2005 Chevrolet MONTE CARLO: complaints, problems and recalls
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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10150369 · 2006-02-15 (February 15, 2006)
I HAVE A 2005 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO, SUPERCHARGED SS, [XXX] SIGNATURE SERIES. THE VEHICLE HAS ACTIVE ONSTAR, XM RADIO, SUN ROOF AND THE REST OF THE BELLS AND WHISTLES CONNECTED WITH THE VEHICLE. THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE XM RADIO AND ONSTAR SYSTEM. THE ANTENNA FOR ALL THE RADIO SYSTEMS ARE LOCATED ON THE REAR ROOF, BEHIND THE SUN ROOF. THE PROBLEM OCCURS WHENEVER YOU OPEN THE SUNROOF. THE SUNROOF TILTS UP AND COVERS THE ANTENNA. THIS CAUSES THE XM RADIO TO LOSE SIGNAL. THE MAIN PURPOSE OF THIS COMPLAIN IS THAT THE ONSTAR ALSO LOSES SIGNAL.…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10150369 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10155263 · 2006-04-13 (April 13, 2006)
ODOMETER - NOT REGISTER CORRECT SPEEDS. STICKING ON HIGHER SPEEDS AND NOT RETURNING TO ZERO UPON STOP. COULD NOT RECOGNIZE WHAT SPEED VEHICLE WAS GOING AT. FAILED INSTRUMENT CLUSTER, REQUIRED A NEW REPLACEMENT OF THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 42,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10155263 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 10173259 · 2006-10-30 (October 30, 2006)
CONSUMER 2005 MONTE CARLO ENGINE FAILED AND TIRES WERE OUT OF BALANCE. *TS THE VEHICLE HAS A VIBRATION IN THE FRONT END THAT AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS BY TWO DEALERS, HAS NOT BEEN FIXED. ONE DEALER CLAIMED THE VIBRATION WAS DUE TO THE TIRES AND THE TYPE OF VEHICLE. THE OTHER DEALER FOUND A TIRE OUT OF BALANCE. AFTER TIRE WAS REBALANCED THE VIBRATION WAS STILL PRESENT. THE VEHICLE IS ALSO EXPERIENCING ENGINE PROBLEM NOW THAT THE WEATHER IS COLD. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10173259 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10199353 · 2007-08-13 (August 13, 2007)
INSTRUMENT CLUSTER GOES ERRATIC. 47K MILES. DEALER SAYS THEY GET A LOT OF THESE AND REPLACEMENT IS THE ONLY ANSWER. $550. EBAY HAS MULTIPLE BUSINESSES THAT REPAIR GM CLUSTERS. WHY IS THERE NO RECALL? CHEVROLET DEALER SAYS NEW MODEL HAS IMPROVED GAUGE MOTORS. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 47,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10199353 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10215471 · 2008-01-20 (January 20, 2008)
WITH LESS THAN 20K MILES ON VEHICLE SPEEDO HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO INACCURATE READING AND FAILURE TO RESET TO 0 AT STOP. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10215471 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10216144 · 2008-01-26 (January 26, 2008)
TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT ON DASHBOARD APPEARED SERVICE REQUIRED/ TECHNICIAN FOUND A CRACK IN REAR RIGHT HUB ASSEMBLY. TECHNICIAN REPLACED HUB, RETESTED, AND IS OPERATIONAL AT THIS TIME. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10216144 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10222446 · 2008-03-26 (March 26, 2008)
2005 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO LT WITH 3.8L V6 DRIVING HOME A FEW HOURS AFTER PURCHASING THE CAR THE HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT. THE PARKING LIGHTS AND FOG LIGHTS UNDER THE BUMPER REMAINED ON. I STARTED SLOWING DOWN AND USED THE MULTI FUNCTION SWITCH TO TURN ON THE HIGH BEAMS AND THE LIGHTS CAME BACK ON. I BROUGHT THIS TO THE DEALER'S ATTENTION, AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE THEY BELIEVE THAT THE MULTI FUNCTION SWITCH MUST BE REPLACED. THE MULTI FUNCTION SWITCH IS THE TURN SIGNAL STALK SWITCH THAT CONTROLS THE HIGH/LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS, TURN SIGNALS,…
Owner-reported narrative. 44,486 miles reported. Look up ODI 10222446 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.
14V400000 · Electrical System:Ignition
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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