RoadVitals

1997 Chevrolet Monte Carlo Suspension Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the suspension system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Suspension reportsComplaints 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.
8
Latest Mar 16, 2008
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
5%
of 164 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1997 Chevrolet Monte Carlo submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 8 reports on file name it.

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

Owner reports naming suspension

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

BrakesFuel systemInterior & seats+4 more
Filed Mar 16, 2008

MY 97 CHEVY MONTE CARLO HAS HAD NO LOWER BRAKE LIGHTS FOR SOME TIME . I HAD MY CAR CHECKED BY AN AUTO ELECTRICIAN AND WAS TOLD THAT THE PROBLEM WAS SO SEVERE AND IT WOULD PROBABLY NEVER FIND THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM. I AM VERY CONCERNED WITH THIS ISSUE BEING IT MAY CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY TO MY SELF/FAMILY OR OTHERS. AS I DRIVE ON THE ROAD I NOTICE MANY AUTOS OF THE SAME YEAR AND TYPE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM SO I KNOW ITS NOT ONLY MY VEHICLE .I THOUGHT IT COULD OF BEEN THE FACTORY INSTALLED SECURITY SYSTEM SO I HAD IT UNINSTALLED TO COME TO THE FACT THAT IT WAS NOT THE SECURITY SYSTEM AFTER ALL. PLEASE HELP WITH THIS ISSUE . THIS IS MY ONLY SOURCE OF TRANSPORTATION AS I AM DISABLED AND CANNOT AFFORD ANOTHER VEHICLE . I HAVE PUT CONSTANT REPAIRS ON THIS CAR , FUEL INJ TANK, ETC. AGAIN PLEASE ADDRESS THIS URGENT ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10221331
Incident
May 10, 2007
Suspension
Filed Feb 18, 2004

CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD RUBBING NOISE WHEN BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY. CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER CONCERNING FRONT SUSPENSION:WHEEL BEARINGS. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND THE DEALER REPLACED WHEEL BEARINGS. *AK

NHTSA ID
10059271
Suspension
Filed Nov 10, 2003

WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH AND WITHOUT WARNING REAR AXLE SNAPPED, CAUSING THE DRIVER TO PULL OFF THE ROAD. THE CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER. *AK

NHTSA ID
10046641
Incident
Oct 22, 2003
Other / unspecifiedSuspension
Filed Nov 22, 2002

WHILE TRAVELING IN A RURAL HOUSING AREA 30 MPH, THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE WHEN TURNING LEFT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP WHERE PURCHASED TO DETERMINE CAUSE. THE OWNER STATES THAT THE ENTIRE BALL JOINT BROKE FROM THE VEHICLE AND BOLT AND COTTER PIN WORE OFF. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DEAILS TS

NHTSA ID
8023203
Incident
Nov 21, 2002
Suspension
Filed Apr 19, 2001

BALL JOINT FAILURE, BROKE FROM LACK OF LUBRICATION, ON LEFT SIDE WHILE MOVING AT LOW SPEED OF 3-5 MPH. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT SHOP FOR REPAIRS. *AK THE FAILURE COULD HAVE BEEN FATAL IF IT OCCUR ON HIGHWAY. *YH

NHTSA ID
886318
Incident
Apr 7, 2001
Suspension
Filed Aug 22, 2000

WHILE DRIVING FRONT SUSPENSION CONTROL ARM/BALL JOINT BROKE, CAUSING SUSPENSION TO COLLAPSE, AND A LOSS OF CONTROL. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED.*AK

NHTSA ID
868292
Incident
Aug 19, 2000
BrakesFuel systemSuspension
Filed Jul 23, 2000

COMPONENT #1 - ABS - MECHANIC TOLD ME TO CONTACT YOU...SCAN ABS SHOWS CODES 1221, 1225, 1232 LEFT WHEEL SENSOR INTERMITTANT PROBLEM - POSSIBLE SENSOR OR COMPUTER. GIVING CONTRADICTORY READING. RESET COMPUTER DID NOT HELP. COMPONENT #2 - SUSPENSION OR STRUT ASSEMBLY. MAKES SCRUNCHING NOISE WHEN TURNING. COMPONENT #3 - FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR HAS BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES AND IS MAKING THE NOISE AGAIN. STRAINING NOISE QUITS WHEN YOU TURN ON REAR WINDOW DEFOGGER TO OVERLOAD SOMETHING OR OTHER. HAD TROUBLE WITH THIS PART SINCE 1998 ACTUALLY.*AK

NHTSA ID
725868
Incident
Oct 10, 1999
Suspension
Filed Apr 8, 1999

I AM ATTEMPTING TO NOTIFY YOU OF A PROBLEM THAT I BELIEVE IS VERY PREVALENT AMONG THE 1996-1997 MONTE CARLOS. I HAVE HAD MY VEHICLE IN NUMEROUS SHOPS TRYING TO FIX THE PROBLEM, AND I AM OFTEN TOLD THAT IT IS A "MONTE CARLO" PROBLEM. THERE IS A VERY LOUD GRINDING NOISE THAT OCCURS WHENEVER A STRONG LEFT TURN IS MADE WITH THE VEHICLE, AND I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT IT IS SOMETHING WITH THE LEFT UPPER BEARING PLATE, ALTHOUGH IT IS UNCLEAR EXACTLY WHAT THE PROBLEM IS AS IT IS DIFFICULT TO PINPOINT. WHEN ONE TURNS A LEFT CIRCLE AND ROCKS THE STEERING WHEEL, THE NOISE WILL OCCUR AND STOP WITH THE ROCKING OF THE STEERING WHEEL. FOR EXAMPLE, WHEN THE WHEEL IS TURNED LEFT, THE NOISE OCCURS, WHEN THE WHEEL IS STRAIGHTENED OUT, THE NOISE CEASES. MANY OF THE MECHANICS I HAVE VISITED REFUSE TO FIX THE PROBLEM BECAUSE THEY TELL ME THAT IT MAY NOT BE FIXED JUST BY REPLACING THE BEARING PLATE AS THEY ARE UNSURE OF THE ACTUAL PROBLEM. I HAVE BEEN TOLD NOW THAT THE ENTIRE LOWER CONTROL ARM (TO THE BALL JOINT) NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AND THAT THIS IS WHAT MOST OF THE MONTE CARLOS ARE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH. I ALSO SEE THAT THE RIGHT LOWER CONTROL ARM AND BALL-JOINT STUDS ON THE 1995 LUMINAS AND MONTE CARLO'S HAVE BEEN RECALLED. IS IS POSSIBLE THAT THIS IS THE SAME PROBLEM WITH ALL OF THE MONTE CARLO'S IN NORTHERN IOWA? MY APOLOGIZES TO YOU FOR HAVING TO READ THIS AS I KNOW VERY LITTLE ABOUT THE MECHANICS AND STRUCTURES OF AUTOS, BUT MY THANKS TO YOU FOR LISTENING. I TRULY BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A MAJOR OCCURRENCE AS EVERY MONTE CARLO OWNER I HAVE MET SEEMS TO HAVE THE SAME NOISE WITH THEIR VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
705438

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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .