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NHTSA recalls, safety ratings, and consumer complaints for the 1998 Pontiac Montana.
NHTSA has not published 5-star crash-test ratings for the 1998 Pontiac Montana. New vehicles are often added to the NCAP rating program after initial release; check nhtsa.gov/ratings for the latest status.
Component: LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: 1997-2001 CHEVROLET VENTURE, PONTIAC MONTANA/TRANSPORT, AND OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE MINI VANS EQUIPPED WITH PASSENGER SIDE POWER SLIDING DOORS THAT WERE SERVICED IN CAMPAIGN 01013 (01V-067) FROM APRIL TO AUGUST 2001. ALSO 2001 CHEVROLET VENTURE, PONTIAC MONTANA, AND OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE MINI VANS EQUIPPED WITH PASSENGER SIDE POWER SLIDING DOORS ASSEMBLED IN JANUARY THROUGH APRIL 2001. THESE VEHICLES HAVE INADEQUATE FRONT WELDS. IF A FRONT WELD FAILS, THE ACTUATOR CAN JAM IN THE UNLATCHED POSITION AND, WHEN THE SLIDING DOOR CLOSES, IT WILL NOT BE LATCHED.
Consequence: IF THIS HAPPENS, THE POWER SLIDING DOOR CAN OPEN WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION, PARTICULARLY WHEN THE VEHICLE ASCENDS A HILL, MAKES A TURN, OR TRAVELS OVER A ROUGH ROAD SURFACE. AN UNRESTRAINED OCCUPANT COULD FALL OUT OF THE VAN AND BE INJURED.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND, IF REQUIRED, INSTALL A NEW POWER SLIDING DOOR UNLATCH ACTUATOR ASSEMBLY. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON OCTOBER 22, 2001. 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 CHEVROLET AT 1-800-222-1020, PONTIAC AT 1-800-762-2737, OR OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-442-6537.
Component: LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
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.
Consequence: 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.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 PONTIAC MONTANA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD INTERMITTENTLY STALL WHEN MAKING TURNS OR WHEN DECELERATING. THE CONTACT TOOK HER VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WHERE SHE WAS ADVISED THAT THEY COULD NOT DIAGNOSIS THE FAILURE WITHOUT IT OCCURRING IN THEIR PRESENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER FIVE ADDITIONAL TIMES BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE DEALER WAS FINALLY ABLE TO DIAGNOSE A TRANSMISSION FAILURE AFTER SIX PREVIOUS FAILED DIAGNOSTICS. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 07/03/14 MA
THE ENGINE JUST TURNED OFF WHILE STARTING TO TURN A CORNER. LOST POWER STEERING AND POWER BREAKS, BUT THE CAR JUST ROLLED ON. PUT CAR IN NEUTRAL AND TURNED KEY IT STARTED AND THEN DROVE NORMALLY. THIS HAS NOW HAPPENED 4 TIMES. THE PREVIOUS OWNER, WHEN CONTACTED, SAID, JUST RESTART THE CAR! DOES THIS RELATE TO GM IGNITION SWITCH RECALL? *TR
WHILE DRIVING AT REDUCED SPEED THROUGH URBAN AREAS, THE VEHICLE WILL INCREASE RPMS AS IF THE ACCELERATOR IS BEING DEPRESSED, EVEN THOUGH THE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN AT A CONSTANT SPEED WITH NO PRESSURE BEING APPLIED TO THE ACCELERATOR. IT IS UNSETTLING, BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL TO INSURE THAT YOU DO NOT RUN INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE IN FRONT OF YOU. THE CRUISE CONTROL IS TURNED OFF WHEN THIS OCCURS. IF THE VEHICLE IS SHUT DOWN AND RESTARTED, THE RPMS RETURN TO NORMAL. IF YOU CONTINUE DRIVING WHEN THIS SITUATION OCCURS, THE ENGINE RETURNS TO NORMAL ONCE YOU ARE ABLE TO INCREASE YOUR SPEED IN LESS CONGESTED AREAS. WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE USED RECENTLY, AND WE HAVE NO KNOWLEDGE OF ANY MAINTENANCE ISSUES. THE RECALLS THAT WE VIEWED ON YOUR WEBSITE DID NOT REFER TO THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE. ANY INSIGHT THAT YOU CAN OFFER WILL BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. *TR
The 1998 Pontiac Montana has 3 NHTSA recalls and 53 consumer complaints on file. The high number of complaints suggests potential reliability concerns — review the complaint details above before purchasing. For the most detailed information about a specific vehicle, decode its VIN using our free decoder above.
