2001 Pontiac Montana Consumer Reviews

Boo hoo

Written by: bonnie on 06/01/2008

Vehicle

2001 Pontiac Montana 7-Seat 4dr Minivan (3.4L 6cyl 4A)

Review

Seem's like everything that could go wrong has, trouble with wipers, front and back, air conditioning, brake valve, air cond, again., plastic bearing, and they now say I need to replace head gasket still I am paying on the bank loan for another year and a half, not sure if I want to risk not fixing the van because I do not have the money, or chancing I might be able to hold out until it, s paid for

Favorite Features

I do like being able to get in and out easy

Suggested Improvements

I wish you could open windows more

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2001 Pontiac Montana

Written by: jwhub88 on 02/22/2008

Vehicle

2001 Pontiac Montana 7-Seat Sport 4dr Ext Minivan (3.4L 6cyl 4A)

Review

We love this van. The seats are very comfortable, and the folding 3rd seat is a must. Traction control and ABS help in the winters of northern Michigan. The sporty exteroir disign is a plus. Love the interior. Has held up well to the kids. Power is good not great. I pull a camper all summer easily. Would like engine and trans. to be more reliable. Lower intake gaskets and head gaskets are a cronic problem. Also the trans. will go bad on 99% of these vans. Also love the red interior dash lighting. Bought van with 75,000 now have 130,000. Rebuilt trans. around 115,000. Otherwise routine maintenance. Runs great, rides great, drives great

Favorite Features

Seats-comfort, sporty look and feel, information center, folding 3rd seat.

Suggested Improvements

More reliable transmission. Fix chronic gasket problems in 3.4 liter engine.

1 out 1 people found this review helpful

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Montana Good and Bad

Written by: Lynne on 09/05/2007

Vehicle

2001 Pontiac Montana 7-Seat Sport 4dr Ext Minivan (3.4L 6cyl 4A)

Review

I drive our 2001 Montana and I enjoy it for the most part for smooth ride and roomy interior. Has been reliable and smooth running up until replacing intake manifold gasket at 60,000 miles due to dry rot. A $790+ repair cost that I contacted Pontiac about and was reimbursed 50% of the cost. Recently, my glove box door fell off due to plastic "hinge" breaking. The fold-down rear seat plastic hinge looks like it will be next to go. When gasket was being replaced at local dealer, mechanic broke air box and it will have to be replaced. Also, having problem with an engine sensor that indicates a problem with 1 of 3 possibilities. Sorry that OnStar will no longer work after 12/07.

Favorite Features

Sliding passenger doors, remote passenger slide door, OnStar, DVD player, air compressor, fold down rear seat.

Suggested Improvements

Intake gaskets should have been recalled due to the large number of costly replacements. Upgrade some of the plastic in interior, especially movable parts.

1 out 1 people found this review helpful

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Pontiac Montana, money maker for repair shop

Written by: jmusolf on 07/14/2007

Vehicle

2001 Pontiac Montana 7-Seat 4dr Minivan (3.4L 6cyl 4A)

Review

Head gaskets gone 3 times. Window regulator replaced 2 times, kept taking it to dealer. And it only has 83K miles on it. Now I'm going to trade this in and get an import.

Favorite Features

Suggested Improvements

Head gaskets and window regulator. Ash tray and lighter. Make a car that will last 100K with no major repairs or breakdowns

1 out 1 people found this review helpful

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Major cooling system problems

Written by: Laura on 05/30/2007

Vehicle

2001 Pontiac Montana 7-Seat 4dr Ext Minivan (3.4L 6cyl 4A)

Review

As soon as this vehicle passed 60k miles it was all downhill. It is a sqeeky, noisy ride. Our fuel gauge went out and we are just waiting for the fuel pump to die, too. We have had problems with the cooling system and have twice replaced the water pump, the thermostat, the intake valve and are about to shell out more money for what remains to be determined. I won't be buying or recommending a GM product to anyone in the ever near future. For all of the people that ranked their vehicle so favorably when it was only 2 to 3 years old, I'd be curious to see how their "later years" have panned out.

Favorite Features

Sliding passenger door, air compressor

Suggested Improvements

Determine if the dex coolant recommended by the manufacturer is the culprit for burning up engines, and if so, compensate consumers that have suffered needless financial damages.

