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Pontiac MontanaModel year report

2002 Pontiac Montana Problems

Complaints
126filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
60,000miles, 86 complaints with mileage
Recalls
3campaigns on record
Trend
StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
—overall rating starts with 2011 models
EPA fuel economy
20 mpgcombined, 3.4L 6-cyl FWD · 17 city / 24 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2002 Pontiac Montana (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often report cooling-system and intake gasket leaks, where coolant seeps at the intake manifold and can mix with oil, and fuel leaks at the fuel tank inlet that produce a strong gas smell when the vehicle is parked. Many complaints also describe power sliding door problems, brake lights that repeatedly fail, and an erratic fuel gauge. Reports span a wide mileage range, from under 20,000 miles to well past 150,000.

  1. Engine cooling

    Coolant leak at intake manifold gasket

    • 20 complaints (16%)
    • median 65,000 mi at 5.0 yrs old (15 state mileage)
    • filed 2003–2013

    Complaints describe coolant leaking at the intake manifold seal, sometimes noticed during routine service or as an unexplained loss of coolant. Several owners say the leak let coolant mix with the oil, and some report the repair being needed more than once. Others mention head gasket work and continuing to be told to use the specified coolant. Dealers replaced gaskets in some cases, and one owner reported the manufacturer covering part of the cost. Reported from roughly 35,000 to 145,000 miles, with several cases in the 40,000-90,000 mile range.

    4 related service bulletins

    What to check: Check the coolant level and look for residue around the intake manifold, and ask whether the intake gaskets have been replaced. Inspect the oil for a milky or coolant-like appearance.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “I also had the problem with the lower intake valve gasket but instead of one time of paying 5-700.00 to have it fixed I have had to have it done twice and my van only has 84,000 miles on it I know that there are always problems but I think that if this many people have had the same problem that they should do something about it.”

    NHTSA complaint #10227394, filed 2008-05, 86,393 miles

    “Intake manifold gaskets failing after the warranty period, Pontiac Montana 2002, with a cost of 700.00 plus. Information was sent to all g.m dealers of this defect,with no recall to repair. Class action lawsuit was started in canada for this defect with many failures of this gasket or manifold itself. What can I do? This has not failed yet but will, as it is leaking now. What recourse do I have ?”

    NHTSA complaint #10160093, filed 2006-06, 38,000 miles
  2. Fuel system

    Fuel smell and leak at fuel tank inlet

    • 14 complaints (11%)
    • median 95,000 mi at 9.1 yrs old (11 state mileage)
    • filed 2003–2017

    Owners describe a strong gasoline odor after the vehicle is parked, often with a puddle forming under the rear of the van. In several complaints the cause was traced to a crack at the fuel tank inlet check valve or fill neck, and the tank was replaced. Some owners note their vehicle was not covered by the fuel tank storage campaign even though the symptom matched it. Temporary repairs with sealant sometimes held only briefly. Reported from about 10,000 miles up to roughly 190,000 miles, frequently on vehicles parked in a garage or carport.

    Recall 07V349000

    What to check: Ask whether the fuel tank or inlet check valve has been replaced, and check the campaign status for the specific vehicle identification number. After parking, look under the rear for drips and note any gas smell.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “Early saturday morning on september 8, 2012, I smelled strong gas fumes in my kitchen which is by my carport. I went outside to check and see where the overwhelming smell was coming from. Time I stepped out the door to my carport where my van is parked, I went to my 2002 Pontiac Montana minivan and began looking and sniffing around and under it. To my shock and surprise there was a puddle of gas on the ground from gas leaking out of the fuel tank where the inlet connects to the fuel tank. …”

    NHTSA complaint #10475155, filed 2012-09, 104,255 miles

    “We first noticed fuel smell in the garage. Found a small puddle of gas under the rear of the vehicle. The leak was coming from a crack around the fuel tank inlet. I was not able at that time to take the vehicle in, so I repaired with some epoxy putty. This worked for about 3 months but then it began leaking again. This time I went online to look for replacement fuel tanks. I found a recall for this problem but it states that for the dealer to replace the manufacture date is june thru aug 2002. My vehicle was manufactured 11/2001.”

    NHTSA complaint #10204484, filed 2007-09, 135,000 miles
  3. Body and structure

    Power sliding door closes on hands, latches fail

    • 12 complaints (10%)
    • median 50,000 mi at 3.0 yrs old (8 state mileage, few)
    • 4 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • filed 2002–2007

    Complaints describe the passenger-side power sliding door closing on hands or arms without reversing, and in some cases the door could not be reopened from outside. Other owners report door latches that do not catch on closing or that open while driving, and one describes the automatic door reopening instead of latching. Repairs at the dealer sometimes did not resolve the problem. Mostly reported between about 17,000 and 60,000 miles, often in everyday loading and unloading situations.

    Recall 04V597000

    What to check: Operate the power sliding door several times and confirm it reverses when it meets an obstruction. Check that each door latches firmly and does not move when pulled.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “My automatic sliding passenger door on my 2002 Pontiac Montana does not shut properly. When you go to shut the door it closes almost shutting and opening back up automatically resulting in having to reshut the door have had the door repaired 3 times and it still does not work.”

    NHTSA complaint #10043657, filed 2003-10, 34,800 miles

    “The automatic sliding door caused the passenger to break her wrist. When she put her hand on the handle and pulled it back the door began to slide back. While getting out of the vehicle, the passengers hand was between the handle and door causing the wrist to snap. There is no auto reverse, once it makes contact with an object.”

    NHTSA complaint #10106882, filed 2005-02, 55,900 miles
  4. Fuel system

    Fuel gauge reads wrong or jumps

    • 6 complaints (5%)
    • median 106,425 mi at 8.6 yrs old (6 state mileage, few)
    • filed 2007–2017

    Complaints describe a fuel gauge that swings between full and empty or shows full regardless of the actual amount in the tank, sometimes with the low-fuel warning chiming on a full tank. Some owners started tracking mileage manually to avoid running out, and a few link the gauge trouble to a damaged fuel tank. In some cases the sending unit or cluster was suspected rather than the tank. Reported from about 70,000 to 150,000 miles, often noticed during normal driving without any prior warning.

    What to check: Compare the gauge reading against a fill-up or the trip odometer over a tank of fuel. Ask whether the fuel level sending unit has been replaced.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “The fuel tank inlet check valve can crack and leak recall.. I went out to take my kids to school and smelt gas. Looked underneath can see gas dripping.had it looked it and sure enough hole/crack in fuel tank and now the fuel gauge is not working .checked under the recall and mine is not in it..”

    NHTSA complaint #10947666, filed 2017-01, 98,850 miles

    “This 2002 Pontiac Montana has been owned by us since new. It now will not show a valid quantity of fuel , the gauge shows full most of the time. When it does not it is because it shows empty and the warning bell is ringing. Turning off the car and restarting it stops the bell ringing and the gauge shows full again. I am searching the web to find a fix for this and I find many mentions of the problem by owners who have not fled a complaint with your office. …”

    NHTSA complaint #10287140, filed 2009-10, 80,600 miles

Buying note. On a used example of this model year, service records for intake gaskets and the fuel tank are the most useful thing to ask about, since those are the repairs owners describe most often. A careful look underneath for coolant or fuel residue and a check of the brake lights and sliding door operation cover most of the recurring complaints.

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 126 consumer complaints for the 2002 Pontiac Montana. 86 of the complaints include a mileage, and 31% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 60,000 miles. Of all complaints, 3 involved a crash, 1 a fire, 6 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns and 313 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.

Also reported: Air bags (7), Tires (6), Other or unknown (4), Seat belts (3), Seats (3), Suspension (2), Engine (1), Steering (1), Wheels (1).

