RoadVitals

2001 Chevrolet Monte Carlo Owner Complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full

Data refreshed

Complaints on fileComplaints 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.
276
Latest Oct 20, 2020
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.
44
Filed in the last 12 monthsReports filed with NHTSA in the trailing 365 days. Recent volume reflects attention and vehicle age as much as anything else.
0
Reports on file since Nov 3, 2000

What this page shows

Our database holds 276 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2001 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.

Complaints, most recent first

Showing 1–25 of 276 · page 1 of 12

Engine
Filed Oct 20, 2020

LEAKS TIMING AND HEAD GASKETS

NHTSA ID
11365402
Incident
Sep 1, 2020
Mileage
80,000 mi
AirbagsBody & structureElectrical
Filed Apr 18, 2020
Crash reported1 injury reported

MY 2001 MONTECARLO WAS HIT IN FRONT WITH FRONT END DAMAGE AND THE AIR BAGS DIDN'T GO OFF CAUSING MY GIRL FRIEND TO HAVE A BROKEN NOSE ..THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON A CITY STREET IN THE TURNING LANE *TR

NHTSA ID
11321466
Incident
Mar 28, 2007
Mileage
90,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Aug 15, 2019
Fire reported1 injury reported

I PURCHASED A 2001 CHEVY MONTE CARLO SS IN 9-01. I DID NOT REALIZE UNTIL RECENTLY THE ENGINE WAS BUILT 2000. I WOULD NOT HAVE PURCHASED. MY CAR HAS HAD MULTIPLE PROBLEMS. THE RECENT OCCURRED JULY 20TH 2019. MY ODOMETER IS 117,166 ORIGINAL MILES. THE INTAKE MANIFOLDS AND UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD IS ALL MADE OF A PLASTIC. I WENT TO START MY CAR WHICH HAS BEEN RUNNING FINE. AROUND 6-7:00 PM I HEARD A LOUD BOOM. IT STARTLED ME AND MY NIEGHBORS EVEN CAME OUT. I NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE. I POPPED THE HOOD AND FLAMES WERE SHOOTING STRAIGHT UP THE FIREWALL ONTO THE INSIDE HOOD. I IMMEDIATELY SCREAMED GET ME WATER AND NOTICED THE FIRE EXTINGUISHER. I SMASHED THE GLASS GRABBED IT AND BEGAN TO PUT OUT THE FIRE. REMIND YOU THE CAR HAS A COVER I WAS USING BOTH HANDS REMOVED THE OIL CAP PULLED THE COVER AND STILL SPRAYING I PUT THE COVER OUT AND CONTINUED WITH THE ENGINE PLACING THE OIL CAP TO PREVENT CROSS CONTAMINATION. I WAS ABLE TO PUT OUT THE FIRE I HAD CUTS TO MY HAND AND IT SINGED THE HAIR ON MY ARMS AND MY WRIST HAD A SLIGHT BURN. HOWEVER, I HAVE KNOW IDEA HOW I WAS OVER LOOKED ON THE 5-17-04 FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR RECALL PART #03064B MY CAR IS A 3.8 LITRE K SERIES. IF I WOULD HAVE HAD MY GRANDDAUGHTER SHE IS IN A CAR SEAT THE DAMAGE WOULD HAVE BEEN MUCH WORSE. THE FLAMES WERE SO HIGH THEY ALMOST REACHED THE TREE BRANCH. THE SCARY PART IS GMAC IS AWARE OF THE POSSIBLE FIRE AND IS TRYING TO SETTLE WITH ME FOR MINIMAL AMOUNT. I JUST SPENT THOUSANDS BECAUSE THE CAR HIT 100,000 SO NEW RADIATOR, TUNE UP ETC. THIS WAS A VERY EXPENSIVE PURCHASE AND TO THINK I HAVE BEEN DRIVING A TIME BOMB. LUCKILY I WASN'T IN TRAFFIC OR IN A PLACE WHERE I HAD TO PULL MY GRANDDAUGHTER OUT AND THE CAR SEAT BECAUSE THE ENTIRE CAR WOULD HAVE BURNED. I HONESTLY THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO BLOW UP. I CAN ACTUALLY SHOVE MY FIST IN THAT UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD. SEE COMPLAINT ODI112351110

NHTSA ID
11244180
Incident
Jul 20, 2019
Mileage
117,166 mi
ElectricalEngineFuel system
Filed Aug 2, 2019

CECKING THE FUSES, NONE OF THEM WERE BLOWN. GAUGE WOULD BE READING HOT TEMPERATURE, WOULD CHECK THE HOSES AND RADIATOR NOTHING. FUEL SYSTEM IS DOWN NOW.

