Owner-reported complaints naming the brake system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2002 Chevrolet Monte Carlo submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 37 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 37, in the owner's own words
THE BRAKE LINES ARE RUSTED OUT CAR ONLY HAS 55,000 MILES IT IS SITTING OUTSIDE BUT ON BLACKTOP IN OUR DRIVE WAY. WE WENT TO USE IT AND THE DASH LIT LIKE MAD CHECKED BRAKE FLUID IT WAS LOW DROVE IT AND ALMOST DID,NT MAKE IT HOME WITH BRAKES.
ABS LIGHT TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT AND AIR BAG LIGHT ARE CONSTANTLY ON..,SINCE IVE OWNED IT
ABOUT OCTOBER 10TH, 2017 I WAS COMING UP ON A TRAFFIC LIGHT AND WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKES, THE PEDAL WOULD NOT GO DOWN. I WAS GOING ABOUT 45 MPH BY THE GRACE OF GOD I WAS ABLE TO BLAST THROUGH AN INTERSECTION AND MISS EVERYONE, EVERYTHING!. RATTLED I GUESS I SHUT THE CAR OFF WHEN I REGAINED MY COMPOSER I STARTED THE CAR AND EVERYTHING WAS FINE. I DID NOT WANT TO BELIEVE THIS HAPPENED! I THOUGHT I DID SOMETHING WRONG MAYBE HAD MY FOOT UNDER THE BRAKE PEDAL OR SOMETHING. HAVE BEEN DRIVING THE CAR SINCE 2 WEEKS AGO WAS STRANDED IN A PARKING LOT, WOULD NOT START. HAD THE CAR TOWED HOME, TRIED TO START IT AND STARTED RIGHT UP. NOW SERVICE TRACK LIGHT IS ON AND ANTI LOCK BRAKES IS ON AND SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT IS ON SOMETIME AND THE CRUISE LIGHT IS ON. YESTERDAY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE CAR AND SAME THING NO BRAKES, YOU COULD NOT PUSH THE PEDAL DOWN IT IS AS IF THERE IS SOMETHING UNDER THE PEDAL IT'S THAT SOLID. MY CONCERN FOR MY OWN SAFETY AS WELL AS OTHER MONTE CARLO OWNERS IS MOST IMPORTANT. IF EITHER TIME WE WOULD HAVE BEEN ON A EXPRESSWAY WHERE WE COULD NOT TURN TO A SHOULDER THIS WOULD BE CATASTROPHIC . CALLED THE SERVICE MANAGER WHERE THE CAR WAS PURCHASED, ALSO HARBOR CHEVY IN MICHIGAN CITY, IN AND GATES CHEVY IN SOUTH BEND, INDIANA, ALL SAID THEY HAVE NEVER HEARD OF THIS BEFORE. GOT ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND SIMILAR POSTS IN CAR COMPLAINTS WITHOUT ANY PROBLEM, SEEMS ODD GM DOES NOT KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THIS. FOR EVERY ONES OWN SAFETY THIS SHOULD BE A REDUNDANT SYSTEM IN OLDER CARS YOU WOULD NOT LOSE ALL BRAKES. COULD UNDERSTAND IF YOU LOST ANTI LOCK PART BUT STILL COULD STOP. THIS HAS TO BE A OVERLOOKED FLAW IN DESIGN AND GM SHOULD BE MADE TO CORRECT THIS BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED. IF SOMEONES BEEN KILLED BY THIS HOW COULD THEY TELL YOU THAT HE LOST HIS BRAKES? THANK YOU MIKE
WHILE BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY THE ABS LITE CAME ON WITH WARNING BELLS ALONG WITH THE SERVICE TRACTION LIGHT AND TRAC TURNED OFF. LATER AS I WAS DRIVING ON FREEWAY WITH THESE LIGHTS ON IT BEGAN TO MAKE A GRINDING NOISE. I PULLED ONTO THE SERVICE ROAD AND THE BRAKES FAILED TO STOP THE CAR SO I BLEW THRU THE STOP SIGN AND PULLED INTO A LOT. I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND LET IT SIT A FEW MINUTES. WHEN I RESTARTED I WAS ABLE TO RETURN HOME WITH ALL THE LIGHTS ON. SINCE THEN THE BRAKES HAVE BEEN SERVICED, THE TIE ROD ENDS REPLACED, A NUMBER OF FAILED REPAIR ATTEMPTS AND $2000 LATER, SAME PROBLEM. AFTER EVERY TRIP TO THE MECHANIC AND 500 PLUS DOLLARS THE PROBLEM COMES BACK IN ABOUT A MONTH. THIS CAR OFTEN WILL NOT START, DEAD AS A DOOR NAIL. BY LEAVING THE KEY IN THE IGNITION, TURNING IT TO ON AND NOT TOUCHING ANYTHING FOR TEN MINUTES, IT WILL RESET AND START RIGHT UP. REPLACING STARTER DOES NOT SOLVE PROBLEM. *TR
HELLO I WAS TOLD I COULD COMPLAIN TO YOU AND POSSIBLY GET REFUNDED. MY CAR CURRENTLY HAS ABOUT 76,900 MILES ON IT. MY BRAKE LINE RUSTED OUT ON ME, AND I HAD $700 OF WORK DONE ON MY BRAKES, AT MONROE IN LOWELL, MA, ON CHELMSFORD ST. (RT. 110). I WAS TOLD I COULD COMPLAIN ABOUT MY ENTIRE BRAKES RUSTING OUT HERE. THANKS FOR YOUR TIME...UPDATED 07/15/14 *BF UPDATED 3/23/2015 *JS
I WENT TO TURN AND MY SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL AND ABS LIGHTS CAME ON. WHILE TURNING, I LOST POWER TO THE BREAKS AND FELT AND HEARD A GRINDING/WHINING NOISE IN THE BRAKES AND COULD NOT STOP. THE VEHICLE NOW HAS A WHINING NOISE WHEN TURNING WITHOUT BRAKING AT ALL. *TR
I WAS DRIVING (WITH MY CHILDREN IN CAR) AND THE CAR JUST SHUT OFF. I HAD NO POWER BRAKES OR POWER STEERING. LUCKILY, ONE CHILD WAS IN DRIVERS ED & KNEW TO PUT CAR IN NEUTRAL & WE COASTED TO A STOP. ONCE I CALMED DOWN, I DROVE MY MONTE SS TO THE DEALER AND DESCRIBED WHAT HAPPENED. THE KEPT CAR FOR A WEEK AND INSISTED THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG! I DRIVE 1-3 HRS FOR WORK DAILY AND I DIDN'T TRUST THE VEHICLE ON INTERSTATE. I PURCHASED ANOTHER VEHICLE 6 DAYS LATER BUT GAVE THIS CAR TO MY CHILD FOR IN TOWN DRIVING. I WAS NEVER THE WISER UNTIL I HEARD ABOUT THE RECALL YESTERDAY & IT'S DESCRIPTION. THE MONTE SHOULD BE INVOLVED IN RECALL TOO. I WAS PREPARING TO PURCHASE A NEW IMPALA BUT NOW I BELIEVE GM IS STILL NOT BEING HONEST ABOUT ALL THE MAKES & MODELS INVOLVED WITH IGNITION PROBLEMS. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE ATTEMPTING A LEFT TURN, THE TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE AND THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL. THE CONTACT HAD TO REPLACE THE ABS WIRING FOR THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WHEEL TO CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN, BUT THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 170,000. UPDATED 04/26/12*LJ
2001-2002 GM MODELS, ABS SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONING, RANDOMLY TURNING ON. HEARD MANY PROBLEMS ABOUT THIS, NEEDS TO BE FIXED. *TR
LOSS OF TRACTION CONTROL AND ANTI LOCK BRAKES IN MY CAR. MY VEHICLE HAS ALLOWED THESE SAFETY FEATURES TO QUIT WORKING AND AFTER REPLACING THE PARTS THAT THE DEALER SAID NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, THE VEHICLE'S SYSTEM DOES NOT RECOGNIZE THE NEW SENSOR AND PART, THUS NOT ALLOWING THE TRACTION CONTROL AND ABS TO WORK. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS ON THE INTERNET, IT SEEMS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM IN GM VEHICLES. *TR
I OWN A LEMON OF A 2002 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO SS. NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS SINCE I BOUGHT IT LAST YEAR. STEERING COLUMN PROBLEMS, COST $200.00 TO FIX, CATALYTIC CONVERTER REPLACED, COVERED BY WARRANTY THANK GOD. TODAY IT IS IN THE SHOP AGAIN FOR LEAKY GASKET AND WHEEL BEARING/ HUB REPLACEMENT WHICH IS COSTING ANOTHER $500.00. THIS WAS BAD BECAUSE THE ABS BREAKS DIDN'T ALWAYS WORK WHICH WAS SCARY SINCE I WONDERED WHEN THEY WERE GOING TO GIVE OUT TOTALLY AND I WOULD BE IN AN ACCIDENT. THE TRANSMISSION SOLENOID ALSO NEEDED TO BE REPLACED WHICH COST US ANOTHER $700.00. IS THERE ANY HELP FOR US? I WONDER WHAT WILL BE NEXT WITH THIS CAR, IT IS A NICE LOOKING CAR, BUT IT SUCKS MECHANICALLY!! PLEASE HELP! ANY SUGGESTIONS? *TR
ON OUR 2002 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO THE SERVICE TRACTION SYSTEM AND ABS LIGHT COMES ON. NOW THE BRAKES OCCASIONALLY FEEL LIKE THEY ARE TRYING TO LOCK UP WHEN COMING TO A STOP. A MECHANIC SAID IT WAS ABOUT $1500.00 TO REPAIR BUT IT WOULD BE FINE WITHOUT REPAIR. NOW WE ARE NOT SO SURE. OTHERS HAVE SAID THAT EVEN DEALERSHIPS DON'T KNOW HOW TO FIX THE PROBLEM. CHANGING THE BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS WORKS FOR A VERY SHORT TIME THEN THE LIGHTS COME BACK ON. *TR
ABS AND TAC OFF LIGHT COME ON STAY ON AND SERVICE TRACTION SYSTEM LIGHT COMES ON TOOK TO SHOP IF DIDN'T FIX (MEANING I HAVE NO ANTILOCK BRAKES AND THEY THING ITS THE ABS MOTOR PUMP THINK) I WONT BE ABLE TO GET A INSPECTION STICKER AND THEY SAID IT WILL COST 1600 TO FIX AND WENT ON WEB AND SEEN MANY HUNDREDS OF 2002 MONTE OWNERS ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR
TRAC OFF AND ABS LIGHTS STAY ON AND THE MESSAGE CENTER SAYS SERVICE TRACTION SYSTEM. WENT ON LINE AND NOTICED THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. THEY HAVE TRIED TO GET THE PROBLEM FIXED WITHOUT SUCCESS. COULD BE A POTENTIAL SAFETY ISSUE. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO. WHILE BRAKING FROM 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE MADE A LOUD CLICKING NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS DIFFICULT TO BRAKE AND THE PEDAL EXTENDED TO THE FLOORBOARD WHEN DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION AND THE TIRES WERE ROTATED AND THE BRAKES WERE INSPECTED, HOWEVER, THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE DEALER STATED THAT HER VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V287000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE POWERTRAIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 64,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,000.
VEHICLE HAS HAD TO HAVE BRAKE ROTORS REPLACED 5 TIMES IN 5 YEARS, AND TURNED 3 OTHER TIMES. DEALERSHIP AND PRIVATE MECHANIC HAVE SAID REPEATEDLY THAT THEY SEE A LOT OF THIS AND THAT IT IS A FACTORY PROBLEM, BUT NO ONE SEEMS TO KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS OR HOW TO FIX IT OTHER THAN 300-400 AT A TIME. *TR
2002 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO WITH ABS AND SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT PROBLEMS AND CONCERNS**CC THE TRACTION LIGHT ILLUMINATED AS WELL. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED 2 MONTHS AFTER THE CONSUMER PURCHASED THE VEHICLE, BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WOULDN'T GO INTO 3RD GEAR. THE STEERING SHAFT WAS LUBRICATED. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THE EBCM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND WITHOUT THE REPLACEMENT, THE ABS WOULD NOT WORK SO THE TRACTION CONTROL AND ABS LIGHT WOULD REMAIN ON. THE WATER PUMP AND INTAKE GASKET WAS REPLACED DUE THEM LEAKING. THE FUEL INJECTOR WAS REPLACED DUE TO IT BEING STUCK OPEN. THE TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING LIGHT ILLUMINATED, THE DEALER SEALED THE REAR WHEELS. *JB
DT: THE CONTACT WAS UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT SHE PURCHASED A BRAND NEW VEHICLE. SHE EXPERIENCED SEVERAL PROBLEMS SINCE THE PURCHASE OF THIS VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP THREE TIMES ,AND NO CORRECTIONS HAVE BEEN MADE. THE DEALER DISCOVERED THE ROTORS WERE BENT, AND BRAKES LEAK FLUID. THE VEHICLE STALLED, AND SHOOK TERRIBLY. THE AIR BAGS WERE FELL OUT OF THE DASHBOARD. THE SEAT BELTS ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE INTERMITTENTLY WORKED. THE DEALERSHIP INSISTED THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. SHE CONTACTED THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE REGARDING THE LEMON LAWS. SHE ATTEMPTED TO GET THE DEALERSHIP TO TAKE THE VEHICLE BACK, BUT THEY WILL NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY EVEN THOUGH IT HAD ONLY 10,000 MILES ON IT AT THIS TIME. *AK
DT: THE CONTACT STATED WHEN OPENING THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR THE DOOR WILL NOT STAY OPEN. THE DOOR WILL CLOSE UNLESS HE HOLDS IT OPEN. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER, AND THEY REPLACED THE DOOR STOP. THE REPLACEMENT OF THE PART DID NOT REPAIR THE PROBLEM. ALSO, THE CONTACT WAS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES. WHILE PRESSING ON THE BRAKES HE COULD FEEL SOME TYPE MOVEMENT IN THE BRAKE PEDAL. THIS ONLY HAPPENED WHEN BACKING THE VEHICLE OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY. THE DRIVEWAY IS ON A SLOPE POSITION. THE DEALER INDICATED THE BRAKING PROBLEM WAS NORMAL . *AK THE DEALER STATED THE ROTORS WERE OUT OF ROUND. UPDATED 01/25/06. *JB
DT: SINCE BUYING THE VEHICLE THE CONSUMER HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE ROTORS. THEY HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWICE. WHILE BRAKING THE ROTORS CAUSED THE STEERING WHEEL TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY. TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR A THIRD TIME YESTERDAY. THE DEALER SAID THIS WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE LAMINATION ON THE ROTORS. THE CONSUMER DID NOT HAVE ROTORS REPLACED BECAUSE HE WAS AFRAID HE WOULD BE CHARGED FOR THE REPAIR AS WELL THE DEALER PLACING THE SAME TYPE OF ROTORS THAT HAVE BEEN RUSTING IN THE PAST. THE MECHANIC NOTED AIR BUBBLES IN THE CASTING IN THE ROTORS WHICH THE CAUSED THE RUSTING. *AK WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN AT SPEEDS OF 60 MPH OR EVEN 30 MPH, THE CONSUMER NOTICED PULSATION IN THE BRAKE PEDAL, HOWEVER, WHEN APPROACHING EXIT RAMPS AND WHEN MORE PRESSURE WAS APPLIED TO THE PEDAL, A MORE SEVERE PULSATION WOULD CAUSE THE STEERING WHEEL TO VIBRATE VIOLENTLY. OTHER PROBLEMS: THE DRIVER'S WINDOW SWITCH WAS INOPERATIVE AND THE FRONT BRAKES WOULD GRIND WHEN STOPPING DUE TO ROTOR PROBLEM. *SC *JB
ABS WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED WHILE VEHICLE WAS RUNNING. DEALERSHIP INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE PROBLEM PERTAINED TO A TRACTION CONTROL FAILURE. THE PROBLEM WAS NOT RESOLVED. *AK *TC
WHEN PRESSING ON THE BRAKES VEHICLE SHOOK HEAVILY. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE ROTORS WORE OUT PREMATURELY. ROTORS HAD BEEN REPLACED AT 5,000 MILES. *AK
I HAVE A 2002 MONTE CARLO SS. WITHOUT WARNING THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON. NOTIFIED DEALER AND THEY SAID WAS OK TO DRIVE UNTIL THEY COULD LOOK AT IT. TURNED OUT TO BE A SENSOR AS THEY THOUGHT. THE PROBLEM WAS FIXED BUT AT SIGNIFICANT COST. GM HAS DESIGNED THE SENSOR SUCH THAT IT IS PART OF THE HUB, SO THE WHOLE THING HAD TO BE REPLACED. INSTEAD OF $200 I HAD TO PAY $775. AT 46000 MILES I WOULD NOT EXPECT THIS. I HAVE HAD OTHER VEHICLES WITH ABS WITH OVER 100000 MILES AND NEVER HAD THE FIRST PROBLEM.*AK
2002 MONTE CARLO SS STARTED: AT ABOUT 13000 MILES STARTED VIBRATING WHEN BRAKING. TOOK IT IN TO THE DEALERSHIP AT ABOUT 15000 MILES AND THEY SAID THE ROTORS NEEDED TO BE TURNED. I PAID FOR THAT TO BE DONE. AT ABOUT 28,000 AGAIN STARTED VIBRATING WHILE BRAKING. TOOK IT TO A BRAKE SPECIALIST AND HE SAID THE ROTORS NEEDED REPLACING. CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT PAY FOR THIS TO BE DONE (NOT IN WARRANTY COVERAGE) SO WE HAD THE OUTSIDE SPECIALIST PUT ON ROTORS WITH A 50,000 MILE WARRANTY. I SEE MANY OTHER FOLKS HAVE THIS SAME PROBLEM. WHY DOES GM NOT COVER THIS? I THOUGHT WHEN I BOUGHT A NEW VEHICLE I WOULDN'T HAVE TO SINK MORE MONEY INTO REPAIRS UNTIL AFTER THE 36,000 WARRANTY WAS UP. HOPE GM STRAIGHTENS THIS OUT. I WAS LOOKING AT A USED 2001 GRAND AM FOR MY DAUGHTER BUT I SEE THERE ARE MANY OF THE SAME COMPLAINTS ON THAT VEHICLE. GUESS MY LIFE LONG RELATIONSHIP WITH GM VEHICLES IS BECOMING QUESTIONABLE? HOPE GM GETS THIS STRAIGHTENED OUT BEFORE THEY LOOSE OTHER DEVOTED GM FOLKS. *AK
2002 MONTE CARLO - AT 38000 MILES THIS WILL BE THE 2ND TIME THE BRAKE ROTORS ON THIS CAR NEED TO BE REPAIRED. THE FRONT END VIBRATES WHEN APPLYING BRAKES AT ANY SPEED. GM SERVICE DEALER ADVISED ME TO WAIT UNTIL THE PADS WERE WORN THIS TIME BEFORE REPAIRING ROTORS?????? THE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE I TALKED TO SUGGESTED TAKING THE CAR TO A DIFFERENT DEALERSHIP FOR A 2ND OPINION????? IT IS UNACCEPTABLE THAT A HIGH PERFOMANCE CAR WOULD HAVE SUCH A DEFECT OR DESIGN PROBLEM. *AK
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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