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Component: LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MINIVANS EQUIPPED WITH PASSENGER SIDE POWER SLIDING DOORS. THE DOOR CLOSES BUT MAY NOT BE LATCHED. IF THIS HAPPENS, THE POWER SLIDING DOOR CAN OPEN WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION, PARTICULARLY WHEN THE VEHICLE ASCENDS A HILL, MAKES A TURN, OR TRAVELS OVER A ROUGH ROAD SURFACE.
Consequence: AN UNRESTRAINED OCCUPANT COULD FALL OUT OF THE VAN AND BE INJURED.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW UN-LATCH ACTUATOR ASSEMBLY TO THE POWER SLIDING DOOR. THIS RECALL HAS BEEN CONTINUED UNDER SAFETY RECALL 01V-264. 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 CHEVROLET AT 1-800-222-1020, PONTIAC AT 1-800-762-2737, OR OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-442-6537.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 PONTIAC MONTANA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SLIDING DOORS COULD NOT BE OPENED ELECTRONICALLY, ONLY MANUALLY. IN ADDITION, THE GEAR SHIFTER FAILED AND COULD ONLY BE SHIFTED INTO DRIVE OR REVERSE WITH FORCE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 234,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 239,000.
1998 PONTIAC MONTANA,LEFT FRONT TIRE BLEW OUT. THE CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND STRUCK THE MEDIAN BARRIER *BF OHIO TRAFFIC REPORT # 10-0246-90. *JB
I HAVE A 1998 PONTIAC TRANSPORT-MONTANA! THE DEALER INDICATES IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL OF THE 02V28600. I AM HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH THE STEERING AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL. IT IS NOW TO THE POINT I AM GOING TO HAVE TO REPAIR OR REPLACE THE PROBLEM PART AND IT IS OBVIOUS GM KNEW AND SHOULD REMEDY THE PROBLEM. ACCORDING TO THE DEALER MINE IS TOO NEW FOR THE RECALL EVEN THOUGH THEY KNOW THE PROBLEM AND HAVE FIXED IN VEHICLES THAT WERE BUILT ONLY MONTHS BEFORE. EA02033 FIXES THE VEHICLES UP TO OCTOBER 31 1997. MINE IS A 1998 WITH IDENTICAL PROBLEMS SEEING AS IT IS A TRANSPORT WITH MONTANA TRIM. I THINK THEY SHOULD FIX THIS BEFORE IT FAILS AND SOMETHING HAPPENS TO MY WIFE AND KIDS. I SPOKE WITH PONTIAC AFTER TALKING TO THE DEALER AND NEEDS LESS TO SAY I GOT NO PLACE. I KNOW TIMES ARE TOUGH BUT , COME ON YOU ARE MESSING WITH THE HEALTH OF MY FAMILY! *TR
I NOTICED I HAVE BEEN USING A LOT OF ANTIFREEZE IN THE VAN BUT NO LEAKS UNDER IT. I TOOK IT TO THE GARAGE TO CHANGE THE THERMOSTAT AND TO HAVE IT CHECKED OUT. THEY TOLD ME MY HEAD GASKETS ARE BAD AND NEED TO BE REPLACED, WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER HE SAID I NEEDED A NEW RADIATOR TOO! I HAVE BEEN LOOKING ON THE WEB AND FOUND MANY CONSUMERS WITH THE SAME COMPLAINT AS MINE. WHY HAVEN'T THESE 1998 PONTIAC MONTANA'S BEEN RECALLED? *TR
