VehicleVerdict

2004 Pontiac Montana problems

Verdict · NHTSA data

Among the better years

The 2004 Pontiac Montana is a recall-heavy year with an otherwise ordinary complaint record: 5 NHTSA recall campaigns apply, yet its 46 owner complaints run below the Montana median. The recalls matter more than the complaint count here — verify every campaign was completed before buying. Reports tied to this model year include 6 deaths and 11 injuries, per the complaint records themselves.

No single system dominates the record — complaints spread across fuel system (6), electrical system (6), and latches & locks (5), which usually points to general build quality rather than one defect.

46

NHTSA complaints

5

Recalls

1

Investigations

11

Crash-involved

1

Fires reported

11

Injuries

6

Deaths

NCAP overall

How does 2004 compare to other Montana years?

Montana NHTSA complaints by model year, 2004 highlighted329 complaints1997: 25 complaints1998: 62 complaints1999: 329 complaints2000: 310 complaints2001: 208 complaints2002: 161 complaints2003: 117 complaints2004: 46 complaints2005: 130 complaints2006: 61 complaints2007: 0 complaints2008: 2 complaints
Montana NHTSA complaints by model year, 2004 highlighted. Red bars are years to avoid.

See all Montana years to avoid →

What are the most common 2004 Pontiac Montana problems?

ComponentComplaintsShare
Fuel System613%
Electrical System613%
Latches & Locks511%
Airbags49%
Engine49%
Body & Structure37%
Visibility & Wipers24%
Lighting24%
Other24%
Speed Control24%
Suspension24%
Transmission24%
Brakes12%
Driver Assistance12%
Steering12%
Child Seat12%
Seat Belts12%
Seats12%

Does the 2004 Pontiac Montana have recalls?

5 NHTSA recall campaigns on file. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.

09E005000SteeringFebruary 17, 2009 · 979 units

Defect

DORMAN IS RECALLING 979 STEERING KNUCKLES, DORMAN P/NOS. 697-902 AND 697-903, SOLD UNDER DORMAN'S "OE SOLUTIONS<SUP>TM</SUP>" BRAND NAME, AND NAPA P/NOS. 7-8502 AND 7-8503 WHICH WERE SOLD FOR REPLACEMENT USE ON THE VARIOUS VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. A POTENTIAL MATERIAL OR DESIGN DEFECT COULD RESULT IN THE STEERING KNUCKLE BREAKING IN THE HUB AREA.

Consequence

A BROKEN STEERING KNUCKLE COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL AND A POSSIBLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

Remedy

DORMAN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE STEERING KNUCKLES FREE OF CHARGE AND REIMBURSE THE REPAIR FACILITY OR OWNER FOR LABOR. THE RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 23, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DORMAN'S TOLL-FREE HOTLINE AT 1-800-523-2492 AND PRESS 5.

07V349000Fuel SystemAugust 8, 2007 · 20,594 units

Defect

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).

Consequence

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.

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.

07E021000Fuel SystemMarch 12, 2007 · 742 units

Defect

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.

Consequence

FUEL MAY LEAK, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A FIRE.

Remedy

DELPHI WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE UPR FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 23, 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT DELPHI AT 877-411-8770.

04V597000Latches & LocksDecember 22, 2004 · 717,302 units

Defect

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.

Consequence

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.

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.

04V177000OtherApril 8, 2004 · 31,301 units

Defect

CERTAIN MINIVANS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 213, "CHILD RESTRAINT SYSTEMS." THESE VEHICLES DO NOT HAVE TEXT AND FORMATTING ON THE WARNING LABEL ATTACHED TO THE AVAILABLE SECOND-ROW INTEGRAL CHILD RESTRAINT AS SPECIFIED BY AMENDMENTS TO THE STANDARD.

Remedy

OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH REPLACEMENT LABELS AND INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON JULY 23, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438 OR PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668.

Consumer complaints filed with NHTSA

Representative excerpts, cleaned of personal information. These are consumer statements, not verified defects.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 PONTIAC MONTANA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, A NOISE EMERGED FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE AND A STRONG ODOR OF FUEL WAS PRESENT. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE STRONG ODOR WAS PREVALENT AND THE CHECK…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Fuel System · July 21, 2016

VEHICLE COMES EQUIPPED WITH A SENSOR THAT ALERTS THE DRIVER WHEN REVERSING. WHEN VEHICLE IS 2 FEET AWAY FROM AN OBSTACLE THIS SENSOR IS MALFUNCTIONING AND WORKS INTERMITTENTLY. WHEN THE DEALERSHIP WAS FIRST CONTACTED ABOUT THIS ISSUE, THEY JUST INDICATED THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG, BUT WHEN THE VEHICLE…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Electrical System · August 7, 2004 · crash

I HAVE TWO COMPLAINTS THAT NO ONE SEEMS TO BE INTERESTED IN. FIRST ONE IS THE BACK UP SENSOR NOT CORRECTLY INSTALLED. PEOPLE AT THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT SAID IT WAS WORKING FINE, BUT IT ONLY WORKED OCCASIONALLY. IT FINALLY SHOWED ME THAT IT WASN'T WORKING ON A DATE THAT I BACKED INTO A PARKED CAR NOT…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Latches & Locks · December 21, 2004 · crash

I HAVE REPLACED THE HEAD GASKET ON MY 2004 PONTIAC MONTANA EVERY YEAR AT THE SAME TIME THIS IS THE 3RD TIME I WILL HAVE TO HAVE THE GASKET REPLACED I DO BELIEVE THIS IS A RECALL ISSUE THAT SHOULD BE CORRECTED BY THE MANUFACTURER SINCE I HAVE REPLACED IT 2 TIMES PRIOR TO THIS. *TR

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Engine · October 10, 2012

I WAS STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN AND SOME YOUNG MAN CAME FLYING AROUND THE CORNER AND HIT ME HEAD ON AS I WAS STOPPED, AND MY AIR BAGS NEVER WENT OFF , THE BODY SHOP MAN SAID THE SENSORS WERE SHEARED RIGHT OFF, THE PONTIAC 2004 VAN IS NOW TOTALED AND I STILL HURT. *NM

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Airbags · September 25, 2006 · crash

2004 Pontiac Montana — common questions

Is the 2004 Pontiac Montana reliable?

Its record is better than the model's norm: 46 NHTSA complaints, below the typical Montana year, with 5 recalls and no open investigations.

What are the most common 2004 Montana problems?

According to NHTSA complaint data, the leading problem areas are fuel system (6 complaints), electrical system (6 complaints), latches & locks (5 complaints).

Does the 2004 Pontiac Montana have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns affecting the 2004 Pontiac Montana. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers; check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm the work was done.

Is the 2004 Pontiac Montana under NHTSA investigation?

NHTSA opened one investigation into this model year; all are now closed.

Which Pontiac Montana years should you avoid?

Based on complaint rates and open investigations, the Montana years to avoid are 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002. The cleanest record among Montana years belongs to 2007.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.