2001 Pontiac Montana Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe coolant leaks from the intake manifold gasket on the 3.4L V6, usually noticed as a slow loss of coolant, a low coolant light, or no heat, and sometimes followed by overheating. Transmission failures, sliding-door latch and lock trouble, and fuel leaks or fuel smells near the tank also recur across the sample, with a wide spread of mileages from under 50,000 to well past 150,000.

1. 1
   Engine cooling

   Coolant leak from intake manifold gasket

   • 21 complaints (13%)
   • median 83,000 mi at 5.5 yrs old (15 state mileage)
   • owner-quoted repair $885 (median of 8 quotes)
   • filed 2004–2010

   Complaints describe coolant disappearing with no obvious puddle, a sweet smell, low coolant warnings, or a reddish-pink leak at the back of the engine. Some owners say the loss was traced to the lower intake manifold gasket, and a few report the engine then overheated or stalled. Several mention the dealer quoted a repair in the several-hundred-dollar range, and some say they were told it is a common job on this engine. Reported from roughly 38,000 to 180,000 miles in the sample, with many between 50,000 and 110,000 miles and a few shortly after purchase.

   What to check: Check the coolant level and look for crusty pink residue around the intake manifold and thermostat area, and ask whether the intake gaskets have been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I had the oil changed and then a few days later the van developed a leak of a red/pink fluid. I took it in to the place where I had the oil changed and then to a local Pontiac dealer who also found the same problem. The problem is that the lower gasket went bad. It would take 1200 to 1500 usd to replace it. Both the local Pontiac dealership and the goodyear tire dealership that first changed my oil said that it they found it a common replacement on this engine, the 3.4 l GM.”

   NHTSA complaint #10150175, filed 2006-02, 67,500 miles

   “Bought a 2001 Pontiac Montana with 102,400 miles on it and within three days of ownership the intake gaskets are blown. Repairs are estimated to be $700-$900 without knowing it has done more damage than that. Looked online and found a website that over 9600 people have signed that they had problems with that same engine 3.4l v6. There has been no recall from GM and I think that there should be. Why are we stuck with a bill that high, when it supposedly got rectified in 2002 vehicles. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10147024, filed 2006-01, 102,500 miles
2. 2
   Fuel system

   Fuel smell or leak at the tank and filler neck

   • 10 complaints (6%)
   • median 142,791 mi at 11.2 yrs old (8 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2001–2014

   Owners describe a strong gasoline smell around a parked van, fuel dripping near the tank, and in some cases a cracked tank or a leak at the filler neck where the inlet check valve sits. Complaints note that the vehicle may take only a partial fill before fuel runs out, and several mention a dealer or manufacturer response about recall coverage that did not apply or had expired. Mostly reported above 80,000 miles, often past 120,000 miles, in vans parked or sitting overnight.

   Recall 07V349000

   What to check: Smell around the rear and filler area after the van has sat, look for wet or stained spots under the tank, and ask whether the fuel tank recall work was performed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Dt: contact states: the gas tank cracked at the seams and is leaked gasoline. The gas tank was made of plastic and cannot be fixed.. She called a dealer, and the dealer was getting lots of complaints about the same thing. But GM has not issued a recall. The vehicle has not been fixed yet; but she was going to have it fixed as soon as possible.”

   NHTSA complaint #10125918, filed 2005-07, 62,000 miles

   “The tank leaks fuel at the inlet on the tank. Customer is able to put no more than enough gas in the tank where is below the level on the inlet on the tank.”

   NHTSA complaint #10629560, filed 2014-08, 160,000 miles
3. 3
   Latches, locks and linkages

   Sliding doors: latches, locks and power door problems

   • 10 complaints (6%)
   • median 55,000 mi at 4.4 yrs old (7 state mileage, few)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2001–2015

   Complaints describe sliding doors that will not latch or close properly, doors that pop back open, locks that stick or stop working, and power sliding doors that reopen or fail to respond. A few owners report a door coming off its track or falling while being opened, and some say dealers could not reproduce or fully fix the problem. Reported from under 30,000 to about 150,000 miles, with many in the 40,000 to 70,000 mile range.

