Most common 2006 Pontiac Montana problems
Share of the 37 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 →
2006 Pontiac Montana recalls (2)
Suspension › Rear
The braun corporation has notified NHTSA about a defect in certain model year 2005-2008 general motors mobility conversion, handicapped accessible low floor minivans. During conversion, the driver or passenger side trailing arm modification May not have been adequately welded.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and will have a supply of retrofit parts available to remedy the vehicles free of charge. The safety recall began on June 4, 2010. Owners May contact braun at 1-800-488-0359.
Equipment › Other › Labels
Certain trucks and sport utility vehicles fail to conform to the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 110, "tire selection and rims." these vehicles were shipped with tire and loading information labels listing an inacccurate vehicle capacity weight.
Remedy: Owners will be provided with corrected labels and installation instructions. At the customer's option, a dealer can install the label for them. The recall began on March 31, 2006.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 2 possible defects involving the 2006 Pontiac Montana:
Power sliding door opening
Odi has received reports that the power sliding doors opened without command while the vehicle was in motion on model year 2005 and 2006 general motors minivans (Chevrolet uplander/venture, Pontiac montana sv6/montana, Buick terraza, and Saturn relay).some reports indicate that the door May not have been closed and latched before driving away causing the door to reverse (open) at low vehicle speeds.however, other…
Power sliding door
Odi evaluated general motors' (GM) data, conducted consumer interviews, inspected and tested my 2005-2007 GM minivans with regard to the alleged defect of a power sliding door (psd) opening while the vehicle is out of park.odi identified a high warranty claim rate.however, these claims are related to various problems associated with doors not properly opening or closing and not specifically to doors opening while…
What 2006 Pontiac Montana owners say
Electrical system
I have bought a 2006 Pontiac Montana sv6 from a dealer within 10 days of having the van the ball joint fell completely out while we were driving home with kids in car dealer fixed it free of charge but I had to pay the towing bill....I change all 4 tires and now my van is making a squeaking and clunking sound ...I believe it is the rear def.also none of my power doors work and the back windshield wiper keeps burning out now the dealer will not help me fix the problem with out paying more money please help me with some advice in what to do I've only had van for 3 mnths and I bought the van for 3500.00 dollars van...thanks sincerely a Pontiac owner.
Tl contact owns a 2006 Pontiac Montana sv6. When the vehicle is stopped and idling, the battery voltage begins to decrease. The vehicle has been diagnosed by the dealer several times; however, the failure continues. Also, when the contact places the vehicle into drive, the RPM's increase, but the vehicle does not accelerate. The vehicle was diagnosed for the failure, but it still persists when the contact attempts to drive. In addition, the driver side door on the vehicle does not properly shut and leaves a one inch gap between the door and the body of the vehicle. The engine will also attempt to turn for 30 seconds, but will not turn over completely. All of the failures occur intermittently and were serviced by the dealer while the vehicle was still under warranty. The current mileage was 38,000 and failure mileage was 20,000.
Engine & cooling
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 Pontiac Montana. The contact stated that the transmission failed. As a result, the vehicle decelerated and jerked violently. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, but the technician was unable to duplicate the failure. In addition, the contact stated that the fuel cap failure light and engine warning light illuminated. The independent mechanic replaced the fuel cap several times; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 106,000.
When it's cold and you start the vehicle I get a message reduced engine power. You have to immediately shut it off. Som etimes when you are driving down the road and it is warmed up it will do this and you have to find a safe place to pull over because if you try to give it gas it won't go anyways. I think it is a safety hazard because it can happen when you are going 70 MPH on the interstate and cars are right on your ass. Luckily I wasn't on the interstate but I was on a highway going 60mph when it happened.
Suspension
I have bought a 2006 Pontiac Montana sv6 from a dealer within 10 days of having the van the ball joint fell completely out while we were driving home with kids in car dealer fixed it free of charge but I had to pay the towing bill....I change all 4 tires and now my van is making a squeaking and clunking sound ...I believe it is the rear def.also none of my power doors work and the back windshield wiper keeps burning out now the dealer will not help me fix the problem with out paying more money please help me with some advice in what to do I've only had van for 3 mnths and I bought the van for 3500.00 dollars van...thanks sincerely a Pontiac owner.
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 Pontiac Montana. While driving 35 MPH, there was an abnormal rubbing sound coming from the rear of the vehicle. The contact stated that the rear suspension detached from the subframe of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to several independent mechanics and the contact was informed that the failure was due to excessive corrosion of the subframe. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer and manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 180,000. The VIN was not available.
2006 Pontiac Montana engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 16 / 23 / 19 |
| 3.9L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 16 / 23 / 19 |
| 3.5L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 15 / 21 / 17 |
EPA ratings. Class: Minivan.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2006 Pontiac Montana a good car?
Based on 37 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2006 Montana rates better than average: 61% 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 2006 Pontiac Montana?
The electrical system — 8 complaints, 22% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the engine & cooling (7) and suspension (5).
How many recalls does the 2006 Pontiac Montana have?
There are 2 recalls for the 2006 Pontiac Montana, the most recent from March 19, 2010 (rear). 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 2006 Pontiac Montana problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 81,000 miles; 18% 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.