RoadVitals

1999 Chevrolet Monte Carlo Engine Problems

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

Data refreshed

Engine 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.
40
Latest Aug 19, 2019
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.
32%
of 125 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.
4
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 the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1999 Chevrolet Monte Carlo submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 40 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 engine

The 25 most recent of 40, in the owner's own words

Engine
Filed Aug 19, 2019

RECALL

NHTSA ID
11244983
Incident
Apr 15, 2015
Mileage
70,000 mi
ElectricalEngineFuel system
Filed Sep 20, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO. AFTER REFUELING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED FUEL LEAKING UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE POWER WINDOWS AND THE AIR CONDITIONER FAILED TO FUNCTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL TANK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND THE AIR CONDITIONING UNIT NEEDED TO BE RECHARGED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE WITH THE AIR CONDITIONER RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

NHTSA ID
10908112
Incident
Oct 15, 2012
Mileage
80,000 mi
Engine
Filed Mar 30, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING OIL. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V701000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) AND STATED THAT THE PART NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID
10852428
Incident
Mar 30, 2016
Mileage
120,000 mi
Engine
Filed Feb 18, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V701000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) AND STATED THAT THE PART NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PART DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID
10836901
Incident
Dec 2, 2015
Engine
Filed Feb 3, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A BURNING OIL ODOR EMITTING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V701000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) AND STATED THAT THE PART NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 153,000. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID
10823994
Incident
Dec 18, 2015
Mileage
153,000 mi
Engine
Filed Dec 29, 2015
Fire reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A LEAK COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD THAT WAS GETTING PROGRESSIVELY WORST. THE LEAK WOULD CREATE A PUDDLE ON THE FLOOR. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT UPON TURNING THE KEY IN THE VEHICLE, IT STARTED SMOKING. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY THE CONTACT WHO NOTICED THAT ENGINE OIL WAS LEAKING ONTO THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. THE CONTACT LATER RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V701000 (ENGINE) AND WAS TO SCHEDULE A RECALL REPAIR APPOINTMENT ONCE THE PARTS BECAME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE WHEN THE VEHICLE WOULD BE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID
10816776
Incident
Dec 14, 2015
Engine
Filed Dec 23, 2015
Fire reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL ODOR COMING INTO THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. IT WAS UNKNOWN IF THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. 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 MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 178,000. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID
10811935
Incident
Nov 11, 2015
Mileage
178,000 mi
Engine
Filed Oct 9, 2015
Fire reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER TURNING THE IGNITION KEY TO START THE ENGINE, AN EXPLOSION OCCURRED UNDER THE HOOD. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT DURING THE INCIDENT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD AND THE TOP OF THE ENGINE WERE SEVERELY DAMAGED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 148,551.

NHTSA ID
10781126
Incident
Sep 13, 2015
Mileage
148,551 mi
BrakesDriver assistanceEngine
Filed Apr 5, 2014

I WOULD BE DRIVING DOWN A ROAD AND SUDDENLY THE ENGINE WOULD DIE. I WOULD IMMEDEIATELY HAVE NO POWER STEERING NOR POWER BRAKES. THIS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES. I HAVE NOW STOPPED DRIVING THE CAR. NO CODES WOULD SHOW. MY MECHANIC CANNOT FIND ANYTHING. WHEN I TAKE IT TO HIM, IT DID NOT ACT UP. IT IS INTERMITTENT. SOMETIMES IT WOULD START RIGHT BACK UP. OTHER TIMES IT WOULD TAKE HOURS OR MANY HOURS BEFORE IT WOULD FINALLY RESTART. *TR

NHTSA ID
10577575
Incident
Feb 10, 2014
Mileage
125,000 mi
Engine
Filed Feb 12, 2009

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO. FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS, THE VEHICLE WOULD DECELERATE ON ITS OWN INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN SMOKING UNDER THE HOOD WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 45-55 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND THEY DUPLICATED THE FAILURE. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE ENGINE WOULD NEED TO BE DISASSEMBLED IN ORDER TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WERE NOT LIABLE FOR THE REPAIRS. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 16,500 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,000. UPDATED 11/04/09. *LJ UPDATED 11/05/09.*JB

NHTSA ID
10258449
Incident
Jun 13, 2007
Mileage
15,000 mi
EngineFuel systemOther / unspecified
Filed Sep 23, 2008
Fire reported

I WAS AT A FRIENDS FOR SEVERAL HOURS PROCEEDING INCIDENT. I DROVE MY 1999 CHEVY MONTE CARLO Z34 ABOUT 1 MILE FROM MY FRIENDS TO TACO BELL. THE CAR HAD BEEN RUNNING GREAT. I WENT INSIDE TO ORDER I WAS IN THEIR 10-15 MINUTES. WHEN I CAME OUT SMOKE WAS COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I OPENED THE HOOD AND THE TOP OF THE ENGINE WAS ON FIRE. TACO BELL EMPLOYEES CALLED 911 AND THEN PROVIDED A FIRE EXTINGUISHER. THE FIRE WAS PUT OUT BY THE EXTINGUISHER AND THEY CANCELLED THE 911 CALL. I CALLED A TOW COMPANY AND HAD THE CAR TOWED HOME DUE TO THE HOUR AND MY ENGINE BEING MELTED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10243150
Incident
Sep 21, 2008
Mileage
189,457 mi
Engine
Filed May 24, 2006

