Owner-reported complaints naming the electrical system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2001 Chevrolet Monte Carlo submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 75 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.
The 25 most recent of 75, in the owner's own words
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
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.
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.
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
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.
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
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.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, SMOKE EXPELLED FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V701000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT FOR TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE KEY RELEASED FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH AND KEY TUMBLER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BEFORE THE RECALL REPAIRS COULD BE PERFORMED. WHILE WAITING FOR THE REPAIRS, THE IGNITION SWITCH SHORTED OUT AND CAUSED THE ANTI-LOCK AND ABS SYSTEM TO MALFUNCTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO CONFIRMED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH AND KEY TUMBLER WERE DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE RECALL REPAIRS WERE NOT PERFORMED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 211,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE FAILURE OCCURRED AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BODY CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE INSTRUMENT PANEL GAUGES ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BODY CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AGAIN AND THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 86,137. UPDATED 8/21/15*CN UPDATED 10/18/2017*CN
2001 MONTE CARLO SS; I'VE HAD MANY DIFFERENT OCCASIONS ON WHERE THE CAR JUST DIES WHILE I'M DRIVING IT. THEY HAD A RECALL FOR THE "IGNITION KEY" I TOOK IT IN, THEY "FIXED" THE KEY-NOT THE IGNITION, AND STILL, TO THIS DAY, THE VEHICLE CONTINUES TO DIE WHILE DRIVING, WHICH INCLUDES LOSS OF POWER STEERING COMPLETELY. LUCKILY, I HAVE NOT HAD A CAR ACCIDENT DUE TO THIS ISSUE, BUT IT'S STILL SCARY WHEN IT HAPPENS. IT HAPPENED AGAIN TODAY, 5/29/2015 WHILE DRIVING AND COMPLETELY LOST STEERING CONTROL WHEN IT DIED.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND AN ABNORMAL NOISE EMITTED. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED AND RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ONLY AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE FAILURE CAUSED THE BATTERY TO DRAIN. THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 340,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE TURN SIGNALS FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DUPLICATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING AND CRASHED INTO A SNOW BANK. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED AFTER NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS TOO MUCH WEIGHT ON THE KEY. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 116,000. UPDATED 4/15/15*CN UPDATED 9/21/2017*CN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN OVER TO START THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT EXITED THE VEHICLE AND, UPON FURTHER INSPECTION UNDER THE HOOD, IT WAS NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A FIRE NEAR THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WHICH BURNED VARIOUS COMPONENTS. THE PARTS THAT FRACTURED EJECTED FROM THE VEHICLE IN FLAMES. THE DRIVER DID NOT SUSTAIN ANY INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO GET A FIRE EXTINGUISHER TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR FURTHER INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09V116000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 132,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER SERVICING THE VEHICLE UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM), THE INSERT IN THE KEY SLOT AND THE COVER OVER THE KEY HEAD ON THE IGNITION SWITCH DETACHED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE THE RECALL WAS PERFORMED ON A SECOND OCCASION BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
SECURITY WILL NOT ALLOW CAR TO START OR RUN DEALER SAYS BAD BCM OR WIRE WANTS 400 TO LOOK. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO SUPER SPORT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE STOP WITHIN A PARKING LOT, THE VEHICLE JERKED, SUDDENLY ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY AND CRASHED INTO A METAL POLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED HEAD INJURIES WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION FOR RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
