Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full
Data refreshed
Our database holds 100 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1998 Chevrolet Monte Carlo. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Showing 1–25 of 100 · page 1 of 4
1998 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO HIS DISAPPROVAL OF EXHAUST MANIFOLD RECALL NOTICE REMOVAL OF THE ENGINE PLASTIC "BEAUTY" COVER. *SMD THE CONSUMER WAS ADVISED THE RECALL INCLUDED REMOVING THE BEAUTY COVER. THE CONSUMER STATED THE RECALL NOTICE DOES SAY THAT THE COVER WILL BE REMOVED, BUT DOES NOT STATE THAT IT WOULDN'T BE RETURNED. UPDATED 10/10/2017*JS
ON SEPTEMBER 24, 2015, MY WIFE WAS DRIVING OUR MONTE CARLO. UNBEKNOWNST TO HER THE CAR BEGAN SMOKING UNDERNEATH, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL WITH NEITHER STEERING NOR BRAKING CAPABILITY. OTHER DRIVERS, NOTICING THE SMOKE, WERE ATTEMPTING TO NOTIFY HER OF THE IMPENDING FIRE. SHE WAS ABLE TO DRIVE ABOUT ANOTHER MILE BEFORE LOSING CONTROL AND CRASHING INTO A TREE ON MY NEIGHBOR?S YARD. THE CAR BECAME COMPLETELY ENGULFED IN FLAMES AND WAS DESTROYED. WERE IT NOT FOR SEVERAL GOOD SAMARITANS, AND POLICE AND FIRE PERSONNEL, SHE WOULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. THE FOLLOWING IS A HISTORY OF ISSUES WITH THIS CAR, DOCUMENTED FULLY BY SERVICE RECORDS FROM ITS PURCHASE IN 1998. 1.BRAKE LIGHTS WORKING INTERMITTENTLY OR NOT AT ALL. 2.TURN SIGNAL FAILURE. 3.UNABLE TO START DUE TO SHORT IN ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. 4.WHEEL HUB ASSEMBLY REPLACED. 5.POWER STEERING PUMP REPLACED. 6.REAR SUSPENSION (PASSENGER'S SIDE) BROKEN. 7.PREMATURE ALTERNATOR FAILURE. 8.PREMATURE BRAKE REPLACEMENT, I.E., PADS, CALIPERS, ROTORS. 9.TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE FROM HARD BRAKING (INCIDENT NOT CONNECTED WITH FIRE) 10.INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET REPLACED DUE TO COOLANT FLOWING INTO CYLINDERS AND CRANKCASE. 11.PREMATURE RADIATOR REPLACEMENT. 12.ELECTRICAL SPIKE DISTRIBUTED THROUGH SYSTEM WHEN STARTING, CAUSING FULL-SCALE DEFLECTION OF INSTRUMENTATION AND LIGHTS TO BECOME EXTREMELY BRIGHT. *TR
ON SEPTEMBER 24, 2015, MY WIFE WAS DRIVING OUR MONTE CARLO. UNBEKNOWN TO HER THE CAR BEGAN SMOKING UNDERNEATH, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL WITH NEITHER STEERING NOR BRAKING CAPABILITY. OTHER DRIVERS, NOTICING THE SMOKE, WERE ATTEMPTING TO NOTIFY HER OF THE IMPENDING FIRE. SHE WAS ABLE TO DRIVE ABOUT ANOTHER MILE BEFORE LOSING CONTROL AND CRASHING INTO A TREE ON MY NEIGHBOR'S YARD. THE CAR BECAME COMPLETELY ENGULFED IN FLAMES AND WAS DESTROYED. WERE IT NOT FOR SEVERAL GOOD SAMARITANS, AND POLICE AND FIRE PERSONNEL, SHE WOULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. ALL DOCUMENTATION IS AVAILABLE FOR REVIEW.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V701000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1998 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE NEAR THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. NO FURTHER DETAILS WERE AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. UPDATED 05/11/16*BF *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1998 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ALL OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT WAS INJURED AND REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 198,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
AT APPROXIMATELY 4 PM I WAS DRIVING WITH THREE OTHER PEOPLE IN MY CAR ON THE STREET IN THE SOUTH SAINT LOUIS COUNTY(RAILROAD CROSSING WEBER RD AND CLOSE TO NEW HAMPSHIRE) AND WE WERE GOING ACROSS THE RAILROAD, WHEN ALL FUNCTIONS OF MY CAR DIED AND THE BRAKES .STEERING. ENGINE , ALL WENT OFF AND I GOT SCARED BUT IN THE HEAT OF THE MOMENT I PULLED MY EMERGENCY BREAK AND PULLED THE CAR TO A STOP. ALL THESE HAPPENED ON A VERY WELL PAVED STREET., AND ALL HAPPENED JUST WHEN I CROSSED THE RAILROAD TRACKS. I WAS VERY FRIGHTEN AS WELL ALL THE PEOPLE IN MY CAR. I WAS WONDERING IF ANY OF THIS THAT HAPPENED TO MY CAR HAS TO DO WITH THE RECALLS THAT HAPPENED WITH GM IGNITION SWITCHES. I ALSO TALK TO MY FRIEND AND HE SAID THAT HE USED TO HAVE A CHEVY LUMINA 1995 AND SAME THING HAPPENED TO HIM ON A HIGHWAY IN SOUTH SAINT LOUIS AND HE DID SAME THING AND NO ONE GOT HURT. WHEN WILL ANYONE CONTACT US THAT AND ALL OTHER PEOPLE THAT DRIVE THESE TYPES OF CARS AND CHECK THIS OUT AND FIX THIS PROBLEMS. *TR
FATAL CAR ACCIDENT ON 270 ON MAY 18TH 2008 4 TEENS KILLED AND 3 OTHERS INJURED. WITH ALL THE GM RECALLS WE ARE CERTAIN THIS WILL END UP BEING PART OF THE RECALL. PLEASE INVESTIGATE. *TR
IN 2008 A CLOSE FRIEND OF MINE TEENAGE CHILDREN AND A FRIEND WERE KILLED IN A MVC. NOW THAT ALL THE RE CALLS HAVE COME OUT WITH GM I OFTEN WONDER IF THIS CAR WAS PART OF THE RE CALL. MANY WITNESSES SAID, THE CAR SUDDENLY WENT LEFT. HTTP://WWW.DISPATCH.COM/CONTENT/STORIES/LOCAL/2008/05/20/I270CRASH.ART_ART_05-20-08_A1_8SA8GUF.HTML PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS CRASH. THANK YOU PLEASE NOTE: THIS WAS NOT MY VEHICLE, I AM WRITING AS A FRIEND AND CONCERNED PERSON. *TR
1998 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO. CONSUMER REQUESTS INFORMATION ON VEHICLE RECALL POLICY. *SMD
1998 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE RECALL NOTICE AND SEEKS REIMBURSEMENT. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE, PRIOR TO RECEIVING THE RECALL NOTICE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A JUNK YARD.
1998 MONTE CARLO 29,000 MILES, NO ACCIDENTS. BRAKE LIGHTS STOPPED WORKING EXCEPT FOR THE THIRD LIGHT IN THE BACK WINDOW. READ ON FORUM A SIMILAR ISSUE, LIGHTLY MASSAGED THE WIRING HARNESS GOING FROM STEERING COLUMN TO TURN SIGNAL LEVER, BRAKE LIGHTS THEN BEGAN WORKING AGAIN. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 09V116000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR REMEDY REPAIRS. IN ADDITION, THERE WAS OIL LEAKING ONTO THE ENGINE, WHICH THE CONTACT STATED COULD POTENTIALLY START A FIRE. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THE ISSUE SHOULD HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED IN THE RECENT RECALL BECAUSE IT WAS A SAFETY ISSUE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 98,000.
WHILE DRIVING THE SPEED LIMIT (70 MPH) DOWN THE INTERSTATE I-20 RETURNING HOME FROM A WEEKEND VACATION, MY CAR (1998 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO) HAD A SLIGHT PUTTER AND SMOKE STARTED ROARING OUT THE REAR. I PULLED OVER, TURNED OFF THE ENGINE, POPPED THE HOOD AND FLAMES WERE ALL OVER THE BACKSIDE OF THE ENGINE. I CALLED 911 TO COME PUT THE FIRE OUT. NO PERSON WAS INJURED BUT MY ENGINE IS TOTALED. THE ENGINE IS COMPLETELY BURNED UP AND MELTED. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO. THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE WITHOUT WARNING WHILE AT A STOP SIGN. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CONCLUDED THAT THE FIRE WAS CAUSED BY FAULTY WIRES. A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 198,000.
MY BRAKE LIGHTS (EXCEPT FOR RAISED THIRD BRAKE LIGHT) HAVE STOPPED WORKING AND EVEN REPLACING A BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. I HAVE JUST LEARNT THAT MY BRAKE LIGHTS WERE NOT WORKING AND THIS IS AFTER SPENDING $100 AT A DEALERSHIP TO FIX THE PROBLEM! *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE CONTACT WAS UNAWARE OF AN APPROACHING CURVE. SHE OVERCORRECTED THE TURN, STRUCK THE GUARD RAIL, SPED DOWN AN EMBANKMENT, AND CRASHED INTO THE SIDE OF A HOUSE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED SEVERE HEAD, CHEST, AND NECK INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE NOT BEEN CONTACTED. THE ENGINE SIZE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 60,000.
ARRIVED AT WORK AFTER ABOUT A 20 MINUTE DRIVE. WENT TO CHANGE INTO MY UNIFORM AND MY SUPERVISOR PAGED ME OVER THE INTERCOM SYSTEM TELLING ME I HAD TO GET TO MY CAR IMMEDIATELY. WHEN I ARRIVED A CO-WORKER WAS STANDING THERE WITH A FIRE EXTINGUISHER AS MY CAR WAS SMOKING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I TRIED TO RELEASE THE HOOD BUT THE CABLE HAD MELTED THROUGH. WHILE WAITING FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO ARRIVE, THE CAR ATTEMPTED TO START ITS SELF CAUSING THE FLAMES TO GET BIGGER AS IT WAS SHOOTING SMOKE OUT OF THE TAILPIPES. AFTER THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED, THEY PRECEDED TO GET INTO THE HOOD BY TAKING AN AX AND SAW TO THE HOOD. FIRE FIGHTER SAID IT LOOKED LIKE A POSSIBLE ELECTRICAL FIRE SINCE THERE WAS NO SMELL OF FUEL OR OIL. NEEDLESS TO SAY THE CAR IS TOTALED BECAUSE THE ENGINE MELTED, MY WINDSHIELD WAS BLOWN OUT FROM THE HEAT AN SO WAS THE DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW. *TR
TL*- THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO, AND WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD BANG THAT WAS CAUSED BY THE COPPER MASTER CRAFT SENSYS01 TIRE. WHEN THE REAR PASSENGER TIRE BLEW OUT THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THERE WERE HOLES ON EACH SIDE OF THE INNER SIDEWALLS. THE TIRE WAS NOT IMPACT BY ANY ROAD HAZARD. THE REMAINING TREAD ON THE TIRE WAS AT 60%. TIRE SIZE WAS 225/60R16 THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO PUT ON THE SPARE TIRE. THE CONTACT COULD PROVIDE PICTURES OF DEFECTIVE TIRE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE ON THE TIRE WAS ABOUT 20,000 MILES. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE BOTH 25,000. *AK
FUEL TANK IS LEAKING DUE TO RUST. THE SEEM IN THE REAR PORTION OF THE TANK IS RUSTED THOUGH. THE CAR HAS ONLY 70000 MILES. THE TANK STARTED LEAKING AT 62000 MILES. *JB
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ENTERING A CURVE AND APPLYING NORMAL BREAK PRESSURE THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED FROM 40 TO 70MPH. THE SUDDEN ACCELERATION CAUSED THE DRIVER TO LOOSE CONTROL AND CRASH INTO A TREE ON THE ROADSIDE. THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO REV, BUT THE TREE WOULD NOT ALLOW ANY ADDITIONAL FORWARD MOTION. THE IGNITION WAS TURNED OFF BEFORE PLACING THE SHIFTER INTO PARK. THE DRIVER WAS WEARING A SEATBELT AND RECEIVED NO INJURIES. THE POLICE FILED A REPORT AT THE ACCIDENT SCENE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A WRECKING YARD WHERE IT WAS LATER INSPECTED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY AND DEEMED A TOTAL LOSS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THE VEHICLE WOULD BE INSPECTED TO HELP DETERMINE A CAUSE IF IT WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL SERVICE DEALER. THE VEHICLE CURRENTLY REMAINS IN THE POSSESSION OF THE INSURANCE COMPANY.
