Faults:

I also love the feel and drive of the 2001 Montana I purchased last year. BUT the wipers are a really bad design and do not go all the way down, cannot keep clean in the winter (live in Northern Ontario with brutal winters).

Just told today that I need to replace my head gaskets!! Current mileage 205,000 kms.

Also have a weird dinging noise, sounds like a back-up signal (which I do not have) Told this was due to the wiring in the sliding door? Simple fix, just turn off the sliding door button found on the dash. Thank God I work at a dealership and can get it done for a bit cheaper cost.

My gas gauge does not work, nor does the heat gauge, ABS light comes on for about a day at a time then goes off.

Previous owner has had problems with the sliding doors.

Know I shouldn't complain considering the mileage.

General Comments:

Great visibility.

Don't like the design of the wipers.

Too many unnecessary buttons and gadgets - don't know what any of them are for.

Faults:

* The driver side window fell off track (like that when I bought it used, so don't know when it happened).

* The seal in my passenger headlight; the seal around it started leaking and water was getting flooded inside the headlights, which caused the headlight to not work until I got it fixed.

General Comments:

* It is very room for my children.

* So far it has been pretty reliable, even with as many miles on it.

* I love the built in car-seat in the captain chair in mine. I have 3 toddlers :)

Faults:

Everything has gone wrong with it.

General Comments:

$5700 spent in repairs in last 10 months. Transmission $4000, head gasket $600, AC $800, brakes $300. What a hunk of junk.

General Comments:

We have a 2001 Montana which we had bought from a family member who had bought the van new.

The problems with the van were at 100,000 Km it needed the intake gasket done and lifters (extended warrenty), 150,000 needed the transmission replaced.

We purchased it with 186,000 Km and 5yrs old. Since our ownership we had to replace the alternator at 200,000 Km, head gaskets at 212,000 Km. The van wasn't over heating or leaking; just done as preventative maintenance before summer traveling.

The drivers window was binding at 230,000 Km; a little lubrication on the window seal solved this problem.

The fuel guage is reading incorrectly at 235,000 Km, which just needs a $30.00 part replaced.

All in all we are happy with this van; it gets 30 MPG and has a comfortable ride.

I find that most problems are in how well the vans are maintained, and that you can't expect everything to last forever.

Faults:

Recall on the sliding door handles.

Check engine light on at less than 500 miles. Not sure what the dealer did to correct the problem.

Rear window washer sprayer has not worked since 40,000 miles. A dealer has attempted to repair it twice only to have it stop working within days.

Driver side power window regulator replaced at 35,000 mile.

Intake manifold gasket replaced at 35,000 and again 45,000 miles.

Driver side front wheel hub replaced at 65,000.

Transmission replaced at 45,000 miles after having the torque converter replace and rebuilding the original transmission four (4) times with in a one month time period. Transmission rebuilds did not last more than 200 miles each time.

Rear wheel hub assembly replaced at 60,000 miles.

Alternator and battery failed at 73,000 miles. Battery replacement alone is two (2) hours of labor because body parts and electronic that are in the way must be removed to get down to it.

Oil pressure regulating valve at 78,000 miles.

Fan speed on the climate control know stopped working at 80,000 as well a one light inside that unit.

Driver seat reclining lever stopped functioning at 90,000 miles.

Glove compartment door hinge broken at 95,000 miles.

Engine temperature gauge stops working intermittently after 95,000 miles.

Now the vehicle is over 100,000 miles the cruise control has stopped functioning, the other front wheel hub assembling has been replaced, and the outer tie rods have replaced, the shocks and struts need replacing, and well as the other front wheel hub assembly.

Tonight at 115,000 miles the passenger door fell off after one of the guide wheels broke off. I had to remove the door and put it inside the van to drive home.

General Comments:

Negative points.

Pontiac makes vehicles that are affordable to buy, but costly to maintain.

I strongly urge anyone who buys a Pontiac (GM) vehicle to spend the extra money for the 75,000 or 100,000 (better) mile warranty.

I bought the 75,000 mile warranty and it paid for itself several times over.

Pontiac has sense stopped making minivans. However, the Pontiac minivans are clones of all the other GM mini vans.

I would never recommend to anyone to purchase a GM mini van.

Headrest are not comfortable.

Pontiacs red instrument panel is annoying after a year of owning.

Excessive of road noise.

Positive points:

On-Star available.

Good sound system.

Separate audio system in rear for headphones.

Van has great handling.

It is quick.

Low purchase price.

Plastic body panels do well in protecting the car.

Rear captain chairs fully recline.