Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 69 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Structure. Review the 31 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Air Bags. Review the 22 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

14 crash reports4 fire reports22 injury reports

What owners actually said

228 reports

Mileage unknown · Oct 4, 2001

Engine And Engine Cooling

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SINCE 10/25/00 WHEN THE FIRST TIME THIS VAN PROCEEDED TO OVERHEAT AND THE THEROMSTAT WAS CHANGED IN OHIO ON VACATION. BROUGHT IT BACK TO THE DEALER IN MO AND WAS TOLD THEY HAD TO TIGHTEN A CLAMP AND CHECK THE THEROMSTAT AND THEY SAID PROBLEM SOLVED. ITS BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR VARIOUS OTHER PROBLEMS BUT ALWAYS SMELLING ANTIFREEZE AND THEN THE AIR CONDITONER WASNT COOLING THE WAY IT SHOULD AND THE RADIO WAS REPLACED DUE TO THE FACT THE LCD SCREEN WENT OUT. ON 9-13 - 01 WAS BACK IN THE DEALER ...DIFFERENT DEALER THAN IT WAS PURCHASED FROM ...FOR VARIOUS ITEMS AND ONE TO CHECK ON THE AIR CONDITIONER FOR WE WERE GOING ON A TRIP...WAS TOLD EVERYTHING WAS FINE. WENT ON TRIP AND ON THE WAY HOME ..THE VAN STARTED TO OVERHEAT AGAIN...STOPPED PULLED OVER AND LET THE VAN REST AND SHUT OFF AC AND PROCEEDED TO HOTEL AND THEN DROVE HOME THE NEXT DAY AND IN THE DEALERSHIP IT WENT ONLY FOR THEM TO TELL ME IT WAS A DEFECTIVE RADITOR CAP AND DEBRI IN BETWEEN THE RADITOR AND CONDERSOR.*AK

NHTSA ODI #752914

Mileage unknown · Sep 26, 2001

StructureInjury

THE CHILD INADVERNTLY HIT THE BUTTON TO CLOSE THE DOOR AND WAS CLOSE TO THE DOOR WHEN IT CLOSED AND CAUGHT HER UPPER ARM

NHTSA ODI #9004689

Mileage unknown · Aug 30, 2001

Seat Belts

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THE DRIVER SEAT BELT AND THE PASSENGER SEAT BELT FAILED, THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT UNEXPECTEDLY BROKE CAUSING THE BELT NOT TO LATCH, THE SECOND ROW CAPTAIN'S CHAIR WAS PULLED TOO FAR AND NOW WILL NOT RETRACT, THE CONSUMER WAS ASKING THE MANUFACTURER OF THE VEHICLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM BUT THE PROBLEM IS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRENTY. YH THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT UNEXPECTEDLY BROKE CAUSING THE BELT NOT TO LATCH, THE SECOND ROW CAPTAIN'S CHAIR WAS PULLED TOO FAR AND NOW WILL NOT RETRACT . YH

NHTSA ODI #562834

Mileage unknown · Aug 27, 2001

Latches/locks/linkages

ALL DOOR LATCHES WILL LOCK WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. AS A CONSUMER HE HIS CONCERNED. DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #895261

Mileage unknown · Aug 17, 2001

Air BagsCrash

WAS TRAVELING 40-45MPH WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE WAS TRYING TO MAKE A TURN AROUND, U-TURN, AND CUT OFF PONTIAC. VEHICLE WAS HIT ON DRIVER'S REAR SIDE. UPON IMPACT WITH OTHER VEHICLE, AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. NO INJURIES.*AK

