1997 Chevrolet MONTE CARLO: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
89 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
89,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1997 model year. Data snapshot: . 28 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Steering:Rack And Pinion is the most frequently named component, appearing in 14 of 89 complaints (15.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 26 | 29.2% |
| Braking behavior | 22 | 24.7% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 5 | 5.6% |
| Engine operation | 4 | 4.5% |
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 2.2% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 2.2% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Steering:Rack And Pinion | 14 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 7 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 7 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 6 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 4 |
| Exterior Lighting:Brake Lights | 3 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly | 3 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 3 |
Steering:Rack And Pinion: 14; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 7; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 7; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 6; Air Bags:Frontal: 4; Exterior Lighting:Brake Lights: 3; Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly: 3; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 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 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 2 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 10 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 5 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 9 |
| 150,000 and above | 2 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 2; 50,000 to 74,999: 10; 75,000 to 99,999: 5; 100,000 to 149,999: 9; 150,000 and above: 2
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (10). 61 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 | 17 |
| 2001 | 14 |
| 2002 | 11 |
| 2003 | 15 |
| 2004 | 22 |
| 2005 | 2 |
| 2006 | 3 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 2 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2012 | 1 |
2000: 17; 2001: 14; 2002: 11; 2003: 15; 2004: 22; 2005: 2; 2006: 3; 2007: 1; 2008: 2; 2009: 1; 2012: 1
Pattern summary
Steering:Rack And Pinion leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 26 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 22 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 5 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10001397 · 2002-12-23 (December 23, 2002)
CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT THE FRONT BRAKES. ALSO STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE THE FRONT BRAKE ON THE DRIVERS SIDE BROKE. DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED AT THE TIME OF THIS CALL. TS
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10001397 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10001774 · 2002-12-31 (December 31, 2002)
CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT THE RACK AN PINION STEERING BROKE. ALSO STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE THE RACK AND PINION STEERING BROKE WHICH IT COMPLETELY LEFT THE CONSUMER WITH NO CONTROL OF THE STEERING. DEALER AND MANUFACTURE WERE CONTACTED AND HAVE A RECALL AND THAT THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. TS
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10001774 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10003502 · 2003-01-27 (January 27, 2003)
DURING A SNOW STORM I WAS IN A CAR ACCIDENT WHERE THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME ABRUPTLY STOPPED AND BECAUSE OF THE ROAD CONDITIONS I WAS UNABLE TO DECELERATE FAST ENOUGH AND I TRIED TO PULL TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD TO AVOID HITTING THE OTHER CAR BUT I STILL SLID INTO THE OTHER CAR AND THEN HIT A TREE. THERE WAS EXTENSIVE DAMAGE(APPROX $5,000) DONE TO THE FRONT END OF MY CAR AND MY AIR BAGS NEVER DEPLOYED.
Owner-reported narrative. 132,013 miles reported. Look up ODI 10003502 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10004278 · 2003-01-21 (January 21, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE THE FRONT BRAKE PAD BROKE. DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED AT THE TIME OF THIS CALL. PH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10004278 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10005402 · 2003-02-06 (February 6, 2003)
BLOWN MOTOR. WHEN CAR WAS TAKEN APART TO REMOVE ENGINE THE BOLTS ON THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WERE NOT TIGHT AND WERE REMOVED BY HAND, NO TOOLS NEEDED.
Owner-reported narrative. 68,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10005402 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10006272 · 2003-02-04 (February 4, 2003)
WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL WILL NOT ROTATE BACK TO STANDARD POSITION. THE WHEEL CONTINUES TO ROTATE AROUND IN A CIRCLE. PH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10006272 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10010887 · 2003-03-22 (March 22, 2003)
DOOR AND ELECTRICAL WINDOW . MY POWER WINDOW'S WILL NOT GO UP OR DOWN. THE CONTROL BUTTON WILL NOT EVEN MOVE. I SOMETIMES HAVE TO LIFT MY PASSENGER DOOR TO CLOSE IT. I ALSO HAVE PAINT CHIPPING OFF OF MY WIPER ASSEMBLY AND THE BODY OF MY CAR. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 75,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10010887 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10013572 · 2003-03-27 (March 27, 2003)
I AM A VICTIM OF A REAR-END MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENT. THE SEATS ARE DESIGNED TO LATCH WHEN THE VEHICLE'S BRAKES ARE SUDDENLY APPLIED AND/OR THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY COMES TO A STOP (AS PER THE OWNERS MANUAL). IN MY CASE, MY VEHICLE WAS ALREADY AT A STOP AND THEREFORE THE SEAT NEVER LATCHED. CONSEQUENTLY, THE SEAT CAME FORWARD AND THE HEAD REST STRUCK ME LIKE A TWO BY FOUR. MY INJURIES WERE MORE SEVERE BECAUSE OF THIS SECONDARY IMPACT FROM THE HEAD REST. MY HUSBAND HAS A 1996 CHEVROLET CHEYENNE PICK-UP TRUCK THAT HAS THE SAME SEAT DESIGN. IN ADD…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10013572 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
03V527000 · Steering:Rack And Pinion
Reported: 2003-12-11 (December 11, 2003)
CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES HAVE LOWER PINION BEARINGS IN THE POWER RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLY IN WHICH THE RETAINER TABS WERE NOT CRIMPED PROPERLY. THESE RETAINERS COULD FAIL AND PERMIT THE BALL BEARINGS TO ESCAPE.
Consequence: IF THIS OCCURS, THE PINION SHAFT CAN BE FORCED UPWARD DURING LEFT TURNS AND BACK DOWN AS THE STEERING WHEEL IS MOVED BACK AND TO THE RIGHT. IF THE PINION SHAFT MOVES FURTHER, THE DRIVER WILL NEED TO EXERT MORE EFFORT TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL, SIMILAR TO A VEHICLE WITHOUT POWER ASSISTED STEERING. IF THE PINION SHAFT MOVES EVEN FURTHER, THE DRIVER WILL REQUIRE MUCH HIGHER EFFORT TO TURN LEFT AND MAY NOT BE ABLE TO TURN THE WHEEL AS MUCH AS INTENDED. WITH THE MAXIMUM PINION SHAFT MOVEMENT, WHICH REQUIRES INTERNAL GEAR COMPONENT DAMAGE, THE DRIVER CAN ENCOUNTER HIGH RESISTANCE TO TURNING LEFT, FOLLOWED BY UNINTENDED POWER ASSIST TO THE RIGHT. IN ANY OF THESE CONDITIONS, A CRASH COULD OCCUR.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW LOWER PINION BEARING UNLESS INSPECT OF THE EXISTING BEARING INDICATES THAT REPLACEMENT OF THE GEAR ASSEMBLY IS NECESSARY. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 5, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT BUICK AT 1-866-608-8080; CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438; OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-630-6537; OR PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668.
NHTSA campaign record ↗