PONTIAC MONTANA · model year

2004 PONTIAC MONTANA

46 NHTSA complaints, 11 crash reports, and 5 active recalls for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2004PONTIACMONTANA carries 46 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 11 crashes, 1 fire, 11 injuries, and 6 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2004 MONTANA is latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch with 5 filings, followed by engine and engine cooling (3) and electrical system (3). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability. This model year has 5 active recall campaigns, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle — the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.

NHTSA currently has 17 investigation files overlapping the 2004 MONTANA. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

46
Complaints
11
Crashes
1
Fires
11
Injuries
6
Deaths

Total Complaints

46 filings

Crashes Reported

11 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH5
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING3
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM3
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM3
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE2
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL2
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL2
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE2
UNKNOWN OR OTHER1
EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL1
SUSPENSION1
VISIBILITY1
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY1
BACK OVER PREVENTION:WARNINGS:EXTERNAL/PEDESTRIAN ALERT1

Recalls (5)

04V59700022/12/2004

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH

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.

09E00500017/02/2009

STEERING

DORMAN IS RECALLING 979 STEERING KNUCKLES, DORMAN P/NOS. 697-902 AND 697-903, SOLD UNDER DORMAN'S "OE SOLUTIONS<SUP>TM</SUP>" BRAND NAME, AND NAPA P/NOS. 7-8502 AND 7-8503 WHICH WERE SOLD FOR REPLACEMENT USE ON THE VARIOUS VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. A POTENTIAL MATERIAL OR DESIGN DEFECT COULD RESULT IN

07E02100012/03/2007

FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:PRESSURE RELIEF DEVICES

CERTAIN DELPHI FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS, P/NOS. FP10020-11B1, FP10026-11B1, AND FP10027-11B1, SOLD AFTER JANUARY 9, 2007, AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE UNIVERSAL PRESSURE REGULATORS (UPR) WERE PRODUCED WITHOUT AN O'RING AND RETAINER.

07V34900008/08/2007

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE

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).

04V17700008/04/2004

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS

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 STAND

Recent Complaints

20180416ENGINE

INTAKE GASKET GOES BAD. WHILE DRIVING WITH NO WARNING

Mileage: 35

20161227FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

PUTTING GAS IN TANK AND IT JUST STARTED POURING OUT FROM UNDER THE VAN. THIS HAPPEN AT A GAS STATION AND I WORRIED ABOUT AN EXPLOSION.

20160721FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 PONTIAC MONTANA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, A NOISE EMERGED FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE AND A STRONG ODOR OF FUEL WAS PRESENT. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE STRONG ODOR WAS PREVALENT AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 151,613. UPDATED 09/27/16*LJ *CN

Mileage: 151,613

20141224ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

I HAVE REPLACED THE HEAD GASKET ON MY 2004 PONTIAC MONTANA EVERY YEAR AT THE SAME TIME THIS IS THE 3RD TIME I WILL HAVE TO HAVE THE GASKET REPLACED I DO BELIEVE THIS IS A RECALL ISSUE THAT SHOULD BE CORRECTED BY THE MANUFACTURER SINCE I HAVE REPLACED IT 2 TIMES PRIOR TO THIS. *TR

20140509VISIBILITY/WIPER

DELAY WITH WINDSHIELD WIPERS, TAKE TOO LONG TO POP UP AND THAN WIPE, DESIGN SHOULD HAVE NEVER BEEN ALLOWED, THE COUPLE OF SECONDS IT TAKES FOR THE WIPERS TO MOVE FROM OFF POSITION TO WHEN YOU TURN THEM ON IS LONG ENOUGH TO CAUSE AN ACCIDENT ON A DAY AFTER IT RAINS WHERE YOU ARE PASSED BY A VEHICLE DRIVING THROUGH A PUDDLE, CANNOT SEE, AND COULD POSSIBLY INJURE SOMEBODY. CONSTANTLY LOSING POWER STEERING FLUID. TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED ONCE DUE TO SLIPPAGE GOT IT BACK AND STARTED TO DO SO AGAIN THE FIRST 200 MILES. *TR

