1999 Chevrolet MONTE CARLO problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
119 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
78,963 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1999 model year. Data snapshot: . 44 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip is the most frequently named component, appearing in 30 of 119 complaints (25.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 43 | 36.1% |
| Transmission and shifting | 3 | 2.5% |
| Engine operation | 3 | 2.5% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 1.7% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 0.8% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 0.8% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 30 |
| Engine | 9 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 8 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe | 7 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc | 7 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 6 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor | 6 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System | 5 |
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 30; Engine: 9; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 8; Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe: 7; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc: 7; Engine And Engine Cooling: 6; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor: 6; Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System: 5
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 2 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 6 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 10 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 15 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 5 |
| 150,000 and above | 6 |
Under 25,000: 2; 25,000 to 49,999: 6; 50,000 to 74,999: 10; 75,000 to 99,999: 15; 100,000 to 149,999: 5; 150,000 and above: 6
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (15). 75 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 16 |
| 2001 | 22 |
| 2002 | 19 |
| 2003 | 19 |
| 2004 | 16 |
| 2005 | 7 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2008 | 2 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 2 |
| 2014 | 2 |
| 2015 | 3 |
| 2016 | 6 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2019 | 2 |
2000: 16; 2001: 22; 2002: 19; 2003: 19; 2004: 16; 2005: 7; 2006: 1; 2008: 2; 2009: 1; 2010: 2; 2014: 2; 2015: 3; 2016: 6; 2018: 1; 2019: 2
Pattern summary
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 43 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 3 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 3 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10023276 · 2003-06-17 (June 17, 2003)
BRAKE PADS NEED TO BE REPLACED EVERY 3 TO 6 MONTHS. ROTORS WERE CUT AND THEN NEW ROTORS REPLACED. I LIVE IN A RURAL AREA NOT BUMPER-TO-BUMPER, CITY TRAFFIC. I ALSO DO NOT RIDE MY BRAKES. THERE SEEMS TO BE A MAJOR DEFECT IN THE MONTE CARLO BRAKE SYSTEM. I JUST HAD TO HAVE A NEW ALTERNATOR REPLACED ON MY 1999 MONTE CARLO. I AM VERY UNSATISFIED AND WILL DEFINITELY NOT BUY ANOTHER GM PRODUCT. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10023276 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10030937 · 2003-08-06 (August 6, 2003)
LEFT FRONT WHEEL HUB ASSEMBLY FAILURE, TIE ROD END & ELEC SENSORS ON LH AXLE THAT HELP OPERATE ABS (WHEEL SPEED SENSORS), TORQUE CONVERTER SLIPPAGE.: LEFT FRONT TIRE WAS NOT SECURE AND WOBBLED DURING DRIVING DUE TO FAULTY HUB ASSEMBLY; ABS WHEEL SPEED SENSOR CRACKED CAUSING ABS NOT TO WORK PROPERLY; TRANSMISSION SLIPS OUT OF OVERDRIVE UNDER NORMAL HIGHWAY DRIVING SPEEDS WHEN GEARSHIFT IS IN THE "OD" POSITION; CAR STARTS OFF IN WHAT APPEARS TO BE TOO HIGH OF A GEAR MAKING IT VERY SLUGGISH TO MOVE-DANGER TO PULL INTO TRAFFIC WITH THIS. LOCAL GM …
Owner-reported narrative. 54,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10030937 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10045581 · 2003-11-06 (November 6, 2003)
CODE 1811 TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT 54,000 MILES .*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 54,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10045581 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10032252 · 2003-08-06 (August 6, 2003)
CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AND WITH NO WARNING VEHICLE WILL STALL, AND IT WILL BE HARD FOR THE CONSUMER TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10032252 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10055801 · 2004-03-11 (March 11, 2004)
THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED AND STALLED DUE TO THE MANIFOLD LEAKING COOLANT INTO THE ENGINE. THE MANIFOLD WAS REPLACED. *NM MECHANIC SAID THAT THE OVERHEATING OF ENGINE IS ALMOST A MILE AWAY FROM A FIRE. *LA
Owner-reported narrative. 75,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10055801 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10056112 · 2004-02-26 (February 26, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING THE FRONT RACK AND PINION SNAPPED. THIS CAUSED THE STEERING WHEEL TO LOCK UP AND RESULTED IN THE DRIVER LOSING STEERING CONTROL. *AK THE CAP ON THE WORM GEAR WAS WORN AND CAUSED THE WORM GEAR TO MOVE WHICH IN TURN CAUSED THE BEARING TO FALL OUT. THESE FAILURES CAUSED THE RACK TO LOCK UP. A RECALL WAS ISSUED FOR THIS FAILURE BUT THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 80,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10056112 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10577575 · 2014-04-05 (April 5, 2014)
I WOULD BE DRIVING DOWN A ROAD AND SUDDENLY THE ENGINE WOULD DIE. I WOULD IMMEDEIATELY HAVE NO POWER STEERING NOR POWER BRAKES. THIS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES. I HAVE NOW STOPPED DRIVING THE CAR. NO CODES WOULD SHOW. MY MECHANIC CANNOT FIND ANYTHING. WHEN I TAKE IT TO HIM, IT DID NOT ACT UP. IT IS INTERMITTENT. SOMETIMES IT WOULD START RIGHT BACK UP. OTHER TIMES IT WOULD TAKE HOURS OR MANY HOURS BEFORE IT WOULD FINALLY RESTART. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 125,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10577575 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10585556 · 2014-04-29 (April 29, 2014)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE FAILED TO START AFTER NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR WAS REPLACED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE WAS EXPERIENCED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS AND HEADLIGHTS FAILED TO OPERATE AFTER THE BULBS WERE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89,300. UPDATED 06/10/14*LJ
Owner-reported narrative. 89,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10585556 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10908112 · 2016-09-20 (September 20, 2016)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO. AFTER REFUELING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED FUEL LEAKING UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE POWER WINDOWS AND THE AIR CONDITIONER FAILED TO FUNCTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL TANK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND THE AIR CONDITIONING UNIT NEEDED TO BE RECHARGED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE WITH THE AIR CONDITIONER RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILE…
Owner-reported narrative. 80,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10908112 at NHTSA ↗