IllustrationWHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED INTERMITTENTLY.*AK
2004 Pontiac Montana
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2004 Pontiac Montana do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 65.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Montana years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
130–25K
725–50K
450–75K
075–100K
4100–150K
3150K+
31 reports with mileage · 8 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Electrical System. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Latches/locks/linkages. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Air Bags. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
8 crash reports1 fire reports8 injury reports
What owners actually said
39 reportsPOWER DOOR OF A PONTIAC MONTANA SUV (ALAMO RENTAL CAR) TRAVELED BACKWARDS, PINNED MY WRIST AGAINST THE FRAME AND SEAT OF THE VEHICLE. AND MY WRIST WAS BROKEN. SAME CAR WA SUBSEQUENTLY RECALLED BECAUSE OF SIMILAR INJURIES.*AK
I HAVE TWO COMPLAINTS THAT NO ONE SEEMS TO BE INTERESTED IN. FIRST ONE IS THE BACK UP SENSOR NOT CORRECTLY INSTALLED. PEOPLE AT THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT SAID IT WAS WORKING FINE, BUT IT ONLY WORKED OCCASIONALLY. IT FINALLY SHOWED ME THAT IT WASN'T WORKING ON A DATE THAT I BACKED INTO A PARKED CAR NOT KNOWING IT WAS SO CLOSE, AND …
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I HAVE TWO COMPLAINTS THAT NO ONE SEEMS TO BE INTERESTED IN. FIRST ONE IS THE BACK UP SENSOR NOT CORRECTLY INSTALLED. PEOPLE AT THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT SAID IT WAS WORKING FINE, BUT IT ONLY WORKED OCCASIONALLY. IT FINALLY SHOWED ME THAT IT WASN'T WORKING ON A DATE THAT I BACKED INTO A PARKED CAR NOT KNOWING IT WAS SO CLOSE, AND I HAD TO MAXIMIZE ALL THE SPACE I COULD TO GET OUT OF MY PARKING SPACE. LUCKILY, THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO THEIR OR MY VEHICLE, BUT IT'S THE IDEA OF A PART OF MY VEHICLE THAT I PAID EXTRA FOR NOT WORKING. ALSO, AFTER HEARING OF THE RECALL ON THE MOTORIZED DOOR, I THOUGHT IT WAS FOR THE PRESSURE THE DOOR PUT ON AND OBJECT BEFORE REALIZING THERE WAS SOMETHING THERE, BUT APPARENTLY IT'S ONLY FOR THE HANDLE ON THE INSIDE. YOU MIGHT WANT TO QUESTION HOW HARD THE DOOR SHUTS BEFORE IT WILL RETRACT WHEN AN ARM, LEG, BODY, ETC IS IN IT. I'M A GROWN WOMAN AND HAVE BEEN HURT BY THE DOOR BEFORE BY ACCIDENTLY HITTING THE BUTTON ON THE DOOR PANEL OR WHEN KEYS ARE IN MY POCKET. I'D HATE TO SEE HOW BAD ONE OF MY KIDS WOULD BE HURT WITH IT.*AK
I HAVE HAD MY VAN IN THE SHOP 5 TIMES FOR THE STARTER, AND 1 TIME I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED IN IT WAS STAYING IN GAUGE, AND IT STARTED TO SMOKE AND I WOULD LIKE FOR SOMEONE TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT .THE DEALER WILL NOT DO A THING ABOUT IT ALL THEY DO IS CHANGE THE STARTER, AND THEY SAY THE FLYWHEEL IS OKAY. BUT IT KEEPS DOI…
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I HAVE HAD MY VAN IN THE SHOP 5 TIMES FOR THE STARTER, AND 1 TIME I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED IN IT WAS STAYING IN GAUGE, AND IT STARTED TO SMOKE AND I WOULD LIKE FOR SOMEONE TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT .THE DEALER WILL NOT DO A THING ABOUT IT ALL THEY DO IS CHANGE THE STARTER, AND THEY SAY THE FLYWHEEL IS OKAY. BUT IT KEEPS DOING THE SAME THING SO CAN YOU TELL ME WHAT I CAN DO ABOUT THIS VAN .AND IF YOU WOULD PLESE CALL ME.*AK
IT WOULD BE HARD FOR THE CONSUMER TO OPEN/CLOSE THE SLIDING DOOR. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
WHEN DRIVING OVER ANY TYPE OF DIP OR POT HOLE IN THE ROAD VEHICLE BOTTOMS OUT. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THAT EVEN WHEN THE VEHICLE IS NOT LOADED THE INCIDENT OCCURS. *TC
SAFETY HAZARD WITH 2004 PONTIAC MONTANA WITH SUN VISORS.*MR THE VANITY MIRROR INSTALLED ON THE SUNVISOR DOES NOT HAVE A COVER. WHEN THE VISOR IS USED ON SUNNY DAYS THE GLARE FROM THE SUN INTO THE MIRROR CAUSES REDUCED VISIBILITY. *NM
VEHICLE COMES EQUIPPED WITH A SENSOR THAT ALERTS THE DRIVER WHEN REVERSING. WHEN VEHICLE IS 2 FEET AWAY FROM AN OBSTACLE THIS SENSOR IS MALFUNCTIONING AND WORKS INTERMITTENTLY. WHEN THE DEALERSHIP WAS FIRST CONTACTED ABOUT THIS ISSUE, THEY JUST INDICATED THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG, BUT WHEN THE VEHICLE BACKED INTO A POLE BECAUSE OF …
