Pontiac Montana V6 has major issues

[stephmarie]

Let me start by saying that I have always bought GM - and this is the first vehicle I have ever had problems with. We bought a 2005 Pontiac Montana new in June of 2006 -We got a pretty good deal because it was they pretty much needed it off the lot so they could get newer ones in. I thought it was great because it did not look like the typical minivan. About 2 months after I bought it I noticed spots on the fabric (anything wet stained it). I called Gm numerous times - No help. Everything the dealership tried made it worse. No one would do anything until driving down the interstate my van died (right in the middle of am traffic) I hade a little over 12,000 miles. I could not pull off on the side so I had to just block traffic until I got towed. I had to have the motor replaced - they then put in aftermarket leather. Let me just say I had other issues - sensor malfunctions that were causes my van to skip (it would miss). Then I heard a loud knock in the front - they said something went wrong with the undercarriage when dealing with the motor. I have had it in the shop for 32days since purchasing it.
The last staw came when I dropped my daughter off at school. I pulled away headed down the highway and my son started screaming mommy door - it was opening. My husband looked at it - we took it back to the dealership and they said a cable broke - but it continued to happen to them. Turns out the sensor went out. They had it for a week and a half. As I was surfing the web to see if other people had issues, I noticed a recall for 2005 Pontiac Montanas with aftermarket leather (issued in Nov 2006). I called GM and no one would listen - My VIN # is not on any printouts - but my dealership paid for me to have leather after the recall - I got leather in April of 2007. They have already shut the ph # off for the customers to call if they thought it applies.
So now I wonder if my door will open and if my passenger frontal air bag will go off when it needs to. To make matters worse they no longer make the van so no one wants to pay it off. I feel unsafe, worried and frustrated that no one seems to care. Sorry I went on so long - once I got started I couldn't stop.

[montrealvue]

Sorry to hear of your misfortunes. You aren't the first and won't be the last to report serious issues with this model. If you dig around on this board you will find plenty of complaints and solutions regarding this monstroscity. These vans (particularly the '05's) were a serious black eye for GM and the service departments know it all too well. There are fixes and TSB's for the issues you mentioned (the door in particular). If you aren't getting good service from your local dealer, I'd say take it to another Pontiac dealer. If you want my advice, dump your van and get something else while you can. GM got out of the minivan game for good reason!

Life is too short to drive a vehicle you don't trust!

[CadiEldo67]

Is 2005 the last year of the minivans-before they turned into "Sport-Minivans"? If so, it has the 3.4 V6, which if I'm not mistaken is the same engine as in NSAP's troubled Equinox. I'm surprised that GM hasn't taken action with a vehicle that is obviously unsafe, and it concerns me. This is after all a family vehicle, and should have been one of the safest vehicles offered by GM at the time. If at all possible, you should try to get rid of the van, even if it means being "upside-down" for a while.

[cdp326]

Originally Posted by CadiEldo67

Is 2005 the last year of the minivans-before they turned into "Sport-Minivans"? If so, it has the 3.4 V6, which if I'm not mistaken is the same engine as in NSAP's troubled Equinox. I'm surprised that GM hasn't taken action with a vehicle that is obviously unsafe, and it concerns me. This is after all a family vehicle, and should have been one of the safest vehicles offered by GM at the time. If at all possible, you should try to get rid of the van, even if it means being "upside-down" for a while.

It could be either one, GM made both in 2005. The old Montana didn't have passenger's seat airbag sensors, and considering the lack of clarification in the original post (new Montanas added "SV6" to the name, the OP could have just omitted that) we don't know which one it is. But the newer vans had an upholstery that stains easier. I'm thinking it is a Montana SV6.

There are differences between the 3.4L in the GM vans and the Equinox. The newer vans got a 3.5L.

[73ChevelleSS]

So what issues are you actually having now?Did you join this site for help,or just to vent?

[shadams]

Dang people, lets try and help, not make her feel worse.

