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Pontiac Montana Engine And Engine Cooling Exhaust System Manifold/header/muffler/tail Pipe Safety Report | July 18, 2003
Reported on July 18, 2003
| ON JULY 18, 2003 WE TOOK OUR 1998 PONTIAC MONTANA (58,000 MILES) TO DOMAILLE BUICK-MAZDA-MITSUBISHI IN ROCHESTER, MINNESOTA FOR A 3,000-MILE OIL CHANGE PRIOR TO LEAVING FOR OUR SUMMER VACATION. ON THAT DAY THE MECHANIC INFORMED US ABOUT EVIDENCE OF A LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET LEAK AND THE NEED FOR IMMEDIATE REPAIR. HE ADVISED US NOT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE FOR FEAR THAT THE ENGINE COULD SEIZE UP IN THE MIDDLE OF MAJOR TRAFFIC. THIS COSTLY PROBLEM, OF WHICH WE ARE NOW ACUTELY AWARE, IS FAIRLY COMMON AMONGST THIS LINE OF VEHICLE (CHEVY VENTURE AND OLDS SILHOUETTE). WE HAVE LEARNED VIA A PLETHORA OF INTERNET SOURCES THAT THE INCIDENCE OF THIS PROBLEM OCCURS REGARDLESS OF MILEAGE, AS SOME CONSUMERS ENDURED THIS PROBLEM WHILE STILL UNDER WARRANTY. THE MANUFACTURER RESPONSE TO THIS SERIOUS AND COSTLY MECHANICAL PROBLEM HAS BEEN TO REDESIGN THE GASKET FOR NEWER MODEL VEHICLES. IN THE MEAN TIME, CUSTOMER AFTER CUSTOMER HAS FORKED OUT THE COST OF THESE REPAIRS. WHILE WE SADLY REFER TO OURSELVES AS ONE OF THE LUCKY ONES IN THAT OUR REPAIR BILL TOTALED A MERE $850.00 (SEE ATTACHED) AND WE CAUGHT THE PROBLEM PRIOR TO OUR VACATION, AND THAT WE WERE NOT INJURED AS A RESULT OF THIS PROBLEM, OTHERS HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THEIR ENGINE AT THE COST OF $4000.00 OR MORE. THIS IS A MAJOR CONSUMER CONCERN DUE TO SAFETY. FOR EXAMPLE, ANY GM OWNER COULD EXPERIENCE SUDDEN AND UNEXPLAINED STALLING OF THEIR VEHICLE IN THE MIDST OF TRAFFIC, AS A RESULT OF A LEAKY INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. THE TRAFFIC EXPERIENCE COULD BE ON A COUNTRY ROAD OR ON A MAJOR INTERSTATE GOING 70+ MPH ... ENGINE SEIZING UP AND TRACTOR TRAILERS BEHIND YOU?!?!? THE DISASTROUS POSSIBILITIES ARE ENDLESS. | |
| Make: | Pontiac |
| Model: | Montana |
| Manufactured by: | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. |
| Year: | 1998 |
| Was a crash reported? | N |
| Was an injury reported? | 0 person(s) were injured. |
| Was a death reported? | 0 person(s) died. |
| Was a fire reported? | N |
| Location: | ROCHESTER MN |
| Vehicle Identification Number (VIN): | 1GMDX03E3WD |
| Mileage: | 58000 miles. |
| Speed: | 0 MPH |
| Number of cylinders: | 6 |
| Vehicle type: | U |
| Vehicle fuel: | GAS Fuel injection. |
| Was a police report filed? | N |
| Tire size: | |
| Dealer name and location: | TOM'S PONTIAC ROCHESTER MN 55901 |
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