1998 Chevrolet MONTE CARLO: complaints, problems and recalls

CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT THE FRONT BRAKE PAD. ALSO STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND TRIED TO BRAKE THE BRAKES DID NOT RESPOND. DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THE BRAKES WERE DEFECTIVE AND HAVE REPLACED FRONT BRAKES AND ROTORS. TS

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10001398 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER TRIED TO BRAKE, BUT HER BRAKES DID NOT WORK. SHE REALIZED THAT HER FRONT BRAKE PADS WAS GONE. DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND CHANGED THE BRAKE PADS & ROTORS. PH

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10004277 at NHTSA ↗

VEHICLE SPORADICALLY HESITATES ON ACCELERATION. DOES NOT MATTER IF ENGINE IS COLD OR WARM. SYMPTOMS ALSO HAPPEN AT SPEED AND IT FEELS LIKE THE ENGINE IS NOT RECEIVING ENOUGH GASOLINE TO OPERATE AT SPEED. ENGINE HAS SHUT OFF BY ITSELF AT IDLE IN GEAR TWO TIMES. COMPUTER HAS NOT SET ANY CODES. PLUGS AND WIRES REPLACED. NO HELP WITH THE PROBLEM. ENGINE WILL USUALLY TURN TO NORMAL WITHIN 15 TO 20 SECONDS OF EPISODE. DURING EPISODE PRESSURE ON GAS PEDAL DOES NOT RESULT IN ACCELERATION. MECHANIC RELUCTANT TO REPLACE COMPONENTS (I.E TPS, EGR, ETC.) …

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10007122 at NHTSA ↗

RACK AND PINION WAS DEEMED FAULTY BY MY CERTIFIED MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE HAS ONLY 55,000 MILES ON IT.*JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10008158 at NHTSA ↗

ON JUNE 1, 2000 I WAS GOING TO WORK, WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY I REALIZED I WAS GOING A LITTLE FASTER THAN THE SPEED LIMIT AND PRESSED THE BRAKES. AT THAT POINT IN TIME MY 1998 MONTE CARLO LS VEERED TO THE LEFT AND I HAD NO CONTROL. THE CAR WENT THROUGH THE MEDIAN TO ONCOMING TRAFFIC BEFORE I REGAINED CONTROL. THE MARKS ON THE ROAD WERE FELT TO SHOW THAT MY BRAKE SYSTEM HAD LOCKED UP. (I DO HAVE THE POLICE REPORT AND PICTURES OF THE SCENE). *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 40,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10016988 at NHTSA ↗

THE VEHICLE LEAKED COOLANT DUE TO THE FAULTY MANIFOLD GASKET. *NLM

Owner-reported narrative. 46,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10019990 at NHTSA ↗

PROBLEMS WITH HEAVY ENGINE KNOCKING, CRANKSHAFT SENSOR, OIL CONSUMPTION, OIL PAN GASKET...ETC. *MR

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10037999 at NHTSA ↗

METAL BRACKET HOLDING DRIVERS SEAT SNAPPED CAUSING DRIVER AND SEAT TO FALL BACKWARDS WHILE DRIVING. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 98,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10038837 at NHTSA ↗

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.

Reported: 2009-04-08 (April 8, 2009)

GENERAL MOTORS IS RECALLING 1,497,516 MY 1997-2003 BUICK REGAL, MY 1998-2003 CHEVROLET LUMINA, MONTE CARLO AND IMPALA, MY 1998-1999 OLDSMOBILE INTRIGUE, MY 1997-2003 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A 3.8L V6 NATURALLY ASPIRATED ENGINE. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE A CONDITION IN WHICH DROPS OF ENGINE OIL MAY BE DEPOSITED ON THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD THROUGH HARD BRAKING.

Consequence: IF THE MANIFOLD IS HOT ENOUGH AND THE OIL RUNS BELOW THE HEAT SHIELD, IT MAY IGNITE INTO A SMALL FLAME AND MAY SPREAD TO THE PLASTIC SPARK PLUG WIRE CHANNEL AND BEYOND INCREASING THE RISK OF AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ENGINE’S FRONT VALVE COVER AND FRONT-VALVE-COVER GASKET WITH NEW PARTS OF AN IMPROVED DESIGN AND REMOVE THE ENGINE’S PLASTIC COVER AND PLASTIC OIL-FILL-TUBE EXTENSION, FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING MAY 2016. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-630-6537, AND PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668 OR HTTP://WWW.PONTIAC.COM OR HTTP:WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM.

Reported: 2015-10-26 (October 26, 2015)

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 1998-1999 Chevrolet Lumina and Oldsmobile Intrigue, 1997-2004 Buick Regal and Pontiac Grand Prix, 2000-2004 Chevrolet Impala, and 1998-2004 Chevrolet Monte Carlo vehicles. The affected vehicles were previously repaired under recalls 08V-118, 09V-116, and 15V-201 to address the possibility that engine oil may drip onto the hot exhaust manifold.

Consequence: Engine oil that drips onto the hot surface of the exhaust manifold may result in a fire.

Remedy: The remedy applied under recalls 08V-118, 09V-116, and 15V-201 did not adequately remove the safety risk. Under the improved remedy, dealers will replace the engine’s front valve cover and gasket. Vehicles that are covered by recalls 08V-118, 09V-116, or 15V-201 that have not yet received the original remedy will instead receive the improved remedy under the original recall number. The recall began on February 19, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Oldsmobile customer service at 1-800-442-6537 and Pontiac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is 15757. Note: Until the improved remedy has been applied, owners are advised to park their vehicle outside since the fire risk exists even when the vehicle is unattended.