1998 Pontiac Montana Problems & Complaints

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

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

WE PURCHASED THE 1998 PONTIAC MONTANA IN MARCH 1998. SINCE WE PURCHASED THE CAR, WE HAVE HAD THE RIGHT TURN SIGNAL SOCKET REPLACED THREE TIMES DUE TO MALFUNCTION. IN OCTOBER 2002, WE TOOK THE AUTOMOBILE IN FOR PROBLEMS NOTED. IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT WE NEEDED TO REPLACE THE TURN SIGNAL SOCKET AGAIN, REPLACE THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR, REPLACE THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDES DOOR POWER WINDOW MOTORS, REPLACE THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET, AND THEY WORKED ON THE SLIDING DOOR FOR THE FIFTH TIME DUE TO A RECALL. THE TOTAL ESTIMATE FOR THE PENDING WORKS CAME TO $3500.00 PLUS. I CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER WITH ME CONCERNS, BUT MY CONCERNS FELL ON DEAF EARS. ALL THE AGREED TO HELP ME WITH WAS THE PRICE ON THE PARTS OF THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR AND THAT WE WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE LABOR AND ALL OF THE MAJOR REPAIRS/REPLACEMENTS BECAUSE THEY FELT THAT WE DID NOT HAVE ANYMORE WARRANTY ON THE AUTOMOBILE. THE SERVICE MANAGER ADVISE ME TO TRADE IN THE VEHICLE SINCE IT WOULD BE EXPENSIVE TO DO THE JOBS REQUIRED, BUT WE THOUGHT IT NOT TO AT THIS TIME. WE EVEN SUGGESTED THAT THERE MIGHT NOT BE A NATIONAL RECALL ON THE ITEMS, BUT WE STRONGLY FEEL THAT THIS PARTICULAR VAN HAS A DEFECT. WE ARE ASKING YOU TO PLEASE HELP US TO RESOLVE OUR CONCERNS.

WE HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH BOTH THE LEFT AND RIGHT POWER WINDOWS. THE RIGHT POWER WINDOW STARTED STICKING HALF WAY UP. IT WAS REPAIRED AT 36,000 52,000 AND 80,000 MILES. THE SYMPTOMS WERE ALWAYS THE SAME EXCEPT AT 80,000 THE WINDOW STUCK DOWN (DURING A VERY RAINY WEEKEND). IT WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRENTY AND WE HAD TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR. NOW AT 90,000 MILES THE DRIVER WINDOW IS STICKING HALF WAY UP AGAIN. IT WILL TOTALLY FREEZE SOON. THE PASSANGER WINDOW, WHICH WAS ALIGNED AND LUBED AT 80,000 MILES IS STUCK IN THE UP POSITION. WE CAN'T MAKE IT GO DOWN AT ALL. HELP

THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION ON OUR MONTANA FAILED WITHOUT WARNING AND NOW NEEDS TO BE REPLACED TO THE TUNE OF $2500. I WAS DIRECTED TO THIS SITE AND SEE NUMEROUS TRANSMISSION FAILURES ON VARIOUS MODEL YEAR MONTANA/TRANSSPORTS. WHY IS THERE NO RECALL ON THESE? THIS VEHICLE WAS NEVER USED FOR TOWING, ON HILLY AREAS, ETC. ESSENTIALLY A TYPICAL USAGE OF SOME CITY, SOME HIGHWAY. ONLY 68,000 MILES AND NOW THIS?*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. GM HAS A VEHICLE OWNER SATISFACTION PROGRAM INITIATED IN RESPONSE TO THE PROBLEMS NOTED WITH THEIR INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. GM REDESIGNED THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET AND REPLACED THE GASKET AT NO COST TO THE OWNERS OF 1999-2003 MODEL CARS. THIS REPAIR WAS NEITHER COVERED UNDER THE ORIGINAL WARRANTY OR THE SERVICE BULLETIN ISSUED TO THE DEALER IDENTIFYING THE PROBLEM. GM HAS BEEN UNRESPONSIVE TO MY COMPLAINT. I BELIEVE THAT I SHOULD BE REIMBURSED FOR THE COST OF THIS REPAIR, WHICH EXCEEDED $800.00. *LA

THE AUTOMATIC SLIDING DOOR CONTINUES TO OPEN AND CLOSE. WHEN STARTING UP THE VEHICLE AND PUTTING IT INTO GEAR, THE DOORS STOP OPENING AND CLOSING. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED A RECALL REPAIR WAS PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. IN FOR THE DOORS TO OPERATE PROPERLY, THE OVERRIDE BUTTON HAD TO BE ENGAGED. *JB *NM

CAR STALLING AT ANY SPEED. CAR STALLED,ENGINE DESTROYED.*AK

1998 MONTANA VAN WOULDN'T CRANK AT WORK, THEN WAITED AND IT CRANKED. SECOND TIME IT STOPPED IN ROAD, THEN CRANKED UP. LATER TRIED TO CRANK AND IT WOULDN'T. HAD TO TOW VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP, WHO STATED THAT WIRES WERE CORRODED THAT AFFECTED SENSORS. *JB

THE ENGINE LOCKED UP. DEALER NOTIFIED. PH

BOTH HEADLAMP LENS FELL OFF THE REFLECTORS, THEN BULBS BURNT OUT DUE TO SNOW CONTACTING BULBS.DEALER SAYS ITS A COMON PROPLEM BUT PONTIAC WILL NOT ADDRESS THE ISSUE.

