2001 Chevrolet Monte Carlo

High concern

Owners filed 276 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the electrical system. It has been recalled 8 times.

When it fails
020k40k60k90k120k200k

164 complaints record an odometer reading. Failures cluster around 75,00090,000 miles; the median is 76,800 miles.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Electrical System44
122
Engine40
0161
Air Bags15
606
Steering12
000
Engine and Engine Cooling12
052
Exterior Lighting › Turn Signal10
000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Disc › Rotor8
000
Power Train › Automatic Transmission8
000
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine7
000
Fuel System, Gasoline6
042

8 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Engine and Engine Cooling › Exhaust System › Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe15V701000
Filed Oct 26, 20151,003,556 vehiclesGeneral Motors Llc

Defect. 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.

Risk. 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.

Electrical System › Ignition14V400000
Filed Jul 3, 20145,877,718 vehiclesGeneral Motors Llc

Defect. 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.

Risk. 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.

Engine and Engine Cooling09V116000
Filed Apr 8, 20091,497,516 vehiclesGeneral Motors Corp.

Defect. 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.

Risk. 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.

Steering09E005000
Filed Feb 17, 2009979 vehiclesDorman Products, Inc.

Defect. DORMAN IS RECALLING 979 STEERING KNUCKLES, DORMAN P/NOS. 697-902 AND 697-903, SOLD UNDER DORMAN'S "OE SOLUTIONS<SUP>TM</SUP>" BRAND NAME, AND NAPA P/NOS. 7-8502 AND 7-8503 WHICH WERE SOLD FOR REPLACEMENT USE ON THE VARIOUS VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. A POTENTIAL MATERIAL OR DESIGN DEFECT COULD RESULT IN THE STEERING KNUCKLE BREAKING IN THE HUB AREA.

Risk. A BROKEN STEERING KNUCKLE COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL AND A POSSIBLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

Remedy. DORMAN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE STEERING KNUCKLES FREE OF CHARGE AND REIMBURSE THE REPAIR FACILITY OR OWNER FOR LABOR. THE RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 23, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DORMAN'S TOLL-FREE HOTLINE AT 1-800-523-2492 AND PRESS 5.

Steering08E063000
Filed Oct 17, 20083,855 vehiclesDorman Products, Inc.

Defect. DORMAN PRODUCTS IS RECALLING 3,900 INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFTS DORMAN PART NOS. 425-151, 425-152, AND 425-153, (SOLD UNDER DORMAN'S "OE SOLUTIONS" BRAND NAME), BALKAMP #'S 7-3057, 7-3058, 7-3059 (SOLD UNDER THE "NAPA" BRAND NAME), AND PLATINUM PARTS #'S 2425151, 2425152, AND 2425153 MANUFACTURED DURING THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER 2007. THESE REPLACEMENT STEERING SHAFTS CAN BE USED ON THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE WELD CONNECTING THE INNER TUBE TO THE OUTER TUBE MAY BE DEFECTIVE.

Risk. IF THE WELD FAILS, LOSS OF STEERING COULD RESULT, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy. DORMAN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE STEERING SHAFTS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 16, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DORMAN TOLL FREE AT 1-800-523-2492.

Fuel System, Other › Storage › Tank Assembly › Pressure Relief Devices07E021000
Filed Mar 12, 2007742 vehiclesDelphi

Defect. CERTAIN DELPHI FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS, P/NOS. FP10020-11B1, FP10026-11B1, AND FP10027-11B1, SOLD AFTER JANUARY 9, 2007, AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE UNIVERSAL PRESSURE REGULATORS (UPR) WERE PRODUCED WITHOUT AN O'RING AND RETAINER.

Risk. FUEL MAY LEAK, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A FIRE.

Remedy. DELPHI WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE UPR FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 23, 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT DELPHI AT 877-411-8770.

Air Bags00V244000
Filed Aug 29, 2000580 vehiclesGeneral Motors Corp.

Defect. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE AIR BAG SENSING AND DIAGNOSTIC MODULES (SDM) COULD EXPERIENCE A MEMORY ERROR RESULTING IN THE AIR BAGS NOT DEPLOYING IN A CRASH SITUATION.

Risk. IN A CRASH, A FRONT SEAT OCCUPANT MAY RECEIVE MORE SERIOUS INJURIES.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SENSING AND DIAGNOSTIC MODULE.

Seat Belts00V228003
Filed Aug 7, 2000156,305 vehiclesGeneral Motors Corp.

Defect. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES, LIGHT DUTY TRUCKS, SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, AND MINI VANS EQUIPPED WITH TRW SEAT BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLIES. THE BUCKLE BASE OF THESE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES WERE NOT PROPERLY HEAT TREATED AND THEREFORE DO NOT PASS THE LOAD BEARING REQUIREMENT OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 209, "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES."