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VEHICLE COMES EQUIPPED WITH A SENSOR THAT ALERTS THE DRIVER WHEN REVERSING. WHEN VEHICLE IS 2 FEET AWAY FROM AN OBSTACLE THIS SENSOR IS MALFUNCTIONING AND WORKS INTERMITTENTLY. WHEN THE DEALERSHIP WAS FIRST CONTACTED ABOUT THIS ISSUE, THEY JUST INDICATED THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG, BUT WHEN THE VEHICLE BACKED INTO A POLE BECAUSE OF THIS FAILURE THEY REPLACED THE SENSOR.*AK
I HATE MY MINIVAN HORN. THE ONLY PLACE ON THE STEERING WHEEL WHERE YOU CAN BE ASSURED OF SOUNDING THE HORN IS IN THE CENTER OF THE COLUMN - WHICH MEANS YOU HAVE TO TAKE ONE HAND OFF THE WHEEL TO REACH THE HORN. HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER, AND THEY SAY THE HORN IS FINE. FINE, AS IN THEIR SERVICE ATTTENDANT CAN MAKE THE HORN W…
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I HATE MY MINIVAN HORN. THE ONLY PLACE ON THE STEERING WHEEL WHERE YOU CAN BE ASSURED OF SOUNDING THE HORN IS IN THE CENTER OF THE COLUMN - WHICH MEANS YOU HAVE TO TAKE ONE HAND OFF THE WHEEL TO REACH THE HORN. HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER, AND THEY SAY THE HORN IS FINE. FINE, AS IN THEIR SERVICE ATTTENDANT CAN MAKE THE HORN WORK WITHOUT HAVING TO REMOVE HIS HAND FROM THE WHEEL, BECAUSE THERE IS A SPOT AT THE TOP OF THE CENTER AREA THAT WILL SOUND THE HORN, TOO. WELL, I DON'T HAVE 300 LBS. OF THUMB PRESSURE TO BE ABLE TO HIT THAT SPOT AND KEEP BOTH HANDS ON THE WHEEL. IN SUMMARY, THIS HORN IS JUST NOT AVAILABLE WHEN I NEED IT - AND THERE HAVE BEEN A FEW TIMES WHEN I'VE TRIED TO SOUND MY HORN TO ALERT OTHER DRIVER TO A POSSIBLE CRASH SITUATION, AND THE HORN JUST WASN'T THERE. WHEN THE HORN DOES SOUND, IT'S WIMPY. SUPPOSED TO BE A DUAL NOTE HORN, BUT MANY TIMES YOU ONLY HEAR ONE NOTE, THEN THE SECOND NOTE. I WANT A HORN THAT WORKS FOR ME. OWNERS MANUAL SAYS YOU CAN SOUND THE HORN BY "PRESSING THE HORN SYMBOLS ON YOUR STEERING WHEEL." THAT IS SIMPLY NOT TRUE. I CANNOT PROCEED WITH THIS COMPLAIN WITHOUT PUTTING IN AN INCIDENT DATE; I'VE TRIED, BUT IT KEEPS BOUNCING BACK TO THIS FORM. THIS HAS BEEN ONGOING SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR - THERE WAS NO INCIDENT. BUT BECAUSE THIS WEB SITE PREVENTS YOU FROM SAYING THAT, I WILL PUT DOWN THE DATE I TOOK MY COMPLAINT TO THE DEALER.*AK
Official recalls
307V349000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage
Aug 8, 2007
ON CERTAIN VEHICLES, VARIATIONS IN THE MANUFACTURING PROCESS OR EXPOSURE TO HIGH AMBIENT TEMPERATURES MAY LEAD TO FRACTURE OF THE FUEL TANK INLET CHECK VALVE (ICV).
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A FRACTURE MAY ALLOW FUEL VAPORS TO PASS THROUGH AND ALLOW DROPLETS OF FUEL TO ACCUMULATE ON THE SIDE OF THE FUEL TANK. FUEL LEAKAGE, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL TANK. THE RECALL WILL BE MAILED IN TWO PHASES WITH THE FIRST PHASE BEGINNING ON DECEMBER 4, 2007. THE SECOND PHASE WILL BE MAILED ON DECEMBER 13, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BUICK AT 1-866-608-8080; CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438; OR PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668. THE VEHICLE POPULATION INCLUDES BUICK RENDEZVOUS AND PONTIAC AZTEK VEHICLE BUILT IN MAY 2003; CHEVROLET VENTURE AND PONTIAC MONTANA VEHICLES BUILT FROM JUNE THROUGH AUGUST 2002; AND ALL VEHICLES REGISTERED IN NEVADA, ARIZONA, VIRGIN ISLANDS, PUERTO RICO, AND HAWAII.
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.
04V177000 · Equipment:other:labels
Apr 8, 2004
CERTAIN MINIVANS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 213, "CHILD RESTRAINT SYSTEMS." THESE VEHICLES DO NOT HAVE TEXT AND FORMATTING ON THE WARNING LABEL ATTACHED TO THE AVAILABLE SECOND-ROW INTEGRAL CHILD RESTRAINT AS SPECIFIED BY AMENDMENTS TO THE STANDARD.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Not supplied
Remedy: OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH REPLACEMENT LABELS AND INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON JULY 23, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438 OR PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668.
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
1PE04064 · 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.