DT: THE CONTACT STATES THE VEHICLE SPINS OUT OF CONTROL WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED. THE CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, WHO STATED THERE WAS NO RECALL. WHEN THE VEHICLE SPINS OUT OF CONTROL THE ROAD CONDITIONS ARE NORMAL. THE CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE DOES MAKE A LOUD SQUEAKING NOISE. THE BRAKES HAVE BEEN REPLACED ONCE DURING THE PAST YEAR, AND HAVE BEEN REPAIRED AT LEAST 3 TIMES SINCE THEN. THE VEHICLE SPINS OUT OF CONTROL DURING NORMAL BRAKING PROCEDURES. THE SERVICE DEALER STATES THAT THE BRAKES ARE WEARING UNEVENLY. *AK
WHEN MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN AT 5 MPH VEHICLE LOST POWER STEERING. CONSUMER PULLED OVER, AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
CONSUMER WAS PULLING INSIDE OF A PARKING LOT AND THE STEERING WHEEL FAILED TO STEER. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE SOLENOID SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK
WHILE ON VACATION IN WILLIAMSBURG VA. HEARD ANNOUCMENT OVER THE INTERCOM AT A CRACKER BARREL RESTURAUNT .. OWNER OF WHITE CHEVY MONTE CARLO WITH MD TAGS GO TO YOUR CAR ASAP.. WHEN ARRIVED IN PARKING LOT.. MANAGER OF REST. WAS STANDING NEXT TO MY CAR WITH A FIRE EXT. AND THE ENGINE WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES.. THE VEHICLE TRAVELED ONLY ABOUT 4 MILES FROM THE HOTEL WE WERE STAYING AT, SO IT WAS NOT EXTREMELY HOT...THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO BURN UNTIL THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ( YORK COUNTY) ARRIVED AND RIPPED OPEN THE HOOD BECAUSE THE HOOD LATCH RELEASE CABLE HAD BURNED THROUGH AND YOU COUND NOT GET THE HOOD UP.. THE CAR WAS VERY WELL MAINTAINED, ENGINE HAD BEEN RECENTLY DEGREASED AND LOOKED AND DROVE LIKE A NEW CAR... THE CAR HAS BEEN TOTALLED OUT BY ERIE INS CO. AND LEFT IN VA. WE HAD TO GET A RENTAL BACK TO BALTIMORE.... THE FIRE APPEARED TO BE ELECTRICAL IN NATURE DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE AREA WORST BURNED ON THE HOOD WAS RIGHT OVER THE DISTIBUTOR. PICTURES ARE AVAILABLE IF NEEDED FOR ANY INVESTIGATION... HAS THIS TYPE OF UNEXPECTED ENGINE FIRE OCCURRED IN OTHER 3.1 SERIES CHEVY ENGINE OR MONTE CARLO'S?
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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