2000 PONTIAC MONTANA Electrical System Problems

THE CAR WOULD START MISSING, LIKE THERE WAS A SHORT IN THE ELECTRICAL AND THEN THE CAR WOULD SHUT OFF THE AND I WOULD HAVE TO SIT THERE FOR 1 TO 2 HRS AND THEN IT WOULD START AND RUN FOR A WHILE AND SHUT OFF AGAIN, THE LAST 2 TIMES THIS HAPPEN I HAD TO HAVE A TOW TRUCK PICK IT UP AND TAKE IT TO MY HOME WHERE IT HAS SAT EVER SEANCE 2008. *TR

Mileage: 182,000

WE HAVE A 2000 PONTIAC MONTANA, MY LITTLE GIRL AND I WERE DRIVING HOME FROM THE STORE THAT'S 15 MIN FROM HOME I NOTICED A BURNING SMELL, THEN SMOKE CAME POURING OUT OF THE DASH BUY THE TIME WE GOT OUT THE SECURITY LITE WAS ON CHECK MOTOR LIGHT WAS ON AND IT WOULD ONLY GO TEN MILES AN HOUR, SO THE NEXT DAY I TOOK APART THE DASH AND FOUND THE WIRING BURNT UP, AND NOW I CANT EVEN START IT SO IM STUCK WITH A BROKEN DOWN VAN, THAT I JUST HAD A $600 DOLLAR FIX SO NOW IM OUT $600 AND A VAN. I CANT FIX IT BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TOO SO ALL OLD PARTS ARE AVAILABLE FOR SOME $$. *TR

Mileage: 172,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 PONTIAC MONTANA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER DRIVING AND PARKING THE VEHICLE FOR 10 MINUTES SHE NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE DASHBOARD. SHE TRIED TO PUT THE FIRE OUT WITH WATER BUT WHEN SHE DID FLAMES STARTED TO COME OUT OF THE VENTS. WIRES WERE MELTED AND THE HEATING SYSTEM AND THE CD PLAYER WERE ALSO DESTROYED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT RESPONDED AND PUT THE FIRE OUT. THE POLICE WERE NOT CALLED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN CONTACTED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 158,171. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN.

Mileage: 158,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 PONTIAC MONTANA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER SLIDING DOOR DOES NOT LOCK. THE DEALER STATED THAT NO RECALLS WERE AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE HAS BEEN ONGOING FOR FIVE DAYS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A BODY SHOP, BUT THE MECHANIC COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MECHANIC REMOVED THE DOOR FROM THE VEHICLE. WHEN IT WAS PLACED BACK ON, THE FAILURE STOPPED FOR ONLY A FEW DAYS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 113,546 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 113,600. UPDATED 09/01/09. *LJ THE POWER DOORS WOULD NOT LOCK. UPDATED 09/04/09.*JB

Mileage: 113,546

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, ALL OF THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER PANEL WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER, WHO DETERMINED THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. AFTER THE REPLACEMENT, THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS AGAIN INSPECTED BY THE DEALER WHO PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST, WHICH DID NOT PRODUCE ANY FAILURE CODES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED.

Mileage: 87,000

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, ALL OF THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER PANEL WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER, WHO DETERMINED THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. AFTER THE REPLACEMENT, THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS AGAIN INSPECTED BY THE DEALER WHO PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST, WHICH DID NOT PRODUCE ANY FAILURE CODES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED.

