# 1999 PONTIAC MONTANA — STRUCTURE:BODY:TAILGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
> NHTSA complaint `486602` · 2004-07-26 · General Motors, LLC
## Severity
- **Deaths:** 0
- **Injured:** 1
- **Fire:** No
- **Crash:** No
- **Police report:** No
- **Medical attention:** No
- **Vehicle towed:** No
## Vehicle
- **Make:** PONTIAC
- **Model:** MONTANA
- **Year:** 1999
- **Manufacturer:** General Motors, LLC
- **Component:** STRUCTURE:BODY:TAILGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
## Narrative
DURING A ROUTINE UNLOADING OF GROCERIES FROM MY REAR LIFT DOOR THE LEFT SIDE HANDLE SUPPORT SNAPPED OFF AS I WAS PULLING IT DOWN TO CLOSE IT SHUT.THIS HANDLE IS LOCATED ON THE REAR DOOR OF THE PONTIAC MONTANA. APPARENTLY THE CHEAP PLASTIC BASE COULD NOT SUPPORT MY NORMAL PULLING EFFORT TO SHUT THE REAR LIFT DOOR. MY EFFORT TO PULL DOWNWARD AND THE SUBSEQUENT BREAKAGE OF THE DOOR HANDLE PLASTIC BASE SUPPORT CAUSED A SMALL ABRASIVE CUT ON MY RIGHT HAND KNUCKLE. I DO NOT ABUSE MY VEHICLE. THIS WAS A NORMAL MOTION A VEHICLE OWNER WOULD TAKE IN ORDER TO ATTEMPT TO CLOSE THE REAR LIFTGATE ON A MINIVAN. THE PLASTIC HANDLE SUPPORT PART WAS OBVIOUSLY MADE OF POOR MATERIALS.  *AK
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*Source: [NHTSA ODI](https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/downloads/) · AI Analytics · CC0 1.0*