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U.S. public vehicle records

Chevrolet MONTE CARLO problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

1,875 owner complaints analyzed

44 distinct recall campaigns

70,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 1970 to 2010 model years. Data snapshot: . 1,117 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 378 of 1,875 complaints (20.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior30816.4%
Steering behavior22311.9%
Electrical and battery issues1729.2%
Transmission and shifting1035.5%
Engine operation945.0%
Fuel system concerns311.7%

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.

Electrical System
378
Engine
197
Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel
100
Steering
100
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
90
Engine And Engine Cooling
86
Air Bags
70
Exterior Lighting
67
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Electrical System378
Engine197
Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel100
Steering100
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip90
Engine And Engine Cooling86
Air Bags70
Exterior Lighting67

Electrical System: 378; Engine: 197; Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel: 100; Steering: 100; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 90; Engine And Engine Cooling: 86; Air Bags: 70; Exterior Lighting: 67

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
130
25,000 to 49,999
236
50,000 to 74,999
221
75,000 to 99,999
191
100,000 to 149,999
220
150,000 and above
119
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,000130
25,000 to 49,999236
50,000 to 74,999221
75,000 to 99,999191
100,000 to 149,999220
150,000 and above119

Under 25,000: 130; 25,000 to 49,999: 236; 50,000 to 74,999: 221; 75,000 to 99,999: 191; 100,000 to 149,999: 220; 150,000 and above: 119

25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (236). 758 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.

1995
27
1996
30
2000
111
2001
100
2002
118
2003
147
2004
147
2005
73
2006
60
2007
58
2008
121
2009
139
2010
121
2011
60
2012
48
2013
35
2014
170
2015
101
2016
112
2017
33
2018
18
2019
20
2020
9
2021
6
2022
3
2023
2
2024
4
2025
1
2026
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
199527
199630
2000111
2001100
2002118
2003147
2004147
200573
200660
200758
2008121
2009139
2010121
201160
201248
201335
2014170
2015101
2016112
201733
201818
201920
20209
20216
20223
20232
20244
20251
20261

1995: 27; 1996: 30; 2000: 111; 2001: 100; 2002: 118; 2003: 147; 2004: 147; 2005: 73; 2006: 60; 2007: 58; 2008: 121; 2009: 139; 2010: 121; 2011: 60; 2012: 48; 2013: 35; 2014: 170; 2015: 101; 2016: 112; 2017: 33; 2018: 18; 2019: 20; 2020: 9; 2021: 6; 2022: 3; 2023: 2; 2024: 4; 2025: 1; 2026: 1

Pattern summary

Electrical System leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 308 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 223 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 172 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 972575 · 1995-09-27 (September 27, 1995)

EMERGENCY BRAKE CABLES ARE RUBBING ON REAR CHASSIS AND ARE RUBBING OUT METAL CABLES, CUTTING INTO CABLES; EVENTUALLY CABLE WILL BREAK. TT

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 972575 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10057818 · 2004-02-10 (February 10, 2004)

THE CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKE PEDAL WHILE EXITING THE TURNPIKE. THE BRAKE LIGHT ON THE DASH SUDDENLY ILLUMINATED AND THE BRAKES BECAME INOPERATIVE. AS A RESULT THE VEHICLE STRUCK A MEDIAN BARRIER AT A TOLLBOOTH. TWO DAYS PRIOR TO THIS ACCIDENT THE CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE'S MASTER CYLINDER AND BRAKE LINES REPLACED (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT). *PH *NM

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10057818 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 489921 · 1995-05-01 (May 1, 1995)

LOOSE STEERING WHEEL. *SKD

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 489921 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10057813 · 2004-02-10 (February 10, 2004)

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE LOST POWER STEERING, MAKING IT HARD TO STEER THE VEHICLE. RECALL 00V311002 WAS ISSUED. HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 113,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10057813 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 863874 · 2000-06-20 (June 20, 2000)

