2002 Chevrolet Monte Carlo Owner Complaints

My car has the engine 3.1 L automatic. On January 4, I was going to go run errands so I went out to my car and cranked it to start the engine but instead, I heard a loud explosion, causing the front tires of the car to go up in the air and then land back on the ground. Smoke started coming out from the hood and a fire almost got started. I was scared to half to death causing me to almost have a heart attack. Morning inspection, I found that the intake manifold had exploded on the car and pieces of it were all over the engine. I feel that the pressure regulator may have been the culprit, but the plastic upper intake just literally blew up. Nobody was injured neighbors came out to see what the explosion had been, the window on my windshield cracked and major damage has been done to the Plenum. I have pictures but I’ve been unable to upload them but they are available. If you need them I went to Mission Chevrolet where I purchased the car but was referred to contact you in general. no recalls sent over this issue, but have I been driving when the explosion occurred it may have caused fatalities to myself, and perhaps other drivers on the freeway.

NHTSA ID

11564051

Incident

Jan 4, 2024

MY INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WILL RESET WHILE I AM DRIVING. THE GUAGES WILL SWEEP AND ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS COME ON AND THE CAR WILL DING AS IF IT WAS JUST STARTED HOWEVER THE CAR NEVER STALLS AND THE RADIO STAYS ON ALONG WITH EVERYTHING ELSE.

NHTSA ID

11407830

Incident

Apr 13, 2021

Mileage

180,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED 2002 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED AT APPLE VALLEY CHEVROLET (650 FOXCROFT AVE, MARTINSBURG, WV 25401) FOR A FUEL CONTROL SENSOR REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AFTER IT WAS SERVICED AT THE DEALER THEN CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE THE CONTACT'S HUSBAND WAS TRYING TO START IT UP. THE CONTACT'S HUSBAND WAS ABLE TO PUT OUT THE FIRE WITH A HOSE. NO POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS STILL AT THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,000.

NHTSA ID

11407573

Incident

Apr 8, 2021

Mileage

96,000 mi

STARTED CAR AND HEARD A LOUD BOOM AND THEN SMOKE UNDER THE HOOD AND INTAKE COVER AND HARNESS ON FIRE

NHTSA ID

11318928

Incident

Mar 12, 2020

Mileage

126,000 mi

WAS GOING ABOUT 55-60 MPH DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND MY RPMS STARTED TO DROP AND I LET OFF GAS AND IT JUST DIED. IT CRANKS AND TURNS OVER BUT WILL NOT FIRE

NHTSA ID

11278261

Incident

May 12, 2019

Mileage

240,000 mi

THE CAR'S FUEL GAGE STOPPED WORKING. THE CAR WOULDN'T TURN OVER WHEN I STARTED IT SO I GOT A NEW BATTERY SINCE IT SAID MY OLD ONE WAS BAD, BUT IT'S STILL NOT WORKING. THE SECURITY LIGHT IS ON AND I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY AND IF THIS IS AFFECTING IT FROM TURNING ON

NHTSA ID

11207045

Incident

May 11, 2019

Mileage

165,000 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

11185841

Incident

Mar 10, 2019

ABS LIGHT TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT AND AIR BAG LIGHT ARE CONSTANTLY ON..,SINCE IVE OWNED IT

NHTSA ID

11120458

Incident

Jan 1, 2010

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

NHTSA ID

11047285

Incident

Oct 10, 2017

Mileage

60,000 mi

RECALL NO.14V400

NHTSA ID

11043601

Incident

Nov 1, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO. WHILE DRIVING 2 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT OBSERVED FLAMES UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT STATED THAT THE FIRE OCCURRED DUE TO A FUEL LEAK. PRIOR TO THE FIRE, THERE WERE NO LEAKS PRESENT. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE FIRE OCCURRED AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS FUELED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT A CASE MANAGER WOULD BE ASSIGNED TO THE CASE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 32,000.

NHTSA ID

11001693

Incident

Jun 13, 2017

Mileage

32,000 mi

PASSLOCK SYSTEM; CAR WILL RANDOMLY (TEMPERATURE BASED?) REFUSE TO START DUE TO POORLY CONSTRUCTED PASSLOCK SENSOR. I KEEP MY DASH APART SO I CAN POKE AT THE CONTACTS (CORRODED? CHEAP TIN PLATING) TO HOTWIRE MY CAR WHEN IT LOCKS OUT. TOOK 20 MINUTES TO GO SEE IF MY WIFE WAS OK AT THE ER, THANKS CHEVY!

NHTSA ID

11001289

Incident

Jun 25, 2017

Mileage

121,000 mi

2002 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO ENGINE FAILURE AND REQUESTS REIMBURSEMENT FOR ENGINE REPAIRS. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE ENGINE FAILED WHEN OIL GOT ONTO THE ENGINE AND CAUGHT FIRE. THE CONSUMER HAD NOT RECEIVED A RECALL UNTIL AFTER THE FAILURE. THE CONSUMER HAD THE ENGINE REPLACED. THE CONSUMER WOULD LIKE TO BE REIMBURSED FOR THE COST OF THE ENGINE REPLACEMENT. *JS

NHTSA ID

10955888

Incident

Jan 9, 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD POPPING SOUND. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS NOTIFIED AND WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A FIRE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V701000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000.

NHTSA ID

10990882

Incident

May 21, 2017

Mileage

170,000 mi

I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO HAVE SERVICE DONE ON A RECALL INVOLVING POTENTIAL UNDER HOOD FIRE TO REPLACE VALVE COVERS. THE OIL WAS/IS LEAKING ONTO THE MANIFOLD AND CAUSING THE CAR TO SMOKE. I BARELY DRIVE THIS CAR AND IT IS STILL LEAKING OIL ONTO THE MANIFOLD AND SMOKING. NOW THE DEALERSHIP WILL NOT FIX WHAT THEY SUPPOSEDLY FIXED.

NHTSA ID

10985900

Incident

Mar 10, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WERE VARIOUS ELECTRICAL SHORTS IN THE VEHICLE, WHICH PREVENTED THE WINDOWS FROM GOING UP AND DOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND SEVERAL INDEPENDENT MECHANICS FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER PROVIDED NO SOLUTION AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10980421

Incident

Feb 14, 2005

HAD ISSUES WITH ELECTRICAL IN 2015 IN WHICH GAS GAUGE AND OTHER GAUGES, SPEEDOMETER WERE "BOUNCING". AUTO REPAIR DETERMINED IT WAS THE FUEL PUMP AND REPLACED IT TO THE TUNE OF $600. THIS YEAR, WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WHEN CAR SUDDENLY LOOSES ALL POWER AND TURNS OFF. BROUGHT BACK TO SAME REPAIR SHOP WHO STATED BATTERY CABLES WERE LOOSE AND TIGHTENED THEM FREE OF CHARGE. NOW 4-5 MONTHS LATER AND SAME ISSUE IS OCCURRING WHICH HAPPENED 4 TIMES TODAY. TWICE WHILE MAKING A HARD TURN. TERMINALS ARE COMPLETELY TIGHT. EARLIER THIS YEAR COULD NOT TURN IGNITION KEY AND TAPPED IT WITH A HAMMER TO GET IT TO TURN. I HAVE BEEN READING QUITE A BIT ABOUT AN IGNITION SWITCH RECALL, BUT NO MENTION OF IT BY THE DEALER FOR TWO RECALL FIXES THIS YEAR REGARDING THE IGNITION KEY AND FOB, AND SOME COVER ON THE ENGINE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10937285

Incident

Dec 23, 2016

Mileage

140,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS UNDERGOING A ROUTINE INSPECTION, THE TECHNICIAN NOTICED THAT THE BACK COVER GASKET WAS LEAKING OIL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 21,571.

NHTSA ID

10926128

Incident

Sep 27, 2016

Mileage

21,571 mi

ISSUES WITH THE BCM AND PASSLOCK SYSTEM. THE CAR WHILE ON AND DRIVING WILL DISPLAY SECURITY ALONGSIDE THE BATT GAUGE QUITS WORKING. IF SHUT OFF CAR WILL NOT START, AND LIGHT STAY ON. I HAVE TO DISCONNECT THE BATT FOR SOME TIME. WITH THE THE AUTO LIGHTS SOMETIMES COME ON DURING MID DAY WITH THE SUN SHINING. THIS IS BECOMING A HASSLE. I'D RATHER PURCHASE ANOTHER CAR THAN GO THREW DEALERSHIP HOOPS.

NHTSA ID

10895843

Incident

Aug 11, 2016

Mileage

170,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE CONTACT NOTICED A BURNING ODOR INSIDE THE VEHICLE CAUSED BY THE EMITTING OIL FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57,000. .....UPDATED 08/11/16 *BF

NHTSA ID

10872816

Incident

Jul 14, 2010

Mileage

57,000 mi

TURN SIGNALS FAIL TO WORK AND HEADLIGHTS GO OFF WHEN YOU ARE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE OR LOCAL ROADS. SOMETIMES THE HEADLIGHTS WILL COME BACK ON IN A FEW SECONDS, OTHER TIMES IT TAKES AS LONG AS THIRTY SECONDS

NHTSA ID

10870208

Incident

May 5, 2016

Mileage

115,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEAD LAMP LENSES HAD BEEN OXIDIZED AND THAT THERE WAS A FILM BUILD UP WHICH AFFECTED THE VISIBILITY OF THE LOW BEAMS WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION CAUSING THE LIGHTING TO BE DIM. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE KEY LESS ENTRY FUNCTION FAILED INTERMITTENTLY AND THAT UPON ENTERING THE VEHICLE, IT WOULD NOT START. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO UTILIZE THE OWNERS MANUAL TO OVERRIDE THE SYSTEM BY EITHER DISCONNECTING AND RECONNECTING THE BATTERY CABLE OR RESETTING THE COMPUTER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,400.

NHTSA ID

10861985

Incident

Nov 20, 2015

Mileage

2,400 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, A STRONG BURNING FUEL ODOR WAS PRESENT INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT VALVE COVER GASKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V701000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 193,000.

NHTSA ID

10855363

Incident

Apr 13, 2015

Mileage

193,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V701000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING); HOWEVER, THE NECESSARY RECALL REPAIR PART WAS UNAVAILABLE. A REMEDY HAD NOT YET BEEN DETERMINED FOR THE RECALL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR PART TO BECOME AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT SEVERAL APPOINTMENTS WERE SECURED TO HAVE THE VEHICLE REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE DEALER CONTINUOUSLY CANCELLED AND RESCHEDULED APPOINTMENTS TO THEIR DISCRETION WITHOUT NOTIFYING THE CONTACT. THE CONTACT WAS UNSURE HOW THE DEALER WAS MAKING APPOINTMENTS FOR REPAIRS WHEN THERE WAS NO REMEDY AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE, BUT PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. UPDATED 05/11/16*LJ UPDATED 07/251/6.*JB

NHTSA ID

10852488

Incident

Jan 1, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V701000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) AND STATED THAT THE PART NEEDED TO PERFORM THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID

10850863

Incident

Dec 26, 2015