Is the 2000 Pontiac Montana a bad year?
228 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine complaints: 63, 6.3× a quiet Montana year.
Keep it, but watch the engine
Half of the engine complaints for this year were filed at 47k–88k miles, where you are now.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2000 Montana owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 64,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| EngineSTANDS OUT | 45 (20%) | 45k–88k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Brakes | 14 (6%) | 42k–84k miles · around this mileage | Brake pad replacement (one axle) $115–$390 · Brake pads and rotors replacement (one axle) $200–$1,084 |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 16 (7%) | 43k–63k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Body structure | 31 (14%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Air bags | 22 (10%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Electrical system | 22 (10%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Visibility and wipers | 19 (8%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Engine and cooling | 18 (8%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Fuel system | 17 (7%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Exhaust | 13 (6%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Latches and locks | 13 (6%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Seat belts | 11 (5%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Exterior lighting | 10 (4%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Steering | 9 (4%) | too few with a mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 64,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 228 complaints: 14 mention a crash · 4 mention a fire · 22 report an injury.
No complaints in the last 12 months; the newest was filed in Dec 2015.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
I have a 2000 Pontiac Montana and have had a coolant leak problem. My van has only 66k miles on it and has been in 2 times for coolant leaks.
Pontiac Montana 2000: my car only has 49,000 miles yet has a major problem. I just got a repair estimate for my intake manifold gasket which is leaking dexcool out and into my engine.
The door comes unlatched from the Pontiac Montana Mini vans w/o power slider also.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 64,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2000 Pontiac Montana: 7
A potential material or design defect could result in the steering knuckle breaking in the hub area. A broken steering knuckle could result in loss of steering control and a possible crash without warning.
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. Fuel may leak, possibly resulting in a fire.
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. If a passenger uses the interior handle to open the power sliding door and holds onto the handle while it is being opened by the motor…
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. 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.
Vehicle description: minivans equipped with passenger side power sliding doors. The door closes but may not be latched. 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 occupant could fall out of the van and be injured.
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles, light duty trucks, sport utility vehicles, and Mini vans equipped with trw seat belt buckle assemblies. In the event of a vehicle crash, the occupant may not be properly restrained.
Vehicle description: Mini vans with extended wheelbase. Some of these vehicles have inoperative fuel tank rollover valves and fuel leakage would exceed the permissible amount in a rollover test. This does not comply with the requirements of FMVSS no. 301, "Fuel system integrity." In a vehicle rollover accident, if an ignition source is present, a fire could result.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Pontiac: 78
Repair instructions Pontiac sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2000 Pontiac Montana. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Rough idle, Crank no start, extended crank or misfire, MIL with DTCs, and explains how Top Tier fuels should be used to reduce carbon build-up
Guidelines to replace Oil Cooler, Oil Cooler Lines and Oil Tank if the engine was replaced where large amounts of debris has flowed throughout the oiling system
Proper way to install the pistons in an engine
Will need to be provided to TAC to aid in diagnosing if a vehicle comes in with misfire and DTC Codes P0300 - P0308 and/or P050D
NHTSA defect investigations: 4
Power-sliding door
Shoulder harness clip
Air bag inflator
Unexpected opening of sliding door
Neighbouring years
2001 Montana: 156 complaints, keep it.
Every Pontiac Montana year
2000 · 2001 · 2002 · 2003 · 2004 · 2005 · 2006 · 2008 · All Montana years side by side
Other Pontiac models: Pontiac Aztek · Pontiac Bonneville · Pontiac G5 · Pontiac G6 · Pontiac G8 · Pontiac GTO · Pontiac Grand Am · Pontiac Grand Prix · Pontiac Solstice · Pontiac Sunfire · Pontiac Torrent · Pontiac Vibe. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2000 Pontiac Montana a bad year?
228 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine complaints: 63, 6.3× a quiet Montana year. At 64,000 miles the tool says: Keep it, but watch the engine. Half of the engine complaints for this year were filed at 47k–88k miles, where you are now.
What are the most common problems with the 2000 Pontiac Montana?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: engine (45), brakes (14), transmission and drivetrain (16), body structure (31), air bags (22). Half of the engine complaints were filed between 47k–88k miles.
How many recalls does the 2000 Pontiac Montana have?
7 recall campaigns list this model year: Steering (NHTSA 09E005000), Fuel system (NHTSA 07E021000), Latches and locks (NHTSA 04V-597), Latches and locks (NHTSA 01V-264) and more. A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.