RoadVitals

1996 Chevrolet Monte Carlo Problems

Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
155
Latest Nov 18, 2014
Components namedHow many of our component categories appear on at least one report for this model year. One report can name several.
17
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
14

What this page shows

Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1996 Chevrolet Monte Carlo, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Reports by component

Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category

  • Brakes4722.9%
  • Electrical4421.5%
  • Engine4019.5%
  • Airbags73.4%
  • Driver assistance62.9%
  • Body & structure52.4%
  • Seat belts42.0%
  • Visibility31.5%
  • Interior & seats31.5%
  • Other / unspecified31.5%
  • Suspension31.5%
  • Tires & wheels21.0%
  • Exterior lighting10.5%
  • Heating & air conditioning10.5%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Each component in detail

What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words

Brakes

Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.

47
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE STALLED IMMEDIATELY UPON STARTING THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED BUT IMMEDIATELY STALLED AGAIN. THE ABS LIGHT ALSO ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR SERVICE.

NHTSA ID 10170361 · filed Oct 10, 2006

BRAKES DO NOT WORK DURING INCLIMATE WEATHER. LOSES A QUART OF OIL PER 500 MILES. BLOWS BY SMOKE THROUGH EXHAUST WHEN STARTING.

NHTSA ID 10068913 · filed Jan 15, 2004
All 47 reports naming brakes

Electrical

Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.

44
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

BRAKES DO NOT WORK DURING INCLIMATE WEATHER. LOSES A QUART OF OIL PER 500 MILES. BLOWS BY SMOKE THROUGH EXHAUST WHEN STARTING.

NHTSA ID 10068913 · filed Jan 15, 2004

REOCURRING ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. THE CAR HAS NOT BEEN DRIVEN EVEN 100 MILES THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF BECAUSE IT WONT PASS INSPECTION. THE EMISSION SYSTEM HAS GONE OUT. SINCE WE'VE HAD THE CAR WE'VE HAD TO REPLACE THE IGNITION SYSTEM AND THE WINDOWS KEPT GOING OFF TRACK. AS OF NOW THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW WILL NOT GO UP. I CANT AFFORD TO GET IT FIXED SINCE I WAS DIAGNOSED WITH "CONGESTIVE HEART FAILURE" AND I'M ON PERMANENT DISABILITY THROUGH SOCIAL SECURITY.

NHTSA ID 10040818 · filed Sep 27, 2003
All 44 reports naming electrical

Engine

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.

40
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE ENGINE SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

NHTSA ID 10658939 · filed Nov 18, 2014

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE STALLED IMMEDIATELY UPON STARTING THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED BUT IMMEDIATELY STALLED AGAIN. THE ABS LIGHT ALSO ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR SERVICE.

NHTSA ID 10170361 · filed Oct 10, 2006
All 40 reports naming engine

Fuel system

Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.

17
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

THE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT DEVELOPED A SEVERE LEAK. THE LEAK CAUSED FUEL TO BE RELEASED IN LARGE QUANTITIES DIRECTLY INTO THE UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD AND OUT THE THROTTLE BODY. FUEL CONTINUED TO FLOW OUT INTO THE AIR CLEANER HOUSING AND EVENTUALLY THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND ONTO THE GROUND. SEVERAL GALLONS OF FUEL WERE DISCHARGED IN THIS FASHION. THE VEHICLE WAS RUNNING POORLY BUT GAVE NO INDICATION THAT THERE WAS A LEAK UNTIL THE AIR CLEAN WAS OPENED. THE PART THAT FAILED WAS A STANDARD MOTOR PRODUCTS PART NUMBER PR216T PURCHASED FROM ROCKAUTO.COM ON 5/15/2013 AND INSTALLED SHORTLY THEREAFTER. VEHICLE MILEAGE AT INSTALLATION WAS APPROXIMATELY 131000. THE PART FAILED ON 10/20/2014 AT VEHICLE MILEAGE148243 MILES. THE PART WAS INSTALLED TO CORRECT A SIMILAR SITUATION INVOLVING A MUCH LESS SEVERE LEAK IN AN OLDER PART. THE FUEL LEAKAGE WITH THE OLDER PART DID NOT ESCAPE THE UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD. AGE AND ORIGIN OF THE OLDER PART ARE NOT KNOWN. THE OLDER PART MAY HAVE BEEN ORIGINAL TO THE VEHICLE. GIVEN THE SIGNIFICANT QUANTITY OF FUEL DISCHARGED AND THE REPEATED NATURE OF THE FAILURE, I FEEL AN INVESTIGATION IS WARRANTED. *TR