NHTSA ODI #894616

Mileage unknown · Aug 1, 2001

Air BagsCrashFireInjury

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WE WERE INVOLVED IN AN AUTO ACCIDENT ON JULY 5, 2001 IN A HEAD-ON COLLISION WHICH KILLED MY HUSBAND IMMEDIATELY AND MY SON DIED TWO DAYS LATER DUE TO HEAD INJURIES. I WAS INJURED WITH RIB FRACTURES/ LOW BACK SPINAL FRACTURES AND MY LEFT LEG REQUIRED SURGERY. I AM UNABLE TO BEAR WEIGHT ON MY LEFT LEG FOR APPROXIMATELY SIX MONTHS. A CAR WAS GOING EAST ON I-40 AND I WAS GOING WEST. IT CROSSED THE MEDIAN TRYING TO MISS A LADDER THAT HAD FALLEN OUT OF ANOTHER VECHICLE AND IT HIT US HEAD-ON. AIRBAGS DID NOT INFLATE UPON IMPACT. FRONT PASSENGER DID INFLATE AFTER WE WERE REMOVED, AND VAN CAUGHT ON FIRE. MY SON MIGHT HAVE BEEN SAVED IF THE AIRBAGS HAD INFLATED SINCE THE CAR WENT DOWN THE SIDE OF MY VAN. WE ALL HAD OUR SEATBELTS ON. MY SON WAS ONLY SEVEN YEARS OLD. *AK

NHTSA ODI #749535

Mileage unknown · Jul 10, 2001

Structure

RECALL 01V067000 REPAIRS WERE DONE. SOON AFTER SLIDING DOOR WOULD OPEN UP ON ITS OWN. VEHICLE TAKEN TO DEALER 4 TIMES, COULD NOT REMEDY. CONSUMER CURRENTLY HAD MORE PROBLEMS WITH SLIDING DOOR THAN PRIOR TO RECALL BEING PREFORMED.*AK CONSUMER STATES SLIDING DOOR CONTINUES TO OPEN WHILE IN MOTION, VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT DEALER…

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NHTSA ODI #892328

Mileage unknown · Jul 8, 2001

Air BagsElectrical System

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THE VAN HAS HAD MULTIPLE AIR BAG SYSTEM FAILURES AND THE DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN UNABLE TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM. GM REFUSES TO REPURCHASE THE VEHICLE EVEN THOUGH IT HAS A HISTORY OF ABS AND AIR BAG FAILURES. THE GM DISTRICT MANAGER ADMITTED THAT THEY HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE CENTRAL COMPUTER SYSTEM ON THE 2000 MONTANA. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE ORIGINAL COMPUTER SYSTEM AND THE REPLACEMENT ALSO FAILED. WE ARE PARTICULARLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE AIR BAG FAILURES. WE WILL NEVER KNOW IF THEY WORK UNTIL WE NEED THEM. AT THAT POINT IT'S A LITTLE LATE TO DISCOVER THAT THEY DON'T WORK. DO MONTANAS HAVE A HIGH RATE OF AIR BAG FAILURES DURING ACCIDENTS?

NHTSA ODI #748068

Mileage unknown · Jul 6, 2001

StructureInjury

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MY THREE YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WAS STARTING TO ENTER OUR MINIVAN AS THE POWER SLIDING DOOR WAS CLOSING. SHE REACHED IN TO STOP THE DOOR AND REVERSE IT (BY PRESSING THE INTERIOR BUTTON)AND THE DOOR CLOSED ON HER HAND AND SHUT. AN ADULT HAD TO COME AND OPEN THE DOOR BEFORE HER HAND COULD BE FREED. THE DOOR IS SUPPOSED TO REVERSE WHEN RESISTANCE IS ENCOUNTERED. I HAVE TRIED TO STOP THE DOOR AND THE AMOUNT OF RESISTANCE IT TAKES TO STOP THIS DOOR WOULD BRUISE MY ARM AND DEFINATELY CRUSH HER HAND OR ANY OTHER BODY PART INCLUDING HER HEAD. LUCKILY ONLY ONE SIDE OF HER HAND WAS STUCK AND SEVERELY BRUISED AND NOW SWOLEN AND BRUISED ACROSS HER KNUCKLES AND DOWN HER HAND. THE POWER OF THIS DOOR EXCEEDS ANY POWER BROUGHT ABOUT BY A GARAGE DOOR AND THEY SEEM TO HAVE HIGHER SAFETLY STANDARDS THAN A MINIVAN WHICH IS GEARED TOWARD FAMILES WITH CHILDREN. I BROUGHT THIS TO PONTIAC'S ATTENTION AND RECEIVED NO EXPLANATION OR ANSWERS. I THINK THERE SHOULD BE A BEAM, AS IN GARAGE DOORS, OR AN ADJUSTMENT TO THE RESISTANCE NEEDED TO REVERSE THE DOOR BEFORE MORE SERIOUS ACCIDENTS OCCUR.*AK

NHTSA ODI #747990

Mileage unknown · Jun 25, 2001

Engine And Engine CoolingFire

WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK IN GARAGE WITHOUT KEYS IN IGNITION, VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. POLICE REPORT STATED THAT FIRE BEGAN IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT. FIRE SPREAD FROM VEHICLE TO THE GARAGE AND ALSO MELTED THE NEIGHBORS VINYL SIDING. *AK

NHTSA ODI #891175

Official recalls

04V597000 · Latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch

Dec 22, 2004

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF A PASSENGER USES THE INTERIOR HANDLE TO OPEN THE POWER SLIDING DOOR AND HOLDS ONTO THE HANDLE WHILE IT IS BEING OPENED BY THE MOTOR, THE PASSENGER'S ARM MAY BE PUSHED INTO THE SEAT BACK OR ARMREST AND A WRIST OR LOWER ARM INJURY MAY RESULT.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE POWER SLIDING DOOR INTERIOR HANDLE ON THE PASSENGER-SIDE. IF THE VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH A POWER OR MANUAL SLIDING DOOR ON THE DRIVER-SIDE, THE INTERIOR HANDLE WILL ALSO BE REPLACED FOR APPEARANCE REASONS. NOTE: BEFORE THE VEHICLE IS SERVICED, GM ADVISES OWNERS TO NOT USE THE INTERIOR DOOR HANDLE TO OPEN THE DOOR. THE DRIVER CAN OPEN AND CLOSE THE DOOR FROM SWITCHES AT THE DRIVER'S POSITION OR BY USING THE REMOTE KEY FOB. THE DRIVER SHOULD TELL PASSENGERS TO USE THE SWITCH LOCATED IN FRONT OF THE DOOR TO OPEN OR CLOSE IT. THE DRIVER SHOULD USE THE OVERRIDE SWITCH TO PREVENT OPERATION OF THE POWER DOOR BY CHILDREN OR BY OTHERS WHO ARE NOT FAMILIAR WITH ITS USE. THE OWNER NOTIFICATION LETTER MAILING WILL BE CONDUCTED IN PHASES WITH THE FIRST PHASE BEGINNING ON MAY 31, 2005. THE SECOND PHASE MAILING BEGAN ON JULY 18, 2005. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 31, 2005. PHASE 2 BEGAN ON JULY 18, 2005. PHASE 3 (FINAL PHASE) BEGAN ON AUGUST 24, 2005, TO ALL REMAINING CUSTOMERS. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438; PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668; OR OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-630-6537.

01V264000 · Latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch

Aug 21, 2001

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 VENTURE, PONTIAC MONTANA, AND OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE MINI VANS EQUIPPED WITH PASSENGER SIDE POWER SLIDING DOORS ASSEMBLED IN JANUARY THROUGH APRIL 2001. THESE VEHICLES HAVE INADEQUATE FRONT WELDS. IF A FRONT WELD FAILS, THE ACTUATOR CAN JAM IN THE UNLATCHED POSITION AND, WHEN THE SLIDING DOOR CLOSES, IT WILL NOT BE LATCHED.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THIS HAPPENS, THE POWER SLIDING DOOR CAN OPEN WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION, PARTICULARLY WHEN THE VEHICLE ASCENDS A HILL, MAKES A TURN, OR TRAVELS OVER A ROUGH ROAD SURFACE. AN UNRESTRAINED OCCUPANT COULD FALL OUT OF THE VAN AND BE INJURED.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND, IF REQUIRED, INSTALL A NEW POWER SLIDING DOOR UNLATCH ACTUATOR ASSEMBLY. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON OCTOBER 22, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-222-1020, PONTIAC AT 1-800-762-2737, OR OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-442-6537.

01V067000 · Latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch

Mar 8, 2001

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 TURN, OR TRAVELS OVER A ROUGH ROAD SURFACE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: AN UNRESTRAINED OCCUPANT COULD FALL OUT OF THE VAN AND BE INJURED.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW UN-LATCH ACTUATOR ASSEMBLY TO THE POWER SLIDING DOOR. THIS RECALL HAS BEEN CONTINUED UNDER SAFETY RECALL 01V-264. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-222-1020, PONTIAC AT 1-800-762-2737, OR OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-442-6537.