Risk. IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, THE OCCUPANT MAY NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE VEHICLE'S SAFETY BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLY DATE CODES AND, IF NECESSARY, WILL REPLACE ANY SAFETY BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLY.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Engine
Filed Oct 20, 202080,000 milesPA

LEAKS TIMING AND HEAD GASKETS

Air BagsCrash1 injured
Filed Apr 18, 202090,000 milesVA

MY 2001 MONTECARLO WAS HIT IN FRONT WITH FRONT END DAMAGE AND THE AIR BAGS DIDN'T GO OFF CAUSING MY GIRL FRIEND TO HAVE A BROKEN NOSE ..THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON A CITY STREET IN THE TURNING LANE *TR

Fuel/Propulsion SystemFire1 injured
Filed Aug 15, 2019117,166 milesCA

I PURCHASED A 2001 CHEVY MONTE CARLO SS IN 9-01. I DID NOT REALIZE UNTIL RECENTLY THE ENGINE WAS BUILT 2000. I WOULD NOT HAVE PURCHASED. MY CAR HAS HAD MULTIPLE PROBLEMS. THE RECENT OCCURRED JULY 20TH 2019. MY ODOMETER IS 117,166 ORIGINAL MILES. THE INTAKE MANIFOLDS AND UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD IS ALL MADE OF A PLASTIC. I WENT TO START MY CAR WHICH HAS BEEN RUNNING FINE. AROUND 6-7:00 PM I HEARD A LOUD BOOM. IT STARTLED ME AND MY NIEGHBORS EVEN CAME OUT. I NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE. I POPPED THE HOOD AND FLAMES WERE SHOOTING STRAIGHT UP THE FIREWALL ONTO THE INSIDE HOOD. I IMMEDIATELY SCREAMED GET ME WATER AND NOTICED THE FIRE EXTINGUISHER. I SMASHED THE GLASS GRABBED IT AND BEGAN TO PUT OUT THE FIRE. REMIND YOU THE CAR HAS A COVER I WAS USING BOTH HANDS REMOVED THE OIL CAP PULLED THE COVER AND STILL SPRAYING I PUT THE COVER OUT AND CONTINUED WITH THE ENGINE PLACING THE OIL CAP TO PREVENT CROSS CONTAMINATION. I WAS ABLE TO PUT OUT THE FIRE I HAD CUTS TO MY HAND AND IT SINGED THE HAIR ON MY ARMS AND MY WRIST HAD A SLIGHT BURN. HOWEVER, I HAVE KNOW IDEA HOW I WAS OVER LOOKED ON THE 5-17-04 FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR RECALL PART #03064B MY CAR IS A 3.8 LITRE K SERIES. IF I WOULD HAVE HAD MY GRANDDAUGHTER SHE IS IN A CAR SEAT THE DAMAGE WOULD HAVE BEEN MUCH WORSE. THE FLAMES WERE SO HIGH THEY ALMOST REACHED THE TREE BRANCH. THE SCARY PART IS GMAC IS AWARE OF THE POSSIBLE FIRE AND IS TRYING TO SETTLE WITH ME FOR MINIMAL AMOUNT. I JUST SPENT THOUSANDS BECAUSE THE C

Electrical System
Filed Aug 2, 2019CA

CECKING THE FUSES, NONE OF THEM WERE BLOWN. GAUGE WOULD BE READING HOT TEMPERATURE, WOULD CHECK THE HOSES AND RADIATOR NOTHING. FUEL SYSTEM IS DOWN NOW.

EngineFire
Filed Jul 26, 2019117,000 milesCA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN SHE STARTED HER VEHICLE, SHE HEARD A LOUD BOOM FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE IGNITION WAS TURNED OFF AND THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM THE HOOD. THE HOOD WAS OPENED AND A FIRE WAS DISCOVERED. THE CONTACT GOT A FIRE EXTINGUISHER AND WAS ABLE TO PUT OUT THE FIRE. THE POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENT WERE NOT CALLED AND NO REPORTS WERE FILED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES REPORTED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALER FUTURE CHEVROLET OF SACRAMENTO (4811 MADISON AVE, SACRAMENTO, CA 95841 (916) 265-2473) AND THEY SUGGESTED THAT THE VEHICLE BE TOWED OVER SO THEY COULD INSPECT IT FOR THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE HAD A NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09V-116000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) THAT MAY HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE VEHICLE CATCHING ON FIRE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT MOVED THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE DEALER YET. THE MANUFACTURER TOOK THE INCIDENT DOWN AND GAVE THE CONTACT A CASE NUMBER AND A CASE SPECIALIST TO CALL BACK. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 117,000.