NHTSA ID
11241335
Incident
Jul 2, 2019
Engine
Filed Jul 26, 2019
Fire reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN SHE STARTED HER VEHICLE, SHE HEARD A LOUD BOOM FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE IGNITION WAS TURNED OFF AND THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM THE HOOD. THE HOOD WAS OPENED AND A FIRE WAS DISCOVERED. THE CONTACT GOT A FIRE EXTINGUISHER AND WAS ABLE TO PUT OUT THE FIRE. THE POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENT WERE NOT CALLED AND NO REPORTS WERE FILED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES REPORTED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALER FUTURE CHEVROLET OF SACRAMENTO (4811 MADISON AVE, SACRAMENTO, CA 95841 (916) 265-2473) AND THEY SUGGESTED THAT THE VEHICLE BE TOWED OVER SO THEY COULD INSPECT IT FOR THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE HAD A NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09V-116000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) THAT MAY HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE VEHICLE CATCHING ON FIRE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT MOVED THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE DEALER YET. THE MANUFACTURER TOOK THE INCIDENT DOWN AND GAVE THE CONTACT A CASE NUMBER AND A CASE SPECIALIST TO CALL BACK. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 117,000.

NHTSA ID
11235110
Incident
Jul 20, 2019
Mileage
117,000 mi
Engine
Filed Apr 22, 2019
Fire reported

ENGINE FIRE CLAIM# [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TT

NHTSA ID
11202937
Incident
Feb 6, 2019
Engine
Filed Mar 13, 2019

2001 MONTE CARLO SS. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO LEAKING VALVE COVER GASKET. *LD *TR THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER RECALL, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. *JS

NHTSA ID
11184070
Incident
Mar 9, 2016
EngineFuel system
Filed Feb 21, 2019
Fire reported1 injury reported

ENGINE BACKFIRED AND EXPLODED UPON IGNITION AFTER SITTING FOR A WEEK. ENGINE WAS COLD AND IN COLD WEATHER. 3 FOOT FLAMES, MINOR BURNS AND INJURIES SUSTAINED ER VISIT FOR SMOKE INHALATION WHILE EXTINGUISHING FIRE. VEHICLE WAS PARKED ON PRIVATE PROPERTY. A NEIGHBOR'S CAR THE SAME MAKE AND MODEL SIMILAR YEAR DID THE SAME THING A FEW WEEKS AGO.

NHTSA ID
11181640
Incident
Feb 16, 2019
Mileage
134,000 mi
Engine
Filed Jul 13, 2017

2001 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO. CONSUMER REQUESTS REIMBURSEMENT FOR REPAIRS. *SMD UPDATED 07/13/2017*JS

NHTSA ID
10933549
Incident
Aug 6, 2013
Electrical
Filed Jul 12, 2017

THE DEALER YEARS AGO JUST PUT AN INSERT INTO THE KEY. NOW THE IGNITION DOES NOT PROPERLY WORK. YOU HAVE TO WIGGLE THE KEY FOR OPERATION. SOMETIMES THE CAR WON'T START,OTHER TIMES THE COMPONENTS WON'T WORK UNLESS I WIGGLE THE KEY. CAR HAS 57,000 MILES. WAS PART OF THE ORIGINAL RECALL FOR IGNITION PROBLEMS.

NHTSA ID
11004765
Incident
Jul 3, 2017
Mileage
57,000 mi
Driver assistanceEnginePowertrain (other)
Filed May 20, 2017

I WENT TO A DEALERSHIP TO DEAL WITH A KEY IGNITION RECALL 2 MONTHS AGO. NOW MY CAR IS STALLING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD WHICH NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE THE RECALL..

NHTSA ID
10990718
Incident
May 20, 2017
Mileage
175,089 mi
ElectricalEngineSteering
Filed May 1, 2017
Fire reported1 injury reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2001 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, ANOTHER MOTORIST INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT FLAMES WERE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF HER VEHICLE. WHILE PULLING OFF THE ROADWAY THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND ALL POWER WAS LOST. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. TWO WEEKS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WAS PERFORMED BUT NO FAILURE CODES WERE FOUND. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT SHE RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR A KEY FOB, BUT NOT NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V70100 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS NOTIFIED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. A FIRE REPORT AND A POLICE REPORT WERE FILED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED MEDICAL TREATMENT FOR ELEVATED CARBON MONOXIDE IN THE BLOOD AND POST TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND DEEMED A TOTAL LOSS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE RECALL DETAILS FOR THE KEY FOB WERE NOT PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 78,000. UPDATED 06/28/17*LJ UPDATED 9/28/18*JB

NHTSA ID
10981679
Incident
Apr 9, 2017
Mileage
78,000 mi
Engine
Filed Apr 16, 2017
Fire reported

INTAKE MANIFOLD EXPLOSION RESULTING IN DAMAGE TO NEARBY VEHICLE. ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE ONE CRANK FOLLOWED BY LOUD EXPLOSION FROM UNDER THE HOOD. UPON INSPECTION, THE INTAKE MANIFOLD HAD BEEN BLOWN APART INTO 15 - 20 PIECES. A SMALL FIRE ERUPTED. WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE QUICKLY ONE PIECE OF THE DESTROYED MANIFOLD HIT A NEARBY VEHICLE RESULTING IN PAINT DAMAGE.