00V228003 · Seat Belts

Aug 7, 2000

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES, LIGHT DUTY TRUCKS, SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, AND MINI VANS EQUIPPED WITH TRW SEAT BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLIES. THE BUCKLE BASE OF THESE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES WERE NOT PROPERLY HEAT TREATED AND THEREFORE DO NOT PASS THE LOAD BEARING REQUIREMENT OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 209, "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, THE OCCUPANT MAY NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE VEHICLE'S SAFETY BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLY DATE CODES AND, IF NECESSARY, WILL REPLACE ANY SAFETY BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLY.

99V268000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings

Sep 29, 1999

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MINI VANS WITH EXTENDED WHEELBASE. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE INOPERATIVE FUEL TANK ROLLOVER VALVES AND FUEL LEAKAGE WOULD EXCEED THE PERMISSIBLE AMOUNT IN A ROLLOVER TEST. THIS DOES NOT COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 301, "FUEL SYSTEM INTEGRITY."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IN A VEHICLE ROLLOVER ACCIDENT, IF AN IGNITION SOURCE IS PRESENT, A FIRE COULD RESULT.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE VEHICLES TO LOCATE AND REPLACE THOSE FUEL TANKS THAT COULD HAVE INOPERATIVE ROLLOVER VALVES.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

PE04064 · POWER-SLIDING Door

Opened Sep 17, 2004 · Closed Dec 22, 2004

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Structure:body:door

SUBJECT VEHICLES ARE AVAILABLE WITH AN OPTIONAL POWER SLIDING DOOR.THE INTERIOR HANDLE IS ORIENTED IN THE VERTICAL POSITION IN THE DOOR PANEL AND LINES UP AT THE ELBOW LEVEL WHEN THE OCCUPANT IS SEATED IN THE 2ND-ROW OUTBOARD POSITION.IF THE OCCUPANT HOLDS THE INTERIOR HANDLE IN THE THUMB UP POSITION DURING POWER-ASSISTED OPENING, THE ARM/WRIST CAN BE PUSH BACK WITH FORCE AGAINST THE 2ND-ROW BUCKET SEAT OR CAPTAIN'S CHAIR SEAT BACK CREATING A RISK OF INJURY (OTHER SEATING CONFIGURATIONS HAVE AMPLE SEAT TO DOOR CLEARANCE TO AVOID ENTRAPMENT OF THE LOWER ARM).AMONG THE 103 TOTAL REPORTS, THERE WERE 102 ALLEGED INJURIES INCLUDING ARM/WRIST, THUMB AND SHOULDER INJURIES.A COUNT OF INJURIES REVEALS THAT 76 INJURIES WERE A FRACTURED OR A BROKEN ARM/WRIST REQUIRING AN IMMOBILIZING CAST FOR FOUR-TO-SIX WEEKS.ALL INJURIES INVOLVE THE RIGHT SIDE POWER SLIDING DOOR.THE LEFT SIDE POWER SLIDING DOOR IS ON FAR FEWER VEHICLES, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, IT PRODUCES LESS FORCE.GM NOTIFIED THE AGENCY BY LETTER DATED DECEMBER 21, 2004, THAT IT WILL RECALL MODEL YEAR 1997 THOUGH EARLY 2005 GM U-VAN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A RIGHT SIDE POWER SLIDING DOOR AND WITH 2ND-ROW BUCKET SEATS OR CAPTAIN CHAIRS (NHTSA RECALL #04V597).AS PART OF THE RECALL REMEDY, GM WILL REPLACE THE DOOR HANDLE WITH A FLUSH MOUNTED HANDLE THAT WILL PREVENT AN OCCUPANT FROM GRASPING THE HANDLE WITH THE PALM BETWEEN THE HANDLE AND DOOR PANEL (THUMB UP ORIENTATION) AND THUS ELIMINATE THE POTENTIAL FOR ARM/WRIST ENTRAPMENT.THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.

PE02017 · Shoulder Harness Clip

Opened Feb 11, 2002 · Closed Aug 2, 2002

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts

No summary supplied.

EA01014 · Air Bag Inflator

Opened Jun 11, 2001 · Closed Aug 26, 2002

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module

No summary supplied.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module

SQ00014 · Unexpected Opening Of Sliding Door

Opened Jul 25, 2000 · Closed Oct 22, 2001

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Structure

There is no summary currently available