NHTSA ID 10649126 · filed Oct 21, 2014

1996 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH THE FUEL REGULATOR.*MR THE CONSUMER DROVE ABOUT 7 MILES AND NOTICED THAT THE FUEL TANK NEEDLE MOVED FROM FULL TANK TO HALF TANK DURING THE SHORT RIDE AND SAW SMOKE COMING FORM UNDER THE HOOD. THE NEXT DAY A STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE COULD BE SMELLED. THE CONSUMER OPENED THE HOOD AND NOTICED FUEL WAS LEAKING ONTO THE GROUND. IT WAS LATER DETERMINED THAT THE FUEL REGULATOR HAD FAILED. THE CONSUMER HAS THE FAULTY REGULATOR. *NM

NHTSA ID 10121458 · filed May 6, 2005
All 17 reports naming fuel system

Transmission

Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.

11
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION GEARS SLIPPED OUT OF PLACE. A LOCAL MECHANIC ATTEMPTED TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION AND DID NOT HAVE ALL OF THE NECESSARY COMPONENTS TO DO SO. THE MANUFACTURER COULD NOT IDENTIFY OR LOCATE THE CORRECT TRANSMISSION FOR HIS MODEL. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

NHTSA ID 10286808 · filed Oct 8, 2009

TRANSMISSION SLIPS. WHEN TRYING TO ENTER THE FREEWAY, THERE IS NO PULL, I'VE NEARLY BEEN HIT TWICE BECAUSE OF THIS. TOLD THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THEY COULDN'T DUPLICATE PROBLEM SO THEY WOULDN'T FIX IT. EVERYONE I KNOW WHO OWNS THIS SAME YEAR AND MODEL HAS EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM. ONE PERSON COMPLAINED ENOUGH THAT THE DEALERSHIP SAID YES THERE WAS A RECALL ON A PART IN THE TRANS.MISSION,AND THEY REPLACED IT. I CAN'T GET G.M. TO VERIFY THIS. ALSO, THE TRUNK LID HAS NO HYDRAULICS TO KEEP THE LID UP AND IF THE WIND IS BLOWING JUST RIGHT, IT SLAMS SHUT. IT HAS HIT ME IN THE HEAD TWICE AND ONCE ON THE BRIDGE OF MY NOSE AND ALSO, IT HAS COME DOWN ON MY BROTHERS NOSE. I SURE HOPE YOU CAN HELP.*AK

NHTSA ID 767037 · filed Sep 11, 2002
All 11 reports naming transmission

Steering

Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.

8
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

RACK AND PINION HAVE HAD TO BE REPLACED 5 TIMES. EACH TIME CAUSES METAL SHAVINGS IN THE POWER STEERING PUMP CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING. *CB

NHTSA ID 10054239 · filed Jan 15, 2004

WHILE DRIVING AT NORMAL SPEED STEERING GEAR BOX WAS LEAKING AND VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ID 10041887 · filed Sep 29, 2003
All 8 reports naming steering

Airbags

Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.

7
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN, THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE AND THE FRONT AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DRIVER AND THE REAR PASSENGER SUSTAINED UNKNOWN INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID 10649232 · filed Oct 22, 2014

ANOTHER VEHICLE RAN INTO THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED, AND DRIVER'S SIDE/ PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. *AK

NHTSA ID 849958 · filed Oct 5, 1999

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Driver assistance

Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.

