12th Mar 2010, 12:15

Hmm, I bought my 1999 Montana with 62000 miles on it. Changed the head gasket once ($700), got a partial rebate for that. I now have 219,000 miles on this van.

I started with the electrical problems about a month ago. This has been a wonderful family hauler for four kids for the last 9 years! I have had great service from this vehicle. It doesn't owe me a penny. It has every option sold for this van.

29th May 2010, 12:52

5/28/10 We just bought a 2000 Montana and have some vapor (evap) emissions problems that brought the check engine light on. And now the transmission wants to shifts hard between 1st and second, and it was fine when we bought it 1 week ago, and now I'm really doing my research on this GM, I'm disgusted and will never buy another GM again... sad, just sad.

Paid 2 grand for the van, and another 2 grand for a transmission. I should have just bought a 4000 dollar van instead of being cheap and buying this Montana with all the bells and whistles.

The only good thing about this van is it looks great and does have a lot of nice features, but to what extent? $$$$$$$$$$$$

28th Oct 2010, 09:35

Pontiac Montana. October 2010.

I bought our Montana 1999 new off the lot in June of '99. I haven't had any problems (major mechanical) so far until now. After 9 years with 50,000 miles on it, these are my problems.

1. The airbag light stays on.

2. Replaced driver window switch 2 times.

3. I have strange, unexplained noises.

4. Have replaced the headlight housing and bulbs twice (they should be done in pairs), the passenger side parking lamp bulb, and the passenger side brake light bulb.

5. The A/C ran OK for 8 years and now the compressor is out.

6. Have had to replace window controls on driver side.

Other than those bizarre glitches, the van has been excellent, and my wife will not give it up.

11th Nov 2010, 08:05

Have a '98 Transport.

From what I understand, a Transport is about the same as a Montana. This problem started suddenly. When first started, it runs smooth as silk until it decides to die, then won't start for hours. When it does start, it runs great, but don't try to go anywhere because it won't be long before it dies again, and won't start again for hours.

I have just installed a new fuel pump assembly. The problem is still there. It evidently must be a sensor, relay, or something. Cannot afford to pay hundreds of $$$ to have it. The wife and I are retired, live on social security, raising two grandchildren, so every penny has to count.

Anybody got any answers?

17th Dec 2010, 10:40

I bought my 1999 Montana in March 2009. The first problem I had was with the windshield wipers. When turned off, the wipers would stay in the up position. Then I noticed that the passenger side window mechanism would not work. The oil light also came on a lot at first, and then stayed on permanently, even when the oil was full.

Since then, the list just seemed to get longer:

In May, I had to have the wheel bearing assembly replaced on the passenger side.

What was once just the oil light, became the whole dash constantly lit up with warning lights (check engine, ABS, Traction, etc).

The door lock button on the driver side stopped working.

The doors started locking automatically when you shut them, even without the key in the ignition.

The passenger side slider started opening on its own after it was closed.

The handle on the back hatch broke, so you have to push it in before you can close the thing.

The driver's side window mechanism started only working half the time.

The wheel bearing assembly on the driver's side went out.

The windshield wipers stopped working completely (the plate that causes them to move fell apart).

The air conditioner went out.

All the lights on the radio and overhead console stopped working. Replaced fuses didn't help.

Trim started falling out.

Third row seat takes at least a half an hour to get out.

Found out if you open the passenger side door all of the way, the window will roll down.

I lost my keyless entry remote, so now I can only lock and unlock the van with a key. Half the time when you turn the key to unlock, it locks itself right back before you can get the key out. This is especially fun when the van decides to lock on it's own. The last time (two days ago) it took me 15 minutes to get the door unlocked so I could get in, and the hatch is the most difficult when it comes to this problem. It always takes at least 20 minutes anytime I want to open it when it's locked.

All in all, this is the worst vehicle I have ever driven. I have never seen a more poorly put together piece of machinery. It has made me come to the very important decision that I will never buy another GM product again.

17th Jan 2011, 12:43

I have a 1999 Montana with 125,000 miles on it, and the only major issue that required repair at 89,000 miles was the infamous head gasket leak.

One issue that almost cost us big time was a hard shifting/shuddering on hard acceleration from a stop problem that Aamco Transmission said needed a transmission overhaul. Our GM service tech. said it could be related to a dirty MAS (mass air sensor). We had it cleaned at our local shop, and the car has never repeated the problem again - cost me $40 instead of $2500 for a trans. overhaul. The MAS air sensor is the thin square unit mounted inline in the air intake tube between the engine and air filter box. Carefully clean the tiny thin wires in the center of the MAS unit.

Airbag light goes on and off intermittently, and the fuel gauge no longer works, but we use the overhead read out for fuel consumption, and that has worked well as long as you remember to reset it after each refueling.

Now we have had the car quit on us for no apparent reason several times, and our local mechanic is diagnosing the problem. Seems to be related to the engine control module or a relay.

Other than that, we have liked the car for its versatility and comfort, despite its reputation for problems.

27th Aug 2011, 09:51

I have a 99 Pontiac Montana, and I changed the switch twice, thinking that was it. Even got a new one, so one day I got tired of that, and decided to look into it... The fuses were all good, got a test light to check for power, and there was none. I found the problem was the power cable was corrupted, and due to that, the wire broke.. This cable is on the passenger side under the carpet. So check this, it may be your problem.