1999 PONTIAC MONTANA Complaints

HEAT & ENGINE LOW COOLANT LIGHT ON;HEATER BLOWER INOP AT SOME SPEEDS(REPLACE INTAKE GASKET AND BLOWER FAN RESISTOR PAINT PAINT BUBBLED ON HOOD TRANSMISSION HARSH SHIFTING (FAULTY PRESSURE CONTROL SOLENOID) WHEEL NOISE IN BEARING (REPLACE WHEEL HUB ASSEMBLY) BRAKES A.B.S LIGHT ALWAYS COMES ON(LOOSE WIRES;DISCONNECTED WIRE FAULTY SENSOR)ONGOING PROBLEM NOT FIXED(REAR WIPER MOTOR;PASSENGER MIRROR KEEPS SHIFTING;NO HEAT CONTROL IN POSITION HALF WINDOW HALF FLOOR

COOLANT LIGHT COMING ON AND NOTICED COOLANT ALWAYS MISSING FROM COOLANT RECOVERY TANK. TOOK VEHICLE TO LOCAL GM DEALER AND AFTER TESTING FOUND THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD AND HEAD GASKETS WERE LEAKING. AFTER VERY LITTLE RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET I FOUND ALOT OF PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. I CONTACTED GM FOR ASSISTANCE AND WAS ESSENTIALLY TOLD I WAS ON MY OWN THEY WOULD PAY NOTHING. GM ACTED AS IF I WAS THE ONLY ONE HAVING THE INTAKE/HEAD GASKET PROBLEM. I HAVE AN UNCLE AND A FRIEND OF MINE THAT LIVE IN THE SAME TOWN I DO THAT OWN A PONTIAC MONTANA AND BOTH HAVE HAD THE SAME GASKET PROBLEM. THEY BOTH CONTACTED GM AND WERE TOLD THE SAME THING I WAS TOLD. I FEEL LIKE GM SHOULD ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM WITH THERE 3.4 V6 ENGINES, STAND BEHIND THERE PRODUCT AND PAY FOR THESE REPAIRS. I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN AN AVID GM SUPPORTER BUT THIS REALLY IS BEGINING TO CHANGE MY WAY OF THINKING.

THERE IS A DEFECTIVE INTAKE GASKET ON 3.4L ENGINES THAT ARE INSTALLED IN MANY OF THE GM MODELS. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY NUMEROUS REPAIR SHOPS AND A SERVICE MANAGER AT A CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP THAT HE REPLACES ABOUT 1 OR 2 A DAY AND CAN'T BELIEVE THAT GM HASN'T BEEN FORCED INTO A RECALL. THERE HAS BEEN 2 TO 3 UPDATES SINCE 1999 IN AN ATTEMPT TO CORRECT PROBLEM. THE NEW PART # THAT WAS INSTALLED IN MY ENGINE IS 89017279. IS THERE ANY RECOURSE AGAINST GM IN THIS MATTER?? I HAVE BEEN GETTING THE ROYAL RUNAROUND BETWEEN GM CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THE DEALERSHIP I BOUGHT THE VAN FROM IN APRIL 2003.

AS APPEARS TO BE COMMON WITH THE ENGINE IN THIS VEHICLE, THE INTAKE GASKET FAILED CAUSING DEXCOOL TO LEAK INTO THE ENGINE AND THUS CONTAMINATING NOT ONLY ENGINE OIL, BUT CAUSING FAILURE OF CRITICAL INTERNAL COMPONENTS DUE TO THE FACT THAT DEXCOOL DETERIORATES/WEAKENS CERTAIN METALS, ETC. IN OUR CASE, THE VEHICLE'S ENGINE COMPLETELY FAILED WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH ON A 6 LANE EXPRESSWAY WITH NO PRIOR INDICATION OF PROBLEMS. GM IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT REFUSES TO TAKE ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR ITS INFERIOR DESIGN! A RECALL SHOULD BE BEGUN IMMEDIATELY. WITHOUT QUICK, CALM REACTION MY PREGANANT WIFE AND TWO CHILDREN COULD HAVE BEEN REAR-ENDED AND SEVERLY INJURED OR KILLED. HOW WOULD GM DEAL WITH THE PUBLICITY OF THAT LAWSUIT!