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE BRAKE ROTORS ARE WEARING AND WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES THE VEHICLE WILL HAVE A HEAVY VIBRATION AND EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALER NOTIFIED. MR

REAR SHOCK ABSORBER ON PONTIAC MONTANA LEAKED OF FLUID PER HAGGERTY PONTIAC TECH.*AK

SPORT MODEL. HEADLIGHT LENS POPPED OFF. MANUFACTURER AGREED TO PAY 50% DUE TO AGE OF VEHICLE. *TT

VEHICLE SHAKES AT ANY SPEED. CAUSE IS UNKNOWN. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

VEHICLE CAN BE PUT INTO GEAR WITHOUT APPLYING THE BRAKES . DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

RECALL 01V264000; UPON BEING A PART OF A RECALL CONSUMER IS STILL EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. DOOR CONTINUOUSLY OPENS, AND LOCKS DO NOT LOCK. TOOK VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER. PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN RESOLVED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

FUEL LINE DISCONNECTED BY THE FUEL FILTER. QUICK CONNECTION FAILED.*AK

WHILE DRIVING ON A SNOWY DAY, MOISTURE GOT INTO SEAL AROUND LENS ON HEADLIGHTS, AND HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT. DEALER CONTACTED.*AK BOTH HEADLIGHT COVERS HAD BAD SEALS AROUND THEM, THE SNOW GOT IN BETWEEN THE LENS AND THE SEAL AND BURNED BOTH HEADLIGHTS OUT. *SLC

THIS VEHICLE HAS BLOWN A HEAD GASKET AT 50,000 MILES WHICH COULD HAVE CAUSED A FIRE OR ACCIDENT AND I THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN A GM SEVICE CENTER APPROXIMATELY 10 TIMES WITHIN THE PAST 18 MOS FOR MECHANICAL PROBLEMS OR DEFECTS AND I FEEL LIKE IM DRIVING A TICKING TIME BOMB WAITING FOR SOMETHING TO EXPLODE DUE TO ALL THE PROBLEMS I HAVE HAD. *AK

ELECTRICAL SLIDING DOOR WILL OPEN AND SHUT ON ITS OWN, SENSOR ON DOOR DOES NOT WORK WHEN ENTERING OR EXITING THE DOOR.*AK

BOTH HEADLIGHT LENSES FELL OFF WITHIN SIX MONTHS APART WHILE DRIVING; DEALER NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION CONCERNING THIS MATTER.*AK

THE CENTER SEATBELT IN THE SECOND ROW OF SEATS PULLS OUT, THEN LOCKS. YOU CANNOT RELEASE IT TO GET MORE SLACK. THE DEALER WAS TOLD ABOUT IT BUT SAYS IT WORKS LIKE IT IS SUPPOSED TO. IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD BECAUSE A YOUNG CHILD COULD NOT RELEASE THE BELT; IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT REQUIRING IMMEDIATE EXITING OF THE VEHICLE THIS OCCUPANT MAY OR MAY NOT BE ABLE TO RELEASE THEMSELVES FROM THE RESTRAINT. THE INERTIA WHEEL SHOULD NOT LOCK UNLESS THE BELT IS "JERKED" FORWARD SUCH AS IN THE CASE OF AN ACCIDENT. IT SHOULD ALLOW FOR SLACK TO BE GIVEN UNDER NORMAL CIRCUMSTANCES - ALSO, IF THE OCCUPANT MOVES SUCH THAT THE BELT TIGHTENS IT BECOMES INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT TO RELEASE THE RESTRAINT.*AK

OCCURRENCE HAPPENED DURING A HALE STORM. WHILE MY WIFE AND DAUGHTER WERE DRIVING TO THE DOCTORS OFFFICE ON A BUSY 8-LANE HIGHWAY , IT BEGAN TO RAIN AND HALE. WHEN MY WIFE TURNED ON THE WIPERS , THE WIPER ARMS ROSE BUT WERE NOT SYNCRONIZED. THE RESULTS WERE THAT THE ARMS COLLIDED WITH ONE ANOTHER BENDING THEM AND RENDERING THEM USELESS IN A MATTER OF SECONDS..IN THESE FEW SECONDS MY FAMILY WAS PLACED IN A LIFE THREATENING SITUATION . THIS IS THE SECOND SUCH OCCURANCE IN 9 MONTHS.*AK

BOTH CLIPS ON INTEGRATED CHILD SEATS ARE BROKEN. *AK

98 PONTAIC TWIN SPORT; BOTH TIRES ARE MAKING A THUMPING NOISE, TOOK TO MECHANIC, AND HE SAID THAT TIRE COULD FALL APART. COINSUMER FELT UNSAFE WITH TIRES. TIRE SIZE P215/70R15 AND DOT # ACM3CL13700 AND ACM3CL1118. *AK

HAVE EXPERIENCED MULTIPLE FAILURES OF THE SAFETY HARNESS LATCHING MECHANISM ON LEFT AND CENTER INDIVIDUAL BUCKET SEATS IN THE MIDDLE ROW (IMMEDIATELY BEHIND DRIVER). THE CENTER SEAT FAILURE WAS RECORDED WITH THE CENTER SEAT MOVED TO THE LEFT SIDE POSITION. THE FAILURE MODE IS THAT THE 3-POINT HARNESS ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE WILL RELEASE UNEXPECTEDLY WHEN THE OCCUPANT SHIFTS POSITION IN THE SEAT. THE UNXPECTED RELEASE OCCURS WHEN PRESSURE IS EXERTED "OUTWARD" ON THE HARNESS AGAINST THE RELEASE BUTTON ON THE RECEIVER PORTION OF THE HARNESS (SECTION BOLTED TO THE SEAT). A COSMETIC PLASTIC COVER ON THE METAL PLATE ON THE BELT PORTION OF THE HARNESS APPARENTLY WILL DEPRESS THE RELEASE BUTTON ON THE RECEIVER CAUSING THE HARNESS TO RELEASE UNEXPECTEDLY. NEITHER THE RECEIVER OR THE BELT SECTION OF THE HARNESS APPEARS TO BE DAMAGED OR WORN SIGNIFICANTLY. THE RELEASE BUTTON ON THE RECEIVER PORTION OF THE HARNESS WILL RELEASE WHEN DEPRESSED ONLY (APPROXIMATELY) .09-.13 INCHES. WAS PLANNING TO REPLACE THE RECEIVER ON THE LEFT SEAT, ASSUMING A DEFECTIVE PART, WHEN THE RECEIVER ON THE CENTER SEAT DEMONSTATED THE SAME PROBLEM. CONTACTED DEALER AND GENERAL MOTORS CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE HOTLINE (AT RECOMMENDATION OF DEALER DUE TO MILEAGE ON VEHICLE). NO ASSISTANCE GIVEN. REQUESTED A FORMAL COMPLAINT BE FILED WITH GENERAL MOTORS. GM REQUESTED THAT A REPORT OF THE INCIDENT BE REPORTED WITH NHTSA. END OF REPORT.

BATTERY FAILED. YH

BRAKES FAILED AFTER CONTINUOUS HIGH PITCH SQUEAL. YH

RADIO FAILED. YH

THE BUCKLE ON THE PASSENGER FRONT SEAT BELT FAILED. YH

THE ELECTRICAL SLIDING DOOR MALFUNCTIONED DUE TO THE DOOR MODULE FAILURE. YH

WHILE DRIVING HOME, TRAVELING 40 MPH WITH SNOW ON ROAD AND DARK, DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. CONTACTED DEALER. DEALER MADE THE NECESSARY REPAIRS. THEN, TWO WEEKS LATER ON 12-FEB-2000, THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED. *AK

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE STREET WHEN I NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD OF MY VEHICLE. I PULLED OFF OF THE ROAD INTO A PARKING LOT AND RAN INSIDE A BUSINESS TO CALL FOR HELP. WITHIN 2 MINUTES MY VEHICLE WAS ENGLUFED IN FLAMES. I CALLED 911. THE VEHICLE IS A TOTAL LOSS. WE HAD JUST HAD THE VEHICLE SERVICED AND OIL CHANGED A MONTH AGO. *AK

WHILE TRAVELING 45 MPH, VEHICLE SWERVED TO AVOID ANOTHER VEHICLE, AND RAN INTO A TELEPHONE POLE. NEITHER DRIVERSIDE AIR BAG NOR PASSENGER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. *AK *ML

THE DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER DOES NOT CLEAR FROST/FOG FROM PASSENGER SIDE WINDSHIELD & WINDOW RESULTING IN DANGEROUS DRIVING CONDITION WITH EVEN ONLY DRIVER IN VEHICLE. PROBLEM IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS WITH 7-8 PASSENGERS IN VEHICLE. DEALER HAS SEEN "SEVERAL" OTHERS; CONDITION "NORMAL." TWO TRIPS TO DEALER AND PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. SAME PROBLEM REPORTED ODI ID 852577 1998 CHEVROLET VENTURE ON 02/12/2000. PROBLEM IS DUE TO: 1. POOR ENGINEERING DESIGN RESULTS IN TOO SMALL DEFROSTER OPENING FOR SIZE OF WINDSHIELD 2. AS A RESULT, AIRFLOW IS DIRECTED TOWARDS DRIVERSIDE TO CLEAR DRIVER'S SIDE, LEAVING PASSENGER SIDE WITH LITTLE OR NO AIRFLOW. RESULTING IN VERY DANGEROUS CONDITION!!! HELP!!!!!*AK

MOTOR, ACTUATOR. COMPUTER.

LEFT REAR AIR PUMP. PASSENGER SLIDING DOOR--OPENS AUTOMATICALLY WHEN CLOSED.

N4800 COMPUTER.