Mileage: 87,000

AFTER TWO RECALLS FROM GM OVER SEVERAL MONTHS. DEALER AVOIDS REPAIRS. RIGHT ELEC. SLIDING DOOR RECALLED FOR HAZARDOUS INSIDE HANDLE. COULD BRAKE FINGERS. NO CORRECTION WAS BEEN ATTEMPTED. DEALER AVOIDS ORDERING PARTS SO REPLACEMENT CAN'T TAKE PLACE. *NM

Mileage: 60,000

NEW MARCH 2000. VAN ALWAYS RECEIVES REGULAR MAINTENANCE. THE FOLLOWING IS A HISTORY OF REPAIRS: 4/00 WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD NOT RETURN TO CLOSED POSITION - DEALER FIXED. 12/03 (37,179 MI) TPS SENSOR BREAKING DOWN CAUSING IDLE TO SURGE - DEALER REPLACED THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR, COMPLETED REPROGRAM ($255.14) 12/03 (37,182 MI) AIR BAG LIGHT COMING ON - DEALER REPLACED RIGHT FRONT SEAT BELT BUCKLE UNDER WARRANTY (LABOR $134.51). 12/27/03 (37,555 MI) WAS IN COLLISION (OTHER VEHICLE PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF ME AS I WAS COMING DOWN SMALL OVERPASS, HE WAS CITED). MY VAN SUSTAINED $4,500 IN FRONT END DAMAGES, HIS CAR WAS TOTALED. MY AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. NO ONE INJURED. 5/04 (40,983 MI) REAR HATCH WOULD NOT STAY UP - DEALER REPLACED BOTH HATCH PROPS ($258.73) 7/04 (43,437 MI) VAN WAS "SHIFTING" HARD, WOULD NOT PICK UP SPEED CORRECTLY. DEALER REPLACED PRESSURE CONTROL SOLENOID, FLUSHED TRANSMISSION AND REPLACED FRONT BRAKE PADS AND MACHINED ROTORS ($986.48). 12/04 (48,284 MI) VAN WOULD NOT START ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. KNOWN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP REPLACED BATTERY, CHECKED OIL LEAK. ($114.90). 4/05 (51,646 MI) LOW COOLANT LIGHT /CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMING ON. SAME INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP REPLACED INTAKE GASKETS, THERMOSTAT, SPARK PLUGS AND FILTER, AND OIL PUMP SHAFT 0-RING. CORRECTED AIR BAG LIGHT ($791.03) 6/05 PURCHASED NEW TIRES AND WERE TOLD NEEDED ALL NEW TIE RODS. WE WENT ON VACATION JULY 9, 2005 (OHIO TO VIRGINIA AND BACK). CONCERNED THAT THE VAN SHOOK TERRIBLY WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES ON LONG DOWNGRADES THROUGH WV AND VA. WE WERE TOWING NOTHING. THE VERY NEXT DAY, AFTER RETURNING HOME, THE VAN WOULD NOT START CONSISTENTLY. 7/05 (56,533 MI) TOLD THAT THE COMPUTER CRASHED. SAME INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP REPLACED ECM, CRANK SENSOR, IGN MODULE AND MACHINED FRONT ROTORS WHICH IF YOU REMEMBER WERE JUST DONE IN JULY OF 2004 ($982.02). AFTER RESEARCHING THE TRACK RECORD OF PONTIAC MONTANA, HAVE FOUND THAT MANY CONSUMERS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS. *NM

Mileage: 37,182

THE DOOR COMES UNLATCHED FROM THE PONTIAC MONTANA MINI VANS W/O POWER SLIDER ALSO. SUBSEQUENTLY MY VAN DOOR PASSANGER SIDE CAME OPEN SLAMMING OFF HALF ON THE ROAD AND THEN REMAINED ATTACHED TO THE TOP BUT THE TRACK WHEEL SNAPPED OFF, MAKING IT INPOSSIBLE TO PUT ON WITH OUT TOOLS AND THE MUSCLES TO EVEN LIFT IT. *AK

Mileage: 88,852

I WOULD LIKE TO REPORT A POSSIBLE MANUFACTURE DEFECT OF MY 2000 PONTIAC MONTANA. THERE WAS ELECTRICAL DAMAGE WITHIN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT DUE TO THE FACTORY (WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS ASSEMBLED) MISS ROUTING OF THE HARNESS FROM THE POSITIVE CABLE OF THE BATTERY. THE HARNESS WAS FOUND, BY THE MECHANIC, TO BE ROUTED OVER THE AIR CONDITIONER, WHICH IN-TIME BURNED THROUGH TO THE BARE WIRES, WHICH IN-TURN SHORTED OUT CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE PCM AND BATTERY PLUS BURNED OUT MOST OF THE WIRING CONNECTED TO THE POSITIVE CABLE OF THE BATTERY. ACCORDING TO THE MECHANIC WHO PREFORMED THE REPAIRS, THIS PROBLEM APPEARS TO BE A MANUFACTURE DEFECT AND CONSIDERING THE YEAR AND MILEAGE OF THE VEHICLE THIS SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPEN. THE PCM, BATTERY AND WIRING HAD TO BE REPLACED, WITH NEW HARNESS; IN ADDITION THE MECHANIC HAD TO RE-ROUTE THE HARNESS UNDER THE ENGINE IN ORDER TO PREVENT IT FROM BURNING UP AGAIN IN THE FUTURE. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AND HAD TO BE TOWED TO A LOCAL PONTIAC DEALER. TOTAL REPAIR BILL $823.00 NOT INCLUDING TOWING.*AK

GAS GAUGE FLUCTUATED AND ANTIFREEZE LEAKING. DIAGNOSED AS LEAKING INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET AND WIRING HARNESS FOR FUEL ASSEMBLY WAS CORRODED DUE TO EXPOSURE TO MOISTURE - REPAIR BILL $1400. *JB

THE HEADLIGHTS AND INTERIOR LIGHTS FLICKERED DUE TO A GROUND SCREW FAILURE. *AK THIS OCCURRED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. THE SERVICE DEALER WAS AWARE OF THE TYPE OF PROBLEM. *SCC *JB

CONSUMER NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE REAR VENTS. DEALER DETERMINED THE REAR WIRING HARNESS HAD MELTED, CAUSED BY WATER INTRUSION IN REAR QUARTER PANEL. TS

IGNITION SHUTS OFF WITH NO WARNING, SPEED SLOW OR FAST. USUALLY RESTARTS AFTER TURNING OFF IGNITION, NOT ALWAYS. INFO CENTER DISPLAYS "SECURITY" OR "SERVICE TRACTION SOON". IGNITION SWITCH REPLACED 2X. DT

VEHICLE WILL STALL AT ANY SPEED WITH CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALERSHIP HAS MADE CHANGES/REPAIRS WHICH WILL EVENTUALLY REOCCUR FROM WEEKS TO SIX MONTHS. STALLING STARTED AT 7,000 MILES. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK

A FIRE STARTED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WHILE PARKED. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFROMATION.*AK

VAN STALLED OUT TWO TIMES WITHIN A 3 WEEK PERIOD. AFTER STALLING I WOULD TRY TO START IT AND IT WOULD TURN OVER BUT WOULD NOT START. BOTH TIMES I HAD IT TOWED TO MY AUTO REPAIR SHOP. BOTH TIMES I RECEIVED A CALL FROM THEM AND THEY SAID WHILE THEY WERE PERFORMINGB A DIAGNOSTIC TEST IT WOULD START. THEY RETURNED IT TO ME AND I HAD THE SAME PROBLEM ALL OVER AGAIN.*AK

THE VAN HAS HAD MULTIPLE AIR BAG SYSTEM FAILURES AND THE DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN UNABLE TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM. GM REFUSES TO REPURCHASE THE VEHICLE EVEN THOUGH IT HAS A HISTORY OF ABS AND AIR BAG FAILURES. THE GM DISTRICT MANAGER ADMITTED THAT THEY HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE CENTRAL COMPUTER SYSTEM ON THE 2000 MONTANA. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE ORIGINAL COMPUTER SYSTEM AND THE REPLACEMENT ALSO FAILED. WE ARE PARTICULARLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE AIR BAG FAILURES. WE WILL NEVER KNOW IF THEY WORK UNTIL WE NEED THEM. AT THAT POINT IT'S A LITTLE LATE TO DISCOVER THAT THEY DON'T WORK. DO MONTANAS HAVE A HIGH RATE OF AIR BAG FAILURES DURING ACCIDENTS?

