires wore out at 24000 miles $500 2. battery died in the first two years. $0 3. drivers side seat belt retractor failed $ 156 - airbag light came on. 4. intake manifold gasket failed $180 5. sliding power door module failed 4 times. $0 6. front brakes drums warped at ~35000 miles $250. Front rotors cut and pads replaced. 7. windshield buzzed from the day we bought it (2 years) and took us threatening the lemon law to get it fixed.

- Merritt Island, FL, USA

problem #9

Apr 072004

Montana

  • miles
While driving the SRS light appeared on the dashboard and remained on. Also, steering wheel locked while driving. Consumer was unable to unlock the steering wheel. Consumer had vehicle towed to dealer, who replaced the belts and other parts.

- Baltimore, MD, USA

problem #8

Jan 062003

(reported on)

Montana

  • miles
Passenger's side front seatbelt failed to lock when another vehicle plowed into consumer's vehicle front end. Neither of vehicle's frontal or rear airbags deployed. Ph...

- Chicago, IL, USA

problem #7

Jan 062003

(reported on)

Montana

  • miles
While driving vehicle passenger front seatbelt failed to restrain the passenger upon impact, and niether driver nor passenger airbag deployed. Had a front end collision.

- Chicago, IL, USA

problem #6

Aug 072002

Montana

  • miles
Driver's seat belt pretensioner failed causing the air bag light to stay on, the drivers side air bag also came out of the seat. Nlm

- Merrit Island, FL, USA

problem #5

Apr 262000

Montana

  • miles
After being struck head on, the other vehicle was going 35-40mph and the airbags did not open. Seatbelt was on and my face hit the steering wheel and knees hit the dash.

- South Weymouth, MA, USA

problem #4

Feb 182002

Montana

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Recall 02 V 027 000/air bag. A few days after the recall repairs were made, the air bag light illuminated, dealer harry robinson Pontiac, forth smith, ar 501-646-8600, has inspected vehicle and determined that light illuminated because of a problem with the restraint belt retractor.. consumer stated the problem has since been resolved.

- Forth Smith, AR, USA

problem #3

Jan 012002

Montana

  • miles
My car is 3 years old and the seatbelt pretension is causing the airbag light to come on, potentially can cause airbag to engage. Past 36,000 M not covered by warranty and GM will not repair for defect.

- Ashville, OH, USA

problem #2

Feb 212001

Montana

  • miles
Air bag light on intermittently. Twice serviced in the past year. Problems still present. Concerned about safety.

- Richmond, VA, USA

problem #1

Jul 271999

Montana

  • miles
The air bag light came on shortly after purchase while having other electrical system problems. It has been addressed more than 3 times by the dealer, whom I will no longer take my vehicle to for work. The air bag light is still malfunctioning, along with other electrical system failures presently occuring. The air bag light causes me great concern regarding possible unwarranted deployment leading to injury or accident.

- Putnam, CT, USA