2002 Chevrolet MONTE CARLO problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
230 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
74,501 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2002 model year. Data snapshot: . 170 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 46 of 230 complaints (20.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 43 | 18.7% |
| Steering behavior | 26 | 11.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 21 | 9.1% |
| Engine operation | 13 | 5.7% |
| Transmission and shifting | 9 | 3.9% |
| Fuel system concerns | 4 | 1.7% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 46 |
| Engine | 38 |
| Exterior Lighting | 21 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor | 13 |
| Steering | 13 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 12 |
| Air Bags | 10 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 9 |
Electrical System: 46; Engine: 38; Exterior Lighting: 21; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor: 13; Steering: 13; Engine And Engine Cooling: 12; Air Bags: 10; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 9
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 21 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 35 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 29 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 28 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 36 |
| 150,000 and above | 21 |
Under 25,000: 21; 25,000 to 49,999: 35; 50,000 to 74,999: 29; 75,000 to 99,999: 28; 100,000 to 149,999: 36; 150,000 and above: 21
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (36). 60 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 |
|---|---|
| 2002 | 13 |
| 2003 | 23 |
| 2004 | 15 |
| 2005 | 11 |
| 2006 | 6 |
| 2007 | 14 |
| 2008 | 15 |
| 2009 | 21 |
| 2010 | 20 |
| 2011 | 4 |
| 2012 | 5 |
| 2013 | 6 |
| 2014 | 26 |
| 2015 | 17 |
| 2016 | 18 |
| 2017 | 8 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2019 | 3 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2021 | 2 |
| 2024 | 1 |
2002: 13; 2003: 23; 2004: 15; 2005: 11; 2006: 6; 2007: 14; 2008: 15; 2009: 21; 2010: 20; 2011: 4; 2012: 5; 2013: 6; 2014: 26; 2015: 17; 2016: 18; 2017: 8; 2018: 1; 2019: 3; 2020: 1; 2021: 2; 2024: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 43 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 26 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 21 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 10012444 · 2003-03-25 (March 25, 2003)
WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED, THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE VIBRATED EXTREMELY HARD. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 15,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10012444 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10012445 · 2003-03-25 (March 25, 2003)
WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED, THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE VIBRATED EXTREMELY HARD. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 15,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10012445 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10047222 · 2003-11-20 (November 20, 2003)
2002 MONTE CARLO : AT 29,000 MILES NEEDS ALL FRONT AND REAR BRAKE ROTORS RESURFACED DUE TO WARPING AND NEW BRAKE PADS. THIS WAS DESCRIBED TO US AS NORMAL AND NOT COVERED UNDER ANY WARRANTIES. VEHICLE IS DRIVEN MAJORITY OF TIME ON THE INTERSTATE HIGHWAY WHERE BRAKES ARE NOT NEEDED MUCH. IN ADDITION, WHEN TURNING A NOISE WAS HEARD/FELT IN STEERING WHEEL. G.M. DEALER SERVICE CENTER HAD TO REPLACE INNER STEERING SHAFT IN STEERING COLUMN? (THEIR DESCRIPTION) THIS WAS REPAIR UNDER WARRANTY. *LA
Owner-reported narrative. 29,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10047222 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10049086 · 2003-12-03 (December 3, 2003)
2002 MONTE CARLO SS WITH STEERING SAFETY PROBLEMS STEERING COLUMN REPLACED FRONT END REPLACED STILL UNSAFE AND IN SHOP. RECALL CENTER SHOWS NO RECALLS FOR STEERING COLUMN DEALER SAYS THERE IS AND THERE HAVE BEEN REPORTS OF CRACKED FRAMES BUT THESE ARE JUST WHAT THEY CALLED "TECH BULLETINS FROM OTHER DEALER" THERE WAS ALSO A RECALL ON A COOLANT PROBLEM NOT LISTED. 1-160465811 CHEVY COMPLAINT NUMBER. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 30,192 miles reported. Look up ODI 10049086 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10177422 · 2006-12-31 (December 31, 2006)
I PURCHASED A 2002 MONTE CARLO, AND WITHIN A YEAR THE LOW COOLANT LIGHT CAME ON, I TOOK IT BACK TO WHERE I PURCHASED IT AND THEY SAID IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM, AND I HAD NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT, BUT EACH TIME MY OIL WAS CHANGED THEY FILLED MY COOLANT, AND EVENTUALLY THE LIGHT WENT OUT, RECENTLY I HAVE HAD TO ADD COOLANT (DEX COOL) EVERY OTHER DAY, AND I WAS TOLD THAT MY INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET AS GONE OUT, AND AFTER SPEAKING WITH THREE OTHER MECHANICS THEY INFORMED ME THIS WAS COMMON WITH GM ENGINES OF MY YEAR, NOW I AM LOOKING TO SPEND SOMEW…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10177422 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10224633 · 2008-04-15 (April 15, 2008)
SEALED BEAM HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES GRADUAL INTERNAL MOISTURE BUILD-UP TILL CONDENSATION ON THE LENSES GET TRAPPED ON INSIDE SURFACE CAUSING DIFFUSING AND DIMINISHING FRONT HEADLIGHT TRANSMISSION. INTERNAL MOISTURE THAT BUILDS UP OVER TIME AND EXPOSURE TO RAIN CANNOT BE REMOVED. ADDS TO RISK OF CORROSION, ELECTRICAL SHORT, EXPLOSIVE PRESSURE BUILD-UP WHEN HEATED THROUGH USE AND TOTAL FAILURE OF HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES. ONLY REMEDY IS MODEL WIDE RECALL FOR SAFETY INSPECTION AND REPLACEMENT INCLUDING INSPECTION ADVISORY TO OWNER WARNING OF POTENTI…
Owner-reported narrative. 44,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10224633 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10088586 · 2004-08-25 (August 25, 2004)
OVER PAST 3 MONTHS VEHICLE WILL NOT CRANK. THREE OF THESE TIMES WERE AFTER STALLING. PROBLEM BEGAN APPROXIMATELY AROUND 1ST WEEK OF JUNE. DEALERSHIP HAS RUN 2 DIAGNOSTICS, NOTHING CAN BE FOUND, CANNOT FIND OR FIX THE PROBLEM. DEALERSHIP AND MANUFACTURER CUSTOMER SERVICE EVASIVE ABOUT TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10088586 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10141548 · 2005-11-02 (November 2, 2005)
DT: THE CONTACT WAS UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT SHE PURCHASED A BRAND NEW VEHICLE. SHE EXPERIENCED SEVERAL PROBLEMS SINCE THE PURCHASE OF THIS VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP THREE TIMES ,AND NO CORRECTIONS HAVE BEEN MADE. THE DEALER DISCOVERED THE ROTORS WERE BENT, AND BRAKES LEAK FLUID. THE VEHICLE STALLED, AND SHOOK TERRIBLY. THE AIR BAGS WERE FELL OUT OF THE DASHBOARD. THE SEAT BELTS ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE INTERMITTENTLY WORKED. THE DEALERSHIP INSISTED THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. SHE CONTACTED THE ATTO…
Owner-reported narrative. 10,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10141548 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10037176 · 2003-09-03 (September 3, 2003)
THESE ISSUES LISTED BELOW ARE TROUBLES I HAVE HAD WITH MY 2002 MONTE CARLO BOUGHT VEHICLE NEW 4/15/02 AND 21/02, FRONT BUMPER PAINT BEGAN TO PEEL. BUMPER REPAINTED./5/02 REAR SPEAKERS BEGIN TO CRACKLE AND QUIT WORKING. REPLACED./30/03 TOOK VEHICLE TO CHEVROLET GARAGE DUE TO VEHICLE PULSATING WHEN STOPPING AND THE CAR HAVING TROUBLE STARTING. FRONT AND REAR ROTORS FOUND WARPED AND RESURFACED. CARS FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR FOUND TO BE LEAKING DOWN AND WAS REPLACED. 8/21/03 CAR PULSATING AGAIN WHEN STOPPING. RETURNED VECHICLE TO CHEVY…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10037176 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10182677 · 2007-02-06 (February 6, 2007)
2002 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO WITH ABS AND SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT PROBLEMS AND CONCERNS**CC THE TRACTION LIGHT ILLUMINATED AS WELL. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED 2 MONTHS AFTER THE CONSUMER PURCHASED THE VEHICLE, BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WOULDN'T GO INTO 3RD GEAR. THE STEERING SHAFT WAS LUBRICATED. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THE EBCM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND WITHOUT THE REPLACEMENT, THE ABS WOULD NOT WORK SO THE TRACTION CONTROL AND ABS LIGHT WOULD REMAIN ON. THE WATER PUMP AND INTAKE GASKET WAS REPLACED DUE THEM LEAKING. THE FUEL INJECTOR WAS REP…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10182677 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10357096 · 2010-09-23 (September 23, 2010)
3 NEW FUEL PUMP RAILS INSTALLED FROM RECALL ( GAS GAUGE DOES NOT WORK). THE PROBLEM STILL OCCURS, THE GAUGE WORKS FOR A SMALL AMOUNT OF TIME AFTER NEW FUEL RAIL IS INSTALLED, THEN FAILS, LEAVING NO WAY TO CHECK THE AMOUNT OF FUEL LEFT IN THE TANK. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10357096 at NHTSA ↗