Mileage: 120,000

20140509STEERING

DELAY WITH WINDSHIELD WIPERS, TAKE TOO LONG TO POP UP AND THAN WIPE, DESIGN SHOULD HAVE NEVER BEEN ALLOWED, THE COUPLE OF SECONDS IT TAKES FOR THE WIPERS TO MOVE FROM OFF POSITION TO WHEN YOU TURN THEM ON IS LONG ENOUGH TO CAUSE AN ACCIDENT ON A DAY AFTER IT RAINS WHERE YOU ARE PASSED BY A VEHICLE DRIVING THROUGH A PUDDLE, CANNOT SEE, AND COULD POSSIBLY INJURE SOMEBODY. CONSTANTLY LOSING POWER STEERING FLUID. TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED ONCE DUE TO SLIPPAGE GOT IT BACK AND STARTED TO DO SO AGAIN THE FIRST 200 MILES. *TR

Mileage: 120,000

20140509POWER TRAIN

DELAY WITH WINDSHIELD WIPERS, TAKE TOO LONG TO POP UP AND THAN WIPE, DESIGN SHOULD HAVE NEVER BEEN ALLOWED, THE COUPLE OF SECONDS IT TAKES FOR THE WIPERS TO MOVE FROM OFF POSITION TO WHEN YOU TURN THEM ON IS LONG ENOUGH TO CAUSE AN ACCIDENT ON A DAY AFTER IT RAINS WHERE YOU ARE PASSED BY A VEHICLE DRIVING THROUGH A PUDDLE, CANNOT SEE, AND COULD POSSIBLY INJURE SOMEBODY. CONSTANTLY LOSING POWER STEERING FLUID. TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED ONCE DUE TO SLIPPAGE GOT IT BACK AND STARTED TO DO SO AGAIN THE FIRST 200 MILES. *TR

Mileage: 120,000

20121224CrashFatalEQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY

HIS NAME AS WELL. *TR

Mileage: 100,000

20121224CrashFatalFUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

HIS NAME AS WELL. *TR

Mileage: 100,000

20121224CrashFatalELECTRICAL SYSTEM

HIS NAME AS WELL. *TR

Mileage: 100,000

20120925FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 PONTIAC MONTANA. WHILE PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED A STRONG FUEL ODOR AND DISCOVERED FUEL LEAKING FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 07V349000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE) THAT COULD HAVE BEEN RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THE RECALL INDICATED ALL VEHICLES REGISTERED IN ARIZONA WERE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000. UPDATE 10/10/12*BF

Mileage: 105,000

20111009ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

REPEATED DRIVING WITHIN 1/4 MILE OF THE INDIANAPOLIS REGIONAL AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL RADAR ANTENNA CAUSES SOME OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FAILURE INDICATORS TO TURN ON FOR SEVERAL SECONDS. THE "BATTERY" AND "AIRBAG" INDICATORS TURN ON AND CLICKING NOISE IS HEARD FROM THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE LAMP INDICATIONS ARE ABOUT THE SAME AS WHEN THE ENGINE IS FIRST STARTED. MY CONCERN IS THAT THIS MAY BE DOING DAMAGE TO THE COMPUTER WHICH COULD RESULT IN A FUTURE FAILURE. *TR

Mileage: 112,000

20111009ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

REPEATED DRIVING WITHIN 1/4 MILE OF THE INDIANAPOLIS REGIONAL AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL RADAR ANTENNA CAUSES SOME OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FAILURE INDICATORS TO TURN ON FOR SEVERAL SECONDS. THE "BATTERY" AND "AIRBAG" INDICATORS TURN ON AND CLICKING NOISE IS HEARD FROM THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE LAMP INDICATIONS ARE ABOUT THE SAME AS WHEN THE ENGINE IS FIRST STARTED. MY CONCERN IS THAT THIS MAY BE DOING DAMAGE TO THE COMPUTER WHICH COULD RESULT IN A FUTURE FAILURE. *TR

