Pontiac Pontiac truck problems

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The Pontiac Safari is a line of station wagons that was produced by Pontiac from 1955 to 1989. Initially introduced as the Pontiac counterpart of the two-door Chevrolet Nomad, the division adopted the nameplate across its full-size wagon range in 1957. Through its production, the Safari was positioned between Chevrolet full-size station wagons and below its Buick and Oldsmobile counterparts. During the mid-1960s, the Safari added simulated woodgrain trim to the exterior, becoming a feature associated with the model line.

The name "safari" is derived from the Swahili word safari, which means journey, originally from the Arabic سفر (safar) meaning a journey; the verb for "to travel" in Swahili is kusafiri. As General Motors expanded into the intermediate, compact, and subcompact segments, the Safari nameplate saw a similar usage as the Estate (Buick, Chevrolet) and Cruiser (Oldsmobile) nameplates, denoting the highest-trim station wagon in each model range.

After 1989, Pontiac became the first GM division to discontinue its full-size wagons; along with model overlap between its divisional counterparts, demand for full-size wagons had been overtaken by minivans. For 1990, the Pontiac Trans Sport was introduced as the first Pontiac minivan. After 1991, Pontiac ended its use of the Safari nameplate (and production of station wagons) entirely; the GMC Safari continued through the 2005 model year.

photo of Pontiac Pontiac truck car production

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Pontiac Pontiac truck model years

pontiac pontiac truck 2001 photo
Pontiac truck 2001
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pontiac pontiac truck 1998 photo
Pontiac truck 1998
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pontiac pontiac truck 1997 photo
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Common Pontiac Pontiac truck problems

Common Problems with Pontiac Cars

Pontiac cars are known for their performance and unique designs, but they also have some common problems that owners have reported. Here are some of the most common issues with Pontiac vehicles, based on complaints from owners:

  • Transmission Failures: The Pontiac Vibe is known for transmission failures, which can occur early and often in some model years. These failures can sometimes happen without warning and can be expensive to repair, making them a significant concern for owners.
  • Power Window Defects: Many Pontiac cars have a defect where the power window mechanism can break due to cheap plastic parts in the power window pulley assembly. This can result in the window falling into the door and requiring replacement of the entire assembly.
  • Faulty Ignition Switches: In February 2014, General Motors recalled 1.6 million vehicles due to a faulty ignition switch that had been linked to the deaths of 13 people. The company may have known about the defect for over a decade, making this a significant safety concern for owners.
  • Brake Light Problems: Some Pontiac G6 models have been reported to have possessed brake lights, which can be a significant safety concern for drivers.
  • Power Steering Failures: The 2006 G6 model has been reported to have faulty power steering, which can make it difficult to control the vehicle.
  • Instrument Panel Failures: The instrument panel is a critical component of any vehicle, providing essential information to the driver. However, some Pontiac models have been reported to have issues with the instrument panel not working correctly, which can be a significant safety concern.
  • Indicator Light Failures: Individual indicator lights, such as those for the engine or brake system, can fail in some Pontiac models. This can make it difficult for drivers to know when there is a problem with their vehicle, potentially leading to safety issues.
  • Vapor Lock: In a unique case reported by Daily Social, a Pontiac owner found that his car refused to start whenever he bought vanilla ice-cream. An engineer determined that this was due to vapor lock, where fuel turns to vapor and cannot move through the system, causing the engine to die.

In conclusion, while Pontiac cars are known for their performance and unique designs, they also have some common problems that owners should be aware of. These issues can range from minor inconveniences to significant safety concerns, and it is essential for owners to stay informed and take action when necessary to ensure their vehicles are safe and reliable.

Pontiac Pontiac truck

How reliable are Pontiacs?

Are Pontiacs good cars? Since you're likely buying a used model, you must know about its reliability track record. In terms of reliability, the newer should be as reliable as the existing GM vehicles at that time. Thus, we recommend buying the latest versions you can find for every model.

Why did Pontiac go out of business?

Amid the financial crisis, General Motors needed a government bailout. Congress agreed but required the company to restructure its business and cut costs. In the end, GM decided to eliminate several brands, including Pontiac. The last car to wear the arrowhead badge was a G6, which ended production in early 2010.

