1996 Chevrolet Monte Carlo Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
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%
- Fuel system178.3%
- Transmission115.4%
- Steering83.9%
- 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.
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.
BRAKES DO NOT WORK DURING INCLIMATE WEATHER. LOSES A QUART OF OIL PER 500 MILES. BLOWS BY SMOKE THROUGH EXHAUST WHEN STARTING.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
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.
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.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
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.
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.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
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
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
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
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.
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
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
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
WHILE DRIVING AT NORMAL SPEED STEERING GEAR BOX WAS LEAKING AND VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
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.
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
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.
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
FUEL FILTER FAILED. YH
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.
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.
FUEL FILTER FAILED. YH
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.
From owner reports, verbatim
PASSENGER'S SEATBELT WILL GO INSIDE RETRACTOR. BUT, IT WILL NOT SECURE PASSENGER. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK
DURING IMPACT, THE DRIVER'S SIDE AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT DID NOT LOCK. *AK
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.
From owner reports, verbatim
FUEL FILTER FAILED. YH
BRAKES DON'T NOT WORK PROPERLY IN WET WEATHER, PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR.
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.
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
FUEL FILTER FAILED. YH
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.
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
DESIGN OF THE WHEELS ALLOW FOR WATER TO GET ON THE ROTOR WHICH CAUSES THEM TO GRAB.
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.
From owner reports, verbatim
BALL JOINT AND TIE ROD + FRONT BRAKES REPLACED AT 1ST ALTERNATOR - PARTS CORRODED AND FUSED TOGETHER 75K ON ORIGNIAL TIRES
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.
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.
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
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 )
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.
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.
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.
From owner reports, verbatim
FUEL FILTER FAILED. YH
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
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .