2000 PONTIAC MONTANA Seat Belts Problems

ADDITION TO FILED AIRBAG ACCIDENTS NHTSA-FARM BUREAU-STILL INSURING THE UNSAFE VEHICLE. AS I DRIVE WITH A HEAD INJURY. OTHER INJURYS AND EXPECTED TO CARE FOR ADULT CHILD WITH TBI. FARM BUREAU STOPPED PAYING HER PIP BENEFITS. NHTSA ID-=MY ACCIDENT 11-11-2010 DAUGHTERS 3-18-2010 SEATBELTS DID NOT LOCK DOWN. 2 TBI ACCIDENTS SAME YEAR. NO AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. NO ONE ASKED IF SEAT BELTS LOCKED.DID NOT KNOW TO REPORT. *TR

Mileage: 163,000

I WAS IN AN ACCIDENT. HIT ANDRUN.ON 3-18-2010. INSURED BY FARM BUREAU. WHO STILL INSURES THE FAULTY VEHICLE. THE IMPACT WAS FROM A LARGE WHITE TRUCK. TRAVELING AT A HIGH SPEED RATE TURNING THROUGH A RED LIGHT AS I CROSSED AN INTERSECTION. NO AIR BAG DEPLOYED.REGISTERED ON11-28-2010.REALIZED THE SEAT BELTS DID NOT ACTIVATE EITHER. NO ONE ASKED.YES IT WAS CONNECTED.MOTHERS ACCIDENT ON 11-11-2010 REAREND COLLISION. STOPPED HIT BY A TRUCK TRAVELING 35MPG NO AIR BAGS. NO SEAT BELT LOCK DOWN. EMT SAID SAW HER GO OVER STEERING WHEEL IN FRONT OF MCLAREN HOSPITAL. THEY DID NOT ADMIT HER. NO INVESTIGATION. FARM BUREAU STILL INSURES FAULTY VEHICLE. STATE FARM INSURED. WAS ON DRUGS OR DRINKING. CITY POLICE LET HER GO. AND FOR MINE THEY HAD SEVERAL REPORTS OF WHITE TRUCK HIT AND RUNS NO INVESTIGATIONS. DONE IN CITY. LACK OF FUNDS. *TR

Mileage: 160,000

TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE 2000 PONTIAC MONTANA WHEN HE TRIED TO LOCK THE SEAT BELTS, THEY UNLATCHED WHILE DRIVING. THIS HAPPENED ON SOME OCCASIONS. ALSO, WHEN THE SEAT BELTS WERE LOCKED THEY DIDN'T RETRACT PROPERLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THIS WAS A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. NO INJURIES OCCURRED, BUT IN THE FUTURE COULD CAUSE INJURIES DUE TO THE SEAT BELTS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. HE CONTACTED THE PONTIAC MANUFACTURER AND FILED A COMPLAINT AND WAS GIVEN CASE# 71-479818840. THE MANUFACTURER INFORMED HIM THAT THIS WAS A PART THAT WITH TIME WORE OUT, AND THEY INFORMED HIM THAT HE WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR REPLACING THE BELTS. HE STATED THAT THIS WAS A SAFETY ISSUE AND FELT THAT THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD BUILD THESE VEHICLES WITH BETTER SEAT BELTS OR STOP MAKING THEM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HAD A TOTAL OF THREE VEHICLES BY PONTIAC THAT HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100000.*AK UPDATED 04/05/07. *JB

SRS BAG LIGHT STEADILY ON AND SEAT BELT LIGHT MAN ON DASH CHIMES FOR NO REASON AND BLINKS ON/OFF. TOOK IN TO PONTIAC 6/18/04, THEY FIXED WIRING HARNESS THAT DAY (UNCLEAR ON INVOICE) WE JUST BOUGHT THE VEHICLE IN MAY 2004. A FEW WEEKS LATER WE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AND TOOK IT BACK IN, JUST TO HEAR THAT IT WAS A CLUSTER THIS TIME, THEY CLAIM THEY'RE WERE TOYS UNDER THE SEAT AND A PLUG WAS BROKEN BUT THE ONLY TOYS IN THERE WERE LITTLE HOT WHEELS. SO, THEY PUT IN A NEW CLUSTER AND HERE WE ARE THREE WEEKS LATER AND I AM STILL HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE SEAT BELT MAN LIGHT AND THE SRS BAG LIGHT ON THE DASH. PONTIAC WILL LOOK AT IT AGAIN, THEY SAY, BUT I CANNOT SEE THAT ONE PART AFTER ANOTHER NEEDING TO BE REPLACED EVERY TWO WEEKS AND THE OUTCOME IS ALWAYS THE SAME WITH THE SAME ITEM DEFAULTING(SEAT BELT GUY LIGHT/SRS AIR BAG LIGHT ON DASH STAYS ON).*AK

Mileage: 63,000

THE SEAT BELT CLIP MALFUNCTIONED. THE PART WAS REPLACED THREE TIMES, HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB

Mileage: 45,000

THE LEFT FRONT PRETENSIONER WAS OPEN AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE AIR BAG LIGHT STAYED ON, WHICH WAS CAUSED BY THE FAULTY SEAT BELT TENSIONER. *TS. ALSO THE POWER SLIDING DOOR DID NOT RETURN WHEN IT WAS OPENED

Mileage: 23,800

THE MIDDLE ROW CENTER SEAT BELT LOCKING MECHANISMS BROKE WHILE CONSUMER WAS TIGHTENING CSS, WITHOUT EXCESSIVE FORCE BEING USED.*AK

Mileage: 55,000

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT DOES NOT LOCK. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

THE DRIVER SEAT BELT AND THE PASSENGER SEAT BELT FAILED, THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT UNEXPECTEDLY BROKE CAUSING THE BELT NOT TO LATCH, THE SECOND ROW CAPTAIN'S CHAIR WAS PULLED TOO FAR AND NOW WILL NOT RETRACT, THE CONSUMER WAS ASKING THE MANUFACTURER OF THE VEHICLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM BUT THE PROBLEM IS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRENTY. YH THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT UNEXPECTEDLY BROKE CAUSING THE BELT NOT TO LATCH, THE SECOND ROW CAPTAIN'S CHAIR WAS PULLED TOO FAR AND NOW WILL NOT RETRACT . YH

THE DRIVER SEAT BELT AND THE PASSENGER SEAT BELT FAILED, THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT UNEXPECTEDLY BROKE CAUSING THE BELT NOT TO LATCH, THE SECOND ROW CAPTAIN'S CHAIR WAS PULLED TOO FAR AND NOW WILL NOT RETRACT, THE CONSUMER WAS ASKING THE MANUFACTURER OF THE VEHICLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM BUT THE PROBLEM IS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRENTY. YH THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT UNEXPECTEDLY BROKE CAUSING THE BELT NOT TO LATCH, THE SECOND ROW CAPTAIN'S CHAIR WAS PULLED TOO FAR AND NOW WILL NOT RETRACT . YH

THE DRIVER SEAT BELT AND THE PASSENGER SEAT BELT FAILED, THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT UNEXPECTEDLY BROKE CAUSING THE BELT NOT TO LATCH, THE SECOND ROW CAPTAIN'S CHAIR WAS PULLED TOO FAR AND NOW WILL NOT RETRACT, THE CONSUMER WAS ASKING THE MANUFACTURER OF THE VEHICLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM BUT THE PROBLEM IS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRENTY. YH THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT UNEXPECTEDLY BROKE CAUSING THE BELT NOT TO LATCH, THE SECOND ROW CAPTAIN'S CHAIR WAS PULLED TOO FAR AND NOW WILL NOT RETRACT . YH

THE DRIVER SEAT BELT AND THE PASSENGER SEAT BELT FAILED, THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT UNEXPECTEDLY BROKE CAUSING THE BELT NOT TO LATCH, THE SECOND ROW CAPTAIN'S CHAIR WAS PULLED TOO FAR AND NOW WILL NOT RETRACT, THE CONSUMER WAS ASKING THE MANUFACTURER OF THE VEHICLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM BUT THE PROBLEM IS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRENTY. YH THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT UNEXPECTEDLY BROKE CAUSING THE BELT NOT TO LATCH, THE SECOND ROW CAPTAIN'S CHAIR WAS PULLED TOO FAR AND NOW WILL NOT RETRACT . YH

THE DRIVER SEAT BELT AND THE PASSENGER SEAT BELT FAILED, THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT UNEXPECTEDLY BROKE CAUSING THE BELT NOT TO LATCH, THE SECOND ROW CAPTAIN'S CHAIR WAS PULLED TOO FAR AND NOW WILL NOT RETRACT, THE CONSUMER WAS ASKING THE MANUFACTURER OF THE VEHICLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM BUT THE PROBLEM IS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRENTY. YH THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT UNEXPECTEDLY BROKE CAUSING THE BELT NOT TO LATCH, THE SECOND ROW CAPTAIN'S CHAIR WAS PULLED TOO FAR AND NOW WILL NOT RETRACT . YH

THE DRIVER SEAT BELT AND THE PASSENGER SEAT BELT FAILED, THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT UNEXPECTEDLY BROKE CAUSING THE BELT NOT TO LATCH, THE SECOND ROW CAPTAIN'S CHAIR WAS PULLED TOO FAR AND NOW WILL NOT RETRACT, THE CONSUMER WAS ASKING THE MANUFACTURER OF THE VEHICLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM BUT THE PROBLEM IS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRENTY. YH THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT UNEXPECTEDLY BROKE CAUSING THE BELT NOT TO LATCH, THE SECOND ROW CAPTAIN'S CHAIR WAS PULLED TOO FAR AND NOW WILL NOT RETRACT . YH

DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY GOING ABOUT 65 MPH, A CAR LOST CONTROL AND RAN INTO CENTER DIVIDER AND I COLLIDED WITH THAT CAR. THE PASSENGER SIDE BELT DID NOT HOLD MY WIFE BACK INTO HER SEAT. AIR BAGS DID GO OFF. HER FACE WAS BADLY HURT TWICE, ONCE BUY THE DASH FROM STOPPING VERY SHARPLY AND THE SEATBELT NOT HOLDING HER BACK AND THE OTHER BY THE AIR BAG SMACKING HER FACE WHEN WE COLLIDED. *AK

WE PURCHASED THE PONTIAC MONTANA AS A FAMILY VEHICLE. WE HAVE A 2 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER AND ANOTHER BABY DUE IN MAY. WE DISCOVERED, AFTER WE PURCHASED THE VAN, THAT THE REAR BUCKET SEATS HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE SEAT BELT SYSTEM THAT DOES NOT SAFELY RESTRAIN A CHILD SEAT. WE CONSULTED THE PA STATE POLICE (TROOPER DANIEL WHITE) ABOUT THE PROBLEM. HE SAID THAT THE SEAT BELT SHAFT IS TOO FAR FORWARD TO SAFELY HARNESS THE SEAT IN PLACE. HE SAID THAT HE DOES NOT KNOW OF CHILD SEAT THAT WOULD SAFELY WORK IN THIS VAN. HE SAID THAT OUR DAUGHTER COULD DIE IN AN ACCIDENT WITH THE WAY THE CHILD SEAT FITS IN THE VAN. WE CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP AND THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY SAID WE COULD PURCHASE NEW SEATS WITH BUILT IN CHILD RESTRAINTS. WE DO NOT WISH TO DO THIS BECAUSE OUR NEW BABY STILL WILL NOT BE ABLE TO RIDE IN THOSE CHILD RESTRAINTS UNTIL HE/SHE IS AT LEAST A YEAR OLD. PLUS, WE DO NOT AGREE THAT WE SOULD PAY FOR NEW SEATS SINCE IT WAS CLEAR THAT IT WAS OUR INTENTION THAT THIS WOULD BE A FAMILY VEHICLE AND WE WILL HAVE 2 SMALL CHILDREN. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY COULD ORDER US A SEAT BELT EXTENSION BUT, TROOPER WHITE DOES NOT THINK THAT WILL SOLVE OUR PROBLEM. THAT SAID, OUR REAL PURPOSE FOR WRITING THIS TO YOU IS THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THERE IS SOME WAY TO LET OTHER OWNERS OF THE 2000 PONTIAC MONTANA KNOW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. WE DROVE AROUND FOR 2 WEEKS BEFORE WE REALIZED THERE WAS A MAJOR PROBLEM. WE FEEL IT IS QUITE POSSIBLE THAT THERE ARE PARENTS OUT THERE WITH THIS VAN, WITH CHILD SAFETY SEATS IN THEM, AND THEY DO NOT REALIZE THEY ARE NOT SAFELY INSTALLED. WE DO NOT WANT ANY CHILDREN TO BE INJURED OR WORSE BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. WE FEEL THAT THE PONTIAC PEOPLE SHOULD REALIZE THAT PEOPLE BUY VANS AS FAMILY VEHICLES AND MOST OFTEN INSTALL CHILD RESTRAINTS IN THEM. WE THINK THAT THERE HAS TO BE A WAY TO RESTRUCTURE THE REAR SEAT BELT SYSTEM SO THAT CHILD SAFTY SEATS CAN BE USED. IT IS OUR SINCERE HOPE THAT YOU CAN GET THIS PROBLEM SOLVED.*