NHTSA ID
10978676
Incident
Apr 11, 2017
Mileage
155,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Apr 4, 2017

AFTER CHARGING THE BATTERY L THEN STARTED THE CAR AN HAD A BACK FIRE. WHEN THE CAR BACK FIRED IT BLEW OUT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD AN THERE WAS A LOT OF SMOKE . WAS WONDERING IF THER WAS A RECALL ON THE FUEL PUMP PRESSURE REGULATER . WHICH COULD BE THE CAUSE OF IT .

NHTSA ID
10970573
Incident
Nov 20, 2016
Mileage
180,000 mi
Seat belts
Filed Mar 14, 2017

PASSENGER SEAT BELT COMES UNBUCKLED FOR NO REASON. IT ALSO WONT LOCK ALL THE WAY WHEN YOU PLUG IT IN. RELEASE BUTTON SOME TIMES STAYS IN WHEN YOU PUSH IT TO TAKE THE SEAT BELT OFF. SCARED TO RIDE IN PASSENGER SEAT BECAUSE THE SEAT BELT DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY. NO RESTRAINT NOTHING. RIDING 45-50 MPH IN PASSENGER SEAT BELT JUST UNPLUGGED ALL BY IT SELF WOULD NOT PLUG BACK IN BECAUSE THE BUTTON STAYS DOWN. I HAD TO HIT IT WITH A FLSH LIGHT TO GET IT TO RELEASE.

NHTSA ID
10965996
Incident
Nov 22, 2016
Mileage
150,000 mi
Steering
Filed Oct 23, 2016

DID A REPORT WITH THE DEALER 3 MONTHS AGO AND HAVEN'T HAD A CALL BACK YET ABOUT BRINGING MY CAR IN TO FIX THE PROBLEM WONDERING HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE TO BE CALLED IN ABOUT THIS PROBLEM

NHTSA ID
10918102
Incident
Jun 19, 2015
ElectricalFuel system
Filed Oct 11, 2016

PROBLEM 1: DRIVING NEAR MY HOME AND VEHICLE QUIT ON ME. GAS GAUGE SHOWED FULL BUT COME TO FIND OUT, I WAS OUT OF GAS. GOOD THING I WASN'T TRAVELING AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED, LIKE INTERSTATE DRIVING. PROBLEM 2: VEHICLE WOULDN'T START, I'M BEING TOLD IT IS THE PASSLOCK SYSTEM. SECURITY LIGHT HAS ONLY COME ON 1 TIME. I NEVER KNOW WHEN ITS GOING TO START. VERY WORRIED WHEN I TRAVEL BY MYSELF. THESE HAVE HAPPENED AT DIFFERENT TIMES.

NHTSA ID
10915247
Incident
Sep 19, 2016
Airbags
Filed Sep 26, 2016
Crash reported2 injuries reported

I WAS DRIVING HOME ON HIWAY IN CRAWFORD COUNTY WI IT STARTED SNOWING MY BACK PASSENGER TIRE HIT A SLICK SPOT AND MY CAR SPUN OUT OF CONTROL CAUSING MY CAR TO TURN AROUND LIKE I WAS GOING BACK TO WHERE I CAME FROM ANOTHER CAR WAS COMING UP BEHIND ME DIDN'T SEE ME HIT ME SMASHED MY WHOLE BACK END THE IMPACT WAS SO BAD PUT MY TRUNK IN MY BACK SEAT BUT THE AIR BAGS NEVER DEPLOYED MY DAUGHTER AND I WERE TAKEN TO HOSPITAL