Mileage: 112,000

20110109ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

THE SPEEDOMETER, FUEL GAUGE, AND TEMPERATURE GAUGE ALL BECAME ERRATIC. AFTER A LITTLE RESEARCH I FOUND THAT THE PROBLEM IS THE DEFECTIVE STEPPER MOTORS THAT RUN THE GAUGES. YOU CAN REPLACE THEM FOR $30.00 ALL YOU NEED IS A SOLDERING IRON AND ABOUT A HALF HOUR AND YOU WILL HAVE A WORKING DASH. HERE IS A LITTLE INFO ON THE STEPPER MOTORS. HTTP://WWW.GM-TRUCKS.COM/FORUMS/INDEX.PHP?SHOWTOPIC=95547 UPDATED INSTRUMENT CLUSTER STEPPER MOTOR PART # IS X25 168 YOU CAN BUY THEM ON EBAY FOR 6 BUCKS A PIECE. *TR

Mileage: 150,000

20110105FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 PONTIAC MONTANA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN ADDING GASOLINE TO THE FUEL TANK HE NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A LEAK UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO WARNING SIGNS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE OTHER THAN THE ODOR OF FUEL WHEN THE VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT HE NEEDED TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE FUEL TANK DUE TO THE NECK OF THE TANK BEING FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 278,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. UPDTATED 2/17/11 *CN UPDATED 02/23/11

Mileage: 278,000

20101228STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

I PURCHASED A USES 2004 PONTIAC MONTANA ON 1/23/05 AND ON 9/21/05 AS I WAS DRIVING ON A CITY DOWNHILL STREET THE REAR AXEL BECAME DISLODGED FROM THE CAR. PIECES FELL OFF THE CAR AND JUST MISSED ONCOMING TRAFFIC. LUCKILY I WAS ONLY TRAVELING ABOUT 25 MI. PER HR. THE ROAD WAS CLEAR AND DRY. THE CAR STOPPED IMMEDIATELY. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE TIE ROD HOLDING THE REAR AXEL LOOKED RUSTED AND IT CRACKED. THE ROD HOLDING THE REAR AXEL IS VERY THIN METAL AND HAS DESIGNED HOLES IN IT. JUST DOESN'T LOOK LIKE WHAT SHOULD BE HOLDING A WHOLE REAR AXEL. THE ENTIRE REAR END OF THE CAR WAS REPLACED AND I HAVE BEEN DRIVING IT. I DON'T FEEL SAFE IN THE CAR. LUCKILY I DON'T LIVE WHERE SALTED ROADS ARE NECESSARY. THE NEWSPAPER ARTICLE RE: 1998-2003 FORD WINDSTAR REAR AXEL CORROSION ALERTED ME TO A CORROSION PROBLEM MAYBE WHAT HAPPENED TO ME. I DID SEND AN EMAIL TO THE NTSB AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT BUT WAS NEVER CONTACTED. *TR

Mileage: 8,485

20101228SUSPENSION:REAR

I PURCHASED A USES 2004 PONTIAC MONTANA ON 1/23/05 AND ON 9/21/05 AS I WAS DRIVING ON A CITY DOWNHILL STREET THE REAR AXEL BECAME DISLODGED FROM THE CAR. PIECES FELL OFF THE CAR AND JUST MISSED ONCOMING TRAFFIC. LUCKILY I WAS ONLY TRAVELING ABOUT 25 MI. PER HR. THE ROAD WAS CLEAR AND DRY. THE CAR STOPPED IMMEDIATELY. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE TIE ROD HOLDING THE REAR AXEL LOOKED RUSTED AND IT CRACKED. THE ROD HOLDING THE REAR AXEL IS VERY THIN METAL AND HAS DESIGNED HOLES IN IT. JUST DOESN'T LOOK LIKE WHAT SHOULD BE HOLDING A WHOLE REAR AXEL. THE ENTIRE REAR END OF THE CAR WAS REPLACED AND I HAVE BEEN DRIVING IT. I DON'T FEEL SAFE IN THE CAR. LUCKILY I DON'T LIVE WHERE SALTED ROADS ARE NECESSARY. THE NEWSPAPER ARTICLE RE: 1998-2003 FORD WINDSTAR REAR AXEL CORROSION ALERTED ME TO A CORROSION PROBLEM MAYBE WHAT HAPPENED TO ME. I DID SEND AN EMAIL TO THE NTSB AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT BUT WAS NEVER CONTACTED. *TR