   Recall 04V597000Recall 01V264000Recall 01V067000

   What to check: Open and close both sliding doors several times, check that they latch flush and that the interior and exterior handles work, and ask whether the door latch recalls were completed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “No events lead up to failure. When my 5 years old daughter opened the driver side sliding door of our 2001 Pontiac Montana extended minivan from inside, the sliding door fell off and landed on the ground atteched only by bottom bolt. If any small child had been present outside the minivan they would have been severely injured by the falling door. We have been the sole owner of the minivan, the vehicle has been garaged and maintained. The vehicle has ~42k miles. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10112766, filed 2005-03, 42,000 miles

   “I would like to let you know about the 2001 Pontiac Montana mini van that I have. After about 3 months that I owned the van my two sliding doors (not power sliding) the locks on them either started to either not lock or would lock and stick. This has been a problem for awhile as well as the rear power window motors are out and the windows will not open at all this just happened without any warning and I think that this needs to be addressed before something does happen to any one.”

   NHTSA complaint #10104617, filed 2004-12, 63,000 miles
4. 4
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Transmission slipping, harsh engagement or failure

   • 13 complaints (8%)
   • median 42,273 mi at 3.2 yrs old (10 state mileage)
   • filed 2001–2005

   Owners describe a clunk or scraping noise when shifting between reverse and drive, delayed or hard engagement, the engine revving before the van jerks into gear, and in some cases the transmission quitting entirely and leaving the vehicle unable to move. Complaints mention the vehicle being towed and quotes for a rebuild or replacement, and some shops told owners they see this model frequently. Mostly reported between about 40,000 and 70,000 miles, with a few at higher mileage.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Test drive from a cold start and listen for clunks or scraping when shifting into drive and reverse, check for delayed engagement, and ask for transmission service records.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “At 60,000 miles the transmission is junk. I took my van to two different transmission shops and both said the same thing, it needs to be repalced or rebuilt! I quote we see alot of these Pontiac montanas come in, the transmission gives out between 50,000 and 70,000 miles. The planetary gears are shot, 4th clutch gone, metal debris through out the transmission!!!!”

   NHTSA complaint #10075393, filed 2004-06, 50,000 miles

   “2001 Pontiac Montana. This van is now a paper weight in my drive. After 53,000 miles the transmission is shot! Of course the warranty is null and void so I will have to cough up $2000.00 - $3000.00. Not a happy Pontiac owner!!!!!!”

   NHTSA complaint #10056565, filed 2004-02, 53,000 miles
5. 5
   Engine cooling

   Overheating and coolant loss leading to head gasket work

   • 14 complaints (9%)
   • median 65,000 mi at 5.5 yrs old (13 state mileage)
   • filed 2004–2014

   Complaints describe the temperature gauge climbing quickly, steam or smoke, and the engine shutting off, sometimes with no heat from the vents beforehand. Owners say mechanics found water in the engine, a cracked intake manifold or failed head gasket, and some report the van was undriveable until repaired. Reported from about 50,000 to 180,000 miles, with several cases between 75,000 and 105,000 miles.

   What to check: Ask whether the head gaskets or intake gaskets have been replaced, check for coolant in the oil or oil in the coolant, and watch the temperature gauge during a test drive.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I was just driving to the store and all of a sudden without warning my van started to overheat and smoke the temp got to above 260 and it just stopped in the road. I had my children with me and had no idea what happened. My 17 year old son had to push me out of the road and I called my brother and he drove out to me and checked things out who is a mechanic and he said I blew a head gasket, he said these things happen but it should not have happened at 79,000 miles. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10275791, filed 2009-07, 79,735 miles

   “Bought this 2001 Pontiac Montana with 132000 miles a week before. Going to pick up my son from work, early evening, 14 degrees outside. I look down and my temperature gauge shoot up and the red temp gauge comes on. I pull over. Bubbling fluids is all I hear. First we started off with no heat a few days before that. We had the heater core flushed out and that seemed to work. Changed the water pump and thermostat. O2 sensors need to be replaced (1+3). Fuel pump is rusted. And the hydroponic lifters are loud. Like the style but having problems. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10566652, filed 2014-03, 3 miles

Buying note. Have a used example inspected for coolant leaks and head gasket condition, check transmission behavior on a cold test drive, and confirm which door latch and fuel tank recalls have been completed, since these are the areas owners describe most often.

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.