1997 Pontiac Montana Problems
- Complaints
- 18filed with NHTSA
- Median mileage
- 80,000miles, 12 complaints with mileage
- Recalls
- 1campaigns on record
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
Sources: NHTSA records for the 1997 Pontiac Montana (complaints, recalls, investigations). Report an error
NHTSA recorded 18 consumer complaints for the 1997 Pontiac Montana. The part named most often is engine cooling, with 8 complaints (44% of the total), followed by exterior lighting (3) and seat belts (2). 12 of the complaints include a mileage, and 17% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 80,000 miles. Of all complaints, 1 involved a crash, 1 a fire, 2 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign and 6 technical service bulletins for this model year. Engine cooling complaints overlap with 1 technical service bulletin filed under the same part.
This model year has fewer than 25 complaints on record, so the numbers below can change a lot with a few new reports.
Which parts are reported most
Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.
- Engine cooling8 44%
- Exterior lighting3 17%
- Seat belts2 11%
- Body and structure2 11%
- Suspension2 11%
- Air bags1 5.6%
- Electrical system1 5.6%
- Equipment1 5.6%
- Other or unknown1 5.6%
Also reported: Tires (1), Transmission and drivetrain (1).
Example complaints
Engine cooling: “I have a 1997 Pontiac Montana minivan. I have been told that I have the dreaded intake manifold leak. It appears that this is a huge problem with the 3.4 liter engine.”
NHTSA complaint #10023220, filed 2003-06, 80,000 milesExterior lighting: “We have had lens covers fall off both front headlights. What should normally be a very low cost fix has resulted in repair/labor costs of over $300 for us as you cannot replace just the lens cover. As I was told, the glue whoch holds the lens cover on breaks down and results in the lens cover falling off. The entire headlight assembly has to be replaced (last year parts alone were $130...this year around 90 for the other headlight). This is an awful design! …”
NHTSA complaint #10028509, filed 2003-07, 59,000 milesSeat belts: “Driving down a two lane freeway, vearing to the right and I rearended a car. The seatbelts did not lock and the airbags did not work..the vehicle was inspected and everything was said to be working fine..the van is fully loaded and all the elctronics are working perfectly, as far as I knew.”
NHTSA complaint #10110502, filed 2005-02Body and structure: “I recently saw that toyota voluntarily recalled some of their vehicles due to failures of the cable that holds their spare tires in place. I had this exact same failure occur to me on a 1997 Pontiac Montana van. The actual failure occurred on 1/21/08. I was parked in a parking lot when the spare tire suddenly separated from the vehicle and fell onto the ground. The metal cable on the spare tire winch had failed due to corrosion and allowed the tire to fall. …”
NHTSA complaint #10329297, filed 2010-05, 120,000 milesMileage when problems were reported
17% of the 12 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 55,000 and 106,000 miles.
Complaints by year filed
Trend: stable. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
Recalls and investigations
- 04V597000Dec 22, 2004Latches/locks/linkages › Doors › LatchCovers: Pontiac Montana 1997–2005, Chevrolet Venture 1997–2005, Oldsmobile Silhouette 1997–2004 +1 more
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 sliding door could be injured.
Recall details for the 1997 Pontiac Montana → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls
Technical service bulletins
TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 6 on record; the latest 6 are shown.
- 10208027Jan 14, 2022Fuel system, Brakes. This Preliminary Information communicates to the dealer the process for downloading or updating operating software for the Tire Pressure Monitor, Active Fuel Injector tester, multi media tester…
- 10082506Aug 26, 2016Equipment. This technical bulletin provides a procedure to reprogram the media disc player with the latest calibrations to correct a condition of the rear entertainment system not operating as intended in…
- 10248444Jun 30, 2014Equipment. Vehicle Recalls
- 10246631Sep 1, 2013Engine cooling. Expanded Availability for Remanufacture and Return (R&R) Electronic Control Modules
- 10017152Oct 26, 2005Electrical system. Power door lock inoperative.
- 10012745Oct 1, 2004Equipment. Information on error codes on radio display their cause and corrective action.
Other model years of the Pontiac Montana
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | Crash ★ | MPG | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 37 | 81,102 | 2 | — | 19 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2005 | 81 | 38,000 | 5 | — | 18 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2004 | 39 | 42,221 | 3 | — | 20 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 2003 | 84 | 50,000 | 5 | — | 20 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2002 | 126 | 60,000 | 3 | — | 20 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 2001 | 156 | 62,229 | 9 | — | 20 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 2000 | 228 | 66,632 | 5 | — | 19 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1999 | 235 | 60,000 | 5 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1998 | 49 | 75,055 | 3 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1997 | 18 | 80,000 | 1 | — | — | — | Stable |
All Pontiac Montana model years · Best and worst years by complaints
Frequently asked questions
How many NHTSA complaints does the 1997 Pontiac Montana have?
NHTSA recorded 18 consumer complaints for the 1997 Pontiac Montana as of Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
What part of the 1997 Pontiac Montana is reported most often?
Engine cooling is named most often, in 8 complaints (44% of the total), followed by exterior lighting with 3.
Has the 1997 Pontiac Montana been recalled?
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
At what mileage are problems with the 1997 Pontiac Montana reported?
Among the 12 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 80,000 miles and the middle half falls between 55,000 and 106,000 miles; 17% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.