ENGINE-LOW COOLANT LIGHT EVALUATED AND FOUND TO HAVE FAULTY INTAKE GASKET-REPAIRED, WOULD LIKE GM TO COVER UNDER RECALL, SERVICE MANAGER STATED "IT HAPPENS ALOT MORE OFTEN THAN GM WANTS TO ADMIT IN THE 3.4 AND 3.8L ENGINES IN SEARCHING RECALLS, NOTED SEVERAL PETITIONS WITH SAME COMPLAINT. STEERING--HARD LEFT TURNS AT LOW SPEEDS, EVALUATED AND SERVICE DEPT (GM) STATED NO CURRENT RECALLS FOR THE '99 MONTANA, THE RECALL ENDED WITH THE '98 TRANSPORTS. THE SAME PROBLEM SEEMS TO HAVE CONTINUED, WOULD LIKE GM TO EXTEND THE RECALL TO COVER THE '99 MONTANA'S NOVEMBER 1, 2003 UPDATE:LOW COOLANT LIGHT CAME ON AND I HAD IT INSPECTED AT HARRY'S PONTIAC, 819 PATTON AVE. ASHEVILLE, NC 28806 ON JAN 07,2003. THEY RECOMMENDED REPLACING THE LOWER INTAKE GASKETS AND DID SO ON THE 8TH. THE COST WAS $442.00, GASKET KI $49.46, COOLANT $30.00, CLEANER $4.67, SEALANT-R $11.79, SEAL $3.68, OIL FILTER $5.31, OIL $9.00, AND GASKET $47.40. THERE WAS ALSO TAX AND A 10% CHARGE FOR SHOP SUPPLIES/WASTE DISPOSAL FOR $15.00. MILAGE WAS 54,530. WE PURCHASED THE VAN IN SEPT 1999. WE TRADED THE VAN IN JUNE, FEELING THE MONTANA DIDN'T HAVE A GOOD TRACK RECORD AFTER ALL OF THE REPAIRS WE'D MADE. (TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS WHILE STILL UNDER WARRANTY, AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON INTERMITTENTLY, IDENTIFIED AS AN OPEN CIRCUIT IN THE PASSENGER SEAT BELT PRETENSIONER DIFFICULTY MAKING LEFT HAND TURNS AT LOW SPEEDS.)

MY WIFE AND I OWN A 1999 PONTIAC MONTANA. IN SEPTEMBER OF 2002 (~53000 MILES)WE NOTICED THAT THE LOW COOLANT LIGHT CAME ON. SO WE ADDED COOLANT. THEN AGAIN IN NOVEMBER THE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN SO WE CONTACTED OUR PERSONAL MECHANIC SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. HE TOLD US THAT THE PLASTIC UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD AND THE GASKET WAS BAD. HE TOLD US THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS TYPE OF ENGINE. HE SAID THAT GM DEALERS IN THE AREA TOLD HIM THAT IT WAS DUE TO THE MANIFOLD BEING MADE OF PLASTIC AND THE FACT THAT GM USES DEXCOOL COOLANT, WHICH EATS UP THE PLASTIC AND THE GASKETS. HE ALSO TOLD US THAT BECAUSE OF THIS SOME OF THE COOLANT SPILLED INTO THE ENGINE OIL. THE COST OF THE REPAIRS WERE $392.57. WE NOW WILL HAVE A GOOD CHANCE OF SPENDING $2000 - $2500 ON A NEW ENGINE BECAUSE OF THE COOLANT IN THE ENGINE OIL. WE DID CALL THE DEALER WHO SOLD US THE VAN AND THEY TOLD US TO CALL PONTIAC. WE DID CALL THE PONTIAC CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTER IN MICHIGAN AND FILED A COMPLAINT. THEY TOLD US THAT THEY HAVE NEVER HEARD OF SUCH A PROBLEM. WE FEEL THAT GM SHOULD STAND BEHIND THESE PROBLEMS. PLEASE RESPOND. THANKS

I HAD A LOCAL GM DEALER REPAIR THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET ON OUR 1999 PONTIAC MONTANA IN DEC. 2002. WE HAD TO HAVE THE WATER PUMP REPLACED ALSO AND HAVE THE COOLING SYSTEM FLUSHED AT THE SAME TIME. THE COST OF THOSE REPAIRS WAS IN THE RANGE OF $1,000 AND WAS DONE IN A VERY SATISFACTORY MANNER BY THE DEALER. THE SERVICE MANAGER KNEW EXACTLY WHAT WAS WRONG AS SOON AS I DESCRIBED THE SYMPTOMS. HE SEEMED TO HAVE SEEN A LOT OF THE SAME PROBLEMS FROM OTHER OWNERS. OUR CAR BEGAN TO LOSE COOLANT AND THEN THE OIL BEGAN TO LOOK ORANGE AND FINALLY THE COOLANT WAS DRIPPING ON THE GROUND. THESE PROBLEMS BEGAN ABOUT 70,000 MILES. WE ARE THE SECOND OWNERS OF THIS VAN AND BOUGHT IT FROM THE REPAIRING DEALERSHIP AS A PROGRAM, USED VEHICLE WITH 20,000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. I HAVE SAVED ALL OUR RECEIPTS FOR THE AFOREMENTIONED REPAIRS IN HOPE THAT GM MIGHT HAVE A RECALL FOR THESE PROBLEMS. IN MY OPINION, THE FAULT LIES WITH TEXACO AND OTHERS WHO MADE AND MANUFACTURED THE DEXCOOL COOLANT USED BY GM. JUDGING FROM THE INFORMATION ON THE INTERNET, IT SEEMS OTHER MANUFACTURERS HAVE RUN INTO PROBLEMS WITH THIS COOLANT (CATAPILLAR, CUMMINGS DIESEL.)

