Is the 2001 Pontiac Montana a bad year?
156 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Montana years.
Keep it
Engine and transmission complaints for the 2001 Pontiac Montana are in line with other Montana years.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2001 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 78,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 20 (13%) | 55k–112k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Engine | 18 (12%) | 47k–93k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Fuel system | 18 (12%) | 76k–143k miles · around this mileage | Fuel pump replacement $220–$1,500 · Fuel injector replacement (one injector) $300–$1,200 |
| Brakes | 15 (10%) | 40k–86k miles · around this mileage | Brake pad replacement (one axle) $115–$390 · Brake pads and rotors replacement (one axle) $200–$1,084 |
| Body structure | 13 (8%) | 32k–79k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Engine and cooling | 10 (6%) | 47k–84k miles · around this mileage | Water pump replacement $400–$1,106 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 20 (13%) | 43k–64k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Visibility and wipers | 11 (7%) | 38k–70k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Latches and locks | 11 (7%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Steering | 11 (7%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Equipment | 10 (6%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Exhaust | 10 (6%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Exterior lighting | 9 (6%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Air bags | 6 (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 78,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 156 complaints: 10 mention a crash · 3 mention a fire · 17 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
Dexcool coolant leakage signs out of intake manifold, service professional reported it as a problem with GM 3.4 engines and would lead to costly engine repair if not fixed.
At 95,000 miles, my 2001 Pontiac Montana van began to leak water and I took it to a local mechanic.
I own a 2000 chevy lumina and a 2001 Pontiac Montana both have 6 cylinder engines and I have had to replace the head gasket on both of these vehicles.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 78,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2001 Pontiac Montana: 11
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.
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). 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.
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…
Certain minivans, passenger and sport utility vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 225, "Child restraint anchorage system." The owner's manual does not explain the meaning of the location symbols for the child restraint lower universal anchorage system. This does not meet the requirements of the standard.
On certain passenger, sport utility vehicles and Mini vans, some of these vehicles have a passenger air bag that was manufactured without a check valve pin. An air bag without the check valve pin could produce increased pressure at the onset of the air bag deployment and reduced pressure afterward. This could increase the severity of injury to a person who was not properly restrained and who was close to the passenger air bag at the time of deployment.
Vehicle description: certain Mini vans built with second row 50/50 split bench seats or captain's chairs, fail to comply with the requirements of FMVSS no. 225, "Child restraint anchorage systems." The seat latch anchor wire diameter is greater than 6.1 mm. If the connector for a latch-type child restraint is not attached correctly to the anchorage points, the restraint will not properly protect a child in the event of a crash.
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, 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. 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.
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.
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: 83
Repair instructions Pontiac sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2001 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: 1
Power-sliding door
Neighbouring years
2000 Montana: 228 complaints, keep it, but watch the engine · 2002 Montana: 126 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 2001 Pontiac Montana a bad year?
156 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Montana years. At 78,000 miles the tool says: Keep it.
What are the most common problems with the 2001 Pontiac Montana?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: electrical system (20), engine (18), fuel system (18), brakes (15), body structure (13).
How many recalls does the 2001 Pontiac Montana have?
11 recall campaigns list this model year: Steering (NHTSA 09E005000), Fuel system (NHTSA 07V-349), Fuel system (NHTSA 07E021000), Latches and locks (NHTSA 04V-597) 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.