Model year record

2002 Pontiac Montana

3 recall campaigns on file for this model year. 161 owner complaints on file.

Recalls

Recall campaignNHTSA 07V349000

Fuel system, gasoline: storage

Component: Fuel system, gasoline: storage
Manufacturer: GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
Vehicles affected: 20,594
Reported to NHTSA: 2007-08-08
Owners notified: 2007-12-04

Defect description

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).

Safety 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.

Manufacturer remedy

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 CONTACT BUICK AT 1-866-608-8080; CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438; OR PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668. THE VEHICLE POPULATION INCLUDES BUICK RENDEZVOUS AND PONTIAC AZTEK VEHICLE BUILT IN MAY 2003; CHEVROLET VENTURE AND PONTIAC MONTANA VEHICLES BUILT FROM JUNE THROUGH AUGUST 2002; AND ALL VEHICLES REGISTERED IN NEVADA, ARIZONA, VIRGIN ISLANDS, PUERTO RICO, AND HAWAII.

Recall campaignNHTSA 04V597000

Latches/locks/linkages: doors: latch

Component: Latches/locks/linkages: doors: latch
Manufacturer: GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
Vehicles affected: 717,302
Reported to NHTSA: 2004-12-22
Owners notified: 2005-05-31

Defect description

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.

Safety risk

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, THE PASSENGER'S ARM MAY BE PUSHED INTO THE SEAT BACK OR ARMREST AND A WRIST OR LOWER ARM INJURY MAY RESULT.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE POWER SLIDING DOOR INTERIOR HANDLE ON THE PASSENGER-SIDE. IF THE VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH A POWER OR MANUAL SLIDING DOOR ON THE DRIVER-SIDE, THE INTERIOR HANDLE WILL ALSO BE REPLACED FOR APPEARANCE REASONS. NOTE: BEFORE THE VEHICLE IS SERVICED, GM ADVISES OWNERS TO NOT USE THE INTERIOR DOOR HANDLE TO OPEN THE DOOR. THE DRIVER CAN OPEN AND CLOSE THE DOOR FROM SWITCHES AT THE DRIVER'S POSITION OR BY USING THE REMOTE KEY FOB. THE DRIVER SHOULD TELL PASSENGERS TO USE THE SWITCH LOCATED IN FRONT OF THE DOOR TO OPEN OR CLOSE IT. THE DRIVER SHOULD USE THE OVERRIDE SWITCH TO PREVENT OPERATION OF THE POWER DOOR BY CHILDREN OR BY OTHERS WHO ARE NOT FAMILIAR WITH ITS USE. THE OWNER NOTIFICATION LETTER MAILING WILL BE CONDUCTED IN PHASES WITH THE FIRST PHASE BEGINNING ON MAY 31, 2005. THE SECOND PHASE MAILING BEGAN ON JULY 18, 2005. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 31, 2005. PHASE 2 BEGAN ON JULY 18, 2005. PHASE 3 (FINAL PHASE) BEGAN ON AUGUST 24, 2005, TO ALL REMAINING CUSTOMERS. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438; PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668; OR OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-630-6537.

Recall campaignNHTSA 02V222000

Air bags: frontal

Component: Air bags: frontal
Manufacturer: GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
Vehicles affected: 133,221
Reported to NHTSA: 2002-08-09
Owners notified: 2002-08-15

Defect description

CERTAIN PASSENGER, MINI VANS, AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES HAVE AN AIR BAG INFLATOR ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE THAT COULD FRACTURE AT A WELD DURING A DEPLOYMENT.

Safety risk

PIECES OF THE INFLATOR COULD STRIKE AND INJURE VEHICLE OCCUPANTS AND THE AIR BAG CUSHION WOULD NOT INFLATE FULLY, REDUCING THE CAPABILITY OF THE BAG TO PROTECT THE DRIVER.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL INSPECT, AND REPLACE, IF NECESSARY, THE AIR BAG MODULE ASSEMBLY ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN AUGUST 15, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT BUICK AT 1-800-521-7300, CADILLAC AT 1-800-458-8006, CHEVROLET AT 1-800-222-1020, GMC AT 1-800-462-8782, OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-442-6537, OR PONTIAC AT 1-800-762-2737.

Owner complaints

A complaint is one person's report to a federal agency. It is not a finding.

Component	Complaints	Median mileage
Engine and engine cooling	10	55,000 mi
Fuel system, gasoline	9	72,452 mi
Exterior lighting: brake lights	8	56,000 mi
Latches/locks/linkages: doors: latch	8	50,000 mi
Fuel/propulsion system	7	104,255 mi
Engine and engine cooling: cooling system	6	47,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe	5	55,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip	5	40,000 mi
Structure	5	500 mi
Electrical system	4	60,000 mi
Equipment: appliance: air conditioner	4	53,667 mi
Equipment: electrical	4	—
Exterior lighting	4	60,000 mi
Fuel system, gasoline: storage	4	135,000 mi
Power train: automatic transmission	4	52,378 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic	4	22,575 mi
Unknown or other	4	—
Air bags: side/window	3	72,800 mi
Engine and engine cooling: engine	3	27,000 mi
Power train	3	56,000 mi
Structure: body: door	3	35,000 mi
Tires: sidewall	3	54,347 mi
Visibility: defroster/defogger/hvac system	3	12,000 mi
Visibility: power window devices and controls	3	22,575 mi
Visibility: windshield wiper/washer	3	37,000 mi
Air bags: frontal	2	145,000 mi
Equipment	2	35,000 mi
Fuel system, other: storage: fuel gauge system	2	70,000 mi
Tires: tread/belt	2	15,000 mi
Visibility: windshield	2	20,000 mi
Air bags	1	—
Air bags: frontal: sensor/control module	1	70,100 mi
Electrical system: instrument cluster/panel	1	67,615 mi
Electrical system: ignition	1	—
Electrical system: ignition: anti-theft: control module	1	195,000 mi
Electrical system: ignition: module	1	38,000 mi
Electrical system: wiring	1	70,000 mi
Engine	1	87,160 mi
Engine and engine cooling: engine: gasoline	1	—
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system	1	—
Exterior lighting: tail lights	1	36,000 mi
Power train: automatic transmission: park/neutral start interlock switch	1	—
Power train: axle hubs	1	42,541 mi
Power train: driveline	1	120,000 mi
Power train: transfer case (4-wheel drive)	1	8,000 mi
Seat belts	1	100,300 mi
Seat belts: front	1	—
Seat belts: front: buckle assembly	1	60,000 mi
Seats	1	141,000 mi
Seats: front assembly: head restraint	1	—
Seats: mid/rear assembly	1	—
Service brakes	1	224,750 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip: ABS warning light	1	—
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components	1	—
Steering	1	91,000 mi
Structure: body	1	188,000 mi
Structure: body: trunk lid	1	—
Suspension	1	—
Suspension: front: control arm	1	—
Tires	1	70,000 mi
Visibility: windshield wiper/washer: motor	1	38,460 mi
Wheels: rim	1	17,548 mi

The 2001 model has about half as many complaints as this one. The 2003 model has about 1.5 times as many complaints as this one. These figures reflect raw complaint counts, not failure rates. Higher-selling model years naturally receive more complaints.

Safety recall repairs are provided free of charge by franchised dealers, regardless of vehicle age or mileage. This page displays aggregated data for the model year. To check recall status for a specific vehicle, search its VIN at nhtsa.gov.