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS AN ODOR COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. UPON INSPECTION THE DEALER AND INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP DETERMINED THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING ANTI-FREEZE. THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET WAS CRACKED DUE TO HEAT FROM THE ENGINE AND NEEDS REPLACED WITH A METAL GASKET. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED THE ENGINE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AFTER COOLING FOR AN HOUR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT RETURNED TO THE DEALER OR MECHANIC. UPDATED 06/07/2006. *AK *TS

NHTSA ID
10158198
Incident
May 24, 2006
Mileage
47,000 mi
Engine
Filed Oct 22, 2005

I HAVE JUST FOUND OUT THAT MY 3.1 LITRE ALSO HAS HAD THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET GO BAD. THE CAR ONLY HAS 57,000 MILES. LIKE OTHERS HERE IT IS GOING TO COST ME $450 TO GET IT FIXED. GM NEEDS TO STEP UP AND CREATE A RECALL OR AT LEAST PAY TO HAVE A NEW GASKET INSTALLED. IT IS MY BELIEF THAT IT ALL STEMS FROM DEXCOOL. I HAVE KNOWN SEVERAL PEOPLE THAT HAVE HAD OR ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. *JB

NHTSA ID
10140514
Incident
Oct 20, 2005
Engine
Filed Mar 30, 2005

WE WERE PREPARING TO TAKE A LONG TRIP AND TOOK OUR 1999 MONTE CARLO INTO OUR MECHANIC FOR A PRE-TRIP ONCE-OVER. HE JUST CALLED AND INFORMED US THAT THE RADIATOR WAS ALMOST EMPTY AND THAT THERE IS A LEAK IN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET, IT CAN (AND WILL) BE FIXED FOR A COST OF $750.00. OUR MECHANIC HAS A SMALL SHOP AND HE HAS FIXED THE SAME PROBLEM AT LEAST ONCE A MONTH ON GM PRODUCTS WITH A 3.1 LITER ENGINE, HE JUST HAD A BUICK LAST WEEK WITH THE IDENTICAL PROBLEM. DOESN'T ANYBODY ELSE SEE THIS AS AN ISSUE THAT GM NEEDS TO TAKE SOME KIND OF ACTION ABOUT?? WE WOULD HAVE BEEN LIVID IF THIS CAR HAD BROKEN DOWN IN THE DESERT ON THE WAY TO LAS VEGAS!! WE WERE REALLY HAPPY WITH THIS VEHICLE, BUT NOW PLAN TO SELL IT AND WE WILL BE LOOKING FOR SOMETHING WITOUT A RECURRING PROBLEM OF THIS MAGNITUDE! *AK

NHTSA ID
10116111
Incident
Mar 30, 2005
Mileage
44,554 mi
Engine
Filed Jan 11, 2005

THERE IS A FLUID CALLED DEX/COOL WHICH IS LIKE ANTI-FREEZE. HOWEVER, IT EATS AWAY AT THE GASKET. CONSUMER HAS HAD TO HAVE THE GASKET REPLACED. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE INTAKE GASKET WAS LEAKING. LOSS OF RADIATION FLUID AT 77000 MILES. *TC

NHTSA ID
10107165
Incident
Nov 1, 2004
Mileage
77,925 mi
Engine
Filed Dec 22, 2004

MY 1999 MONTE CARLO STATED LEAKING ANTIFREEZE DIPS AT A TIME. THEN THE NEXT THING I KNOW THERE WAS PUDDLES OF ANTI-FREEZE UNDER MY CAR. I TOOK THE CAR TO A SHOP AND THE MECHANIC SAID I NEEDED A INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET AND THAT'S GOING TO BE $450.00. I DIDN'T HAVE THE MONEY SO I HAD THE CAR PUSHED HOME AND NOW I AM WAITING TO GET THE CAR FIXED WHEN I CAN COME UP WITH THE MONEY. *JB

NHTSA ID
10104355
Incident
Nov 20, 2004
Mileage
91,000 mi
Engine
Filed Nov 10, 2004

INTAKE GASKET LEAKING COOLANT. *AK

NHTSA ID
10098581
Incident
Oct 15, 2004
Mileage
74,000 mi
Engine
Filed Jun 10, 2004

INTAKE MANIFOLD COOLANT LEAK ON 3.1 ENGINE, WITH A COST OF $ 650.00 FOR THIS REPAIR. SEEMS TO BE A COMMON OCCURENCE WITH ALL THE 3.1 LITER ENGINES. MAYBE IT'S TIME GM STEPPED UP TO THE PLATE, AND TOOK A LOOK AT THIS PROBLEM. NO WONDER IMPORTS ARE BECOMING MORE POPULAR!!!*AK

