AI DamagePontiac Montana: problems, complaints, bulletins
Summary for the Pontiac Montana across 12 model years: 1,056 owner complaints and 0 NHTSA service bulletins, plus repair videos. Pick a year for details.
Model years
What fails most often
- 1 Engine and cooling 25% of all complaints
- 2 Structure 11% of all complaints
- 3 Electrical system 11% of all complaints
- 4 Powertrain 9% of all complaints
- 5 Air bags 9% of all complaints
- 6 Service brakes 8% of all complaints
- 7 Fuel system 7% of all complaints
- 8 Latches, locks, linkages 7% of all complaints
- Engine and cooling: 268 complaints (25% of all).
- Structure: 119 complaints (11% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Electrical system: 116 complaints (11% of all), 4 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Powertrain: 100 complaints (9% of all), 2 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Air bags: 96 complaints (9% of all), 46 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 3.4 L · petrol · 6 cyl 2000–2004named in 9 complaints
- 3.5 L · petrol · 6 cyl 2005–2006
- 3.9 L · petrol · 6 cyl 2006
- automatic, 4-speed 2000–2006
Drive: FWD, AWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 1,056 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine and cooling | 268 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 119 | 1 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 116 | 4 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 100 | 2 | 0 |
| Air bags | 96 | 46 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 85 | 9 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 77 | 1 | 0 |
| Latches, locks, linkages | 76 | 2 | 0 |
| Visibility | 69 | 0 | 0 |
| Exterior lighting | 68 | 2 | 0 |
| Equipment | 46 | 2 | 0 |
| Seat belts | 36 | 7 | 0 |
| Steering | 36 | 3 | 0 |
| Suspension | 35 | 1 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
Van crashed with damage to the front when it ran off the road and went into a culvert/ditch and air bags did not deploy resulting in paralyzation of the wife of the owner after van had been apparently donated to Charity Cars as junk vehicle or salvage vehicle.
Not only was my seatbelt ineffective, but the airbag did not open. I did sustain chest injury. Iran a stop sign in town.
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 pontiac montana. The contact stated that the ignition was turned to the on position and shifted into the park position. The contact exited the vehicle and left the vehicle unattended for four minutes. When the contact returned, the vehicle had crashed into a wall.
The smell of gasoline is strong at times but a cursory examination by a mechanic doesn't show anything. After viewing the recalls concerning gas leaks I am worried. Can you tell me by the vin how many of the recalls shown on your page this vehicle has had and what it has missed before it burns me to death?
I do remember that for a long time before today the red airbag light was on. I thought this would cause the air bags not to work. I do have pictures of the damage, and the defect with the air bag.
The contact was a passenger in the vehicle and stated that the seat belt did not restrain her and the passenger seat fractured. In addition, the air bags did not deploy. Both the driver and the contact sustained injuries to the upper part of the body and both were transported to the emergency room for observation.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
What to check before buying
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
- Structure. Rails, pillars, panel gaps, signs of pulling or welding.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
Other models of this make
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.