1999 Pontiac Montana Problems
- Complaints
- 235filed with NHTSA
- Median mileage
- 60,000miles, 105 complaints with mileage
- Recalls
- 5campaigns 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 1999 Pontiac Montana (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests. Report an error
What owners report
Most of what owners of this minivan report centers on coolant loss and engine trouble tied to intake and head gaskets on the 3.4L V6, typically appearing between roughly 40,000 and 80,000 miles. The other recurring themes are a power sliding door that opens or jams unexpectedly, and a transmission that shifts harshly or makes noise. Complaints span years of ownership, so many describe used vehicles rather than original ones.
- Engine cooling
Coolant loss and gasket leaks (intake/head gasket)
- 84 complaints (36%)
- median 60,000 mi at 4.8 yrs old (61 state mileage)
- 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
- owner-quoted repair $700 (median of 29 quotes)
- filed 2000–2012
Owners describe the low-coolant light coming on repeatedly, having to top up coolant every few weeks, and sometimes seeing coolant on the ground or smelling it. Many say a shop or dealer diagnosed a leaking intake manifold gasket, and some report the coolant mixed with the oil (creamy oil) or that the engine later failed. Complaints mention gasket replacement costs ranging from a few hundred to over a thousand dollars, and some describe the leak returning after repair. Mostly reported between about 35,000 and 100,000 miles, with many clustered around 50,000 to 80,000 miles.
What to check: Check the coolant level and its condition, look for creamy or milky oil on the dipstick, and ask for receipts showing whether the intake manifold gaskets have been replaced and when. A pressure test or a look for coolant residue under the intake area can help before buying.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“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”
NHTSA complaint #10069940, filed 2004-01, 38,000 miles“I took my 1999 Pontiac Montana in for an oil change and was told that I have an intake manifold gasket that is leaking. I was told that if it was not repaired serious engine damage could result. I have 63,000 miles on the vehicle and believe that this is not normal wear and tear but rather a factory assembly defect or poor design.”
NHTSA complaint #10032682, filed 2003-08, 61,139 miles - Body and structure
Power sliding door opens or jams while driving
- 20 complaints (9%)
- median 55,925 mi at 6.4 yrs old (10 state mileage)
- 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
- filed 1998–2008
Owners describe the passenger-side sliding door, power or manual, coming off its track, failing to latch, or opening by itself while the van is moving, including on turns, hills and rough roads. Several say the door was serviced under a recall and the problem came back, and others say a dealer replaced a wiring harness or latch hardware. Some report difficulty getting the door to open or close at all. Reported across a wide mileage range, from very low miles up to about 80,000 miles.
Recall 04V597000Recall 01V264000Recall 01V067000
What to check: Open and close the sliding door several times, watch whether it fully latches, and ask whether the door latch recalls were completed on this vehicle and whether the door has been repaired since.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“We have only had our van a year. We have had problems since we got it. One thing after another. First coolant leaking, electrial problems, intake gasket leaking. Replaced 11/05. Motor failed 1/05. Door mailfunction.”
NHTSA complaint #10108298, filed 2005-01, 85 miles“During a regular oil change my mechanic discovered oil in the anti-freeze. Head gaskets went out. My mechanic states they have seen in almost every 3.4 Pontiac Montana mini van that around 80,000 miles there is oil in the antifreeze which indicates a head gasket malfunction. Took mechanic 3 days to fix my van to a cost of $1212.83 plus I was without a vehicle for 3 days. At about 79,000 miles the wheel bearing went out. Now the slider passenger door won't open or won't close at times.”
NHTSA complaint #10131640, filed 2005-08, 83,356 miles - Transmission and drivetrain
Harsh or noisy transmission shifting
- 30 complaints (13%)
- median 63,000 mi at 5.2 yrs old (14 state mileage)
- owner-quoted repair $700 (median of 7 quotes)
- filed 2000–2014
Complaints describe hard, rough or delayed shifts, a whining or clunking noise, and sometimes a service-engine light. Some owners say the behavior appears once the van warms up or in cold weather and can clear after the vehicle is shut off. Dealers and shops quoted transmission repairs or rebuilds, and a few owners report the transmission was replaced. Mostly reported in the 35,000 to 80,000 mile range, with some at lower mileage.