NHTSA ID
10909823
Incident
Dec 30, 2009
Engine
Filed Sep 14, 2016

IN LATE 2015, AND AGAIN IN JANUARY 2016, WE RECEIVED NOTICE FROM GM THAT THE FOLLOWING RECALL APPLIED TO OUR VEHICLE: NHTSA RECALL NUMBER: 15V701, MANUFACTURER RECALL NUMBER: N150757 THIS IS A RECALL TO REMEDY LEAKING VALVE COVER GASKETS. WE CONTACTED THE LOCAL CHEVROLET DEALER FROM WHOM WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AND WERE INFORMED THAT "PARTS ARE ON NATIONAL BACKORDER." WE HAVE CONTACTED THE DEALER REPEATEDLY SINCE THEN, AND HAVE BEEN TOLD EACH TIME THAT THE PARTS ARE ON BACKORDER, AND THAT WE WOULD BE CONTACTED WHEN THEY WERE IN STOCK. THE LAST SUCH CALL WAS 7/29/2016. IT IS NOW SEPTEMBER. THIS MIGHT BE UNDERSTANDABLE IF THE RECALL INVOLVED PRECISION PARTS SUCH AS AIRBAGS, OR COMPLEX ASSEMBLIES SUCH AS A TRANSMISSION. THAT IS NOT THE CASE. IT'S A VALVE COVER (PLASTIC MOLDED) AND GASKET FOR THE MOST POPULAR ENGINE GM EVER MADE - POSSIBLY THE MOST POPULAR ENGINE IN HISTORY. WE SUSPECT THAT EITHER THE DEALER OR THE MANUFACTURER IS RELUCTANT TO INVEST THEIR SERVICE DEPARTMENT TIME IN THIS LOW-VALUE, LOW-PROFILE RECALL.

NHTSA ID
10906728
Incident
Jul 29, 2016
EngineFuel system
Filed Aug 17, 2016

I WAS DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND THE TEMP GAUGE DROPPEF TO ZERO, AIR CONDITIONING STOPPED WORKING, AND CAR BEGAN TO STRUGGLE. I PULLED THE CAR OFF THE HIGHWAY TO SEE IF WAS DUMPING COOLANT PUT. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE SHOP AND HE NEW WHAT WAS WRONG BECAUSE A LOT OF THESE CARS COME IN WITH THE PROBLEM. I HAD TO HAVE THE TIMING COVER REPLACED AND THE ECT SENSOR. THE MECHANIC SAID THIS HAPPENS OFTEN AS GM CARS HAVE THESE ISSUES. WAS ALSO TOLD IT LOOKED AS IF THE CAR OVERHEATED AND WAS LUCKY IT DIDN'T BLOW UP ON THE HIGHWAY AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ID
10896572
Incident
Aug 5, 2016
Mileage
180,453 mi
AirbagsElectricalEngine+3 more
Filed Jul 22, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE TEMPERATURE AND FUEL GAUGES DISPLAYED INCORRECT READINGS. IN ADDITION, THE LOW COOLANT WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS COOLANT IN THE VEHICLE. THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 163,000. UPDATED 09/20/16*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED IF THE VEHICLE SAT FOR TWO DAYS, THE BATTERY WAS DRAIN AND DIE. HIS MECHANIC STATED IT WAS DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. ALSO ,THE REAR DEFROSTER DID NOT WORK, THE FAN SWITCH DID NOT WORK RIGHT AWAY, AND THE TURN SIGNAL LIGHT DID NOT WORK UNLESS HE TAPPED THE DASHBOARD, AND THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTED HARD. UPDATED 10/13/16. *JB

NHTSA ID
10887671
Incident
Apr 6, 2016
Mileage
163,000 mi
Engine
Filed Jul 12, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 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 NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT. UPDATED 08/30/16*LJ *JS

NHTSA ID
10884193
Incident
Dec 12, 2015
Engine
Filed Jul 8, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. IN ADDITION, A CLANKING NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE RECALL REPAIR SPOT. THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V701000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING), BUT THE REMEDY FAILED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND NOTICED OIL AND COOLANT SPEWING AFTER THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 112,536.

NHTSA ID
10883684
Incident
Jun 3, 2016
Mileage
112,536 mi
Driver assistanceElectricalSteering
Filed Jul 5, 2016

TAKATA RECALL. I SPOKE TO A REPRESENTATIVE AT GM ASKING ABOUT THE RECALL OF MY VEHICLE AND SAID MY WARRANTY WAS EXPIRED. I JUST RECENTLY BOUGHT THE CAR FROM ANOTHER PERSON SO HOW I WAS SUPPOSE TO KNOW ABOUT THE CARS RECALL. THE PROBLEM WITH THE CAR IS THE IGNITION SWITCH WHENEVER I ROTATE IT TO TURN IT ON IT DOES NOT START. I WOULD HAVE TO ROTATE IT SLOWLY TO THE START AND AS WELL LET IT GO SLOWLY FOR IT TO START. SO ITS NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. I WANT TO FILE A COMPLAINT TO GM FOR I CAN GET MY CAR FIX SINCE IT COULD BE CAUSED OF MY DEATH AND THE DEATH OF OTHER CIVILIANS THAT ARE NEAR MY CAR WHENEVER IT GIVES UP OR EVEN WORST.

NHTSA ID
10882692
Incident
Jun 20, 2016
Mileage
120,000 mi
Engine
Filed Jun 30, 2016
Fire reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V701000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING), SMOKE APPEARED FROM THE MANIFOLD AND UNDER THE HOOD, WHICH PENETRATED INTO THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE SMOKE WAS NOT DUE TO THE REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.

NHTSA ID
10881672
Incident
Jun 24, 2016
Mileage
200,000 mi

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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