CONSUME RWAS TRAVELING ABOUT 30MPH AND BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON/HEADLIGHTS WENT DIM, AND CAR COMPLETELY WENT OUT. VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED. DEALERSHIP MECHANIC TOLD CONSUMER THAT THE BATTERY WAS LEAKING ACID OUT OF THE POSITIVE POST.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 863874 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 882155 · 2001-03-05 (March 5, 2001)

DRIVER SEAT IS ROCKING BACK AND FORTH FROM SEAT ANCHOR WHILE DRIVING. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. *AK THE VEHICLE HAD ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKE LIGHTS. THE VEHICLE WAS ALSO INVOLVED IN ACCIDENT AND A PASSENGER WAS INJURED AS A RESULT OF THIS. *YH

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 882155 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10029221 · 2003-07-25 (July 25, 2003)

TRANSMISSION FAILLED AT 119461 REVERSE REACTION DRUM OUT LIKE ALOT OF THESE MODELS THIS YEAR COST1945 TO REPAIR. THEN, AT 127892 THE PARK NEUTRAL SWITCH OUT/ ANTI LOCK LIGHT STAYS ON ,TURN SIGNAL SWITCH DOESN'T WORK , AIR CONDITIONER DOESN'T WORK, FRONT ROTORS ON CAR HAVE TO BE SPECIAL ORDERED BECAUSE HUBS MACHINED SHORT, AND CHEVROLET HAS NO RECALLS ON ANY OF IT. LOTS OF PEOPLE HAVE PROBLEMS WITH TRANSMISSION, AND SOME OF THE OTHERS TO GUESS WE WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER GENRAL MOTORS VEHICLE, AND RECOMEND THAT THEY WOULDN'T NEITHER.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. 119,461 miles reported. Look up ODI 10029221 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 501923 · 1996-02-24 (February 24, 1996)

TRANSMISSION LEAKS. *SD

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 501923 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 501258 · 1996-01-18 (January 18, 1996)

ENGINE STALLS. *DSH

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 501258 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 967458 · 1995-06-21 (June 21, 1995)

CAME TO A STOP DEPRESSED GAS PEDAL VEHICLE STALLED. COULD HAVE RESULTED IN REAR END COLLISION. TT

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 967458 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 969786 · 1995-08-03 (August 3, 1995)

THERE IS PRESSURE IN THE GAS TANK . TT

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 969786 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 856460 · 2000-02-08 (February 8, 2000)

FUEL TANK RUSTED FROM THE OUTSIDE THROUGH THE INSIDE WHICH CAUSED A FUEL LEAK. THIS COULD RESULT IN A CRASH. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 856460 at NHTSA ↗

Compare model years

Recalls by model year

All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.

Recall campaigns

Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.

1995
3
1996
1
1997
1
1998
3
1999
3
2000
5
2001
5
2002
4
2003
6
2004
4
2005
1
2006
1
2007
1
2008
0
2010
0
Recall campaigns data
CategoryCount
19953
19961
19971
19983
19993
20005
20015
20024
20036
20044
20051
20061
20071
20080
20100

1995: 3; 1996: 1; 1997: 1; 1998: 3; 1999: 3; 2000: 5; 2001: 5; 2002: 4; 2003: 6; 2004: 4; 2005: 1; 2006: 1; 2007: 1; 2008: 0; 2010: 0

Year-by-year records

Chevrolet MONTE CARLO model-year comparison
Model yearComplaintsRecallsChange in recalls
197001Not available
197301Not available
197412+1
197501-1
197603+2
197702-1
197807+5
197904-3
198003-1
198101-2
1982110
1983010
198422+1
198540-2
198632+2
198721-1
198810-1
199001Not available
1991110
1995953Not available
1996771-2
19978910
1998743+2
199911930
20002335+2
200127650
20022304-1
20031586+2
20042304-2
20051201-3
200611310
20074210
200820-1
201020Not available