Most common 2004 Pontiac Montana problems
Share of the 39 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Pontiac Montana complaints by model year
Best Montana years: 1997, 2006, 2004. Years to avoid: 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002. Compare all years →
2004 Pontiac Montana recalls (3)
Fuel system, gasoline › Storage
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).
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.
Latches/locks/linkages › Doors › Latch
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.
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…
Equipment › Other › Labels
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.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 2004 Pontiac Montana:
Power-sliding door
Subject vehicles are available with an optional power sliding door.the interior handle is oriented in the vertical position in the door panel and lines up at the elbow level when the occupant is seated in the 2nd-row outboard position.if the occupant holds the interior handle in the thumb up position during power-assisted opening, the arm/wrist can be push back with force against the 2nd-row bucket seat or captain's…
What 2004 Pontiac Montana owners say
Fuel & propulsion system
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 engine warning indicator illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 151,613. Updated 09/27/16
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 Pontiac Montana. While parked, the contact noticed a strong fuel odor and discovered fuel leaking from under the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for diagnostic testing. The mechanic stated that there was a recall under NHTSA campaign id number: 07V349000 (fuel system, gasoline:storage) that could have been related to the failure. The contact stated the recall indicated all vehicles registered in arizona were included in the recall. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised that the VIN was not included in the recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 105,000. Update 10/10/12
Electrical system
The speedometer, fuel gauge, and temperature gauge all became erratic. After a little research I found that the problem is the defective stepper motors that run the gauges. You can replace them for $30.00 all you need is a soldering iron and about a half hour and you will have a working dash. Here is a little info on the stepper motors. Http://www.GM-trucks.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=95547 updated instrument cluster stepper motor part # is x25 168 you can buy them on ebay for 6 bucks a piece.
Repeated driving within 1/4 mile of the indianapolis regional air traffic control radar antenna causes some of the instrument panel failure indicators to turn on for several seconds. The "battery" and "airbag" indicators turn on and clicking noise is heard from the instrument panel. The lamp indications are about the same as when the engine is first started. My concern is that this May be doing damage to the computer which could result in a future failure.
Locks & latches
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 knowing it was so close, and I had to maximize all the space I could to get out of my parking space. Luckily, there was no damage to their or my vehicle, but it's the idea of a part of my vehicle that I paid extra for not working. Also, after hearing of the recall on the motorized door, I thought it was for the pressure the door put on and object before realizing there was something there, but apparently it's only for the handle on the inside. You might want to question how hard the door shuts before it will retract when an arm, leg, body, etc is in it. …
I have a 2004 Pontiac Montana van with a passenger side power sliding door. My grandson pushed the power button while I was in the doorway and the door squashed me pretty hard, no bruises or injuries though. It concerned me because I have young grandchildren. I played with the door to see how much force it takes to stop it with my hand. I had to push hard and it pushed me backwards a ways before I could stop it. I took it to the dealer and they reprogrammed the door, which did nothing to fix the problem. The next day after reading the manual that said it takes more force to stop it the more closed the door is, I played with it some more but this time I couldn't reverse the door at all with my hand pushing against it with all my weight, starting when the door was fully open. …
2004 Pontiac Montana engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.4L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 17 / 24 / 20 |
| 3.4L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 16 / 22 / 18 |
EPA ratings. Class: Minivan.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2004 Pontiac Montana a good car?
Based on 39 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2004 Montana rates better than average: 51% fewer complaints than a typical year of the Montana at the same age. It is one of the best Montana years by this measure. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2004 Pontiac Montana?
The fuel & propulsion system — 6 complaints, 15% of all complaints for this model year, most often about storage. Next are the electrical system (5) and locks & latches (5).
How many recalls does the 2004 Pontiac Montana have?
There are 3 recalls for the 2004 Pontiac Montana, the most recent from August 8, 2007 (storage). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Pontiac Montana?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 1997, 2006 and 2004. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2002. See the full Pontiac Montana years comparison.
At what mileage do 2004 Pontiac Montana problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 42,000 miles; 65% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.