Bulletins


BulletinBulletin dateReplacement BulletinItem no.SummaryAdded
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
05060400201/01/200510013475Whistle noise on light acceleration. *eh04/19/2005
03060101003/01/200310001282Engine oil or coolant leak. *tt04/25/2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - ENGINE
0214301/01/20043033A10008866Awd 2,100-2,400 engine rpm moan/body boom noise. service vme. *tt08/24/2004
0135301/01/200401353A10007937Engine misfire due to injector fretting corrosion. *tt07/16/2004
0152701/01/200410005464A whistle type noise coming from the engine. sit bulletin 1406534. *tt02/27/2004
0155601/01/200401556A10005396Engine cranks but does not run. *tt02/24/2004
03-06-01-01004/01/2008030601010C10004768Engine oil or coolant leak. *tt gm reminder. *tt install new lower intake manifold gasket. updated 7/18/08 *pe01/06/2004
03060403003/01/2007030604030C10002166Multiple driveability symptoms of long or hard starts, chuggle, rough idle and light or intermittent misfire due to clogged fuel injectors. *tt08/14/2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - ENGINE - GASOLINE
01084500509/01/2006010845005E627671Hard start, no start, stall, and/or fuel gauge inoperative or fluctuates. *yh updated *eh02/13/2002
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - EXHAUST SYSTEM
03060500302/01/200310001132Rattle or buzz type noise from exhaust system. *tt04/15/2003

Consumer Complaints


Fail datemilesoccurencesPurchase date
ENGINE
10/13/201197000
 Van over heated after replacing water pump and thermostate. dexcool was required by gm for warranty car was flushed out and dexcool was replaced. one week later van over heated again, was told it was an air bubble in heating system. bleed out system using a vaccume pump and pulled out all the air in the system. this worked for about 3 months. problem reutrned again in spring in 3/6/2012 over heated again drivingbat highway speeds 25 miles from starting point. found air in system again. had water pump, thermostat, hoses and coolent all replaced again. problem is still occuring. dexcool destoryed the head gasket in the motor. needs to be replaced. this is a common problem i have found from new repair shop they work on at least 2 a week. gm has hidden this from the public needs to be a full recall on head gaskets. at no cost to owners. this repair will cost about $1500 to $2000 depending on the repair shop i have contacted. when car was under warranty noting was said, now they say it's the head gaskets at the gm dealeships.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
06/01/2008730001
 The valve pulled out of rocker arm mid 2008 on #2 cal costing approx 600.00 repair again in 2009 the #3 cyl valve pulled out effecting another repair. then a week later the #5 cyl has quit firing. this is the 3400 or 3.4 liter engine. my mechanic explained this was a common problem with this motor in the grand am or grand prix. *tr
04/03/2009866001
 Was told intake manifold gasket failed. over a thousand dollar fix with religious oil changes and coolant flushes, should not have happened. i have talked with many montana owners of different years and all have had the same problem. this cannot be a surprise! there is something wrong here... even two different repair shops said this is a common issue of the pontiac montana. i was told they were surprised it didn't happen sooner and there were signs it was in the making for awhile. please look into this! its not a cheap fix! *tr
11/10/2008887021
 2003 pontiac montana 3.4l series e engine. 10/15/2007 85,342 miles. rocker arm bolts (8mm) striped out of the 1,3,5 cylinder head. head needs to be replaced. repaired at dealer $1,500.00. dealer service center also checked 2,4,6 cylinder head and rocker arm bolts, all ok. 11/10/2007 88,702 miles. rocker arm bolts (8mm) striped out of the 2,4,6 cylinder head. again on same vehicle head needs to be replaced. another $1,500.00 this site aready shows loose or stripped bolts on other 2003 montanas. i wonder what a cross reference of gm 3.4l engines show up with this same problem. *tr
05/01/20071
 Intake manifold leaking at 60,000 miles. dealer will not do anything about it. have heard this from many sources and there is a class action lawsuit being proposed. *tr updated 01-15-08. *kb updated *jb
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - COOLING SYSTEM
01/05/2009730001
 Problem with lower intake manifold that has to be replaced due to bad dexcool. dealership will not cover repair for vehicle. *tr
04/11/200645499110/22/2003
 This is my second pontiac mini van with a leaking intake manifold gasket. the 1994 started leaking at 60k miles,my current van a 2003 is leaking at 45k miles. in my 94 van the engine failed at89k with religious oil changes and coolant flushes. my montana also has had coolant and oil changes often. i know of others with the same problem. *nm
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - ENGINE
04/03/2009866001
 Was told intake manifold gasket failed. over a thousand dollar fix with religious oil changes and coolant flushes, should not have happened. i have talked with many montana owners of different years and all have had the same problem. this cannot be a surprise! there is something wrong here... even two different repair shops said this is a common issue of the pontiac montana. i was told they were surprised it didn't happen sooner and there were signs it was in the making for awhile. please look into this! its not a cheap fix! *tr
08/11/2007854001
 Tl*the contact owns a 2003 pontiac montana extended cab. the check engine light came on, the vehicle was squealing, shaking, and squeaking. the mechanic stated that it was missing a cylinder and the engine was loose. the rocker bolt fell off of the head of the rocker arm and the head had to be replaced. the failure increased at speeds between 30-45mph. the current mileage on the vehicle was 85,500 and the failure mileage was 85,400. the purchase date was unavailable.
09/26/200662000312/13/2002
 Check engine light came on and vehicle began to run rough. after service work was performed to diagnose the problem it was found out that two bolts that hold the rocker arm assembly on for cylinder #3 were in fact stripped and fell out of the engine head. upon discovering this it was determined that checking the other side of the engine would also be prudent. there we also found one stripped bolt on the head. this engine had never before been apart. we bought the vehicle new and were shocked that such a mechanical failure could happen at 62,000 miles on a three year old vehicle!!! *nm
10/10/20051605/23/2003
 While driving the vehicles under normal conditions the vehicles turns itself off. while at stop lights the vehicle chugs and the rpm gauge dives down. when starting the vehicle and after the engine is on and the key has been released, the starter continues to crank on its own. *jb
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - EXHAUST SYSTEM - MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
03/03/20053000010/21/2002
 Intake manifold gasket is failing...and gm knows of this widespread problem and refuses to fix it out of warranty. my coolant was leaking out and they would never find the problem under warranty, and now they refuse with 4 months out of the warranty. amazing.*ak