NHTSA Complaint #10069972 — 1999 PONTIAC MONTANA

ENGINE-LOW COOLANT LIGHT EVALUATED AND FOUND TO HAVE FAULTY INTAKE GASKET-REPAIRED, WOULD LIKE GM TO COVER UNDER RECALL, SERVICE MANAGER STATED "IT HAPPENS ALOT MORE OFTEN THAN GM WANTS TO ADMIT IN THE 3.4 AND 3.8L ENGINES IN SEARCHING RECALLS, NOTED SEVERAL PETITIONS WITH SAME COMPLAINT. STEERING--HARD LEFT TURNS AT LOW SPEEDS, EVALUATED AND SERVICE DEPT (GM) STATED NO CURRENT RECALLS FOR THE '99 MONTANA, THE RECALL ENDED WITH THE '98 TRANSPORTS. THE SAME PROBLEM SEEMS TO HAVE CONTINUED, WOULD LIKE GM TO EXTEND THE RECALL TO COVER THE '99 MONTANA'S NOVEMBER 1, 2003 UPDATE:LOW COOLANT LIGHT CAME ON AND I HAD IT INSPECTED AT HARRY'S PONTIAC, 819 PATTON AVE. ASHEVILLE, NC 28806 ON JAN 07,2003. THEY RECOMMENDED REPLACING THE LOWER INTAKE GASKETS AND DID SO ON THE 8TH. THE COST WAS $442.00, GASKET KI $49.46, COOLANT $30.00, CLEANER $4.67, SEALANT-R $11.79, SEAL $3.68, OIL FILTER $5.31, OIL $9.00, AND GASKET $47.40. THERE WAS ALSO TAX AND A 10% CHARGE FOR SHOP SUPPLIES/WASTE DISPOSAL FOR $15.00. MILAGE WAS 54,530. WE PURCHASED THE VAN IN SEPT 1999. WE TRADED THE VAN IN JUNE, FEELING THE MONTANA DIDN'T HAVE A GOOD TRACK RECORD AFTER ALL OF THE REPAIRS WE'D MADE. (TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS WHILE STILL UNDER WARRANTY, AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON INTERMITTENTLY, IDENTIFIED AS AN OPEN CIRCUIT IN THE PASSENGER SEAT BELT PRETENSIONER DIFFICULTY MAKING LEFT HAND TURNS AT LOW SPEEDS.)