1999 PONTIAC MONTANA Service Brakes, Hydraulic Problems

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED ABS LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND DEALER SIS NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

ON MARCH 27, 2004 MY WIFE NOTICED THE BRAKE PEDAL FEELING STIFF ON OUR 1999 PONTIAC MONTANA. THE FOLLOWING DAY THE "BRAKE", "ABS" & "TCS" LIGHTS CAME ONE. I CHECKED ALL THE BRAKE SHOES, CALIPERS ETC AND FOUND THEM TO BE IN GOOD ORDER. AFTER HAVING A DIAGNOSTIC CONDUCTED IT WAS EXPLAINED THE ABS AND BRAKE MODULES HAD FAILED. I AM CONCERNED WITH THESE TWO SYSTEMS FAILING SIMULTANEOUSLY.*AK

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.

Mileage: 35,000

HEAT & ENGINE LOW COOLANT LIGHT ON;HEATER BLOWER INOP AT SOME SPEEDS(REPLACE INTAKE GASKET AND BLOWER FAN RESISTOR PAINT PAINT BUBBLED ON HOOD TRANSMISSION HARSH SHIFTING (FAULTY PRESSURE CONTROL SOLENOID) WHEEL NOISE IN BEARING (REPLACE WHEEL HUB ASSEMBLY) BRAKES A.B.S LIGHT ALWAYS COMES ON(LOOSE WIRES;DISCONNECTED WIRE FAULTY SENSOR)ONGOING PROBLEM NOT FIXED(REAR WIPER MOTOR;PASSENGER MIRROR KEEPS SHIFTING;NO HEAT CONTROL IN POSITION HALF WINDOW HALF FLOOR

Mileage: 124,000

WHILE DRIVING, THE MASTER CYLINDER FAILED. WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED, THE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE MASTER CYLINDER. MR *JG

Mileage: 51,224

ROTORS AND PADS WERE FAULTY CAUSING THE FRONT BRAKES TO MAKE NOISE. NLM

WHILE DRIVING DOWN A HILL APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH BRAKE PEDAL UNEXPECTEDLY FELL TO THE FLOOR, AND DRIVER WAS UNABLE TO ACTIVATE BRAKE SYSTEM. VEHICLE WENT THROUGH A RED LIGHT AND CAUSED A CRASH. THREE PEOPLE WERE INJURIED; 2 PEOPLE IN PONTIAC, MONTANA RECEIVED RESTRAINT RELATED CHEST INJURIES, AND 1 PERSON IN ANOTHER VEHICLE WAS HOSPITALIZED WITH UNKNOWN INJURIES. VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN EXAMINED TO DETERMINE CAUSE OF THE BRAKE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION / DOCUMENTATION. *AK

I WRITING TO EXPRESS DISSATISFACTION 2 MAJOR COMPONENT FAILURES OCCURRED ON A VEHICLE WITH LESS THAN 50,000 MILES. THE INTAKE LEAK APPEARS TO BE A KNOWN PROBLEM - BUYER BEWARE. I CAN UNDERSTAND DISC PAD WEAR, BUT NOT MAJOR BRAKE SYSTEM REPLACEMENT/REPAIR. THE MECHANIC ALSO NOTED EXCESSIVE LIFTER NOISE; I FEAR THIS OBSERVATION WILL LEAD TO MORE MAJOR REPAIR WORK. THE DEALER HAS BEEN RESPONSIVE. MY COMPLAINT IS INTENDED FOR THE MANUFACTURERE AND OTHER CONSUMERS. I WILL NOT BE A GOOD REFERRAL FOR PROSPECTIVE MINIVAN OWNERS - ESSENTIALLY MY ENTIRE SOCIAL BASE FITS THE DEMOGRAPHIC FOR MINIVAN BUYERS. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

ANTI SKID SYSTEM MOTOR WAS DEFECTIVE HAD TO HAVE IT REPLACED. CONTACTED DEALER, AND THE DEALER STATED ABS FLUID WAS NOT FLOWING INTO MOTOR. *AK

WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING PLACE AT 1-2 MPH CONSUMER APPLIED BRAKES, PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR. AND VEHICLE HIT THE CURB. CONSUMER THEN APPLIED BRAKES AGAIN, THIS TIME BRAKES ENGAGED. VEHICLE NOT TAKEN TO DEALER YET.*AK

BRAKE PEDAL IS SOFT, AND THERE'S TOO MUCH EMPHASIS ON BRAKE PEDAL BEFORE VEHICLE SLOWS DOWN. DEALER REPLACED BOTH FRONT ROTORS, BLAMED AS A WEAR AND TEAR.*AK

BRAKE PEDAL IS SOFT, AND THERE'S TOO MUCH EMPHASIS ON BRAKE PEDAL BEFORE VEHICLE SLOWS DOWN. DEALER REPLACED BOTH FRONT ROTORS, BLAMED AS A WEAR AND TEAR.*AK

I BELEIVE THAT THIS VAN IS UN-SAFE FOR MY FAMILY TO DRIVE, WITH THE ENGINE PROBLEMS WE HAVE HAD.*AK (DOT NUMBER: 024635 TIRESIZE: P21570R15)

CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO HAVE MASTER CYLINDER REPLACED ON JULY 12TH, 1999. ENTIRE CAR WAS SHAKING AND SMOKING BADLY, DEC. 06, 1999, MORE BRAKE REPAIRS. DEALER SAID RETAINING CLIP BROKE, RETAINING CLIP NOT ON. DEC 14, HAD A LOW BRAKE PEDAL, AND EMERGENCY BRAKES WOULD SOMETIMES GO TO THE FLOOR , AND SOMETIMES THEY WOULD NOT.*AK

CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO HAVE MASTER CYLINDER REPLACED ON JULY 12TH, 1999. ENTIRE CAR WAS SHAKING AND SMOKING BADLY, DEC. 06, 1999, MORE BRAKE REPAIRS. DEALER SAID RETAINING CLIP BROKE, RETAINING CLIP NOT ON. DEC 14, HAD A LOW BRAKE PEDAL, AND EMERGENCY BRAKES WOULD SOMETIMES GO TO THE FLOOR , AND SOMETIMES THEY WOULD NOT.*AK

AT 28,000 MILES, THE GENERAL TIRES THAT CAME W/THE VEHICLE WERE COMPLETELY BALD & HAD TO BE REPLACED. THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO BE 80,000 MILE TIRES & HAD BEEN ROTATED NUMEROUS TIMES, THE COOLING SYSTEM: WHILE ON VACATION, THE COOLING SYSTEM OVERHEATED. TOLD BY DEALER OUT OF TOWN THAT RADIATOR CAP LOOSE & WAS TIGHTENED. 3 WEEKS LATER LOW COOLANT LIGHT KEPT COMING ON & TOOK TO DEALER ON 8/12/00. TOLD COOLANT SYSTEM DIRTY & NEEDED TO BE FLUSHED; $100.00. ALSO TOLD BATTERY THAT CAME W/VEHICLE WAS LEAKING ACID WHICH ALSO RUINED BATTERY POSITIVE CABLE. BOTH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. SAID OUT OF GOODWILL WOULD NOT CHARGE FOR BATTERY CABLE BUT CHARGED $98 FOR BATTERY. BRAKES STARTED TO FAIL @ 11,000 MILES, ROTORS CUT @ 28,000 & TOLD ROTORS NOT UNDER WARRANTY BECAUSE NOT CONSIDERED SAFETY PROBLEM. ROTORS STILL WARPED & NEED CUTTING. BRAKE LIGHT SOCKET WAS MELTED TO LIGHT & WAS FIXED BY DEALER EARLY ON.( DOT NUMBER: ACM3KMI368 TIRE SIZE: P215-70R15 )

THE ABS TCDS AND BRAKE LIGHT APPEARS ON THE DASH AND STAYS LIT. WHEN IT DOES A FUSE HAS BLOWN AND AS A RESULT I HAVE NO BRAKE LIGHT. I DO HAVE RUNNING LIGHTS HOWEVER. I HAVE BEEN TO ROPER GM 9 TIMES THUS FAR AND HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT IT WAS A LOOSE WIRE BY THE BRAKE PEDAL, A FUSE HAS BLOWN, THE WRONG SIZE FUSE WAS USED (THEY REPLACED IT), THE PIG TAIL THAT I INSTALLED TO HOOK UP MY GOLF CART WAS FAULTY (I HAD A NEW ONE INSTALLED AND THEY SAID THAT WAS ALL RIGHT) THEN THEY WERE GOING TO INSTALL A NEW WIRING HARNESS (AS YET I DO NOT KNOW IF THEY DID BECAUSE IT HAS ONLY BEEN A WEEK SINCE I PICKED IT UP AND HAVEN'T TALKED TO THEM YET BUT WILL CALL ON MONDAY. THEY ALSO INSTALLED FUSES ON THE BRAKE LINES AND ALL THAT DID WAS NOT WARN ME THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS WERE NOT WORKING. NOW THAT I HAVE IT BACK FOR THE 9TH TIME WHEN I HOOK THE TRAILERING LIGHTS UP THEY LIGHT UP (TRAILER LIGHTS) WITHOUT THE KEY IN THE VAN EVEN TURNED ON. THEY EVIDENTLY REINSTALLED THIS HARNESS OR FOOLED AROUND WITH IT BECAUSE IT WORKED PERFECTLY BEFORE THEY GOT IT THIS LAST TIME ON TURNING, BRAKING AND RUNNING LIGHTS WITH THE TRAILER. WHEN THEY SAID THEY WERE GOING TO INSTALL A WIRING HARNESS I TOOK IT TO MEAN AND KNOW I AM RIGHT THAT IT WAS GOING ON THE VAN AND NOT THE PIG TAIL. IT TOOK THEM 2 WEEKS TO GET THE HARNESS AND THEY SAID 5 TO 6 HOUSE TO INSTALL IT AND WHEN I GOT THERE THE 8TH TIME THEY DECIDED NOT TO INSTALL IT. ALL IN ALL WE HAVE BEEN FOOTBALLED AROUND 9 TIMES NOW AND IT STILL IS NOT RIGHT. HAVE SOME OF THE WORK ORDERS BUT NOT OTHERS BECAUSE THEY TOLD ME THEY COULDN'T GIVE ME A COPY AS LONG AS THE JOB WAS OPEN AND NOT DFINISHED??? *AK