WHILE DRIVING ON MARCH 16,2004 I HIT BLACK ICE IN THE ROAD,WENT OFF THE ROAD, ROLLED OVER AND BOTH FRONT DOORS CAME OPEN BY THEMSELVES AND I SUFFERED A HEAD INJURY THAT I AM STILL RECOVERING FROM DUE TO THE DOORS OPENING. IT COULD HAVE BEEN ALOT MORE SEROIUS BECAUSE DURING ROLLOVER I FELT MY LEGS GO OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE.*AK
WHILE PARKED PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED INADVERTENTLY. AS A RESULT, WINDSHIELD SHATTERED WITHOUT WARNING. *AK
A YEAR AGO,I PUCHASED A PREVIOUSLY OWNED 1998 PONTIAC MONTANA TRANSPORT VAN WITH APPROXIMATELY 58,000 MILES ON IT. I AM A CERTIFICATED AIRCRAFT MECHANIC WITH OVER 10 YRS OF EXPERIENCE. SO, I AM AWARE OF POTENTIONAL PROBLEMS WITH USED VEHICLES. I DID NOT HAVE ANY PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE UNTIL 3 MONTHS AGO. WHEN I HAD A LOW COOLANT LIGHT COME ON. I IMMEDIATLEY CHECKED THE FLUID LEVEL AND IT WAS LOW. I THEN, BEGAN TO LOOK FOR A REASON FOR LOW COOLANT. I FOUND THE COOLANT LEAKING EXTERNALLY OUT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD AREA. I WAS ABLE TO PUT A SOCKET ON THE NEAREST INTAKE BOLTS AND FOUND THAT THEY WERE LOOSE. THIS TEMPORARILY STOPPED THE LEAK. SERVICED ALL THE FLUIDS. I ASSUMED THIS PROBLEM WAS FIXED. I DID NOT NOTICE ANY ENGINE NOISES, NO OTHER PROBLEMS, NOTHING ELSE. TWO WEEKS AGO, THE VAN AND IT LOST POWER MOMENTARILY, THEN A SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT CAME ON. NO OTHER PROBLEMS, VAN RESUMED PERFORMANCE. WHEN I INSPECTED THE VAN AND ITS COMPONENTS. IT HAD A CODE OF 300 WHICH MEANT "RANDOM MISFIRE" IN THE ENGINE. THIS IS A CODE THAT COULD BE GIVEN BY NUMEROUS REASONS. I ALLOWED THE VAN TO IDLE TO OPERATING TEMPERATURES. WHEN SUDDENLY THE ENGINE SHUTS DOWN. I IMMEDIATELY START IT BACK UP. NOW IT HAS NO OIL PRESSURE AND THE VALVES ARE RATTLING. I CONTACTED MY LOCAL PONTIAC DEALER TO SEE IF THEY WERE AWARE OF ANY RECALLS OR SERVICE BULLETINS RELATING TO THIS MODEL. THEY DID NOT KNOW OF ANY. I BEGAN TO RESEARCH THIS PROBLEM. I WAS ALARMED AT WHAT I HAD FOUND. APPARENTLY, THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT IS REPEATED OVER AND OVER WITH THIS PARTICULAR ENGINE AND COOLANT COMBINATION. SPECIFICALLY DEXCOOL, THE ORANGE COOLANT. IT IS SHOWING POSSIBLE INCOMPATIBILITIES BETWEEN THE COOLANT AND THE GASKETS USED ON THE INTAKE MANIFOLDS, HEADS AND OTHER VITAL ENGINE COMPONENTS. ONE OF THE WEB-SITES I RESEARCHED WAS WWW.GM-V6LEMONS.COM. I WOULD LIKE FOR GM TO RADIFY THIS INTO A RECALL( SERVICE BULLETIN) BECAUSE SO MANY OF US HAS SUFFERED FROM THIS POSSIBLE DEFECT.*AK
