2001 Pontiac Montana

◆ Worse than typical
2001 Pontiac Montana
RENDERED 2026-08-02T10:32:38.700Z

This year had 30% to 100% more complaints than this model's typical year.

This verdict reflects complaint volume compared to this model's typical year. Recalls and safety issues below apply regardless of the verdict — always check them.

How is this computed?

COMPLAINTS PER YEAR

Complaints per year, Pontiac Montana Bar chart of distinct NHTSA complaints filed per model year, 2001 highlighted. 1997: 18 complaints 1997 1998: 49 complaints 1999: 235 complaints 1999 2000: 228 complaints 2001: 156 complaints 2001 2002: 126 complaints 2003: 84 complaints 2003 2004: 39 complaints 2005: 81 complaints 2005 2006: 37 complaints 2007: 0 complaints 2007 2008: 1 complaints 2008
2001: 156 complaints
View as data table
YearComplaints
199718
199849
1999235
2000228
2001156
2002126
200384
200439
200581
200637
20070
20081

KNOWN PROBLEM AREAS

POWER TRAIN 10%

10% of complaints: power train — 15 distinct reports on file.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 8%

8% of complaints: electrical system — 12 distinct reports on file.

CRASH FIRE
Show complaint excerpts

I BACKED UP TO THE LAUNDRY TO WASH CLOTHES AND PROCEEDED TO PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND GET OUT TO GET CLOTHES OUT OF THE BACK. I PUSHED THE BRAKE AND THOUGHT I HAD PUT THE CAR IN PARK BECAUSE THE KEY CAME OUT.

NHTSA ODI report, 20140419

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 6%

6% of complaints: engine and engine cooling — 10 distinct reports on file.

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES 6%

6% of complaints: latches/locks/linkages — 9 distinct reports on file.

INJURY
Show complaint excerpts

WHEN OPENING DOOR CONSUMER'S RIGHT THUMB GOT CAUGHT IN SLIDING DOOR HANDLE. ALSO, HANDLE WAS TRAPPED BETWEEN CONSUMER'S FINGERS AND THUMB, WHICH MADE IT VERY DIFFICULT TO RELEASE. THIS WAS A RENTAL VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI report, 20010711

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 6%

6% of complaints: engine and engine cooling — 9 distinct reports on file.

SAFETY TIMELINE

R 20000824 — seat belts

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES, LIGHT DUTY TRUCKS, SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, AND MINI VANS EQUIPPED WITH TRW SEAT BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLIES. THE BUCKLE BASE OF THESE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES WERE NO

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE VEHICLE'S SAFETY BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLY DATE CODES AND, IF NECESSARY, WILL REPLACE ANY SAFETY BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLY.

Campaign 00V228003 — check if this car was fixed

2001 — complaint volume: 156
R 20010129 — air bags

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER, SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES AND MINIVANS. THE PASSENGER AIR BAG INFLATOR MODULES WERE BUILT WITHOUT THE CORRECT AMOUNT OF GENERANT, WHICH PRODUCES THE GAS THAT FILLS THE A

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE PASSENGER AIR BAG MODULE. TELEPHONE CALLS WERE MADE TO OWNERS ON JANUARY 29, 2001. FOLLOW UP OWNER MAILING BEGAN ON APRIL 17, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN A

Campaign 01V026000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20010418 — latches/locks/linkages

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MINIVANS EQUIPPED WITH PASSENGER SIDE POWER SLIDING DOORS. THE DOOR CLOSES BUT MAY NOT BE LATCHED. IF THIS HAPPENS, THE POWER SLIDING DOOR CAN OPEN WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTI

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW UN-LATCH ACTUATOR ASSEMBLY TO THE POWER SLIDING DOOR. THIS RECALL HAS BEEN CONTINUED UNDER SAFETY RECALL 01V-264. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER O

Campaign 01V067000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20011022 — latches/locks/linkages

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: 1997-2001 CHEVROLET VENTURE, PONTIAC MONTANA/TRANSPORT, AND OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE MINI VANS EQUIPPED WITH PASSENGER SIDE POWER SLIDING DOORS THAT WERE SERVICED IN CAMPAIGN 01013 (

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND, IF REQUIRED, INSTALL A NEW POWER SLIDING DOOR UNLATCH ACTUATOR ASSEMBLY. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON OCTOBER 22, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DE

Campaign 01V264000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20020410 — seats

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CERTAIN MINI VANS BUILT WITH SECOND ROW 50/50 SPLIT BENCH SEATS OR CAPTAIN'S CHAIRS, FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 225, "CHILD RESTRAINT ANCHORAGE SYSTEMS."

