1997 Pontiac Montana: Recalls, Problems & MPG
Here are the deets on the 1997 Pontiac Montana: 1 recall, 18 owner complaints.
Recalls
1 vehicle recall from the manufacturer. Repairs are free. Check your VIN to see if one is still open on your car.
Latches & locks Vehicle recall #04V597000 · 2004 · 717,302 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: 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.
The fix: 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.
Most-reported problems
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component. One complaint can list several components. 1 mention a fire, 2 injuries and 0 deaths were reported.
What owners describe
- Engine & cooling (8): the most common themes are leaks (4), overheating (2).
- Exterior lights (3): no single recurring theme in the descriptions.
- Visibility (wipers, glass) (2): no single recurring theme in the descriptions.
- Body & structure (2): no single recurring theme in the descriptions.
The 1997 Pontiac Montana has 18 owner complaints, ranking #10 of 12 Montana model years for complaints (well below the 88 average). Complaints peaked in 2003 (5 filed that year). The typical problem showed up when the car was about 6 years old, at a median of 80,000 miles. Neighboring years: 1998 (49 complaints, 3 recalls).
Want the full repair deets? Get the factory manual.
Recall and complaint data tells you what goes wrong. A service manual tells you how to fix it: torque specs, wiring diagrams, fluid capacities and step-by-step procedures for the 1997 Pontiac Montana.
Closest thing to the factory manual for most years. Pay once, keep it.
Most $25–$78, one-timePro-shop repair procedures, wiring diagrams and TSBs for your exact car.
From $19.99/mo · $39.99/yrOEM procedures, specs and recall/TSB info, the same source many shops use.
From $19.99/mo · $59.99/yrStep-by-step photos written from a real teardown. Great for first-timers.
Books ~$30–$40 · AllAccess $34.99/moHeads up: we may earn a commission if you buy through these links, at no extra cost to you. Prices checked 2026-10 and can change. We never host or link to pirated manuals. Disclosure
FAQ
Does the 1997 Pontiac Montana have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 1 vehicle recall for the 1997 Pontiac Montana. Recall repairs are free at any dealer, no matter how old the car is. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What are the most common 1997 Pontiac Montana problems?
Owners have filed 18 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are engine & cooling (8), exterior lights (3), visibility (wipers, glass) (2).
Where can I get a 1997 Pontiac Montana repair manual?
eManualOnline sells downloadable manuals, Mitchell 1 DIY and ALLDATAdiy sell online access to factory repair data, and Haynes sells printed guides and online access. Pick a download if you want to keep it, or a subscription for wiring diagrams and TSBs.