THE PROBLEM IS NOT OF A FAILURE TYPE, BUT IT IS EXCESSIVE NOISE FROM THE REAR BRAKES. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN LOOKED AT THREE TIMES. THE VEHICLE IS GOING IN FRIDAY THE 25 OF FEBRUARY FOR A ROAD TEST WITH MY HUSBAND AND A TECHNICAN. THIS IS BEING DONE AT OTSE

PREMATURE BRAKE WEAR ON ONE SIDE OF THE BRAKES . DEALER HAS REPLACED THE ROTORS/ CALIPERS, AND PADS SEVERAL TIMES. *AK

PREMATURE BRAKE WEAR ON ONE SIDE OF THE BRAKES . DEALER HAS REPLACED THE ROTORS/ CALIPERS, AND PADS SEVERAL TIMES. *AK

WHEN MAKING A NORMAL STOP DRIVER WILL HEAR A CLICK, AND FEEL BRAKE PEDAL GOING TO FLOOR, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. *AK

WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED PEDAL BECOMES SOFT, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALER HAS INSPECTED THE BRAKES SEVERAL TIMES . *AK

ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM MOTOR PACK FAILED, CAUSING LEAK WHICH RESULTING IN TOTAL LOSS OF BRAKES. ON 8-23-99, THE MOTOR PACK WAS REPLACED, NOW THE BRAKE PEDAL STOPS 1/4 INCH FROM FLOOR. DEALER SAID IT WAS NORMAL. *YC

DID NOT MARK CRASH, HOWEVER COULD NOT STOP IN TIME TO PREVENT HITTING CURB, MY MOTHER HAD BORROWED MY CAR. IF A CAR HAD BEEN PARKED THERE IT WOULD HAVE BEEN HIT. FAILURE WAS DUE TO BRAKE LINE WAS POSITIONED SO THAT WHEN THE WIPERS WERE RUNNING, THE ARM THAT GOES BACK AND FORTH TO ACTUATE THE DRIVERS SIDE WIPER WAS CONTACTING THE LINE IN A SAWING MOTION. THE LINE WAS COVERED WITH A BRAIDED SHIELD OR TUBE OVER THE LINE AND IT WENT THROUGH BOTH THAT AND THE BRAKE LINE. I DID NOT GET A BRAKE WARNING LIGHT UNTIL THE BRAKE FLUID RESEVOIR WAS DOWN TO 1/4 IN. THE BRAKES WENT FROM BEING A LITTLE MUSHY TO NONE AT ALL. HAD I BEEN ON A TRIP ON A RAINY DAY, I COULD HAVE BEEN IN A VERY SERIOUS ACCIDENT. THE DEALERS ATTITUDE WAS VERY DISAPPOINTING. THERE COULD EASILY BE HUNDREDS OF CARS OUT THERE THAT ARE ACCIDENTS WAITING TO HAPPEN. IT TOOK THEM 7 WORKING DAYS TO GET A NEW LINE IN AND REPLACE IT. THEY DID NOT EVEN CLEAN OFF THE BRAKE FLUID THAT WAS SPRAYED IN THE ENGINE AREA FROM THE LEAK. WHEN I ASKED ABOUT IF THEY REPORTED THIS PROBLEM THEY SAID THAT SOMEONE WOULD LOOK INTO IT WHEN THEY FILED THE WARRANTY PAPERWORK THAT NO OTHER INCIDENTS HAVE BEEN REPORTED.

I AM NOT REALLY SURE THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM, SO THIS IS REALLY MORE A CONCERN AND A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION. THE VEHICLE APPEARS TO HAVE ADEQUATE STOPPING ABILITY, HOWEVER, I HAVE FOUND THAT I AM ABLE TO PRESS DOWN THE BRAKE PEDAL ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE FLOOR. I FIND THIS DISCONCERTING BECAUSE I HAVE NOT OWNED ANY VEHICLE THAT DISPLAYED THIS BEHAVIOR UNLESS IT HAD A PROBLEM (I.E. AIR IN THE BRAKE LINES, LEAKS, BROKEN MASTER CYLINDER, ETC.). THE SERVICE MANAGER AT THE DEALERSHIP ASSURES ME THAT THE VEHICLE MEETS ALL THE SPECIFICATIONS PRESCRIBED IN THEIR SERVICE MANUAL AND AS FAR AS THEY ARE CONCERNED, THERE IS NO PROBLEM. I AM LOOKING TO YOUR ORGANIZATION TO FIND OUT IF YOU HAVE HAD SIMILAR REPORTS AND SOME SORT OF REASSURANCE THAT THIS INDEED IS "NORMAL". *AK