1 out 2 people found this review helpful

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Forced me into the arms of Toyota

Written by: chuckb on 05/06/2007

Vehicle

2001 Pontiac Montana 7-Seat Sport 4dr Minivan (3.4L 6cyl 4A)

Review

This was our second Montana. Had a 1999 that my wife totaled. The reliability on the '99 was spotty,but this one has been terrible. A/C condenser replaced twice, automatic headlights that won't go off, problems with traction control, leaking intake manifold gaskets. Finally at 58,000 miles the transmission went. Repair costs of $1800. Long letter and phone calls to GM result in sympathetic phone calls back, but no real response or reimbursement. Finally replaced this van after only 3 yrs and 60000 miles. My predicition? GM will be out of business within 20 yrs.

Favorite Features

It was a great van to drive, comfortable and manueverable. It was also quite handsome. Two tone dark blue and silver.

Suggested Improvements

It's a shame how GM quality has sunk over the years.

4 out 4 people found this review helpful

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Happy with van

Written by: Darrin on 04/12/2007

Vehicle

2001 Pontiac Montana 7-Seat MontanaVision 4dr Ext Minivan (3.4L 6cyl 4A)

Review

I've been quite happy overall with my Montana. It is comfortable and surprisingly fun to drive. I get 18- 20 MPG around town and 24-26 on the highway. After 125,000 miles I have replaced the intake gaskets, rear wheel cylinders and all the wheel bearings under my extended warranty. It seems hard on tires and front rotors. I've had to replace the heater elements in the front seats. The gas gauge quit working. I sometimes tow a 3000 pound trailer. The drivetrain still seems rock solid the engine doesn't use any oil and the transmission works well. I would buy another now that the intake gasket problems are sorted out.

Favorite Features

Heated leather seats. Good gas mileage. Engine and transmission performance. Comfortable ride. Good snow performance with traction control.

Suggested Improvements

Better intake gaskets. 5 or 6 speed transmission. Hide away rear seats. Shorter cowl for better engine access

3 out 3 people found this review helpful

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GM won't take responsibility

Written by: S, Theresa on 03/25/2007

Vehicle

2001 Pontiac Montana 7-Seat Sport 4dr Ext Minivan (3.4L 6cyl 4A)

Review

It's very comfortable for traveling with adults and kids. Plenty of leg room for adults and storage for kids. Lots of sturdy cup holders. But this engine is NOT reliable. Head gaskets replaced 12 months ago. Been repaired by GM Certified Mechanic for overheating 5 times since and cracked another head. We shut it off immediately and towed it every time. GM will do nothing to help with this reoccuring and common problem in GM's with DexCool. Do you homework first. In the two years we've owned it, it's required $5000 in repairs!!!

Favorite Features

We went looking for a new minivan due to the nonstop overheating problem. None of the new American made vans compare to this older one in creature comforts. They've reduced leg room, cup holders and other practical and useful comfort features. I wish this was a reliable van. We love traveling in it

Suggested Improvements

Get rid of DexCool. Improve mileage. GM -Stand behind your vehicles and your mistakes. We NO LONGER TRUST GM. Pay attention to details, handles fall off, plastic trim pieces fall off, under seat trim fell apart. Disappointed in all 06-07 GM models they removed all creature comforts we had in this one

5 out 5 people found this review helpful

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my 2001 pontiac totrod

Written by: totrod on 12/31/2006

Vehicle

2001 Pontiac Montana 7-Seat MontanaVision 4dr Ext Minivan (3.4L 6cyl 4A)

Review

i never thought i would like a mini van but this Montana changed the way i think. very comfortable, plenty of pep, great fuel mileage, awesome vehicle for those with kids !!!

Favorite Features

auto headlights, power slide door,easy to remove seats, onstar, stereo system

Suggested Improvements

a/c condenser - window regulators(both will have to be replaced but easy for the shadetree mechanic

2 out 3 people found this review helpful

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Major Gremlins

Written by: Demers Family on 01/27/2006

Vehicle

2001 Pontiac Montana 7-Seat Convenience 4dr Ext Minivan (3.4L 6cyl 4A)

Review

We loved the gas mileage this van got, and the space and comfort was superb, as was the interior configuration. However since we bought it used it had no manufacture warranty, nor dealer warranty. The summer of 2004 the a/c went out, we spent $700 on trying to get it fixed, they thought they fixed it, it died again the next day. Then the bearings went out, and both sets of brakes as well as all the shocks and struts. We only put 25,000 miles on it when we owned it. We put $1000 into it, not counting the a/c and it still needed $1800 worth of work, and two car shops later the a/c problem still could NOT be solved! We traded it for an SUV, it is a sad loss we loved our van greatly.

Favorite Features

Power door, seat configuration, gas mileage, traction, roomy interior

Suggested Improvements

Lots of these Montanas seem to have issues with the electrical system and the transmission, they need to put more work into making a vehicle that lasts longer before major mechanical issues.

2 out 2 people found this review helpful

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