2000 Pontiac Montana 3.4L from North America

Faults:

Flickering in the electrical system (I noticed this on another review.) Was fixed with a new ground screw on the alternator and about 20 minutes at the dealer.

Transmission shifted very rough after long hot drives; again, this was something that was picked up on a Technical Service Bulletin by my dealer and was fixed for around $600.

General Comments:

Overall, this has been a great van! We are a family of four, with two kids in car seats, the two sliding doors are great, as well as the flexibility of the rear split bench.

The consumer reviews said that this was the best domestic minvan out there, and we're believers!

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 19th July, 2005

2000 Pontiac Montana 3.4 from North America

Summary:

GM has lost a long time customer!

Faults:

The intake gasket is leaking for the 2nd time in 6 months.

1st repair in January 2005 $1,300 to include new lifters that were damaged due to coolant in the oil.

Smell never went away. Dealer (Dave Gill Pontiac in Columbus, Ohio) said it was OK. Now losing coolant in large quantities. Dave Gill will not repair.

General Comments:

The van is unreliable.

The Pontiac zone manger would not even talk with me.

The Dealer has been dishonest.

I have contacted BBB and Ohio Attorney General.

GM has lost a long time customer, I will never own another GM product.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 1st June, 2005

2000 Pontiac Montana from North America

Summary:

Don't be fooled by its good looks..

Faults:

Transmission starting slipping at 35,000 miles. GM wouldn't do anything since the warranty was out of "time". At 37,000 miles the transmission finally gave up. Since GM wouldn't offer any help (not even a break on labor or parts, and charged me a whopping $91.00 just to look at the transmission), I took it to a local reputable shop and had it repaired. Passenger side window is EXTREMELY slow in going down or up, and I hear a lifter noise when the car first starts up. Cup holders are a joke and are easily broken. Outer tie rods shot at 34,000 miles. Radio lights have burned out. Outside temperature sensor is unreliable.

General Comments:

Great looking van, but VERY poor quality. This is my fourth, and last, GM vehicle. There are too many other manufacturers that offer a better quality vehicle, with a better warranty...

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 22nd March, 2005

2000 Pontiac Montana from North America

Summary:

I hate this van mechanically, but love the room

Faults:

Recall on power door.

Water poured out of the ceiling lights in the front at the top of the windshield. Imagine my surprise when I turned the corner and water poured out of the light.

Back hatch leaking and stained ceiling, dealer repaired leak.

Repair to back power windows. The dealership told me I had pressed the button in the wrong sequence.

Tie-rods on passenger side replaced.

Transmission replaced

Transmission repaired next day after sitting in my driveway overnight and loosing all the transmission fluid because the shop didn't install the transmission correctly.

Noise in steering column, the dealership couldn't duplicate the noise.

Radio light went out. Was told it was a bad fuse.

Check Engine light stayed on. Was told by dealership it had not been reset when oil was changed. They couldn't "reset" the switch so they replaced the fuse.

Pulsating in all lights and in engine, the dealership couldn't duplicate the problems.

Remote controls for automatic door openers on key rings won't work. Dealership said the batteries were dead. They re-programmed the key rings. One of the key rings still doesn't work.

Window washer motor leaked on battery and battery corroded. The dealer said the battery was the problem with the pulsating electrical and they would replace the battery for $90.00. Then they replaced the washer motor and cleaned the battery.

Rear hatch handle broken, sorry not under warranty.

Fold down cup holders broken, sorry not under warranty.

Air bag light stays on and the part is still on order. It seems to be something in the passenger seat belt area.

Started using coolant and engine oil. Water pump replaced and manifold gaskets replaced.

Squeaking still in steering wheel, dealership can't duplicate sound.

Radio light out, radio replaced by dealer.

Front end makes loud noise when steering wheel turned to right, Dealership can't duplicate the noise.

Front end seems to have no suspension when driving over a dip in the road, not a hole, not a bump, just a dip. Dealership can't duplicate the action or noise. The only people who seem to hear and feel the problem are the people who ride with me.

General Comments:

The 2000 Montana has been in the shop more than is reasonable to expect of a vehicle. I realize the dealership is not going to tell me about problems GM might have alerted them about, but I do want to feel I can trust GM. The more I talk to people the more I am finding out this vehicle is prone to the same problems over and over again.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 14th March, 2005

16th Jan 2007, 11:39

I just purchased the 2000 Montana about three months ago and I'm having the same problems, low coolant indicator and ended up being the seal gasket, 900.00 plus, but I purchased seals and gaskets with the warranty.