2004 Chevrolet MONTE CARLO: complaints, problems and recalls

RECALL NOTICE CONCERNING BOLTS THAT ATTACHES THE BRAKE CALIPER TO THE STEERING KNUCKLE BEING LOOSE. *MR THE DEALER DID NOT HAVE THE SPECIFIC SEALANT THAT THE RECALL REQUIRED. *SC *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10089712 at NHTSA ↗

BRAKE PEDAL FELT MUSHY, PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR WHEN APPLIED. *BF THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO INDICATED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS NORMAL. *NM

Owner-reported narrative. 16,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10097359 at NHTSA ↗

BAD BRAKES ON 2004 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO, THE PEDAL WAS NOT FIRM, IT WOULD NOT STOP THE CAR, BUT CONTUED PRESSURE AND PEDAL WOULD GO TO THE FLOOR. THE DEALER SAID IT WAS NORMAL. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10098294 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH VEHICLE SHIMMIED. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 51,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10101675 at NHTSA ↗

AT 2700 MILES IT BLEW THE ENGINE. REPLACED ENGINE AND DROVE HOME, WHOLE FRONT STARTED ON FIRE. *BF THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THE FIRE WAS FROM A GAS LEAK IN THE PIPE. THE CONSUMER FELT THAT THE FAULT WAS DUE TO GREEN CHEVY MECHANICS. PER INVOICE: THE ENGINE LIGHT HAD COME ON, FOUND CODES FOR ENGINE MISFIRE, CYLINDER #3, KNOCK SENSOR MELTED, PERFORMED COMPRESSION TEST, CYLINDER #3 SHOWED ZERO COMPRESSION, REMOVED #3 SPARK PLUGS, ELECTRODE WAS GONE, REMOVED THE ENGINE, DISASSEMBLED THE ENGINE DOWN TO THE PISTONS, HOLES WERE PRESENT I…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10103236 at NHTSA ↗

CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES FOR VIBRATION. VEHICLE VIBRATED MORE WHEN THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS ON. DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. 5,100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10103586 at NHTSA ↗

WARPED DASHBOARD IN MY 2004 MONTE CARLO, RADIO FACE ALSO GETS BLISTERING HOT, TRUNK LID OPEN APPEARS ALL THE TIME ON DASH, TOO K TO DEALER, TRUNK LID FIXED NEW DASH INSTALLED 3 DAYS LATER DASH WARPED WORSE THAN BEFORE AND BOTH SIDE PILLARS NOW CRACKED, BRAKES STILL NOISY AND PEDAL TO THE FLOOR, DEALER STATES NORMAL. SCHEDULING FOR MY SECOND DASHBOARD, AND STILL NO ANSWERS ON WHY YOU CANT TOUCH THE RADIO. *NM

Owner-reported narrative. 3,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10104740 at NHTSA ↗

BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR, CAR WOULD NOT STOP. NO WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON. NOISE FROM FRONT RIGHT BRAKES WHEN GOING FORWARD OR IN REVERSE. PEDAL TO FLOOR HAPPENED IN GOOD DRY WEATHER ON BOTH OCCASIONS. ABS WAS NOT ACTIVE AT TIME OF INCIDENT. TOOK CAR TO DEALER AND WAS REPAIRED AT NO COST TO ME,CAR IS UNDER WARRANTY AND DEALER GAVE ME A LOANER FOR THE DAY. DEALER STATED THAT "BRAKE CALIPER WAS SEIZED TO PADS".THEY CLEANED AND LUBED "CALIPER SLIDERS". DEALER WAS VERY COOPERATIVE I HAVE NO COMPLAINTS WITH THE DEALER, THEY WERE EXCELLENT. I BOUGH…

Owner-reported narrative. 16,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10105969 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2004-06-23 (June 23, 2004)

CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES WERE PRODUCED WITH LOWER THAN SPECIFIED TORQUE ON BOTH FRONT BRAKE CALIPER TO STEERING KNUCKLE ATTACHMENT BOLTS. WITH IMPROPER TORQUE, THE CLAMP LOAD AT THE JOINT MAY NOT BE ADEQUATE TO PREVENT MOVEMENT BETWEEN THE CALIPER BRACKET AND KNUCKLE.

Consequence: DEPENDING ON WHETHER ONE OR BOTH BOLTS BACKS OUT OR FRACTURES, THE RESULT CAN BE LOCKING OF THE AFFECTED WHEEL DURING BRAKING AND AN ABRUPT STEERING INPUT IN THE DIRECTION OF THE LOCKED WHEEL, REDUCED BRAKING AND NOISE FROM THE AFFECTED WHEEL, OR SEVERING OF A BRAKE HOSE, INCREASED BRAKE PEDAL TRAVEL, AND REDUCED STEERING CONTROL. REDUCED BRAKING OR STEERING CONTROL COULD CAUSE A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS ARE TO TIGHTEN BOTH BOLTS TO THE SPECIFIED TORQUE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON JUNE 28, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET 1-800-630-2438 OR PONTIAC 1-800-620-7668.

Reported: 2014-07-03 (July 3, 2014)

This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. Until this recall is performed, customers should remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the ignition key. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring. General Motors LLC (GM) notified the agency on July 3, 2014, that they are recalling 5,877,718 model year 2000-2005 Chevrolet Impala and Monte Carlo, 1997-2003 Chevrolet Malibu, 2004-2005 Malibu Classic, 1999-2004 Oldsmobile Alero, 1998-2002 Oldsmobile Intrigue, 1999-2005 Pontiac Grand Am and 2004-2008 Pontiac Grand Prix vehicles. In these models, the weight on the key ring and/or road conditions or some other jarring event may cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position, turning off the engine.

Consequence: If the key is not in the run position, the air bags may not deploy if the vehicle is involved in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will install two key rings and an insert in the key slot or a cover over the key head on all ignition keys, free of charge. The recall began on September 9, 2014. GM's number for this recall is 14350.

Reported: 2015-04-06 (April 6, 2015)

General Motors LLC (GM) notified the agency on April 2, 2015, that they are is recalling certain model year 2004 Buick Regal vehicles manufactured April 9, 2003, to June 1, 2003, 2004 Chevrolet Impala vehicles manufactured April 8, 2003, to June 23, 2003, and 2004 Chevrolet Monte Carlo vehicles manufactured April 7, 2003, to June 23, 2003. On May 18, 2015, GM expanded the recall to cover an additional 49,751 2004 Pontiac Grand Prix vehicles manufactured January 6, 2003, to June 25, 2004. In the affected vehicles, the valve cover gasket may leak.

Consequence: The leaking engine oil can drip onto the hot surface of the exhaust manifold, increasing the risk of a fire.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will remove the plastic cover and plastic oil fill tube extension and replace the front valve cover and gasket. These repairs will be done free of charge. The recall began on April 24, 2015. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Pontiac customer service at 1-800-762-2737 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 14574.

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.