6
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

UPON COLD START, IDLE RACED AT 2800 RPM AND WOULDN'T DROP TO NORMAL 800 RPM EVEN AFTER BRAKING AND BRIEF STEPS ON GAS PEDAL. RACING EVEN CONTINUED WHEN CAR SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL FROM DRIVE. PROBLEM CONTINUES EVEN AFTER DEALER SERVICING ON 11/24/2000WHERE SERVICE BULLETINS CHECKED, FINDING NOTHING ($46.41 CHARGE) AND THROTTLE BODY CLEANED AND LINKAGES LUBED. DANGEROUS CONDITION CONTINUES. ONLY SOLUTION I HAVE FOUND--TURN ON IGNITION, LET CAR IDLE RACE A FEW MINUTES, THEN TURN OFF IGNITION. WHEN IGNITION IS THEN TURN ON AGAIN, IDLE APPEARS TO FUNCTION NORMALLY AT AROUND 800 RPM. OTHERS, INCLUDING SENIOR CITIZENS, MAY NOT DISCOVER THIS FIX AND CONFRONT AN OUT OF CONTROL, NONE BREAKABLE CAR RESULTING IN SERIOUS COLLISION. SUSPECT SOME OTHER PROBLEM, POSSIBLY DEFECTIVE COMPUTER CHIP--WHATEVER ALLOWS IDLE SPEED TO DROP AFTER WARM UP UNDER COLD CONDITION.*AK

NHTSA ID 738575 · filed Jan 1, 2001

FUEL FILTER FAILED. YH

NHTSA ID 549938 · filed Jan 31, 2000

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Body & structure

Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.

5
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

BRAKES DO NOT WORK DURING INCLIMATE WEATHER. LOSES A QUART OF OIL PER 500 MILES. BLOWS BY SMOKE THROUGH EXHAUST WHEN STARTING.

NHTSA ID 10068913 · filed Jan 15, 2004

FUEL FILTER FAILED. YH

NHTSA ID 549938 · filed Jan 31, 2000

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Seat belts

Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.

4
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

PASSENGER'S SEATBELT WILL GO INSIDE RETRACTOR. BUT, IT WILL NOT SECURE PASSENGER. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ID 894769 · filed Aug 20, 2001

DURING IMPACT, THE DRIVER'S SIDE AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT DID NOT LOCK. *AK

NHTSA ID 807508 · filed Jan 13, 1997

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Visibility

Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.

3
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

FUEL FILTER FAILED. YH

NHTSA ID 549938 · filed Jan 31, 2000

BRAKES DON'T NOT WORK PROPERLY IN WET WEATHER, PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR.

NHTSA ID 524763 · filed Nov 14, 1997

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Interior & seats

Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.

3
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

1996 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO Z34, POWER DRIVER SEAT FRAME DEFECT. BOTTOM OF SEAT DETACHED FROM FRAME, WHICH MADE DRIVER FALL BACKWARD TOWARD REAR SEATS. *NM

NHTSA ID 10165299 · filed Aug 12, 2006

FUEL FILTER FAILED. YH

NHTSA ID 549938 · filed Jan 31, 2000

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Other / unspecified

Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.

3
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

RACK AND PINION HAVE HAD TO BE REPLACED 5 TIMES. EACH TIME CAUSES METAL SHAVINGS IN THE POWER STEERING PUMP CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING. *CB

NHTSA ID 10054239 · filed Jan 15, 2004

DESIGN OF THE WHEELS ALLOW FOR WATER TO GET ON THE ROTOR WHICH CAUSES THEM TO GRAB.

NHTSA ID 512642 · filed Dec 16, 1996

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Suspension

Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.

3
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

BALL JOINT AND TIE ROD + FRONT BRAKES REPLACED AT 1ST ALTERNATOR - PARTS CORRODED AND FUSED TOGETHER 75K ON ORIGNIAL TIRES

NHTSA ID 726578 · filed Aug 3, 2000

UPON STARTING VEHICLE SHAKES VIOLENTLY AND MAKES HORRIBLE NOISES. ALSO, THIS HAPPENS WHILE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN. WHEN THIS HAPPENS, THERE IS A LOSS OF POWER. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM SINCE NOVEMBER OF 1997. VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN REPAIR SHOP 16 TIMES FOR THIS PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.