I WENT OUT TO START MY CAR AND THE KEY WON'T TURN THE IGNITION SWITCH. I HAVE THREE KEYS TO MY CAR AND NONE OF THEM WILL TURN IGNITION. *JS
I WAS DRIVING ON THE 105 FREEWAY AND THE CAR CUT OFF ON ME IN THE FAST LANE. I PULLED THE CAR TO THE SIDE AND TRIED TO START IT BACK UP. IT WOULDN'T START AT FIRST BUT AFTER A COUPLE MORE OF TIMES OF TRYING, IT STARTED UP AND I WENT ON HOME. THIS CAR WAS MY MOMS FRIEND'S CAR AND HE COULDN'T DRIVE IT ANYMORE DO TO HEALTH PROBLEMS, SO HE GAVE IT TO ME. THIS SHUTDOWN HAPPEN TO ME 3 MORE TIMES WHERE THE CAR JUST SHUTDOWN WHILE IM DRIVING, AND THEN IT STATED TO SHUTDOWN WHILE I WAS AT A RED LIGHT, BUT IT DIDN'T. I ASKED MY MOMS FRIEND ABOUT THE CAR AND HE TOLD ME THAT HE HAD BOUGHT THE FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH 2 TIMES BEFORE, AND HE STILL HAVE THE PAPERS FROM THE SHOP WHERE HE PAID THEM TO FIX IT. MY MOMS FRIEND TOLD ME ABOUT THE RECALL SO I WENT TO THE GM IN LONG BEACH CA. THEY GAVE ME A CARD TO CALL, HARBOR AUTO, [XXX]. , (562)426-3341. I CALLED AND TOLD HER ABOUT WHAT WAS HAPPENING TO THE CAR AND IT'S ON RECALL FOR THE FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH . SHE TOLD ME THAT THE YEAR 2001 IS NOT ON RECALL SO SHE CAN'T HELP ME. I LOOKED AT THE NEWS REPORT ON NBCLOSGNELES.COM FOR GM RECALLS AND THIS IS THE SAME THING THAT'S WRONG WITH MY CAR, THE FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH. I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO ABOUT THIS IGNITION SWITCH BECAUSE HE TRIED TO FIX IT 2 TIMES ALREADY. I HAVE TO DRIVE THIS CAR TO WORK AND BACK HOME. NOW THAT I KNOW WHAT'S WRONG WITH THE CAR, I JUST SHAKE THE KEY IN THE IGNITION AND IT WILL START BACK UP. I DON'T DRIVE ON THE FREEWAYS UNLESS I HAVE TOO. AND WHEN I DO, I DRIVE IN THE SLOW LANE JUST IN CASE IT WANTS TO SHUTDOWN ON ME. PLEASE HELP ME GET THE RIGHT PART FOR MY CAR, THANK YOU. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
MY SECURITY SYSTEM HAS GONE ON SPURADICALLY FOR YEARS AND I HAVE NO IDEA WHY. I HAVE PAID SEVERAL TIMES X3 FOR A WRECKER SERFVICES TO COME AND ACTIVATE MY CAR SO IT WOULD RUN. ALSO AS I HAVE LEARNED ABOUT RECALLS RECNTLY I HAD TO REPLACE THE UPPER GASGET MANIFOLD DUE TO IT LEAKING OIL DUE TO A PLASTIC GASKET INSTEAD OF A RUBBER GASKET. THIS RAN ME MORE THAN 900 DOLLARS. I HAVE NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR ANY DEFECT/RECALL ON MY MONTE DESPITE BUYING IT NEW IN 10/2002. PLEASE SEND ME DIRECTLY ANY RECALLS ON MY VEHICLE THAT HAVE OCCURRED. THX *TR
MY AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS DON'T WORK, RANDOMLY WHEN I AM DRIVING THE CAR WILL JUST ACT LIKE IT CAN'T SHIFT BUT STILL DRIVES AND D'S ORDER IT WHEN SLOWING DOWN TO. *TR UPDATED 2/2/2015 *JS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MONTE CARLO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START UNLESS THE KEY WAS SHAKEN IN THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE HEAD GASKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 110,597. UPDATED 9/11/14*CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE SHOULD BE PUT ON A RECALL LIST FOR FAULTY IGNITION. THE VEHICLE SHOULD BE ADDED TO ALL FORMER RECALL LIST THAT EXIST OR EXISTED FOR THE MODEL. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED FOR THE VEHICLE TO BE REPAIRED AND TO BE REIMBURSED FOR WHAT HAS ALREADY BEEN REPAIRED. UPDATED 1/20/2015 *JS
INTERMITTENT FAILURE OF THE CHEVROLET PASSLOCK SYSTEM. THE ENGINE STARTS, BUT DIES IN ONE OR TWO SECONDS AND THE "SECURITY" LIGHT BEGINS FLASHING - OR THE ENGINE MAY NOT START AT ALL. IF I WAIT 10 TO 30 MINTUES AFTER THE FIRST ATTEMPT, I CAN USUALLY GET THE CAR RESTARTED BUT IF YOU DO A SEARCH ONLINE FOR GM PASSLOCK, YOU'LL FIND NUMEROUS WEBSITES REPORTING THIS ISSUE AND SUGGESTING THAT IT MAY EVENTUALLY GET SO BAD THAT THE CAR WILL NOT START AGAIN. THE GENERAL MOTORS PASSLOCK SYSTEM IS SUPPOSED TO PROTECT YORU CAR FROM THEFT BY PREVENTING THE FUEL SYSTEM FROM ENGAGING, HOWEVER; THIS MALFUNCTION IS HAPPENING TO OWNERS ALL ACROSS THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. *TR
UPON ATTEMPTING TO START MY CAR, THE ENGINE MADE A LOUD BANG AND SAW SOME SMOKE COMING OUT FROM THE SIDES OF THE HOOD. I THEN NOTICED IN THE REFLECTION OF SOME WATER ON THE STREET AND ORANGE GLOW. I GOT OUT OF THE CAR, SAW FIRE UNDER THE CAR, AND CALLED 911. *TR
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