4.7

definitely annoying
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
22,559 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.

Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 1999 Pontiac Montana:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

problem #25

Jul 152004

Montana 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 63,000 miles
Consumer complained about a transmission problem. When changing gears transmission had a hard shift. When starting from one gear to another there was a winding noise that could be heard when the vehicle was in motion. Consumer felt there should be a recall on vehicle.

- Lake Orion, MI, USA

problem #24

Mar 012001

Montana

  • miles
1999 Pontiac montanna minivan. The transmission repeatedly slams / hammers into gear. Resolution is to stop van and restart vehicle, most times this stops it untill it starts acting up again. This can happen 7 times in a 50 mile trip or only once. This is dangerous to have to stop in heavy traffic to do this. The power door is also a problem. Will not shut properly, have to close 3 times before it will finally close.

- Sardinia, NY, USA

problem #23

Aug 152004

Montana 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 35,000 miles
Intermittently transmission will shift very rough and hard, and transmission emits a whining noise. Once it starts, it continues until the vehicle is turned off and resets. It appears to be happening when the temperature of the vehicle increases to about 210, but it's not consistent. Also had intake manifold gaskets replaces for $700.

- Madison, NJ, USA

problem #22

Nov 252003

Montana

  • Automatic transmission
  • 43,000 miles
While driving transmission does not shift properly in cold weather. Transmission was replaced three times; however, the problem recurred.

- Rockford, MI, USA

problem #21

Mar 112004

Montana

  • 88,000 miles
While driving 15 mph, the vehicle transmission would shift gears without warning. This would cause a distraction to the consumer. The dealership was notified, but did not resolve the problem.

- Kewaunee, WI, USA

problem #20

Jan 062004

Montana 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 78,000 miles
Intake manifold gasket leak. Needed replacement after loss of coolant into oil. Evedently a common defect. $700. Transmission problems at 24K miles. Dealer fixed. At 79K miles needed replacement for $3300.

- Waunakee, WI, USA

problem #19

Dec 282003

Montana 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 70,000 miles
Van shifts hard and often makes a loud "clunking" noise. Dealer recommends ~ $1100 in repairs to the transmission, several non-dealer repair shops recommend rebuilding the transmission for ~ $1400. Problem started several months ago and now seems relatively severe with the service engine soon light now on consistantly. Problem seems to go away if the van is shut off for a small length of time. Another transmission problem and yet no recall. Red

- Davison, MI, USA

problem #18

Oct 082003

Montana 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 53,000 miles
Transmission shifts hard, late at times. Radio/cd screen is garbled loose SRS connectors power lock problems sliding door problems

- Manchester, NJ, USA

problem #17

Jul 312003

Montana

  • Automatic transmission
  • 77,468 miles
Transmission quit running while driving on interstate with no warning.

- South Berwick, ME, USA

problem #16

Oct 142000

Montana 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
I had three transmissions, a cracked head because of over heating, water pump and heat sensor, oil in one cylinder, a short in the rear lights with dealer saying I (should replace the lighting structure on both sides) $200. ABS system sensor front right side wire burned through $500. The $200 and $500 I have not done yet, should I wait until it's an even $1000 more to spend more money? there are more problems.

- Loganville, GA, USA

problem #15

Feb 272003

Montana 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 56,500 miles
I have a '99 Pontiac Montana with GM's infamous V6 3.4L engine. Just had the intake manifold gasket job at 56.5K miles. This is a noted problem, with sudden over heating and the car stopped on my wife. Also the vehicle is on its third tranmission.

- Madison, AL, USA

problem #14

Oct 282002

Montana

  • miles
Complete transmission failure replacement cost $2600. This was caused by an internal radiator failure, which transmission fluid into the engine coolant, destroying engine gaskets and requiring $1700 in engine repairs. That's $4300 in one month, on a four year old vehicle. Note the number of transmission problems reported on this vehicle. Why no recall?

- Xenia, OH, USA

problem #13

May 202002

Montana

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
While driving vehicle will hesitate to shift gears, and will shake if suddenly stopped.dealer contacted.

- Westland, MI, USA

problem #12

Dec 202001

(reported on)

Montana

  • miles
No summary listed for above vehicle.

- Fredericksburg, VA, USA

problem #11

Nov 032001

Montana

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
We have occasionally had problems with the transmission shifting hard, whining & banging into gear-this goes away if you turn the vehicle off & then back on. It occurrs at slower speeds not highway speeds & seems to happen only on short trips or longer trips with several stops. Recently there was a coolant leak in the system, which a local shop "repaired" for $67 the first week of October. Almost two weeks later the vehicle began running hot again & we were then told it needed a new head gasket. We had the vehicle back for a week when after getting off the highway & stopping for a red light the vehicle started to stall & the low oil pressure light came on. After parking the car & restarting it -it started making a horrible sound & we had it towed in to the nearest Pontiac dealer. There we were told that the head gasket shouldnt have needed to be replaced that those engines almost never leak from the head gasket but apparantly they commonly leak from the intake valves. In addition, they said that the garage that did the head gasket did something wrong which caused a blockage in the engine & prevented oil from getting into the top of the engine. They said there were two bolts that were loose & eventually found to be sheared off & that one of the outer heades-not the cylinder heads - were cracked. I have no way of finding out what actually caused the engine failure. I found no technical service bulletins on the head gaskets or the intake valves. Rif the engine had to heads a ardiastiotnetrstarting ccor.

- Stewartstown, PA, USA

problem #10

Aug 292001

(reported on)

Montana

  • miles
Purchaused used (6 months old) have now owned auto for 2 years. At 38000 miles transmission starting shifting harsh at times, had to replace transmission. Engine has started acting as if it is going to stall for no apparent reason. Radio has been replaced 3-4 time, due to garbbled display. Most recently however, I had door locks repaired, and was told that the wires to the locks were damaged due to the water intrusion caused by the air conditioning leak into the auto instead of outside the auto.

- Cedarville, OH, USA

problem #9

Mar 242000

Montana

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
While driving engine check light will come on, and transmission roughly will shift gear. Vehicle at dealer, they will flush fuel injectors.

- Jerome, MI, USA

problem #8

Dec 011999

Montana

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Vehicle has been in dealer's repair shop over 6 times for transmission. Dealer replaced transmission, and vehicle jumps and jerks.

- Emporia, VA, USA

problem #7

Feb 092001

(reported on)

Montana

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Vehicle will drift backward when stopped on hill in drive gear(forward)and without brake being depressed. Same situation will happen when in reverse gear pointing downhill when brake is let off (the vehicle will coast in forward direction). I feel the transmission should catch and prevent this motion. All other automatics that I have driven have not exhibitted this problem.

- Allison Park, PA, USA

problem #6

Oct 231999

Montana

  • miles
The van has stall/hesistated in traffice while traveling 60mph. There have been 8 visits to try and correct this problem. Spark plug replaced, pistons replaced, motor replaced and transmission replaced and transmission has been worked on for a second time.

- Mesquite, TX, USA

Read the next 5 complaints »