2005 Chevrolet MONTE CARLO problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
120 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
65,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2005 model year. Data snapshot: . 94 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 56 of 120 complaints (46.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 10 | 8.3% |
| Braking behavior | 9 | 7.5% |
| Transmission and shifting | 6 | 5.0% |
| Steering behavior | 5 | 4.2% |
| Fuel system concerns | 3 | 2.5% |
| Engine operation | 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 |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 56 |
| Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel | 32 |
| Exterior Lighting | 13 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 5 |
| Engine | 4 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 4 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 4 |
| Air Bags | 3 |
Electrical System: 56; Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel: 32; Exterior Lighting: 13; Vehicle Speed Control: 5; Engine: 4; Fuel System, Gasoline: 4; Fuel/Propulsion System: 4; Air Bags: 3
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 4 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 26 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 25 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 23 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 10 |
| 150,000 and above | 6 |
Under 25,000: 4; 25,000 to 49,999: 26; 50,000 to 74,999: 25; 75,000 to 99,999: 23; 100,000 to 149,999: 10; 150,000 and above: 6
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (26). 26 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 |
|---|---|
| 2006 | 4 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 16 |
| 2009 | 24 |
| 2010 | 22 |
| 2011 | 9 |
| 2012 | 6 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 15 |
| 2015 | 9 |
| 2016 | 6 |
| 2017 | 3 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2019 | 2 |
| 2024 | 1 |
2006: 4; 2007: 1; 2008: 16; 2009: 24; 2010: 22; 2011: 9; 2012: 6; 2013: 1; 2014: 15; 2015: 9; 2016: 6; 2017: 3; 2018: 1; 2019: 2; 2024: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 10 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 9 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 6 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 10228679 · 2008-05-22 (May 22, 2008)
THE TRACTION OFF AND ABS WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON, AS WELL AS A SERVICE MESSAGE STATING TO SERVICE THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM. AFTER DEALER INSPECTION THE NOTED THAT ONE OF THE HUB BEARINGS CAUSED SOME KIND OF DAMAGE TO THE WIRING/SENSORS. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 30,298 miles reported. Look up ODI 10228679 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10407649 · 2011-06-20 (June 20, 2011)
HEATER BLOWER MOTOR FIRE'S ON 2005 CHEVY MONTE CARLO LS, REPLACED TWICE !!! FIRE BOTH TIMES. THE FIRST TIME WAS PROBABLY AROUND 18,000 MILES OR SO. THEN THE SECOND TIME WAS AROUND 27,000 MILES OR SO. (I WOULD HAVE TO FIND MY RECIEPTS TO VERIFY EXACTLY). BUT, BOTH TIMES THE CAR'S BLOWER MOTOR WAS ON FIRE !!! ALOT OF SMOKE, THICK ELECTRICAL BURNING SMELL. A MAN CAME OVER TO HELP ME (AS I AM HANDICAPPED BY POLIO, AND COULD NOT GET OUT OF MY CAR MYSELF), AFTER IT HAD BEEN BURNING FOR ABOUT 1/2 HOUR , THE MAN POURED WATER INTO THE FI…
Owner-reported narrative. 16,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10407649 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10172091 · 2006-10-29 (October 29, 2006)
ABS/TRACTION LIGHT GOES ON AND THEN OFF. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 30,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10172091 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10247531 · 2008-11-03 (November 3, 2008)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF AND WOULD NOT RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVING ABNORMALLY AND THE TRANSMISSION DID NOT SHIFT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS COLD. THE BRAIN, PCM, WHEEL BEARINGS, AND IC SHAFT WERE REPLACED. ALSO, ON ONE OCCASION WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR LIGHTS DIMMED AND THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE SHUT OFF AND RESTARTED IN ORDER FOR THE LIGHTS TO ILLUMINATE AGAIN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 40,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 34,800.
