What Owners Report NHTSA ODI · 2,175,102 complaints · MY1998–2026

2003 Pontiac Montana

Typical pattern

8.7% of complaints about the 2003 Pontiac Montana came in the first year, which is unremarkable for a 2003 vehicle — around the middle of the 228 model-years on record. The median complaint arrives at 4.1 yr in service. The most-reported system is electrical system (15 complaints), typically at 3.6 yr or about 32,000 miles.

Complaints
115
Median age at failure
4.1 yr
Median mileage
60,000 n=86
Crash / fire / tow
21.7% of reports
Safety recalls
7

When each system is reported — middle 50% of complaints

System
0y2y4y6y8y10y12y14y
Electrical system
15 reports · 32,000 mi
3.6 yr
13.3%

Safety recalls — NHTSA campaigns

09E005000 2009-02-17
Steering

DORMAN IS RECALLING 979 STEERING KNUCKLES, DORMAN P/NOS. 697-902 AND 697-903, SOLD UNDER DORMAN'S "OE SOLUTIONS<SUP>TM</SUP>" BRAND NAME, AND NAPA P/NOS. 7-8502 AND 7-8503 WHICH WERE SOLD FOR REPLACEMENT USE ON THE VARIOUS VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. A POTENTIAL MATERIAL OR DESIGN DEFECT COULD RESULT IN THE STEERING KNUCKLE BREAKING IN THE HUB AREA.

A BROKEN STEERING KNUCKLE COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL AND A POSSIBLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

07V349000 2007-08-08
Fuel system, gasoline:storage

ON CERTAIN VEHICLES, VARIATIONS IN THE MANUFACTURING PROCESS OR EXPOSURE TO HIGH AMBIENT TEMPERATURES MAY LEAD TO FRACTURE OF THE FUEL TANK INLET CHECK VALVE (ICV).

A FRACTURE MAY ALLOW FUEL VAPORS TO PASS THROUGH AND ALLOW DROPLETS OF FUEL TO ACCUMULATE ON THE SIDE OF THE FUEL TANK. FUEL LEAKAGE, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

07E021000 2007-03-12
Fuel system, other:storage:tank assembly:pressure relief devices

CERTAIN DELPHI FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS, P/NOS. FP10020-11B1, FP10026-11B1, AND FP10027-11B1, SOLD AFTER JANUARY 9, 2007, AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE UNIVERSAL PRESSURE REGULATORS (UPR) WERE PRODUCED WITHOUT AN O'RING AND RETAINER.

FUEL MAY LEAK, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A FIRE.

04V597000 2004-12-22
Latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch

ON CERTAIN MINIVANS EQUIPPED WITH SECOND-ROW BUCKET SEATS OR CAPTAIN'S CHAIRS AND A POWER SLIDING DOOR ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE, A PASSENGER USING THE INTERIOR HANDLE TO OPEN THE POWER SLIDING DOOR COULD BE INJURED.

IF A PASSENGER USES THE INTERIOR HANDLE TO OPEN THE POWER SLIDING DOOR AND HOLDS ONTO THE HANDLE WHILE IT IS BEING OPENED BY THE MOTOR, THE PASSENGER'S ARM MAY BE PUSHED INTO THE SEAT BACK OR ARMREST AND A WRIST OR LOWER ARM INJURY MAY RESULT.

03V250000 2003-07-15
Equipment:other:owners/service/other manual

CERTAIN MINIVANS, PASSENGER AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 225, "CHILD RESTRAINT ANCHORAGE SYSTEM." THE OWNER'S MANUAL DOES NOT EXPLAIN THE MEANING OF THE LOCATION SYMBOLS FOR THE CHILD RESTRAINT LOWER UNIVERSAL ANCHORAGE SYSTEM.

THIS DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE STANDARD.

03V051000 2003-02-14
Air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module

ON CERTAIN MINI VANS, PASSENGER AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, SOME OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE A DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG THAT MAY NOT DEPLOY AS DESIGNED. IN ADDITION, THE AIR BAG INFLATOR COULD RUPTURE.

THIS COULD RESULT IN REDUCED CAPABILITY OF THE AIR BAG TO PROTECT THE DRIVER. ALSO IF THE AIR BAG INFLATOR RUPTURED, PIECES OF THE INFLATOR COULD STRIKE AND INJURE THE VEHICLE OCCUPANTS.

02V222000 2002-08-09
Air bags:frontal

CERTAIN PASSENGER, MINI VANS, AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES HAVE AN AIR BAG INFLATOR ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE THAT COULD FRACTURE AT A WELD DURING A DEPLOYMENT.

PIECES OF THE INFLATOR COULD STRIKE AND INJURE VEHICLE OCCUPANTS AND THE AIR BAG CUSHION WOULD NOT INFLATE FULLY, REDUCING THE CAPABILITY OF THE BAG TO PROTECT THE DRIVER.

In owners’ own words

Electrical system 16,400 mi 1.2 yr in service
2003 PONTIAC MONTANA STALLED WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER INCLUDING STEERING AND BRAKES. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE IN THE PAST 2 MONTHS. I DROVE THE VAN TO THE DEALERSHIP BOTH TIMES. NO PROBLEMS WAS FOUND BY DEALERSHIP. I CONTACTED PONTIAC. THEY SAID IF IT HAPPENS AGAIN NOT TO START IT BACK UP, THEY WILL HAVE VAN TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. I AM NOT TOTALLY SATISFIED WITH THEIR RESPONSE FOR SAFETY REASONS. *NLM
Electrical system 12,448 mi 1.1 yr in service
1) WATER IN HEADLIGHT 2) HARD TO START 3) TURNS ITSELF OFF WHILE DRIVING IT! 4) SQUEAKY BRAKES 5) 1/2 GALLON OF WATER DUMPS OUT OF DASH ONTO PASSENGER FLOOR BOARD
Electrical system 14,898 mi 1.5 yr in service
MONTANA KEEPS CUTTING OFF WITHOUT A WARNING AND IT WILL STOP DEAD IN TRAFFICE WITH OUT A WARNING. THIS HAS HAPPEN A TOTAL OF 7 TIMES. THE DEALERSHIP KEEPS TELLING ME THAT THERE IS NOTHING WRONG AND THAT THEY CAN NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE 2003 MONTANA. I BROUGHT THIS MONTANA BRAND NEW LAST YEAR 2003. THERE IS A SAFTY PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICAL. FROM VLS..05/05/04. *AK

Other Montana model years

200520032002200120001999

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