ON JULY 18, 2003 WE TOOK OUR 1998 PONTIAC MONTANA (58,000 MILES) TO DOMAILLE BUICK-MAZDA-MITSUBISHI IN ROCHESTER, MINNESOTA FOR A 3,000-MILE OIL CHANGE PRIOR TO LEAVING FOR OUR SUMMER VACATION. ON THAT DAY THE MECHANIC INFORMED US ABOUT EVIDENCE OF A LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET LEAK AND THE NEED FOR IMMEDIATE REPAIR. HE ADVISED US NOT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE FOR FEAR THAT THE ENGINE COULD SEIZE UP IN THE MIDDLE OF MAJOR TRAFFIC. THIS COSTLY PROBLEM, OF WHICH WE ARE NOW ACUTELY AWARE, IS FAIRLY COMMON AMONGST THIS LINE OF VEHICLE (CHEVY VENTURE AND OLDS SILHOUETTE). WE HAVE LEARNED VIA A PLETHORA OF INTERNET SOURCES THAT THE INCIDENCE OF THIS PROBLEM OCCURS REGARDLESS OF MILEAGE, AS SOME CONSUMERS ENDURED THIS PROBLEM WHILE STILL UNDER WARRANTY. THE MANUFACTURER RESPONSE TO THIS SERIOUS AND COSTLY MECHANICAL PROBLEM HAS BEEN TO REDESIGN THE GASKET FOR NEWER MODEL VEHICLES. IN THE MEAN TIME, CUSTOMER AFTER CUSTOMER HAS FORKED OUT THE COST OF THESE REPAIRS. WHILE WE SADLY REFER TO OURSELVES AS ONE OF THE LUCKY ONES IN THAT OUR REPAIR BILL TOTALED A MERE $850.00 (SEE ATTACHED) AND WE CAUGHT THE PROBLEM PRIOR TO OUR VACATION, AND THAT WE WERE NOT INJURED AS A RESULT OF THIS PROBLEM, OTHERS HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THEIR ENGINE AT THE COST OF $4000.00 OR MORE. THIS IS A MAJOR CONSUMER CONCERN DUE TO SAFETY. FOR EXAMPLE, ANY GM OWNER COULD EXPERIENCE SUDDEN AND UNEXPLAINED STALLING OF THEIR VEHICLE IN THE MIDST OF TRAFFIC, AS A RESULT OF A LEAKY INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. THE TRAFFIC EXPERIENCE COULD BE ON A COUNTRY ROAD OR ON A MAJOR INTERSTATE GOING 70+ MPH ... ENGINE SEIZING UP AND TRACTOR TRAILERS BEHIND YOU?!?!? THE DISASTROUS POSSIBILITIES ARE ENDLESS.
WHILE DRIVING ALONG HWY 101 THE OVERHEAT LIGHT TURNED ON AND THE TEMPERATURE GAGE JUMPED TO OVER THE LIMIT. WE PULLED OVER AND CHECKED THE VEHICLE, IT WAS NOT HOT. HOWEVER, THE GAGE WOULD NOT RETURN TO NORMAL, CAUSING THE VEHICLE THE CHUG AND HAVE VERY LITTLE DRIVE UNTIL 15 MINUTES DOWN THE ROAD IT KICKED BACK INTO NORMAL LIKE A BAT OUTTA HELL. THIS, ALONG A MOUNTAINOUS FAST MOVING HIGHWAY WITH LOGGING TRUCKS ON MY TAIL; NOT A VERY SAFE SITUATION. ON THIS SAME TRIP, THE PASSENGER WINDOW WOULD NOT GO BACK UP, @ 55MPH AND 40 DEGREES, IT WAS NOT PLEASANT.*AK
BLOWN HEAD GASKET AT 98001 MILES. LEAKING ENGINE COOLANT.*AK
CURRENTLY RUNNING, BUT NOT FOR LONG. LOW COOLANT LIGHT ON LIFTERS CLANGING. 75,000 MILE NOW..... RUNNING LIKE CRAP. I SEE THAT THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ON THIS MATTER WITH MAJOR ENGINE REPAIRS. $$$$$$ WHEN IS GM GOING TO RECALL???????
INTAKE GASKET FAILED ALLOWING COOLANT TO LEAK INTO OIL.68638 MILES VALVE LIFTER KNOCKING.74809 MILES STALLING OF ENGINE COMPLETE LOSS OF BRAKING AND STEERING. DESTRUCTION OF ENGINE.75110 MILES FAILURE OF CAMSHAFT. ENGINE THROWN INTO GARBAGE
Showing 15 of 53 complaints