EngineFire
Filed Apr 22, 2019OK

ENGINE FIRE CLAIM# [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TT

Engine
Filed Mar 13, 2019KY

2001 MONTE CARLO SS. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO LEAKING VALVE COVER GASKET. *LD *TR THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER RECALL, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. *JS

EngineFire1 injured
Filed Feb 21, 2019134,000 milesWA

ENGINE BACKFIRED AND EXPLODED UPON IGNITION AFTER SITTING FOR A WEEK. ENGINE WAS COLD AND IN COLD WEATHER. 3 FOOT FLAMES, MINOR BURNS AND INJURIES SUSTAINED ER VISIT FOR SMOKE INHALATION WHILE EXTINGUISHING FIRE. VEHICLE WAS PARKED ON PRIVATE PROPERTY. A NEIGHBOR'S CAR THE SAME MAKE AND MODEL SIMILAR YEAR DID THE SAME THING A FEW WEEKS AGO.

Engine
Filed Jul 13, 2017FL

2001 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO. CONSUMER REQUESTS REIMBURSEMENT FOR REPAIRS. *SMD UPDATED 07/13/2017*JS

Electrical System
Filed Jul 12, 201757,000 milesMA

THE DEALER YEARS AGO JUST PUT AN INSERT INTO THE KEY. NOW THE IGNITION DOES NOT PROPERLY WORK. YOU HAVE TO WIGGLE THE KEY FOR OPERATION. SOMETIMES THE CAR WON'T START,OTHER TIMES THE COMPONENTS WON'T WORK UNLESS I WIGGLE THE KEY. CAR HAS 57,000 MILES. WAS PART OF THE ORIGINAL RECALL FOR IGNITION PROBLEMS.

Electronic Stability Control (esc)
Filed May 20, 2017175,089 milesVA

I WENT TO A DEALERSHIP TO DEAL WITH A KEY IGNITION RECALL 2 MONTHS AGO. NOW MY CAR IS STALLING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD WHICH NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE THE RECALL..

Electrical SystemFire1 injured
Filed May 1, 201778,000 milesKY

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2001 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, ANOTHER MOTORIST INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT FLAMES WERE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF HER VEHICLE. WHILE PULLING OFF THE ROADWAY THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND ALL POWER WAS LOST. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. TWO WEEKS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WAS PERFORMED BUT NO FAILURE CODES WERE FOUND. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT SHE RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR A KEY FOB, BUT NOT NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V70100 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS NOTIFIED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. A FIRE REPORT AND A POLICE REPORT WERE FILED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED MEDICAL TREATMENT FOR ELEVATED CARBON MONOXIDE IN THE BLOOD AND POST TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND DEEMED A TOTAL LOSS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE RECALL DETAILS FOR THE KEY FOB WERE NOT PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 78,000. UPDATED 06/28/17*LJ UPDATED 9/28/18*JB

EngineFire
Filed Apr 16, 2017155,000 milesIN

INTAKE MANIFOLD EXPLOSION RESULTING IN DAMAGE TO NEARBY VEHICLE. ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE ONE CRANK FOLLOWED BY LOUD EXPLOSION FROM UNDER THE HOOD. UPON INSPECTION, THE INTAKE MANIFOLD HAD BEEN BLOWN APART INTO 15 - 20 PIECES. A SMALL FIRE ERUPTED. WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE QUICKLY ONE PIECE OF THE DESTROYED MANIFOLD HIT A NEARBY VEHICLE RESULTING IN PAINT DAMAGE.

Fuel/Propulsion System
Filed Apr 4, 2017180,000 milesMA

AFTER CHARGING THE BATTERY L THEN STARTED THE CAR AN HAD A BACK FIRE. WHEN THE CAR BACK FIRED IT BLEW OUT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD AN THERE WAS A LOT OF SMOKE . WAS WONDERING IF THER WAS A RECALL ON THE FUEL PUMP PRESSURE REGULATER . WHICH COULD BE THE CAUSE OF IT .

Seat Belts
Filed Mar 14, 2017150,000 milesTX

PASSENGER SEAT BELT COMES UNBUCKLED FOR NO REASON. IT ALSO WONT LOCK ALL THE WAY WHEN YOU PLUG IT IN. RELEASE BUTTON SOME TIMES STAYS IN WHEN YOU PUSH IT TO TAKE THE SEAT BELT OFF. SCARED TO RIDE IN PASSENGER SEAT BECAUSE THE SEAT BELT DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY. NO RESTRAINT NOTHING. RIDING 45-50 MPH IN PASSENGER SEAT BELT JUST UNPLUGGED ALL BY IT SELF WOULD NOT PLUG BACK IN BECAUSE THE BUTTON STAYS DOWN. I HAD TO HIT IT WITH A FLSH LIGHT TO GET IT TO RELEASE.