What to check: Test drive from cold and again after warm-up, listening for whining or clunking and feeling for harsh shifts; ask whether the transmission fluid has been serviced and whether any repairs or replacement have been done.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“Intermittently transmission will shift very rough and hard, and transmission emits a whining noise. Once it starts, it continues until the vehicle is turned off and resets. It appears to be happening when the temperature of the vehicle increases to about 210, but it's not consistent. Also had intake manifold gaskets replaces for $700.”
NHTSA complaint #10088537, filed 2004-08, 35,000 miles“Consumer complained about a transmission problem. When changing gears transmission had a hard shift. When starting from one gear to another there was a winding noise that could be heard when the vehicle was in motion. Consumer felt there should be a recall on vehicle.”
NHTSA complaint #10110945, filed 2005-02, 63,000 miles - Air bags
Airbag warning light on
- 30 complaints (13%)
- median 40,156 mi at 5.7 yrs old (8 state mileage, few)
- 13 mention a crash, fire or injury
- filed 2000–2014
Owners report the airbag warning light staying on or coming on intermittently, sometimes after a seat belt pretensioner issue. Some say a dealer replaced the wiring harness or connector more than once without resolving it, and one owner was told the vehicle was not covered by the frontal airbag inflator recall. One complaint describes a crash in which the airbag did not deploy. Reported from about 35,000 miles up to well over 100,000 miles.
What to check: Check that the airbag light comes on briefly at start-up and then goes out, and ask whether the frontal airbag inflator recall was performed; if the light stays on, have the system scanned before purchase.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“Vehicle comes equipped with side air bags which are located in the front seat backs. The padding wasn't properly designed when manufactured. As a result, seat cover material is ripping, which will eventually leave the box containing the side air bag exposed. Also, at 33,000 miles the head gasket developed a leak and destroyed the engine motor.”
NHTSA complaint #10046161, filed 2003-11, 34,000 miles“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”
NHTSA complaint #10069801, filed 2004-01, 44,982 miles
Buying note. On this model year, prioritize checking for coolant leaks and gasket work history, plus the sliding door and transmission behavior on a test drive. A pre-purchase inspection that includes a cooling-system pressure test and a scan for stored codes gives the clearest picture.
Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.
NHTSA recorded 235 consumer complaints for the 1999 Pontiac Montana. 105 of the complaints include a mileage, and 23% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 60,000 miles. Of all complaints, 16 involved a crash, 2 a fire, 18 an injury, 1 a death, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns and 30 technical service bulletins for this model year.
Not compared (before 2008). Model years 2008–2023 of the same vehicle that have at least 25 complaints are compared, and a model needs at least 3 of them.
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 cooling99 42%
- Air bags32 14%
- Brakes24 10%
- Body and structure22 9.4%
- Electrical system14 6.0%
- Latches, locks and linkages12 5.1%
- Equipment10 4.3%
- Fuel system10 4.3%
Also reported: Exterior lighting (8), Seat belts (8), Other or unknown (6), Suspension (5), Vehicle speed control (5), Steering (4), Tires (4), Seats (3), Wheels (3).
Example complaints
Engine cooling: “Two separate gasket problems on my 1999 Pontiac Montana mini van. The most recent was today in aug. Of 2008 the local garage told me that my vans lower intake manifold gasket needed replaced for about $700. The problem was noticed when my temperature light came on and after filling radiator I saw water leaking underneath vehicle.”
NHTSA complaint #10237492, filed 2008-08, 81,718 milesAir bags: “I had an accident where a car fish tailed in front of me slid directly in front of mine. I hit the other car while going 40 MPH, it was a t*bone collision. My front air bags deployed at the time of collision. After getting out of the vehicle I noticed that the passenger side air bag was laying in the front passenger seat with the air bag still inflated. I do remember that for a long time before today the red airbag light was on. I thought this would cause the air bags not to work. I do have pictures of the damage, and the defect with the air bag.”
NHTSA complaint #10496406, filed 2013-02, 260,375 milesTransmission and drivetrain: “At roughly 2k miles, the transmission was replaced. Then again at 28k miles, another replacement. Both were covered under warranty, but I tried to get the local dealer and GM to buy it back since it was untrustworthy for my family. The most my threats could do was get an extended 60k/$0 deductable warranty out of GM. Then at 56.5k miles, the intake manifold gasket problem got me. This also resulted in a water pump replacement.”
NHTSA complaint #10069425, filed 2004-01, 56,500 milesBrakes: “First the driver's side window stopped working, then the tail lights just went out on the 99 Pontiac Montana. They were just working and then on my way home they just stopped working. I replaced all bulbs and they still aren't working. Went to see a technician and he says it is an electrical problem. After that the radio display flickers in and out when the brake is pushed on. I've searched to see if I could find an answer as to why this happened and there are many websites with the same complaints as I have stated here with the same problems.”
NHTSA complaint #10345982, filed 2010-07, 178,280 milesMileage when problems were reported
23% of the 105 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 51,224 and 80,000 miles.
Complaints by year filed
Trend: stable. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
Crash test ratings
NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 1999 Pontiac Montana. Frontal results are shown driver / passenger; rollover shows the star rating and NHTSA's estimated risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.
| Version | Overall | Frontal | Side | Side pole | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Montana · sedan | not rated | 4 / 3 | — | — | — |
Ratings before the 2011 model year come from an older, less demanding test and are not comparable with ratings for 2011 and later.
Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), nhtsa.gov/ratings.
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.
- 02V027000Jan 25, 2002Air bags › FrontalCovers: Pontiac Montana 1999, Grand Prix 1999, Trans Sport 1999
On certain passenger vehicles and mini vans, the driver's air bag inflator modules could produce excessive internal pressure. In the event of a crash that would trigger a driver's air bag deployment, the increased internal pressure can cause the inflator…
- 01V264000Aug 21, 2001Latches/locks/linkages › Doors › LatchCovers: Pontiac Montana 1998–2001, Oldsmobile Silhouette 1997–2001, Chevrolet Venture 1997–2001 +1 more
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 (01v-067) from april to august 2001. Also 2001 chevrolet…
- 01V067000Mar 8, 2001Latches/locks/linkages › Doors › LatchCovers: Pontiac Montana 1998–2001, Oldsmobile Silhouette 1997–2001, Chevrolet Venture 1997–2001 +1 more
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 motion, particularly when the vehicle ascends a hill, makes a…
- 99V071000Apr 12, 1999Steering › Gear box › Shaft sectorCovers: Pontiac Montana 1999, Oldsmobile Silhouette 1999, Chevrolet Venture 1999
Vehicle description: passenger mini vans. The left and/or right front lower insulator to cradle center metal sleeve is collapsed, which can result in loss of clamp load in the joint. If the clamp load is reduced or lost, the bolt can be lost or broken and…
Recall details for the 1999 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. 30 on record; the latest 10 are shown.
- 10232287Feb 21, 2023Equipment. This warranty administration bulletin provides information regarding the field action courtesy transportation policy.
- 10208027Jan 14, 2022Brakes, Fuel system. 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…
- 10171318Jan 31, 2020Electrical system. 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…
- 10168979Nov 22, 2019Equipment. This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician on how to unlock radios that are Delco TheftLock. Technician will use the radio to get the scrambled code…
- 10166638Sep 18, 2019Equipment. This warranty administration bulletin provides information regarding the field action courtesy transportation policy.
- 10165876Sep 5, 2019Equipment. This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician on how to unlock radios that are Delco TheftLock. Technician will use the radio to get the scrambled code…
- 10154641Feb 15, 2019Equipment. This warranty administration bulletin provides information regarding the field action courtesy transportation policy.
- 10141381May 31, 2018Equipment. This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician on how to unlock radios that are Delco Theft Lock. Technician will use the radio to get the scrambled code…
- 10157018Sep 20, 2017Fuel system, Tires, Equipment, Electrical system. 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…
- 10138060Mar 15, 2017Equipment. This warranty administration bulletin provides policy information with the field action courtesy transportation policy.
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
What are the most common problems with the 1999 Pontiac Montana?
Most of what owners of this minivan report centers on coolant loss and engine trouble tied to intake and head gaskets on the 3.4L V6, typically appearing between roughly 40,000 and 80,000 miles. The issues reported most often: Coolant loss and gasket leaks (intake/head gasket); Power sliding door opens or jams while driving; Harsh or noisy transmission shifting.
How many NHTSA complaints does the 1999 Pontiac Montana have?
NHTSA recorded 235 consumer complaints for the 1999 Pontiac Montana as of Nov 1, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
What part of the 1999 Pontiac Montana is reported most often?
Engine cooling is named most often, in 99 complaints (42% of the total), followed by air bags with 32.
Has the 1999 Pontiac Montana been recalled?
NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
At what mileage are problems with the 1999 Pontiac Montana reported?
Among the 105 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 60,000 miles and the middle half falls between 51,224 and 80,000 miles; 23% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Nov 1, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Crash ratings are from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program.
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.