Example complaints

Engine cooling: “Bought my car used in 2006,air bag light has come on a few years later,dealer won't fix it because I don't qualify for recall,tells me car came from canada. Depending on where you check my VIN is also registered in the us. My car is now leaking coolant,one repair shop is sure it's the intake gasket,but I can't get this fixed either because it's not under recall yet I did my own research and found millions of people are getting the same problems. I sure wish I could qualify for at least one of the problems I'm having.”

NHTSA complaint #10259555, filed 2009-02, 145,000 miles

Fuel system: “2002 Pontiac Montana. While the vehicle was parked in the garage, I smelled a strong odor of fuel outside the vehicle. I noticed a small amount of fuel spilling from the lower portion of the fuel tank. There were no warnings prior to the failure. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer for a diagnostic. The failure was related to a crack in the fuel tank inlet check valve. The VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign id number 07v349000 (fuel system, gasoline:storage), although the failures were identical. The vehicle has not been repaired. The failure mileage was 93,426. …”

NHTSA complaint #10929457, filed 2016-12, 93,426 miles

Brakes: “After taking my 2002 Pontiac Montana through a car wash the ABS light came on. I stopped the van and turned it off to look under to see if anything fell off. When I turned the van back on the light was off so I drove down the road. When I applied the brakes the van shook and would not stop. Ever since the ABS light has stayed on.”

NHTSA complaint #10167204, filed 2006-09, 60,500 miles

Exterior lighting: “The driver and passenger side brake lights constantly go out. I have spoken to a mechanic and he told me that it is very common for GM vehicles in this model year range to have to replace the lighting bank in the rear of the vehicles on both sides. The bank which contains the brake lights, the back-up lights, and the running lights fails and the brake lights seem to be most affected. I have had to replace my brake lights approximately once a month for multiple years. There have been many near-collisions due to brake lights not operating. …”

NHTSA complaint #10498563, filed 2013-02, 95,000 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

31% of the 86 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 38,460 and 93,426 miles.

3%0–1010%10–2517%25–5035%50–7514%75–10014%100–1506%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (86 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 60,000 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: stable. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.

’02’0426’06’08’10’12’15’17
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2002 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.

VersionOverallFrontalSideSide poleRollover
Montana · sedan not rated4 / 4———

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.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2002 Pontiac Montana version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
Montana AWD3.4L 6-cyl4-speed automatic162218$3,700
Montana FWD3.4L 6-cyl4-speed automatic172420$3,350

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

Recall details for the 2002 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. 313 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 313 bulletins →

Other model years of the Pontiac Montana

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
20063781,1022—19Not compared (before 2008)Falling
20058138,0005—18Not compared (before 2008)Falling
20043942,2213—20Not compared (before 2008)Stable
20038450,0005—20Not compared (before 2008)Falling
200212660,0003—20Not compared (before 2008)Stable
200115662,2299—20Not compared (before 2008)Stable
200022866,6325—19Not compared (before 2008)Stable
199923560,0005——Not compared (before 2008)Stable
19984975,0553——Not compared (before 2008)Stable
19971880,0001———Stable

All Pontiac Montana model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2002 Pontiac Montana?

Owners of this model year most often report cooling-system and intake gasket leaks, where coolant seeps at the intake manifold and can mix with oil, and fuel leaks at the fuel tank inlet that produce a strong gas smell when the vehicle is parked. The issues reported most often: Coolant leak at intake manifold gasket; Fuel smell and leak at fuel tank inlet; Power sliding door closes on hands, latches fail.

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2002 Pontiac Montana have?

NHTSA recorded 126 consumer complaints for the 2002 Pontiac Montana as of Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2002 Pontiac Montana is reported most often?

Engine cooling is named most often, in 24 complaints (19% of the total), followed by fuel system with 21.

Has the 2002 Pontiac Montana been recalled?

NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 2002 Pontiac Montana get?

The EPA rates the 2002 Pontiac Montana (Montana FWD, 3.4L 6-cyl) at 20 mpg combined, 17 city and 24 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,350 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2002 Pontiac Montana reported?

Among the 86 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 60,000 miles and the middle half falls between 38,460 and 93,426 miles; 31% 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. Crash ratings are from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

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.