Steering
Filed Oct 23, 2016FL

DID A REPORT WITH THE DEALER 3 MONTHS AGO AND HAVEN'T HAD A CALL BACK YET ABOUT BRINGING MY CAR IN TO FIX THE PROBLEM WONDERING HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE TO BE CALLED IN ABOUT THIS PROBLEM

Electrical System
Filed Oct 11, 2016AL

PROBLEM 1: DRIVING NEAR MY HOME AND VEHICLE QUIT ON ME. GAS GAUGE SHOWED FULL BUT COME TO FIND OUT, I WAS OUT OF GAS. GOOD THING I WASN'T TRAVELING AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED, LIKE INTERSTATE DRIVING. PROBLEM 2: VEHICLE WOULDN'T START, I'M BEING TOLD IT IS THE PASSLOCK SYSTEM. SECURITY LIGHT HAS ONLY COME ON 1 TIME. I NEVER KNOW WHEN ITS GOING TO START. VERY WORRIED WHEN I TRAVEL BY MYSELF. THESE HAVE HAPPENED AT DIFFERENT TIMES.

Air BagsCrash2 injured
Filed Sep 26, 2016WI

I WAS DRIVING HOME ON HIWAY IN CRAWFORD COUNTY WI IT STARTED SNOWING MY BACK PASSENGER TIRE HIT A SLICK SPOT AND MY CAR SPUN OUT OF CONTROL CAUSING MY CAR TO TURN AROUND LIKE I WAS GOING BACK TO WHERE I CAME FROM ANOTHER CAR WAS COMING UP BEHIND ME DIDN'T SEE ME HIT ME SMASHED MY WHOLE BACK END THE IMPACT WAS SO BAD PUT MY TRUNK IN MY BACK SEAT BUT THE AIR BAGS NEVER DEPLOYED MY DAUGHTER AND I WERE TAKEN TO HOSPITAL

Engine
Filed Sep 14, 2016NY

IN LATE 2015, AND AGAIN IN JANUARY 2016, WE RECEIVED NOTICE FROM GM THAT THE FOLLOWING RECALL APPLIED TO OUR VEHICLE: NHTSA RECALL NUMBER: 15V701, MANUFACTURER RECALL NUMBER: N150757 THIS IS A RECALL TO REMEDY LEAKING VALVE COVER GASKETS. WE CONTACTED THE LOCAL CHEVROLET DEALER FROM WHOM WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AND WERE INFORMED THAT "PARTS ARE ON NATIONAL BACKORDER." WE HAVE CONTACTED THE DEALER REPEATEDLY SINCE THEN, AND HAVE BEEN TOLD EACH TIME THAT THE PARTS ARE ON BACKORDER, AND THAT WE WOULD BE CONTACTED WHEN THEY WERE IN STOCK. THE LAST SUCH CALL WAS 7/29/2016. IT IS NOW SEPTEMBER. THIS MIGHT BE UNDERSTANDABLE IF THE RECALL INVOLVED PRECISION PARTS SUCH AS AIRBAGS, OR COMPLEX ASSEMBLIES SUCH AS A TRANSMISSION. THAT IS NOT THE CASE. IT'S A VALVE COVER (PLASTIC MOLDED) AND GASKET FOR THE MOST POPULAR ENGINE GM EVER MADE - POSSIBLY THE MOST POPULAR ENGINE IN HISTORY. WE SUSPECT THAT EITHER THE DEALER OR THE MANUFACTURER IS RELUCTANT TO INVEST THEIR SERVICE DEPARTMENT TIME IN THIS LOW-VALUE, LOW-PROFILE RECALL.

Engine
Filed Aug 17, 2016180,453 milesMI

I WAS DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND THE TEMP GAUGE DROPPEF TO ZERO, AIR CONDITIONING STOPPED WORKING, AND CAR BEGAN TO STRUGGLE. I PULLED THE CAR OFF THE HIGHWAY TO SEE IF WAS DUMPING COOLANT PUT. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE SHOP AND HE NEW WHAT WAS WRONG BECAUSE A LOT OF THESE CARS COME IN WITH THE PROBLEM. I HAD TO HAVE THE TIMING COVER REPLACED AND THE ECT SENSOR. THE MECHANIC SAID THIS HAPPENS OFTEN AS GM CARS HAVE THESE ISSUES. WAS ALSO TOLD IT LOOKED AS IF THE CAR OVERHEATED AND WAS LUCKY IT DIDN'T BLOW UP ON THE HIGHWAY AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT.

20 of 276 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2001
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20102000Routine
20082000Routine
200742222Fatalities reported
2006113202Fatalities reported
2005120430Routine
20042307110Above average
20031589180Routine
20022307240High concern
2001 — this page2768310High concern
20002338351Fatalities reported
1999125560Routine
1998100587Fatalities reported
1997164310Routine
1996155310Routine
1995169511Fatalities reported
19911100Routine
19900100Routine

Compare every Monte Carlo year →

Reading this record

A high number of complaints describe fires or crashes.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: Oct 26, 2015. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.