MYRModel Year Report

2003 Pontiac Montana

● Typical for this model
2003 Pontiac Montana
RENDERED 2026-11-01T15:03:13.517Z

This year's complaint volume is within 30% of 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
84
Recalls
7

Campaigns on file for 2003

Investigations
1

Opened by NHTSA

Top problem
Electrical system

18% of complaints

Complaints per year

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 84 2004: 39 complaints 2005: 81 complaints 2005 2006: 37 complaints 2007: 0 complaints 2007 2008: 1 complaint
1997: 18 complaints 1997 1998: 49 complaints 1998 1999: 235 complaints 1999 2000: 228 complaints 2000 2001: 156 complaints 2001 2002: 126 complaints 2002 2003: 84 complaints 2003 84 2004: 39 complaints 2004 2005: 81 complaints 2005 2006: 37 complaints 2006 2007: 0 complaints 2007 2008: 1 complaint 2008
1997: 18 complaints 1997 1998: 49 complaints 1998 1999: 235 complaints 1999 2000: 228 complaints 2000 2001: 156 complaints 2001 2002: 126 complaints 2002 2003: 84 complaints 2003 84 2004: 39 complaints 2004 2005: 81 complaints 2005 2006: 37 complaints 2006 2007: 0 complaints 2007 2008: 1 complaint 2008

2003: 84 complaints

View as data table
YearComplaints
199718
199849
1999235
2000228
2001156
2002126
200384
200439
200581
200637
20070
20081

Known problem areas

Percentages can add to more than 100% — a complaint can name more than one system.

Electrical system

18% · 15 reports

Most commonly citing front underhood and wiring.

CRASHFIREINJURY

Exterior lighting

17% · 14 reports

Most commonly citing headlights and brake lights.

CRASHINJURY

Air bags

17% · 14 reports

Most commonly citing frontal and side/window.

CRASHINJURY
Show complaint excerpts

Van crashed with damage to the front when it ran off the road and went into a culvert/ditch and air bags did not deploy resulting in paralyzation of the wife of the owner after van had been apparently donated to Charity Cars as junk vehicle or...

NHTSA ODI report, 2022-05-20

I was in a accident and hit a truck broadside. I ended up hitting the steering wheel with my chest. Not only was my seatbelt ineffective, but the airbag did not open. I did sustain chest injury. Iran a stop sign in town.

NHTSA ODI report, 2018-11-11

Also filed under Seat belts

2004 Pontiac Montana rolled over twice in a very serious accident in atlanta, Georgia. It was hit from the passenger's side by another car. No airbags, front or side, deployed.

NHTSA ODI report, 2004-04-09

Fuel system, gasoline

15% · 13 reports

Most commonly citing tank assembly and storage.

CRASHINJURY
Show complaint excerpts

Fuel tank leaks severe where filler tube enters the fuel tank.

NHTSA ODI report, 2012-04-09

Engine and engine cooling

13% · 11 reports

Most commonly citing engine and cooling system.

Safety timeline

7 recalls · 1 investigation · oldest first

To check one car, enter its VIN on the NHTSA recall page. Check a VIN →

  1. R
    2002-08-15Air bags02V222000 Certain passenger, mini vans, and sport utility vehicles have an air bag inflator on the driver's side that could fracture at a weld during a deployment.

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect, and replace, if necessary, the air bag module assembly on the driver's side. Owner notification began August 15, 2002. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer…

    Check if this car was fixed →

  2. R
    2003-03-11Air bags03V051000 On certain mini vans, passenger and sport utility vehicles, some of these vehicles have a driver's side air bag that may not deploy as designed. In addition, the air bag inflator could rupture.

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect, and if necessary, install a new driver's air bag. Owner notification began on March 11, 2003. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon…

    Check if this car was fixed →

  3. R
    2003-08-20Equipment03V250000 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…

    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…

    Check if this car was fixed →

  4. I
    2004-09-17Preliminary evaluationClosed 2004-12-22 Power-sliding door
  5. R
    2005-05-31Latches/locks/linkages04V597000 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…

    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…

    Check if this car was fixed →

  6. R
    2007-04-27Fuel system, other07E021000 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…

    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.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  7. R
    2007-12-04Fuel system, gasoline07V349000 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…

    Check if this car was fixed →

  8. R
    2009-02-23Steering09E005000 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…

    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…

    Check if this car was fixed →

Buy-smart checklist

2003 Pontiac Montana — pre-purchase inspection

Inspect

  • Electrical system: 15 reports on file for this year.
  • Exterior lighting: 14 reports on file for this year.
  • Air bags: 14 reports on file for this year.

Verify these recalls were completed

  • Recall 02V222000 · Air bags
  • Recall 03V051000 · Air bags
  • Recall 03V250000 · Equipment
  • Recall 04V597000 · Latches/locks/linkages
  • Recall 07E021000 · Fuel system, other
  • Recall 07V349000 · Fuel system, gasoline
  • Recall 09E005000 · Steering
Inspected by ______________ Date ______________

Other years of this model

See all years ranked →

Best years3 years

Worst years3 years

FAQ

Is the 2003 Pontiac Montana reliable?
Based on NHTSA complaint volume compared to this model's typical year, the 2003 Pontiac Montana is rated "typical".
What are the most common problems with the 2003 Pontiac Montana?
The most-reported component is electrical system, accounting for 18% of complaints on file.
How many recalls does the 2003 Pontiac Montana have?
7 recalls on file for this model year.

Data updated 2026-10-31 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.