Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit.
Owners have filed 169 complaints with NHTSA about the 2001 Pontiac Montana, and it carries 11 recalls. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Engine and engine cooling | 32 | 19% |
| Power train | 14 | 8% |
| Electrical system | 12 | 7% |
| Fuel system | 11 | 7% |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 10 | 6% |
| Structure | 10 | 6% |
| Service brakes | 9 | 5% |
| Exterior lighting | 8 | 5% |
| Visibility | 8 | 5% |
| Tires | 6 | 4% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
MY GEARSHIFT BROKE,FUEL GAGE DON'T WORK,MY CAR BOUNCE UP AND DOWN WHEN DRIVING SLIDING DOORS WON'T CLICK OPEN.WHEN START CAR UP AND PUT IN GEAR DRIVE OR REVEARSE WON'T MOVE JUST RIVE UP.
NHTSA complaint: Steering
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 PONTIAC MONTANA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER SLIDING DOOR WOULD NOT LATCH WHEN CLOSING, CAUSING THE DOOR TO OPEN WHEN DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNO
NHTSA complaint: Latches/locks/linkages
IN LEFT TURN LANE IN THE INTERSECTION..ONCOMING VEHICLE HIT HEAD ON. AIRBAG FAILED TO INFLATE ON DRIVERS SIDE. DRIVER AIRLIFTED TO TRAUMA HOSP.
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
THE VAN WHEN IN PARK WILL REVIVE THE ENGINE AND JUMP, WHEN STOPPING WITH NEW BRAKES AND ALL THAT FUN STUFF WHEN THE VAN IS DOING THIS REVIVING STATE IT TAKES LONGER TO STOP AND LIKE THE VAN IS FIGHTING IT. IT SOMETIMES O
NHTSA complaint: Engine
THE TANK LEAKS FUEL AT THE INLET ON THE TANK. CUSTOMER IS ABLE TO PUT NO MORE THAN ENOUGH GAS IN THE TANK WHERE IS BELOW THE LEVEL ON THE INLET ON THE TANK. *TR
NHTSA complaint: Fuel/propulsion system
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 PONTIAC MONTANA. THE CONTACT SMELLED GASOLINE FUEL OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED A LEAK NEAR THE FUEL TANK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APP
NHTSA complaint: Fuel system
I BACKED UP TO THE LAUNDRY TO WASH CLOTHES AND PROCEEDED TO PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND GET OUT TO GET CLOTHES OUT OF THE BACK. I PUSHED THE BRAKE AND THOUGHT I HAD PUT THE CAR IN PARK BECAUSE THE KEY CAME OUT. WHEN I STARTE
NHTSA complaint: Power train
BOUGHT THIS 2001 PONTIAC MONTANA WITH 132000 MILES A WEEK BEFORE. GOING TO PICK UP MY SON FROM WORK, EARLY EVENING, 14 DEGREES OUTSIDE. I LOOK DOWN AND MY TEMPERATURE GAUGE SHOOT UP AND THE RED TEMP GAUGE COMES ON. I PUL
NHTSA complaint: Steering
NHTSA lists 11 recall campaigns for the 2001 Pontiac Montana. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.
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
Risk: A BROKEN STEERING KNUCKLE COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL AND A POSSIBLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
Fix: DORMAN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE STEERING KNUCKLES FREE OF CHARGE AND REIMBURSE THE REPAIR FACILITY OR OWNER FOR LABOR. THE RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 23, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT D
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 SI
Risk: 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 OCCU
Fix: 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 DE
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER, SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES AND MINIVANS. THE PASSENGER AIR BAG INFLATOR MODULES WERE BUILT WITHOUT THE CORRECT AMOUNT OF GENERANT, WHICH PRODUCES THE GAS THAT FILLS THE AIR BAG. SOME WERE BUILT WITH A DOUBLE LOAD OF GENERANT AND SOME WERE BUILT WITHOUT GENERANT.
Risk: IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH THAT WOULD TRIGGER A PASSENGER AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT, A DOUBLE LOAD OF GENERANT CAN CAUSE THE INFLATOR MODULE TO EXPLODE. IF THE AIR BAG MODULE EXPLODES, METAL AND PLASTIC DEBRIS
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE PASSENGER AIR BAG MODULE. TELEPHONE CALLS WERE MADE TO OWNERS ON JANUARY 29, 2001. FOLLOW UP OWNER MAILING BEGAN ON APRIL 17, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN A
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).
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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 CON
| Reliability raw | 69 | good |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 73 | good |
| Maintenance | 76 | good |
| Depreciation | 65 | good |
| Performance | 56 | average |
| Efficiency | 38 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other minivans & vans in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 169 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and engine and engine cooling is the most reported area with 32 of them (19%). There are 11 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 69/100 (good) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.
AVOIR scores its longevity 73/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2001 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: be careful, because the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit. Its overall ownership score is 66/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.