NHTSA ID
10075192
Incident
Mar 5, 2004
Engine
Filed May 14, 2004

WHEN DRIVING AT AN UNDETERMINED SPEED CONSUMER HEARD A KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE ENGINE FAILED. *AK

NHTSA ID
10073631
Incident
May 10, 2004
Engine
Filed May 3, 2004

INTAKE MANIFOLD COOLANT LEAK, HAPPENED TO MY 3.1 ENGINE, AND TO SEVERAL OF MY FRIENDS, EACH WITH THE 3.1 ENGINE. EACH STATED A COST OF $ 650.00 FOR THIS REPAIR, SEEMS THIS HAPPENS TO ALL THE 3.1 LITER ENGINES, SHOULDN'T CHEVROLET OWN UP TO THIS PROBLEM? WHEN IT HAPPENS TO A SELECT FEW THATS ONE THING, WHEN IT HAPPENS TO ALL OF THEN IS IT NOT A DESIGN FLAW?*AK

NHTSA ID
10068207
Incident
Jan 7, 2004
Mileage
85,000 mi
Engine
Filed Mar 11, 2004

THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED AND STALLED DUE TO THE MANIFOLD LEAKING COOLANT INTO THE ENGINE. THE MANIFOLD WAS REPLACED. *NM MECHANIC SAID THAT THE OVERHEATING OF ENGINE IS ALMOST A MILE AWAY FROM A FIRE. *LA

NHTSA ID
10055801
Incident
Jan 16, 2004
Mileage
75,000 mi
EngineTransmission
Filed Feb 1, 2004

AT 31K INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET AND TRANS PAN GASKET ARE LEAKING ACCORDING TO CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP. AUTO HAS THE 3.1 L. ENGINE. DEALERSHIP NOT OVERLY CONCERNED AND THIS APPEARS TO BE NORMAL FOR A MONTE CARLO. INITIALLY THE TRANS PAN GASKET REPAIR WAS CONSIDERED AN OWNER MAINTENANCE RESPONSIBILITY RATHER THAN A COVERED EXTENDED WARRANTY ITEM. AFTER SPEAKING WITH DEALERSHIP AND ADVANTAGE A 2ND TIME, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE REPAIR WAS TO BE COVERED THROUGH THE WARRANTY. IN MY OPINION, CHEVROLET DOESN'T WANT TO STAND BEHIND ITS PRODUCT. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED AND WILL DEFINITELY NEVER BUY ANOTHER GM PRODUCT. *JB

NHTSA ID
10056290
Incident
Jan 23, 2004
Mileage
31,468 mi
Engine
Filed Jan 15, 2004

3.1 ENGINE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET LEAK. THIS PROBLEM STARTED JUST OUT OF WARRANTY AND WAS ABLE TO KEEP THE CAR GOING TILL NOW WITH STOP LEAK. I TOOK THE MANIFOLD OFF AND THE GASKET LOOKS TO BE BROKEN IN FOUR PLACES. A FRIEND OF MINE PAID ALMOST 500 DOLLARS TO FIX THE LEAK ON HIS 3.1 LAST WEEK. CHEVY SAYS THERE IS NO PROBLEM. JUST LOOK ON THE NET THERE"S THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE LIKE US .CHEVY CASE #1-12-2500234 STARTED ABOUT 38000 MILES USED STOP LEAK TO KEEP IT GOING TILL 80000 MILES REPLACEING GASKETS AT THIS TIME CHEVY SAYS THERE IS NO PROBLEM YA RIGHT

NHTSA ID
10070597
Incident
Jul 15, 2003
Mileage
85,000 mi
Engine
Filed Jan 15, 2004

VEHICLE HAS A 3.1L V6 ENGINE THAT WAS LEAKING COOLANT AS A RESULT OF A CRACKED INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. I WAS TOLD BY MY MECHANIC THAT THEY ARE REPLACING THIS GASKET ON AT LEAST ONE VEHICLE A WEEK. AND THEY ARE JUST A SMALL SHOP. THE FIRST PROBLEM I NOTICED WITH THIS VEHICLE WAS A SLOW LEAK IN THE COOLING SYSTEM. THIS OCCURRED IN THE SUMMER OF 2002. LATER IN THE YEAR, I NOTICED COOLANT ON THE GARAGE FLOOR AND THOUGHT PERHAPS THE RADIATOR WAS LEAKING. WHEN I TOOK THE CAR IN TO BE REPAIRED ON DECEMBER 16, 2002, IT HAD 51,223 MILES ON IT. THE COST OF JUST REPAIRING THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET WAS $482.21 PLUS TAX, FOR A TOTAL OF $512.35.

NHTSA ID
10069949
Incident
Dec 15, 2002
Mileage
51,223 mi
Engine
Filed Dec 3, 2003

THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET HAD TO BE REPLACE AFTER LOSING COOLANT- $650.00 REPAIR. *NLM

NHTSA ID
10049117
Incident
Nov 18, 2003

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.

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Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .