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1999 Pontiac MontanaProblems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 235 owner complaints about the 1999 Pontiac Montana, most often about the engine and engine cooling. It is covered by 5 safety recalls.

30
CarFlaw IndexUse caution2.4× the Montana median · #2 of 10 years by complaints
Safety recalls5Free fix at dealersOwner complaints23531 with a crash, fire or injuryTypical failure mileage61kEngine and engine cooling, median miles

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through November 18, 2016. Updated daily.

Complaints by system

Where the 1999 Pontiac Montana has problems

235 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Engine and engine cooling991
Power train320
Air bags3213
Service brakes, hydraulic231
Structure224
Electrical system142
Visibility120
Latches/locks/linkages121
Fuel system, gasoline101
11 other systems523

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.

5 recalls

1999 Pontiac Montana recalls and how many were fixed

Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

–no report yet

Doors: latch

Recall 04V-597 · Dec 22, 2004 · 717,302 vehicles

Risk. 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…

Problem, fix and repair progress →

–no report yet

Doors: latch

Recall 01V-264 · Aug 21, 2001 · 248,737 vehicles

Risk. IF THIS HAPPENS, THE POWER SLIDING DOOR CAN OPEN WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION, PARTICULARLY WHEN THE VEHICLE ASCENDS A HILL, MAKES A TURN, OR TRAVELS OVER A…

Problem, fix and repair progress →

Show 1 more recall
–no report yet

Gear box: shaft sector

Recall 99V-071 · Apr 12, 1999 · 59 vehicles

Risk. IF NOT REPAIRED, SEPARATION OF THE OPPOSITE SIDE JOINT COULD OCCUR RESULTING IN STEERING SHAFT SEPARATION.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Pontiac.

Mileage at failure

When do engine and engine cooling problems start?

61kmiles, median

Based on the odometer reading in 66 engine and engine cooling complaints. 88% were reported before 100,000 miles.

Only 45% of complaints for this model year include a mileage.

median0k50k100k150k200k+
2under 30k miles58under 100k miles8100k miles or more
Owner-reported costs

What owners say repairs cost

Dollar amounts owners wrote in their complaints when describing a repair or a quote. These are not price estimates; a system is shown only when at least 8 owners mentioned a cost.

Engine and engine cooling

19 owners mentioned a cost

$1,100median

Middle half: $650 – $2,900

If a problem is covered by a recall, the dealer fixes it for free. Some manufacturers also reimburse owners who paid for a repair before a recall was announced.

Best & worst years

1999 vs. every other Montana year

Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Montana median. How we score

'97'98'99'00'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
NHTSA crash tests

1999 Pontiac Montana safety ratings

1999 Pontiac Montana/Trans Sport w/SAB. in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.

  • Stability control: No
  • Forward collision warning: No
  • Lane departure warning: No
7 investigations

NHTSA defect investigations

Federal investigations that included the 1999 Pontiac Montana, and the recalls they led to.

  1. AIR BAG INFLATOREA01014 · closed Aug 26, 2002
    Led to recall 02V-027
  2. REAR AXLE TRAILING ARM FAILUREEA03005 · closed Jan 12, 2004
    No recall
  3. AIR BAG TEAR DURING DEPLOYMENTPE00045 · closed Jan 11, 2001
    No recall
  4. SHOULDER HARNESS CLIPPE02017 · closed Aug 2, 2002
    No recall
  5. POWER-SLIDING DOORPE04064 · closed Dec 22, 2004
    Led to recall 04V-597
  6. TRACTION CONTROLRQ00006 · closed Apr 20, 2001
    Led to recall 98V-072
  7. UNEXPECTED OPENING OF SLIDING DOORSQ00014 · closed Oct 22, 2001
    Led to recall 01V-067
In owners' words

What Montana owners report

Recent engine and engine cooling complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.

IT SEEMS THAT THE THIS PARTICULAR MAKE AND MODEL HAS KNOWN PROBLEMS WITH THE COOLING SYSTEM. ON A FAMILY TRIP TO VIRGINIA THE CAR STARTED TO OVERHEAT AND I STOPPED THE VEHICLE. WHEN PARKED RED FLUID WAS VISIBLE UNDER THE CAR AND UPON TESTING WAS FOUND OUT TO BE COOLANT LEAK. CAR WAS TOWED TO PA AND…
Complaint 10460448 · Jun 4, 2012 · 168,000 miles
VEHICLE SPONTANEOUSLY CAUGHT FIRE WHILE STUCK IN SNOW DRIFT. FIRE WAS ALL CONSUMING - FIRE TRUCK HAD TO COME OUT IT OUT - JUST SHELL OF VAN WAS LEFT. WE WERE ABLE TO GET OUT AS FIRE WAS SLOW TO TAKE OFF. FIRE STARTED IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT. FIRE CHIEF SAID WE WOULD NEVER KNOW CAUSE AS NO ENGINE…
Complaint 10252473 · Dec 21, 2008 · 113,000 miles
TWO SEPARATE GASKET PROBLEMS ON MY 1999 PONTIAC MONTANA MINI VAN. THE MOST RECENT WAS TODAY IN AUG. OF 2008 THE LOCAL GARAGE TOLD ME THAT MY VANS LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET NEEDED REPLACED FOR ABOUT $700. THE PROBLEM WAS NOTICED WHEN MY TEMPERATURE LIGHT CAME ON AND AFTER FILLING RADIATOR I SAW…
Complaint 10237492 · Aug 8, 2008 · 81,718 miles

Own a 1999 Montana?

Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.