My wife & I own a 1999 Pontiac Montana. In September with 53,000 miles we noticed that the low coolant light came on. We added coolant and about 2 weeks later the light came on again. I then contacted my personal mechanic (since the vehicle was no longer under warranty). He told me that the intake manifold was bad and that this was a very common problem with this type of engine. He also told me that GM dealers told him that it was a result of the intake manifold being made of plastic and that the dexcool was eating up the gaskets and the plastic manifolds. The cost of the repair on the intake portion of the engine was $392.57. He also told us that as a result of this, coolant spilled into our engine oil. This means that we have a good chance of engine failure in the near future and would have to replace the engine. Replacing the engine would cost $2000 -$2500. We did contact the dealer where we bought the vehicle and posted a complaint. They told us to contact Pontiac. We did call the Pontiac customer service center in Michigan an filed a complaint over the phone. They claimed that they have never heard of such a thing. Please respond. Thanks

- Kimball, SD, USA

Lower intake manifold gasket leak causing coolant/oil mix internally on a vehicle with only 41K. Caught before christmas 900mi trip. Would have likely caused engine to seize if not caught before trip. Oil was creamy white.

- Mechanicsville, VA, USA

The coolant light illuminates. The intake gasket was leaking and was replaced.

- Louisville, KY, USA

Camshaft broke while consumer was driving, causing vehicle to stall out. Contacted dealer.

- Wapakonkea, OH, USA

Vehicle overheated while driving 30 mph. The dealer determined that the lower intake gasket need to be replaced. Per dealer 30000 of these parts are on backorder.

- Sycamore, IL, USA

I went to the dealer complaining of no heat coming out of heater although the temperature gauge was normal. The service adviser said I probably had a gasket leak, opened the hood, and immediately pointed to the spot where it was leaking. It was not leaking enough to mark the pavement, it would just leak onto the motor and evaporate. Obviousely he had seen this problem before. I took my van to get it fixed and a gasket could not be found in indianapolis. One dealer has 15 vehicles down waiting for gaskets and another has, I believe the number was 60 gasket sets on back-order. Yet GM says that the problem is not theirs to be concerned with. My mechanic said that there is a nationwide back order list for this particular gasket, which goes on the Pontiac Montana, Chevy Venture, and oids Silhouette. In one weekly paper here in central in, there are 33 Montanas and Silhouette, from 1998 to 2001 listed for sale. This is a big problem. Can you help?

- Greenfield, IN, USA

Consumer stated antifreeze was leaking into the motor of vehicle due to the gasket material falling on the intake manifold. Nlm dealer found and replaced leaking intake gaskets.

- Louisville, KY, USA

We would like to express our extreme dissatisfaction with this vehicle and with the manufacurer. We purchased this vehicle new 2.5 years ago and have had to return it to the dealership on 17 different occasions to have various problems fixed: Transmission replaced with 16,000 miles, airbag problems, cd player problems, intake gasket leaking, tires wearing, numerous problems! we have contacted the manufacturer and was told the first time a year ago that nothing would be done and now all they will offer us is extended warranty! we can't afford to keep taking our vehicle to the dealer and just want out from under this burden, big mistake we made!

- Waterloo, IA, USA

I writing to express dissatisfaction 2 major component failures occurred on a vehicle with less than 50,000 miles. The intake leak appears to be a known problem - buyer beware. I can understand disc pad wear, but not major brake system replacement/repair. The mechanic also noted excessive lifter noise; I fear this observation will lead to more major repair work. The dealer has been responsive. My complaint is intended for the manufacturere and other consumers. I will not be a good referral for prospective minivan owners - essentially my entire social base fits the demographic for minivan buyers.

- Monte Sereno, CA, USA

We have occasionally had problems with the transmission shifting hard, whining & banging into gear-this goes away if you turn the vehicle off & then back on. It occurrs at slower speeds not highway speeds & seems to happen only on short trips or longer trips with several stops. Recently there was a coolant leak in the system, which a local shop "repaired" for $67 the first week of October. Almost two weeks later the vehicle began running hot again & we were then told it needed a new head gasket. We had the vehicle back for a week when after getting off the highway & stopping for a red light the vehicle started to stall & the low oil pressure light came on. After parking the car & restarting it -it started making a horrible sound & we had it towed in to the nearest Pontiac dealer. There we were told that the head gasket shouldnt have needed to be replaced that those engines almost never leak from the head gasket but apparantly they commonly leak from the intake valves. In addition, they said that the garage that did the head gasket did something wrong which caused a blockage in the engine & prevented oil from getting into the top of the engine. They said there were two bolts that were loose & eventually found to be sheared off & that one of the outer heades-not the cylinder heads - were cracked. I have no way of finding out what actually caused the engine failure. I found no technical service bulletins on the head gaskets or the intake valves. Rif the engine had to heads a ardiastiotnetrstarting ccor.

- Stewartstown, PA, USA

Oil pan has heavy oil residue film which GM claims to be normal due to aluminum casting oil pan design that allows oil to seap through the oil pan. A heavy oil residue on the outside of the oil pan does not seem normal and appears to be a leak. Burning oil can be smelled inside the vehicle while stopped. A file # has been opened by GM customer service to record my complaints. Right hand door powered mirror is loose and loses setting when door shut.

- Clayton, NC, USA