LEAKING LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. HARD TO SAY HOW MUCH TO DATE HAS BEEN INTERNAL, BUT HAS NEVER DRIPPED ON GARAGE FLOOR UNTIL THIS WEEK. I LIST MILAGE FAILURE AT 38,000 MILES BECAUSE THAT IS WHEN I FIRST NOTICED COOLANT LEVEL DROPPING WITH NO VISABLE LEAKS. CURRENT MILEAGE IS APROX 60800 MILES. I HAVE HAD TO ADD COOLANT SINCE JUNE OF 2001. 3.4L V6

MY 99 MONTANA (70,030 MILES BUT NEVER A PROBLEM) FAILED ON US ABOUT 15 MILES EAST OF HAGERSTOWN MD WHILE RETURNING TO PITTSBURGH FROM OCEAN CITY ON 7/13/2003. THE SHORT STORY IS THAT THE ENGINE FAILED WITH LITTLE PRIOR WARNING AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. THERE WAS A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET, I HAVE IT AS WELL AS PHOTOS. THE LEAKING COOLANT MIXED WITH THE ENGINE OIL AND THE RESULTING EMULSIFIED COMBINATION RESULTED IN A RUINED ENGINE IN A VERY SHORT TIME. THE ENGINE HAD NEW OIL BECAUSE I CHANGED IT ON 7/5 AT 69,000 MILES AS SPECIFIED IN OWNER'S MANUAL PRIOR TO LEAVING PITTSBURGH. I STILL HAVE THE OLD OIL IN MY GARAGE AND IT IS IN GOOD CONDITION. I HAD THE VAN TOWED 180 MILES TO MY DEALER, THE POWER OF BOWSER, SO THAT THEY COULD TELL ME THAT THERE'S NOTHING THEY OR GM CAN DO FOR ME. THE LOCAL GM SERVICE REP LOOKED AT IT ON 7/17 AND SAID NO GOODWILL WARRANTY AS DID THE PEOPLE AT PONTIAC CUSTOMER RELATIONS. (1-800-PMCARES SHOULD BE 1-800-WESAYNO). THE PEOPLE GM "EMPOWERS" TO MAKE THESE DECISIONS ARE NOT TECHNICALLY TRAINED SUCH THAT THEY CAN EVEN UNDERSTAND WHAT HAPPENED AND YET THEY MAKE THE DECISION THAT IT'S TOUGH LUCK. I WOULDN'T BE SO UPSET ABOUT THIS SITUATION IF I HAD DONE SOMETHING THAT CONTRIBUTED TO THE FAILURE OF THE ENGINE. BUT, I'M A FANATIC, I CHANGE MY OIL EVERY 3K AND DO ALL THE OTHER STUFF THAT'S RECOMMENDED IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL. THERE IS NO WAY THAT A COMPETENTLY DESIGNED AND MANUFACTURED ENGINE SHOULD EXPERIENCE THE TYPE OF FAILURE THAT THE ENGINE IN MY MONTANA HAD. I'VE HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO HAVE THE ENGINE REPLACED AT A COST OF $4,100. I JUST PAID IT OFF IN MAY. THE FACT THAT GM HAS INTERNALLY RECOGNIZED A PROBLEM WITH THE GASKET VIA INTERNAL SERVICE BULLETINS AND DIDN'T GIVE THEIR CUSTOMERS THIS INFORMATION IS MALPRACTICE AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED. I'D BE IN JAIL IF I DID THIS IN MY WORK. WE PURSUED ACTION WITH THE BBB AUTO LINE BUT, WERE TURNED DOWN FOR AN ARBITRATION HEARING BASED ON THE MILEAGE.

INTAKE MANIFOLD LEAKING COOLANT INTO THE ENGINE OIL ON MY 3.4 LITER ENGINE. AFTER COMPLAINING TO PONTIAC & THE BBB, GM OFFERED TO PAY 50% OF THE REPAIR COST. FAULTY OXYGEN SENSOR & LEAKING FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR OH DECEMBER 16, 2003. SINCE ORIGINAL COMPLAINT, KEYLESS REMOTE FAILED ON 7/15/03 & SEAT BELT PRETENSIONER FAILED CAUSING AIRBAG LIGHT TO GO ON, JULY 28, 2003