Pontiac Montana Best and Worst Years by Owner Complaints
We rank Pontiac Montana model years by the number of owner complaints filed with NHTSA, from fewest to most. Complaint counts aren't failure rates: years that sold more cars, or that are older, can show more reports. We rank only model years at least five years old, because newer ones are still collecting reports. Among settled years shown, the 2008 drew the fewest (1) and the 1999 the most (235).
Complaints filed by model year
Every year compared
| Most-reported component | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 Among the fewest complaints |
1 | 1 | Air bags | — | — |
| 1997 Among the fewest complaints |
18 | 1 | Engine and engine cooling | — | — |
| 2006 Among the fewest complaints |
37 | 2 | Electrical system | — | 17–19 |
| 2004 | 39 | 3 | Electrical system | — | 18–20 |
| 1998 | 49 | 3 | Engine and engine cooling | — | — |
| 2005 | 81 | 5 | Structure | — | 17–18 |
| 2003 | 84 | 5 | Electrical system | — | 18–20 |
| 2002 | 126 | 3 | Engine and engine cooling | — | 18–20 |
| 2001 Among the most complaints |
156 | 9 | Engine and engine cooling | — | 20 |
| 2000 Among the most complaints |
228 | 5 | Engine and engine cooling | — | 19 |
| 1999 Among the most complaints |
235 | 5 | Engine and engine cooling | — | — |
Sources: NHTSA ODI complaints, NHTSA recalls, NHTSA NCAP, EPA; retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
What owners reported in the Pontiac Montana years with the most complaints
These settled model years drew the most owner complaints to NHTSA. The share in brackets is the part of that year’s complaints that names each component; one complaint can name several.
1999 Pontiac Montana: 235 complaints
Most-reported: Engine and engine cooling 99 (42%); Air bags 32 (14%); Power train 32 (14%).
Reports mention 16 crashes, 2 fires, 19 injuries, 1 death. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 60,000 miles. 5 recall campaigns listed.
2000 Pontiac Montana: 228 complaints
Most-reported: Engine and engine cooling 69 (30%); Structure 31 (14%); Air bags 22 (10%).
Reports mention 14 crashes, 4 fires, 26 injuries, 2 deaths. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 66,684 miles. 5 recall campaigns listed.
2001 Pontiac Montana: 156 complaints
Most-reported: Engine and engine cooling 36 (23%); Electrical system 20 (13%); Power train 20 (13%).
Reports mention 10 crashes, 3 fires, 26 injuries. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 62,229 miles. 9 recall campaigns listed.
The Pontiac Montana years with the fewest complaints
2008 Pontiac Montana: 1 complaints
Most-reported: Air bags 1 (100%); Service brakes 1 (100%).
1 recall campaign listed.
1997 Pontiac Montana: 18 complaints
Most-reported: Engine and engine cooling 8 (44%); Exterior lighting 3 (17%); Seat belts 2 (11%).
Reports mention 1 crash, 1 fire, 2 injuries. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 80,000 miles. 1 recall campaign listed.
2006 Pontiac Montana: 37 complaints
Most-reported: Electrical system 8 (22%); Electronic stability control 5 (14%); Engine 5 (14%).
Reports mention 2 crashes, 3 injuries. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 81,260 miles. 2 recall campaigns listed.
Crashes, fires and injuries in Pontiac Montana owner reports
| Model year | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injuries | Deaths | Typical miles at filing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2006 | 37 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 81,260 |
| 2005 | 81 | 7 | 3 | 16 | 1 | 38,000 |
| 2004 | 39 | 8 | 1 | 9 | 2 | 42,221 |
| 2003 | 84 | 8 | 1 | 20 | 0 | 50,000 |
| 2002 | 126 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 60,000 |
| 2001 | 156 | 10 | 3 | 26 | 0 | 62,229 |
| 2000 | 228 | 14 | 4 | 26 | 2 | 66,684 |
| 1999 | 235 | 16 | 2 | 19 | 1 | 60,000 |
| 1998 | 49 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 75,110 |
| 1997 | 18 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 80,000 |
Owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA. “Typical miles” is the median odometer reading in complaints that gave one (shown when at least 10 did). Source: NHTSA ODI complaints, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Largest Pontiac Montana recalls
- GM/FMVSS 225/OWNER'S MANUAL INFORMATION (2001–2003 model years; 1,707,825 vehicles across all models; filed Jul 2003; 03V250000)
- GM/POWER SLIDING DOOR (1997–2005 model years; 717,302 vehicles across all models; filed Dec 2004; 04V597000)
- GM/POWER SLIDING DOOR (1998–2001 model years; 477,011 vehicles across all models; filed Mar 2001; 01V067000)
- GM/POWER SLIDING DOOR (1998–2001 model years; 248,737 vehicles across all models; filed Aug 2001; 01V264000)
- GM/FMVSS 209/TRW SEAT BELT BUCKLES (2000–2001 model years; 156,305 vehicles across all models; filed Aug 2000; 00V228003)
All 20 Pontiac Montana recall campaigns · Pontiac Montana problems, recalls and mpg by year · Used car inspection checklist
What the numbers can't tell you
- Sales volume. NHTSA publishes no sales figures with complaints, so a popular year draws more reports even if each car is no worse.
- Recent years are under-counted. Owners file reports for years after purchase; the newest model years will keep growing.
- The individual car. Maintenance, mileage and repairs matter more for one used car than any model-year average. Get a pre-purchase inspection and check open recalls by VIN.
Pontiac Montana years FAQ
Which Pontiac Montana year has the fewest complaints?
Among the model years shown whose counts have settled, the 2008 has the fewest owner complaints filed with NHTSA (1). That is a count of reports, not a measure of reliability.
Does fewer complaints mean a more reliable car?
Not necessarily. Complaint counts depend on how many cars were sold, how old they are and how many owners file reports. Use them to spot patterns worth asking about, alongside recalls, crash tests and a pre-purchase inspection.
Are there Pontiac Montana years to avoid?
No model year is officially one to avoid. By owner complaints to NHTSA, the settled years with the most reports are the 1999, 2000 and 2001 models, and across all years the most-reported problem area is the engine and engine cooling. Compare those years with the ones that drew the fewest reports, then check any specific car for open recalls by VIN and get a pre-purchase inspection.
What is the most common Pontiac Montana problem?
Across the model years shown, owners most often report problems with the engine and engine cooling (267 of 1,054 complaints list it). Each model-year report breaks the complaints down by component.
How many recalls does the Pontiac Montana have?
NHTSA lists 20 recall campaigns covering the Pontiac Montana. See every one, with official wording and repair rates, on the Pontiac Montana recall page.
Why are newer years left out of fewest and most?
Owners keep filing complaints for years after a car is sold. We mark the two newest model years as still collecting reports, and we only rank years that are at least five years old.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.