Overview & Reviews

The Pontiac brand is part of the General Motors family, and is home to many of the automaker's more performance-oriented vehicles. Currently, the marque offers a broad range of sporty cars and SUVs. However, as part of GM's restructuring plan, the brand is slated to be discontinued by the end of the 2010 model year.

Pontiac originated as the Oakland Car Company of Pontiac, Michigan, in 1907; it was founded by Edward Murphy. Acquired by General Motors in 1909, Oakland introduced the first Pontiac vehicle in 1926. Dubbed the "Chief of the Sixes," the car was powered by a six-cylinder engine and made its debut at that year's New York auto show. It was so successful that the Oakland name was phased out in favor of Pontiac, the name of an 18th-century chief of the Ottawa Indians. Throughout the 1930s and '40s Pontiac made coupes, sedans and wagons in the low-to-mid price ranges. A unique styling cue of Pontiac cars from the mid-'30s to the mid-'50s was known as "Silver Streak," a set of art-deco-inspired chrome "speed lines" that ran up over the length of the hood to the base of the windshield.

The 1950s saw the introduction of the Pontiac Bonneville. The sprawling, stylish cruiser offered equal measures of performance and luxury, and was a breakout hit. But it wasn't until the 1960s that the Pontiac brand truly came into its own. American manufacturers had begun to offer downsized alternatives to the gigantic cruisers that had ruled the highways in previous decades. Pontiac came to market with the compact Tempest. In 1964, Pontiac made its biggest impact yet with the creation of the GTO option for the Tempest. By equipping the car with the powerful 389 cubic-inch V8 from the full-size car line, Pontiac created the first "muscle car." Phenomenally successful, the GTO helped define the burgeoning muscle car category. Pontiac also saw tremendous success during the latter part of this decade with its Firebird and Firebird Trans Am.

The oil crisis of the '70s made fuel efficiency a priority for many car buyers. Following the lead of its GM siblings, Pontiac made compact vehicles like the Ventura and Phoenix a major part of its lineup. The '80s saw the launch of the two-seat Pontiac Fiero. Despite its modest beginnings (it was initially marketed as a "commuter car"), the Fiero eventually blossomed into a credible sports car.

The '90s saw the launch of Pontiacs like the Sunfire and Montana minivan. Pontiac has slowly lost sales due to changing tastes and a lack of differentiation between its models and those of other GM divisions. In hopes of recapturing past glory, the division embarked on a plan to retire aged models and introduce all-new ones with distinctive styling and personality. For a while, the effort seemed to be bearing fruit. New models like the Vibe, Solstice and G8 made Pontiac a brand to consider in many segments. However, GM's financial troubles in 2008 and 2009 have resulted in the company's decision to phase out Pontiac as a brand. It's expected 2010 will be Pontiac's last year for new models.

User Reviews:

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  Wouldnt Do It Again (continued) - 2000 Pontiac Montana
  By Father of 5 - September 20 - 3:13 am

  I made the decision to never buy a GM vehicle again in 2005. In that same year, my other vehicle was hit and we used the insurance money to buy a used 1992 Acura Vigor. That vehicle now has 250K miles on it and is just now starting to wear out. In the five years I’ve owned it, I’ve put 130K miles on it and never had to do anything but routine maintenance. In my view, it’s too bad that bankruptcy didn’t end in GM’s total elimination from the market. I’ve driven their cars for 25+ years, waiting for them to improve the quality of their product to something acceptable and it hasn’t happened. The cars they made back then had nothing but electrical problems and the same is still true

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  Wouldnt Do It Again (continued) - 2000 Pontiac Montana
  By Father of 5 - September 17 - 5:43 pm

  12. Rear taillight assembly/wiring replaced due to shorts 13. Rear wiper motor failed 14. Rear hatch dampers replaced 15. Rear hatch strap broke almost immediately 16. Rear automatic windows will not open 17. Radio display has not worked for years 18. Gas gauge reads only either full or empty – and incorrectly at that 19. Driver and passenger side power windows will roll down but not back up. GM wants $1,000 each for replacement motors (insane). I found them on the internet for $125 each as part of a window regulator kit. 20. AC fan hardly works. 21. Transmission has intermittently shifted hard for 5 years, but has not failed. 22. Gas tank cover door broken and will not close

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  Host of Problems - 2003 Pontiac Sunfire
  By Cher - September 16 - 7:20 pm

  We bought this car new from the dealer. Since then the headlights have gone out twice under warranty, then paid +$300 to get them fixed again, now the fog lights are out (issue is in a wiring harness that keeps corroding, and even if they replace the entire harness, the same issue will happen because the harness still is built the same way - with poor wires; GM states that it is not their issue, but if you research this, just about every one of them has this problem; sounds like it should be recalled and a completely new harness designed). The fuel pump will go out about every 50k-60k miles. Now the window will not roll down. Many calls to GMs product assist/complaint line go non-returned.

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  Wouldnt do It Again - 2000 Pontiac Montana
  By Father of 5 - September 14 - 7:30 am

  Well, for those of you who care, here is a rare opportunity to get some more feedback on this vehicle roughly 5 years after the original post. My Montana is now 10 years old and now has 176K miles on it. I think the repair track record (in addition to the normal stuff) speaks for itself: 1. Head gasket ~ $1,500 2. Failed water pump 3. Engine will intermittently rev high and only returns to normal after the engine is shut off and restarted. 4. Driver side sliding door literally fell off – failed weld on the main bearing assembly 5. Interior ceiling trim around driver side sliding door fell off. (Held on by double-sided sticky tape) 6. Passenger side sliding door motor failed closed

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  Buyer Beware! - 2006 Pontiac G6
  By Worst Car Ive Owned - September 6 - 10:00 am

  Ive had my 2006 Pontiac G6 for almost 5 years. Very disappointing and lots of maintenance issues beginning at 12,000 mi. Engine, electronic steering, wheel, and paint issues. Very cheap interior plastic parts that continue to break or pop off, condensation in headlight, and now CD player has quit working altogether. I take care of the cars I buy but this one has been non-stop repair bills.

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  Good-Bad and the Buggy - 1998 Pontiac Grand Prix
  By Jcteacher - August 17 - 10:00 am

  Okay car, HOWEVER, theres Too many window problems! Pontiac customer service problems. I recommend staying away from GM cars based on the window electric problems. ALL three automatic window motors-BROKE, fourth is going downhill! BLOWER MOTOR SWITCH GOING out and only 2 speeds left! Pontiac does not take responsibility for its defects. Dont drive long distances, seats are hard and it makes a sore butt. . L0L. . I will NEVER buy a Pontiac again. Shame on this company! I AM BUYING A HONDA!

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  Is this a joke? - 2009 Pontiac G3
  By HUMMER OWNER - August 10 - 1:40 pm

  So i have a new 09 Hummer and due to the deteriorating economy the dealership has the G3 as their loaner fleet. Not a big deal since I anly (cross my fingers) have to drive this thing for a few days... Honestly GM rebadging a DAEWOO is about as lame as watching TV without TiVo... how can you people say that you like this gocart with a straight face??? its slower than molasses in winter, about as much sind noise as a motorcycle doin 90 the AC is horrible the seats belong in a john boat, this thing reminds me of cheap toys made in china - when you buy them new do they come in a box with crappy assembly instructions and plastic tools??

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  piece of junk - 2001 Pontiac Grand Prix
  By jztoronto - July 24 - 1:01 am

  typical pontiac-looks great but the build quality is a joke. there should have been a recall on the rear window reg so we can raise and lower the window like a normal car. if you leave the problem eventually the window will fall out of the bracket and as you drive the window will roll down on its own not fun when its raining and you are on the highway. wipers are a joke never had a car with so many wiper issues. be prepared to replace bearings every two years and the abs light on ever car in america is on in this car. leaks oil, and the tranny is not a good design. radio light burned out, fuel reg is $500

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  Another Repair - 1996 Pontiac Grand AM
  By A. Motorist - July 21 - 2:00 am

  Car purchased new from dealer. Have replaced every power window motor at least once and two, twice, @ 2-400 each. Transmission is loud when shifting. Continued problems with gear shift and not being able to remove the key when vehicle is placed in park. Another $600 repair. Interior doesnt wear well. Air conditioner is unreliable at best. Every dealer gives a different story as to what it would take to repair. UNRELIABLE CAR. NEVER AGAIN

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  Watch your wallet - 1999 Pontiac Montana
  By marauder - June 13 - 11:40 pm

  We have replaced the following since purchasing new in 1999: head gasket at 75K followed by 3.4L V6 engine at 125K. Intake manifold gasket failure is the likely culprit. Not through yet. Engine trouble light continues to display with replacement engine. CD player quit working at 30K. Pontiac Customer Service offered no goodwill assistance. Total cost of major repairs so far = $6K. Driving excitement = zero.