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE LATCH ANCHOR WIRES AND REPAIR THOSE WITH AN IMPROPER DIAMETER. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN APRIL 10, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED

Campaign 01V383000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20021216 — air bags

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER, SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES AND MINI VANS, SOME OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE A PASSENGER AIR BAG THAT WAS MANUFACTURED WITHOUT A CHECK VALVE PIN. AN AIR BAG WITHOUT THE CHECK VALVE PIN COU

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE PASSENGER AIR BAG. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN DECEMBER 16, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DA

Campaign 02V329000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20030820 — equipment

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 DO

Remedy: OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH A SUPPLEMENT FOR THEIR OWNER'S MANUAL. THIS SUPPLEMENT DESCRIBES AND SHOWS THE LOCATION SYMBOLS FOR THE CHILD RESTRAINT ANCHORS THAT ARE LOCATED IN THE VEHICLE AND ON THE

Campaign 03V250000 — check if this car was fixed

I 20040917 — PE (closed 20041222)

POWER-SLIDING DOOR

R 20050531 — latches/locks/linkages

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 SLI

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE POWER SLIDING DOOR INTERIOR HANDLE ON THE PASSENGER-SIDE. IF THE VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH A POWER OR MANUAL SLIDING DOOR ON THE DRIVER-SIDE, THE INTERIOR HANDLE WILL ALSO BE

Campaign 04V597000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20070427 — fuel system, other

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 UNI

Remedy: DELPHI WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE UPR FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 23, 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT DELPHI AT 877-411-8770.

Campaign 07E021000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20071204 — fuel system, gasoline

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).

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL TANK. THE RECALL WILL BE MAILED IN TWO PHASES WITH THE FIRST PHASE BEGINNING ON DECEMBER 4, 2007. THE SECOND PHASE WILL BE MAILED ON DECEMBER 13, 2007. OWNERS MAY CON

Campaign 07V349000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20090223 — 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 REPLACEM

Remedy: DORMAN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE STEERING KNUCKLES FREE OF CHARGE AND REIMBURSE THE REPAIR FACILITY OR OWNER FOR LABOR. THE RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 23, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT D

Campaign 09E005000 — check if this car was fixed

BUY-SMART CHECKLIST

2001 Pontiac Montana — pre-purchase inspection

  • Test/inspect for power train issues (15 reports on file for this year).
  • Test/inspect for electrical system issues (12 reports on file for this year).
  • Test/inspect for engine and engine cooling issues (10 reports on file for this year).
  • Verify recall 00V228003 (seat belts) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 01V026000 (air bags) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 01V067000 (latches/locks/linkages) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 01V264000 (latches/locks/linkages) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 01V383000 (seats) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 02V329000 (air bags) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 03V250000 (equipment) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 04V597000 (latches/locks/linkages) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 07E021000 (fuel system, other) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 07V349000 (fuel system, gasoline) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 09E005000 (steering) has been completed.

OTHER YEARS OF THIS MODEL

BEST YEARS

▲ 2006 ▲ 2004 ▲ 1998

WORST YEARS

■ 1999 ■ 2000 ◆ 2002

See all years ranked →

FAQ

Is the 2001 Pontiac Montana reliable?

Based on NHTSA complaint volume compared to this model's typical year, the 2001 Pontiac Montana is rated "worse than typical".

What are the most common problems with the 2001 Pontiac Montana?

The most-reported component is power train:automatic transmission, accounting for 10% of complaints on file.

How many recalls does the 2001 Pontiac Montana have?

11 recalls on file for this model year.

Data updated 2026-07-11 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.