First off, yes, the interior (seat covers specifically) stain easy, and when you get them wet, that stains too. I am really suprised that the dealer installed aftermarket leather in it for that complaint, because GM specifically states not install aftermarket leather, but that was nice of them.

The recall you speak of was this. GM bought back a bunch of lease returns from whoever, I suppose rental companies, and in an effort to make them more appealing, installed aftermarket leather interiors in them. At some point, someone must have gotten in an accident and the passenger airbag didnt go off. The way it is supposed to work is if someone is in the pass seat, the air bag activates. Well, they determined that the leather they installed was thicker, and it would take a lot more weight to activate the Passenger presense system, so the actaully bought back all the vehicles that they installed this interior in. We handled several of them here. They didnt replace the interior, they BOUGHT BACK THE ENTIRE CAR. The info says there is only 1 SV6 that GM installed this leather into.

With that in mind, your vehicle would not be involved, because the dealer put the stuff in, and not GM, even though the potential for the same thing to occur is there. Just be sure that the pass air bag is active if anyone over 70lbs is sitting in the seat.

There is a software update to fix the doors opening by themselves, which we have used to remedy a few vans without problem. As far as the other stuff, sounds like it got handled, correct?

[stephmarie]

First off - I am sorry I was at all vague - I did not want to ramble (I do have a tendancy to do that, I get so angry - and once I start I can't seem to stop).
The Montana I have is the SV6 - and it does have the passanger airbag sensor). I think the dealership got sick of listening to me, and when the motor had to be replaced so early on - they put the leather in I guess to passify me (and because they made it worse the 4 times they tried to clean it (not only did I have a small stain but after they were done I had a huge water mark around the stain), and the manager of the dealership was nice enough to point out that it was the dealership paying for this to be done - not GM, and I had to take it to a place in Little Rock - about an hour and a half away.
Everyone has been really nice to do the warranty work - but like I have said there was just a lot of it. It seems like every 8000 miles or so something major has gone wrong.
Sensors had to be replaced after I had the motor dealt with. - The tech told me that he did not see an issue, but I need to make sure that my seat is up far enough so I can fully reach the peddle. When my hubby took it in they checked further and found some sensor issue.
Then I was hearing a whistle sound everytime I stepped on the gas and then I would hear a knock in the front - the tech told me it was a normal whistle - and he could not tell me how many times he had "women" come in and hear a sound and "daggone it turned out to be something in the console or the glove box" My husband went again and the sway bar had to be replaced (I still have the whistle though).
The next thing was the cracked undercarriage (forgive me I am not that technical) something that was caused by the replacement of the motor.
The molding was next (just started peeling away from the body.
The last was the door - I have had it in the shop for at least a month in the 18 months we had it. I know I have a lot of miles but I have a 35 minute drive to work.
So - to answer another question I guess I was just here to vent because no one can help - no one wants to help. GM does not care - I was told that if I was concerned I should take it to a dealership and have them run a diagnostic on the airbag sensor ( I don't know what that means). And since the door is not opening while driving anymore they can't understand why I have an issue (I wonder if it is because the dang thing opened in the first place). And it doesn't open anymore because we refuse to use it. I make my daughter get in and out of the other.
The dealership does not care - she said that there is nothing more they can do - she can't make GM buy it back even though she thinks they should and she is the one that suggested we try it. I can't even seem to get an address to send a certified letter. The customer service guy at GM pretty much told me to send an email through the GM link( where it states due to the volume of emails they can not guarantee that yours will be read). And then he gave me the address to the building he was in.
Thanks for listening - I am in the process of contacting the Arkansas Attorney Generals office to make a complaint there and send a certified letter to GM - I know nothing will happen, but the nonchalant attitude from GM really upsets me (they really do not care if my family is safe or that I remail a loyal customer) That is why when my husband bought a new truck he bought a King Ranch (which is why I really can't afford to put a ton down on a new car) I never knew trucks could cost that much - anyway thanks for your input and suggestions are welcome - but I think that most would agree just get rid of it - I guess it is just the principle, cars should last longer than 3 years or 36000miles (mine really hasn't even lasted that long)

[shadams]

Thats too bad, hopefully you get some help.The biggest problem for you is time. Generally for a car to be bought back it has to happen within the first year/12k of ownership, after that, your chances are slim to none. The worst part about these situations is they seem to always be a comedy of errors. Once you get in a situation like this with a dealer/customer nothing, I mean nothing, seems to go right from there on out. Its very frusterating for both the customer and the dealer.

Just to be clear, what are the remaining concerns? Is the door still giving you problems? I know you said you dont use it, why not? Did they not fix it or are you just not sure it will work? We have had all of the issues you mention (except replacing the engine) but we have successfully fixed them all (one van in particular was a huge pain, but the customers were great and it really got us up to speed on what/how to fix).

If all is well, it might be best just to move on, but please compare apples to apples. By that I mean dont leave GM just because 1 vehicle you had was bad. There are bound to be bad ones with every make every now and then. IMO, the U van (montana, etc) is a good product, just not up to par maybe with some of the competition. But every other GM product out in the last few years is as good or better then anything out there. Take care!

PS: If the pass air bag indicator is on, it WILL work if there is an accident. For the record, we install aftermarket leather all the time, including in my own truck, and have never had any issues with it. I wouldnt worry about that at all, that was more of a CYA move by GM than anything.

[SV6]

Welcome to the club of the worst van ever made.I wake up every morning hoping someone has stolen mine.

[Gretchen]

After a lifetime of owning only GM vehicles, a 2005 Montana is the reason we now buy Hondas. I feel your pain.

The only thing we could get out of Pontiac was an extended warrenty. In the end, it wasn't enough to sacrifice the safety of my family.

[coaster.n3rd]

Originally Posted by shadams

First off, yes, the interior (seat covers specifically) stain easy, and when you get them wet, that stains too. I am really suprised that the dealer installed aftermarket leather in it for that complaint, because GM specifically states not install aftermarket leather, but that was nice of them.

Isn't this before the GM Pass air bag sensing system was in place in the pass seat? I thought GM said it was not O.K. on models with that system.

[shadams]

Originally Posted by coaster.n3rd

Isn't this before the GM Pass air bag sensing system was in place in the pass seat? I thought GM said it was not O.K. on models with that system.

Not sure what you mean, this car (2005 SV6 Montana) has the Passenger Presense System.

[GMfan1111]

yet another horror story about the SV6 and its siblings. Like a few members here said dig around here and you'll see your not the only one who has been afflicted with the problems these vans have. The first few model years of this van were a quality disaster with all sorts of electronic and mechanical problems (the doors in particular). But don't let one bad apple discourage you from leaving GM you should check out the new Lambda CUV's and try and trade your SV6 for one

[SV6]

Originally Posted by GMfan1111

yet another horror story about the SV6 and its siblings. Like a few members here said dig around here and you'll see your not the only one who has been afflicted with the problems these vans have. The first few model years of this van were a quality disaster with all sorts of electronic and mechanical problems (the doors in particular). But don't let one bad apple discourage you from leaving GM you should check out the new Lambda CUV's and try and trade your SV6 for one

Hey we all like to get rid of our vans but most of us bought it because we wanted a VAN not a cross over.The new Lambdas are nice but to pricey and my van is not worth anything on a trade in...so please steal it.

[val jeffrey]

we have an '05 vision montana and it has been fairly good. we haven't had your problems. Our wiper blades keep getting out of time and crashing. as well, the floor mat on the driver side always gets wet The dealership asks if it has been flooded or something but if they checked the rest of the floor mats they would see "NOT" Now my lock -unlock buttons don't work on either driver or pass side especially if you are in it. the dealership just informed me the wires under the driver side are corroded and breaking "DUH" How do I find out about this and how to get them to fix it. The dealership we bought it from in Aug 05 told us it had 26000 kms on because the staff had been using it for personal trips out to Edmonton and Calgary etc and this was in Winnipeg vj