Mileage: 8,485

20100809POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

THIS IS IN REGARDS TO A 2004 PONTIAC MONTANA VAN. ONCE IN A WHILE, THE VEHICLE CAN BE SHIFTED OUT OF PARK WITHOUT HAVING YOUR FOOT ON THE BRAKE, EITHER WITH ENGINE OFF OR RUNNING. EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE FAILURE ARE NORMAL. SITUATION 1: GET IN THE VAN, PUT KEY IN IGNITION, TURN KEY TO RUN POSITION (NOT START POSITION). DO NOT PUT FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. ENGINE IS NOT RUNNING. TRY TO PUT THE VAN IN GEAR (FROM PARK TO REVERSE - R). SOMETIMES, IT IS POSSIBLE TO PUT THE VAN INTO ANY GEAR EVEN THOUGH THE BRAKE PEDAL IS NOT DEPRESSED. SITUATION 2: SAME AS ABOVE EXCEPT THAT ENGINE IS STARTED NORMALLY USING THE IGNITION KEY. ONCE THE VAN IS RUNNING, TRY TO PUT THE VAN IN GEAR WITHOUT PRESSING ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. SOMETIMES, THE VAN WILL GO INTO GEAR EVEN THOUGH THE ENGINE IS RUNNING AND THE BRAKE IS NOT APPLIED. THIS SEEMS TO BE A RANDOMLY OCCURRING PROBLEM. I CANNOT FIND A PATTERN OF WHEN THIS HAPPENS VERSUS WHEN IT OPERATES PROPERLY (THAT IS, WILL NOT SHIFT INTO GEAR WIT

Mileage: 50,000

20100723ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL

THIS IS A 2004 PONTIAC MONTANA VAN WITH ABOUT 50,000 MILES ON IT. NO SAFETY RELATED ISSUES WITH THE VAN UNTIL NOVEMBER 2009. AT THAT POINT, VAN WAS DRIVEN ON AN EXTENDED TRIP OF ABOUT 200 MILES. DURING THE DRIVE, THE SPEEDOMETER, FUEL GAUGE, AND TEMPERATURE GAUGE ALL BECAME ERRATIC. THE FIRST SYMPTOM NOTICED WAS THAT THE SPEEDOMETER WAS SLOWLY INCREASING, EVEN THOUGH THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS SET AND THE VAN WAS NOT ACTUALLY SPEEDING UP. EACH TIME THE CRUISE WAS DISENGAGED TO SLOW DOWN, THE SPEEDOMETER READING WOULD NOT DECREASE. INSTEAD, IT WOULD REMAIN AT THE HIGHER SPEED. THEN, WHEN SPEEDING UP AND REENGAGING THE CRUISE CONTROL, THE SPEEDOMETER WOULD INCREASE. EVENTUALLY BY THE END OF THE TRIP, THE SPEEDOMETER WAS OFF THE SCALE. EVEN WHEN COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP, THE SPEEDOMETER REMAINED AT ITS MAXIMUM POSITION. (THE OTHER GAUGES BEHAVED SIMILARLY, INCREASING TO MAXIMUM VALUES WHILE DRIVING.) WHEN THIS PROBLEM OCCURS, IT IS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO DETERMINE THE REAL SPEED OF

Mileage: 49,000

20100408VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 PONTIAC MONTANA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ON APRIL 6, 2010, WHILE SHE WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED TO ABOUT 70 MPH. THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT WAS ALSO ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL WHICH STOPPED THE ACCELERATION. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON TWO OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER THEN CONTACTED THE CORPORATE OFFICE AND REQUESTED THAT AN INSPECTOR DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS AWAITING INSPECTION AT THE DEALER WHEN THE COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 56,000.

Mileage: 56,000

Compare 2004PONTIACMONTANA to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2004 PONTIAC MONTANA have?
The 2004 PONTIAC MONTANA has 46 NHTSA complaints, 11 crashes, 1 fires, 11 injuries, and 6 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2004 PONTIAC MONTANA?
Yes, the 2004 PONTIAC MONTANA has 5 recall(s). The most common affected component is LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2004 PONTIAC MONTANA?
The most-complained component for the 2004 PONTIAC MONTANA is LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH with 5 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING and ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.
Is the 2004 PONTIAC MONTANA safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.