WHILE TRAVELING AND WHEN RUNNING OVER TRASH ON HIGHWAY FUEL WIRES BECOME UNDONE, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL. *AK THE WIRING UNDER THE BODY BETWEEN FRONT TO BACK FRAME SUPPORT AND FUEL TANK WAS EXPOSED TO ROAD HAZARD. *YH

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED STALLING, DEALER REPAIRED THE HARNESS LOCATED UNDER THE DRIVER'S SIDE, THERE WAS A SPACE THAT WAS TOO LARGE FOR THE CONNECTOR THAT WOULD CAUSE IT TO ARK AND STALL THE VEHICLE. *SLC

SEVERAL DAYS PRIOR TO ENGINE OVERHEATING EXPERIENCED ELECTRICAL AFFECTING THE RADIO -- THEN ENGINE OVERHEATED REQUIRING VEHICLE TO BE TOWED -- TWO MORE TIME THAT SAME WEEK AFTER BEING REPAIRED EACH TIME THE ENGINE OVERHEATED -- ON THIRD TIME MFG. REPLACED ENGINE COMPLETELY. THREE WEEKS AFTER NEW ENGINE INSTALLED THE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH RADIO REOCCURRED AS WELL AS INTERIOR & EXTERIOR LIGHTS FLICKERING FOLLOWED A FEW DAYS LATER WITH THE "NEW" ENGINE OVERHEATING. IN REPAIR SHOP NOW FOR FOURTH REPAIR.*AK

VEHICLE STALLS WHILE DRIVING, AND WILL INTERMITTENTLY START. ALSO, SLIDING DOORS LOCK UP. DEALER INSPECTED VEHICLE & MOVED THE SPARK PLUG OVER THINKING IT WAS CAUSING THE DISRUPTION. *AK

WE WERE DRIVING OUR BRAND NEW MONTANA VAN AT ABOUT 25 MILES PER HOUR WHEN THE ENGINE JUST STOPPED. WE HAD ALL OTHER ELECTRICAL WORKING (DOORS, WINDOWS, TV) BUT THE MOTOR WOULD NOT TURN OVER. IT WAS DIFFICULT TO STEER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THIS WAS AT 731 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. WE HAD IT TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP AND AFTER 3 DAYS THEY CLAIMED IT WAS A BLOWN FUSE. WE PICKED UP THE VAN AND TRIED TO DRIVE IT HOME. WE MADE IT 40 MILES AND IT DIED AGAIN. APPEARS TO BE THE SAME PROBLEM. HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP IN OUR HOME TOWN AND THEY HAVE HAD IT FOR 4 DAYS AND STILL CAN NOT FIND OUT WHAT HAS CAUSED IT TO STOP. IN THE MEANTIME, THEY ARE RACKING UP THE MILES ON OUR NEW VEHICLE AND EVEN IF THEY GIVE US THE VAN BACK, WE ARE NOT SURE WE WILL EVER FEEL SAFE IN IT AGAIN. BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF STEERING AND BRAKING CONTROL WHEN THIS HAPPENS, WE ARE AFRAID THAT THERE MAY BE AN ACCIDENT, OR THAT WE COULD GET STRANDED ANYWHERE. THIS IS A MAJOR CONCERN. THE MINOR PROBLEM WAS THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDSHIELD WIPER FLIPPED OVER THE SIDE OF THE VEHICLE AND SCRATCHED AND DENTED THE PASSENGER DOOR FRAME. A LITTLE LOSS OF CONTROL. PLEASE INFORM US IF THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE MONTANAS AND THE ENGINE QUITTING. THANK YOU. *AK