The contact owns a 1999 Pontiac Montana. While driving 35 mph, the vehicle jerked and the check engine light illuminated. The mechanic stated that the manifold gaskets should be replaced. The mechanic replaced the manifold gaskets, water pump, thermostat, and sealer. Two years later, the failure recurred. The mechanic flushed the transmission. Approximately a year and a half later, the failure recurred for the third time and the mechanic flushed the transmission once more. Ten months later, the vehicle began jerking again. The mechanic replaced the radiator cap and flushed the transmission, but the failure continues to occur. The current mileage is 138,000 and failure mileage was 63,000.

- Irvington, NY, USA

Intake manifold gasket failure fried the 3.4L V6 engine. Replacement engine is showing the same problems.

- Bloomington, MN, USA

: the contact stated while the vehicle was parked antifreeze was observed on the ground below the front end of the vehicle. An independent repair shop replaced the intake gasket and head gasket on two separate occasions. The problem returned following both repairs. Updated 06/07/2006.

- Loveland, OH, USA

: the consumer stated she applied the accelerator, the vehicle would not accelerate. The vehicle was towed to an independent repair shop. The mechanic checked the vehicle and determined the engine had failed.

- Upland, CA, USA

Head gasket leaking on 1999 Pontiac Montana, 80,000 miles, $700 to repair.

- Milwaukee, WI, USA

We have a 1999 Pontiac Montana that we purchased new from a local dealer in South bend in. I noticed oil and antifreeze going down and took the van to a garage. He said that Pontiac should make the repairs because the leak was caused by a manifold gasket problem I took it to the local dealer and talk to him about repairs. At first he said the repairs would be around $1500. I told him that it would be cheaper to buy another vehicle. He said probably. A real smart aleck. I told him that there was, at that time, 30,0000 miles on the vehicle. He talked to the manager and they came up with a price around $600. I told them to do it. The final price was just under $400. Now I find that it is leaking a little again and the water pump is leaking, too. I had a private garage change the water pump and probably won't get the manifold gasket replaced at this time. I also had the brakes checked and found that the rear wheel cylinders were leaking. That is another cost on this 1999 Pontiac Montana van. The drivers door needs a repair to some of the mechanism in the window and it will cost around $500. I have heard that this window problem is common with these vehicles. I have reached the point of getting rid of the van and going to something besides a GM product. The van has 32,000 miles on it now and I shouldn't be seeing all of this high dollar repairs on it.

- South Bend, IN, USA

Vehicle overheated on highway- with kids in car en route to family outing.

- Columbia, SC, USA

The last 4 cars I have owned have been GM vehicles. I have tried hard to be loyal, when in 1998, my 1992 olds achieve blew it's head gasket at 79,000 miles. A defect that was so common on quad-4 engines in these vehicles that many were recalled to be fized, before 75,000 miles......I didn't know until after....by 4,000 miles!! the total job cost me $1700usd. I did purchase a 1999 Montana van and another Bonneville (1995) over the last 3 years. In Dec. Of 2002 the lower intake manifold gasket was replaced on my Montana with only 55,000 miles on it, cost of $388. Then this past January, I was driving my 1995 Bonneville and my head gasket blew. So $1633 dollars later, it turned out the problem was caused by a plastic upper intake manifold that burned out in the opening for the egr check valve. As I have found out on multiple web sites, it seems that on the 3.8L series II engines, that their have been many problems when GM changed from a die cast aluminum part to this plastic plenum tub. The plastic tub burns 1-2 holes around the egr check valve, where the water jackets are, thus failing and causing coolant to fill in the upper intake and then be sucked into the engine. It seems that GM is well aware of this problem, but has not recalled any parts. Again, this was my 2nd blown head gasket, but since the car was a 1995 I was upset, but figured that nothing could be done. Not 10 days later the 1999 Montana, with only 79,000 miles on it, blew the head gasket (this a 3.4 liter engine) another $1400 later, and I determined enough was enough. 3 different engines in 3 different cars, was no fluke. That is when I found out on the internet, that there were all these different issues people were having with GM engines. I have spend approximately $5200 fixing this issues over the last couple of years. I want retribution!! GM either needs to own up to their mistakes and make good, or lose yet another life long customer, his wife and their 3 kids!!!!

- Macedon, NY, USA

Vehicle comes equipped with side air bags which are located in the front seat backs. The padding wasn't properly designed when manufactured. As a result, seat cover material is ripping, which will eventually leave the box containing the side air bag exposed. Also, at 33,000 miles the head gasket developed a leak and destroyed the engine motor.

- Brooklyn, NY, USA

I have just taken in our 99 Montana and have learned that I have an engine gasket leak. This will be the 2nd gasket leak the engine has incurred. The first one was a head gasket and this most recent gasket is a lower intake. The reason this concerns me is that I had a dear friend have an automobile issue where he had to pull over on the side of the highway. It happened to be Friday with heavy traffic. Too make a long story short, while he went out for repairs his vehicle was rear ended while on the side of the road and he lost his first son and his second son had brain damage. The reason I bring this up is because I've been lucky as far as catching these gasket issues in their early stages of failure. I could have been that guy stuck on the highway with a gasket that has failed, not once but maybe twice. It seems obvious that GM has a serious gasket issue with this particular engine and are not concerned about their customer's families safety.

- Lk. Orion, MI, USA

On the morning of May 21, 2003 at approximately 11:25 a.M. est, my pregnant wife of nine months, and two children ages 3 and 6 were driving our 1999 Pontiac Montana minivan southbound on us-131 in the grand rapids, mi area. At approximately mile marker 85 the vehicle suddenly died for no apparent reason and with no apparent warning. She was traveling 60 mph in the far left lane of a 6 lane stretch of what is known as the S-curve in this area. With no power to the vehicle she somehow managed to safely maneuver the van across three lanes of traffic and exit at franklin street. With the help of a state trooper we were able to move the vehicle (which was blocking the exit ramp) to a safe place until it could be towed. Upon further inspection by a qualified GM dealership technician the following day, it was determined that the engine completely failed due to a problem with a faulty intake gasket which allowed dexcool coolant to seep into the engine and destroy critical components. This is apparently a problem that is more than common on vehicles with the same engine as ours. GM has been aware of for sometime, but has failed to correct via recall or other measures. Had my wife not been swift and calm in her control of the vehicle there is little doubt that a serious and possibly fatal accident would have occurred given the location of the incident. Vehicles traveling at 60+ mph come out of a blind curve just before this location and would have been unlikely to stop in time. I would like to reiterate that a state trooper was on the scene and documented the incident as well.

- Grand Rapids, MI, USA

Intake manifold gasket failure.

- Hartland, WI, USA

My 1999 Pontiac Montana van's intake cracked at between 50,000 and 60,000 miles. It cost $600 to replace. Two GM mechanics have admitted there is a huge problem with these intakes. Why is nothing being done about this?

- Loretto, TN, USA

Lower intake manifold gasket leak at 54000 miles. Reason is poor design. I have heard of many complaints on this problem. Please help us.

- Mohegan Lake, NY, USA

The vehicles head gasket failed which caused the engine to be inoperative.

- Green Valley, AZ, USA

I had three transmissions, a cracked head because of over heating, water pump and heat sensor, oil in one cylinder, a short in the rear lights with dealer saying I (should replace the lighting structure on both sides) $200. ABS system sensor front right side wire burned through $500. The $200 and $500 I have not done yet, should I wait until it's an even $1000 more to spend more money? there are more problems.

- Loganville, GA, USA

I have a '99 Pontiac Montana with GM's infamous V6 3.4L engine. Just had the intake manifold gasket job at 56.5K miles. This is a noted problem, with sudden over heating and the car stopped on my wife. Also the vehicle is on its third tranmission.

- Madison, AL, USA

Vehcile is losing coolant discovered a bad iontake gasket. Repairs totalled $800 by local delaership. Rampant problem with this engine

- Hampton Bays, NY, USA

Pontiac Montana presented with a low coolant light, , found to have a faulty intake gasket, (repaired for approx $700.) when asked about rate of occurrence, GM service manager stated "it happens a lot more often than GM wants to admit in the 3.4L and 3.8L engines".

- Fairview, NC, USA

1999 Pontiac Montana- coolant in oil- leaking intake mainifold gasket and bad water pump. 75,000 miles at time of incident.

- Wichita Falls, TX, USA