Owner-reported narrative. 34,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10247531 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10250592 · 2008-12-03 (December 3, 2008)
PURCHASED A 2005 MONTE CARLO ON SEPT 22ND FROM MITSUBISHI MOTORS AT 90160 HICKMAN RD DES MOINES, IA, 50325. IT WAS WITH IN A FEW DAYS (APPROXIMATELY FRIDAY SEPT 26TH) THAT THE SPEEDOMETER STUCK AT ZERO AND DID NOT MOVE UNTIL THE CAR WAS SHUT OFF. THE CAR ALSO WAS SHIFTING HARD AND MAKING A NOISE CALLED MITSUBISHI AND TOOK THE CAR INTO BE LOOKED AT. I ONLY TOLD THE SERVICE PERSON ABOUT THE SHIFTING NOISE BUT TOLD THE TECH ABOUT THE SPEEDOMETER STICKING AT ZERO. THE SERVICE PEOPLE SAYS THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR THAT IT IS SUPPOSED T…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10250592 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10241111 · 2008-09-05 (September 5, 2008)
LOUD CLUNKING NOISE WHEN TURNING / VIBRATION OR THUMP FEELING IN STEERING WHEEL AND FRONT END OF CAR. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10241111 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10573861 · 2014-03-20 (March 20, 2014)
THE STEERING PROBLEM WAS FROM THE BEGINNING WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR USED WITH 19,000 MILES.. VERY TIGHT STEERING, WAS IN WARRANTY AT THE TIME AND HAD IT SERVICED. HOWEVER, ALL THEY SAID WAS IT WAS ADJUSTED. *TR THIS WAS THE SPRING OF 2006. STEERING AT THIS TIME IS STILL VERY TIGHT, AND IT IS REAL BAD IN SUMMER MONTHS. THE CAR NOW HAS 39,000 APPROX. IF MY CAR WAS RECALLED BECAUSE OF THIS, I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED THE SPEEDOMETER AFTER THE CAR WARMS UP, BEGINS TO STOP WORKING. USUALLY AFTER STOPPING AT A LIGHT, I WOULD NOTICE THE SPEEDOMET…
Owner-reported narrative. 30,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10573861 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10310027 · 2010-02-12 (February 12, 2010)
ALL OF THE GAUGES ON MY INSTRUMENT CLUSTER PANEL ARE WORKING IMPROPERLY. THE SPEEDOMETER IS OVER 140 MPH, THE FUEL GAGE SOMETIMES READS E EVEN WHEN THERE IS A FUEL TANK OF GAS IN THE CAR. THE VOLT WILL SET AT 8 (THE LOWEST POINT) AND AFTER DRIVING THE CAR FOR AN HOUR OR SO WILL FINALLY MOVE TO ABOVE THE MIDDLE POINT. THE GAGE INDICATORS VARY FROM DAY TO DAY AND IT IS VERY STRESSFUL BECAUSE THE INDICATORS THAT ARE SUPPOSE TO ASSIST ME WHILE DRIVING ARE NOT WORKING AND FEEL THAT IT IS MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE FOR MYSELF AND OTHERS TO BE OUT ON THE R…
Owner-reported narrative. 60,012 miles reported. Look up ODI 10310027 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10462492 · 2012-06-21 (June 21, 2012)
A YR. AFT. I BOUGHT MY 2005 MONTE CARLO, THINGS BEGAN GOING WRONG WITH IT. FIRST 2 THINGS TO GO:THE CRUISE CONTROL & RE-WINDOW DEFROSTER. THE NEXT YR, WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT ON THE INTERSTATE, I SWITCHED MY LIGHTS TO BRIGHTS & WITHIN SECONDS I HAD NO LIGHTS AT ALL! THIS COULD OF CAUSED A VERY BAD ACCIDENT, I WAS ABLE TO QUICKLY SWITCH THE LIGHTS BACK TO DIM & LUCKILY THEY CAME BACK ON. SINCE THEN, I NO LONGER USE THE BRIGHT LIGHTS, FOR FEAR OF MY LIGHTS NOT COMING BACK ON. THEN IT SEEMED LIKE EVERYTHING WENT HAYWIRE AFTER THAT, ODOMETER SHOWED…
Owner-reported narrative. 70,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10462492 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10703575 · 2015-04-03 (April 3, 2015)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTICE OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG, BRAKES, BATTERY AND CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED WHILE THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 166,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 166,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10703575 at NHTSA ↗