Does GM still service Pontiac?

Please note if you have a Pontiac, Saab, Saturn, HUMMER (H2, H3) or Oldsmobile, you can visit any of the brands listed below for service. Whatever your vehicle requires, our expert Certified Service technicians are ready to meet your needs.

When was the last time Pontiac made a vehicle?

2010

Facing financial problems and restructuring efforts, GM announced during the 2008 financial crash that it would discontinue the Pontiac brand by the end of 2010. The last Pontiac-badged cars were built in December 2009; the final Pontiac was a white G6 that was assembled in January 2010.

Percentage distribution of complaints by Pontiac Pontiac truck years

We have researched Pontiac problems and analysed all the complaints filed against Pontiac Pontiac truck cars and compiled the top 3 most problematic Pontiac Pontiac truck model years:

Below you can see the percentage distribution of known problems by Pontiac Pontiac truck model years.

Distribution of the number of complaints by Pontiac Pontiac truck years

We've also compiled a chart for you with the number of complaints about Volkswagen Jetta cars of certain model years:

Pontiac Pontiac truck car problems categorized by type of issue

After analysing all complaints related to Pontiac Pontiac truck , it was concluded that the most common issues with these cars are:

  • Engine and engine cooling problems
  • Seat belts problems
  • Steering problems
  • Air bags problems
  • Suspension problems

The graph below shows statistics for all Pontiac Pontiac truck vehicle components and the number of complaints received.

The NHTSA has received 5 complaints about various vehicle components related to the Pontiac Pontiac truck . Below are the 25 most recent complaints reported for Pontiac Pontiac truck vehicles.

List of Pontiac Pontiac truck complaints

Pontiac Pontiac truck 2001
  • Date Of Incident: 2005-07-20
  • Date Complaint: 2005-07-24
  • VIN: 1GMDX03E71D
  • Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
  • Summary: THERE HAS BEEN A LEAK WITH MY MANIFOLD GASKET/COOLANT;ALSO NEEDED TO REPLACE EGR VALVE & THERMOMSTAT SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT STILL ON. IT HAS BEEN LEAKING FOR 6MTHS & I RECENTLY TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC & HE SAID THE COST WOULD BE $2130 IN PARTS & REPAIRS.JUST UNBELIEVABLE NOW I CAN'T DRIVE IT BUT IM STILL PAYING FOR IT!AZ
Pontiac Pontiac truck 1998
  • Date Of Incident: 2002-04-22
  • Date Complaint: 2002-07-24
  • Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
  • Summary: THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT HAS BEEN ILLUMINATING INTERMITTENTLY, THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT ALL THEY DO IS PUSH A BUTTON TO MAKE THE LIGHT GO OFF AND THAT THIS SHOULD NOT BE OF ANY CONCERN, THIS HAS BEEN OCCURING SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW, ONE ONE OCCASION THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND THE DEALER ATTEMPED REPAIR BUT WAS UNABLE TO FIND A PROBLEM, THE CONSUMER WAS CHARGED ALTHOUGH THE PROBLEM WAS NOT SOLVED (CONSUMER SAYS VEHICLE IS A 1998 PONTIAC TRANSPORT MONTANA). NLM
Pontiac Pontiac truck 1998
  • Date Of Incident: 2000-06-13
  • Date Complaint: 2000-06-23
  • VIN: 1GMDX03E0WD
  • Components: SUSPENSION
  • Summary: COMPLETE COMPRESSOR AND REAR AIR SUSPENSION SYSTEM FAILURE. *ET
Pontiac Pontiac truck 1997
  • Date Of Incident: 2024-11-24
  • Date Complaint: 2000-01-18
  • VIN: 1GMDX03EXVD
  • Components: SEAT BELTS
  • Summary: FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT FAILED. *SLC
Pontiac Pontiac truck 1997
  • Date Of Incident: 1999-12-22
  • Date Complaint: 2000-01-18
  • VIN: 1GMDX03EXVD
  • Components: STEERING,AIR BAGS
  • Summary: THE POWER STEERING RACK ON THE MONTANA BROKE CAUSING THE STEERING TO LOCK WHICH CAUSED THE AIRBAGS TO NEED TO BE REPLACED. *SLC

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