NHTSA ID 862462 · filed May 24, 2000

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Tires & wheels

Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

WHILE DRIVING, THE LEFT FRONT TIRE BLEWOUT CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE LEFT FRONT FENDER, NO SPECIFIC TIRE INFORMATION WAS GIVEN, OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT #10-90-582. *SLC

NHTSA ID 563965 · filed Jan 10, 2002

THE BELTS ON THE TWO FRONT TIRES STARTED COMING APART TO WHERE I LOST CONTROL ON THE HIGHWAY. I HAD TO BUY TWO TIRES TO RPLACE THEM IN NASHVILLE TENN. THESE TIRES WERE NOISY FROM THE DAY I BOUGHT THEM . THEY WERE MOUNTED ON THE REAR WHEELS. I NOTICED THE PROBLEM ON A TRIP TO CANADA AND HAD THEM CHECKED IN DETROIT, MI. I ALSO HAD THE TIRES ROTATD AND THE MECHANIC SAID THEY WERE BADLY CUPPED AND I SHOULD CHECK THE REAR STRUTS. WITH THE TIRES ON THE FRONT WHEELS, THEY BECAME WORSE BY THE TIME I GOT TO NASHVILLE AND I HAD VERY POOR FRONT END CONTROL. I HAD THE TIRES REPALCED THEN. WHEN I RETURNED TO TX, I HAD THE REAR STRUTS REPLACED AND THE MECHANIC SAID THEY WERE NOT BAD ENOUGH TO CHANGE THOUGH THEY DID SHOW SOME SLIGHT WEAR.( DOT NUMBER: Y7YT TIRE SIZE: P205/70R15 )

NHTSA ID 729847 · filed Sep 1, 2000

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Exterior lighting

Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

THERE ARE MANY THINGS WRONG WITH MY VEHICLE AND NOW THE WARRANTY IS UP AND ITS NOT CHEAP TO REPAIR MAJOR PARTS THAT SHOULDN'T NEED REPAIR AT THIS TIME AND MILEAGE ON THIS VEHICLE(21,287). I LOOKED UP THE LEMON LAW ON MY INTERNET AND MY CAR DEFINITELY QUALIFIES AS A LEMON WHICH IS A SHAME BECAUSE I LOVE MY CAR. I ALREADY HAD REPLACES 3 SPARK PLUGS, 3 CYLINDERS IN THE ENGINE, IGNITION COIL, 3 CD PLAYERS, BRAKES, LEFT TURN SIGNAL. LET'S PUT IT THIS WAY WHEN I WALK INTO THE DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR THEY KNOW ME BY FIRST NAME, AND THEN THEY ASK ME WHAT'S WRONG THIS TIME? IT'S VERY EMBARASSING TO HAVE THIS MANY PROBLEMS. IF I COULD AFFORD A LAWYER I WOULD FILE MY CAR AS A LEMON BUT I WOULD GET MY MONEYS WORTH BACK FOR ALL THE PROBLEMS AT 21,287 MILEAGE. AND IT WILL BE 4 YEARS OLD IN OCTOBER\2000. I WAS HOPING YOU WOULD BE ABLE TO HELP IN SOME SORT OF WAY. I'M VERY DISAPPOINTED IN THE CHEVROLET COMPANY, BECAUSE MY FATHER ONLY WILL DRIVE CHEVROLET VEHICLES AND THAT WHAT HE WANTED ME TO GET AND IT A PROBLEM SINCE DAY 1 OF THE VEHICLE. IT'S A GORGEOUS VEHICLE AND DRIVE BEAUTIFUL WHEN THERES NOT A PROBLEM WITH IT. PLEASE TRY TO HELP ME.

NHTSA ID 720706 · filed Mar 28, 2000

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Heating & air conditioning

Reports naming the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

FUEL FILTER FAILED. YH

NHTSA ID 549938 · filed Jan 31, 2000

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .