Owner-reported complaints naming the electrical system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories. 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. 52 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 52, in the owner's own words
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.
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
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!
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.
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
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.
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.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE JERKED AND THE COMPUTER TURNED ON AND OFF AS SMOKE EMITTED UNDER THE HOOD. THE CONTACT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. A POLICE AND A FIRE REPORT WERE NOT FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN 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 FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 119,000.
I HAVE A 2002 CHEVY MONTE CARLO LS THAT HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. THE CRUISE CONTROL LIGHT COMES ON SPONTANEOUSLY WITHOUT THE BUTTON BEING PRESSED AND WHEN THIS LIGHT SPONTANEOUSLY COMES ON, THE HEATING/COOLING SYSTEMS DO NOT TURN ON WHEN DIAL IS TURNED ON. WHEN THE CRUISE CONTROL LIGHT TURNS OFF, THE HEATING/COOLING SYSTEM WORKS WITHOUT ANY FURTHER PROBLEM. I HAVE CALLED TWO DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS IN MY AREA AND SPOKE TO TWO DIFFERENT SERVICE ADVISORS AND THEY ARE NOT AWARE OF ANY ISSUES YET THERE ARE FORUMS WHERE OTHER OWNERS HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING THIS PROBLEM FOR SOME TIME NOW.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED NUMEROUS TIMES RANDOMLY FOR MONTHS. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE SEVERAL TIMES, BUT DID NOT PROVIDE A PERMANENT REMEDY. THE CONTACT LATER RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE RECALL REPAIR WAS PERFORMED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED WEEKS LATER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
VEHICLE WILL NOT START INTERMITTENTLY AFTER IT HAS WARMED UP. HAS HAD THE BCM CHANGED AND REPROGRAMMED, THE FUEL SYSTEM CHECKED AND FILTER CHANGED; THE FUEL SYSTEM RELAYS HAVE ALL BEEN CHANGED , THE PASSLOCK AND IGNITION CYLINDER WITH KEYS HAVE BEEN CHANGED, AND YET THE PROBLEM PERSIST.(NOTE: ALL PARTS WERE BRAND NEW AND GM PARTS) BEING A PERSON IN A CERTAIN CRITERIA I NEVER KNOW WHEN I MAY NEED TO LEAVE SHORT NOTICE BUT DO NOT HAVE THE LUXURY OF RELYING ON THIS VEHICLE FOR THAT PART OF MY JOB TO GET ME THERE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE IGNITION WAS TURNED TO THE ON POSITION, THE VEHICLE DID NOT START UNLESS THE CONTACT WAITED FOR TEN MINUTES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY WAS REMOVED WHILE THE IGNITION WAS TURNED TO THE ON POSITION AND THE ENGINE REMAINED RUNNING. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 60,000.
HELLO, I HAD AN IGNITION SWITCH REPLACED ON MY 2002 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO (VIN [XXX]) FOR A COST OF $715.92 ON 4.23.2013 DUE TO A KEY TURNING ISSUE. I THEN RECEIVED A NOTICE ABOUT THE IGNITION SWITCH RECALL IN FEB 2015. I THINK I SHOULD BE ELIGIBLE FOR REIMBURSEMENT. THE REPAIR SHOP SAID I WAS NOT ELIGIBLE. WORK WAS PERFORMED AT : R.M. BURRITT MOTORS INC. 340 STATE ROUTE 104 OSWEGO NY 13126. PHONE (315)342-8948 THANK YOU FOR LOOKING INTO THIS [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
THE POWER WINDOWS STOPPED WORKING ,AND THEN THE SECURITY SYSTEM WOULDN'T LET ME START THE CAR. ALSO THE CAR STARTED RUNNING HOT FOR NO REASON AT ALL. *TR
DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL THE SPEEDOMETER STARTED TO BOUNCE UP AND DOWN VERY ERRATICALLY. WHEN THE SPEEDO WOULD START BOUNCING IT WOULD DISENGAGE THE CRUISE CONTROL. AT SOME POINTS IT WOULD BOUNCING UP AND DOWN BUT NOT COME BACK ABOVE 40 OR SO MPH. WHEN IT WOULD DO SO THE TRANSMISSION WOULD DOWN SHIFT AND REV WAY UP THEN THE NEEDLE WOULD COME BACK UP AND THE TYRANNY WOULD SHIFT BACK UP. I HAD THE NEEDLE GO TO 0 AND NOT COME BACK UP AT ALL AND WHEN SAT FOR A SECOND THE TRANSMISSION WOULD KICK COMPLETELY OUT AND I WOULD BE STUCK ON THE ROAD FOR A MINUTE. AFTER SITTING FOR A BIT I COULD MOVE BUT THE NEEDLE STAYED AT 0 AND THE TRANSMISSION ACTED TO BE STUCK IN 1ST. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY FAILED TO TURN IN THE IGNITION SWITCH. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START AFTER NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RECALL REMEDY FAILED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO STALL. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND THE COMPUTER NEEDED TO BE RESET. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000. UPDATED 01/07/14*LJ UPDATED 05/29/2015 *JS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) AND RECEIVED THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT STATED THE IGNITION FAILED SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE THE NOTIFICATION WAS RECEIVED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN OVER TO START THE VEHICLE ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS BEFORE AND AFTER THE RECALL REPAIR AS WELL AS THE VEHICLE STALLED REPEATEDLY. THE DEALER DID NOT PROVIDE A REMEDY FOR THE IGNITION SWITCH FAILURE AND INDICATED THAT THE CONTACT MAY HAVE THE VEHICLE INPSECTED AND DIAGNOSED TO DETERMINE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO STALL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND WAS ALSO GOING TO FURTHER INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 129,000.
2002 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO. CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE WILL NOT START WHEN THE WEATHER IS HOT WEATHER, AND SHOULD SUBJECT TO A SAFETY RECALL. *SS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY BECAME LODGED WITHIN THE IGNITION SWITCH AND PREVENTED THE VEHICLE FROM BEING STARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 92,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESPOND AND STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTARTED AFTER MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS. IN ADDITION, THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT PANEL FAILED. ON ONE OCCASION, THE VEHICLE COASTED PAST A STOP SIGN AND ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THE CONTACT SUSTAINED NECK INJURIES THAT DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER BUT THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DETERMINED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND REFUSED TO COMPENSATE THE CONTACT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.
MY FATHER N LAW, N I WERE GOING TO SEE A FAMILY MEMBER 12MILES AWAY FROM HIS HOME, WHEN WE STOPPED. AT THE CONVENIENCE STORE FOR SNACKS, ETC... WE LITERALLY COULDN'T HAVE BEEN OUT OF CAR 5 MIN, WHEN STORE CLERK YELLS HEY SOMEONE'S (CHEVYS) SMOKING? WE SAW IT WAS HIS N WENT TO INVESTIGATE THE PROBLEM I WENT STRAIGHT TO DRIVER SIDE OF VEHICLE N POPPED THE TRUNK(THINKING IT WASN'T MORE THAN A BLOWN RADIATOR HOSE) LORD N HEAVEN WAS I WRONG, THE ENGINE LOOKED AS IF IT WERE ALL ON FIRE...I IMMEDIATELY PUSHED HOOD DOWN N RAN FOR AN EXTINGUISHER LUCKILY THE STORE HAD A GOOD ONE. THIS RECALL AS THE COUNTRY N STATE N MANUFACTURERS, CALL IT IS SERIOUSLY DEADLY, TO B 100 PERCENT HONEST IT IS FLAT OUT WRONG. SOMETHING THIS DEADLY SHOULD B NOTIFIED TO ALL CURRENT OWNERS, OF THE VEHICLES. I SERIOUSLY DOUBT HE WOULD HAVE EVER PURCHASED IT USED OR NEW IF HE KNEW WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED IF MY(KIDS)HIS GRAND, WERE W US. MISTAKES HAPPEN. OWN UP TO THEM! THAT'S WHAT MAKES U WHO U ARE. HOPEFULLY YOU WON'T DAMAGE HIM MORE WITH MAKING THIS A 72YR OLD MAN WHO KNOW HAS TO PAY MORE TIME,$$$, N JUST LIFE FOR A MISTAKE HE DIDN'T COMMIT. *TR
WE HAVE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH OUR CAR STARTING. THE BATTERY HAS BEEN REPLACED. WE HAVE DISCONNECTED THEN RECONNECTED THE BATTERY, SOMETIMES THIS WORKS TO START THE CAR OTHER TIMES IT DOES NOT. THE POWER LOCKS NO LONGER WORK. ONE DAY THE SECURITY LIGHT COMES ON, SOMETIMES ITS NOT YESTERDAY, WE COULDN'T EVEN GET THE CAR TO START. TODAY, THE CAR WAS RUNNING AND THE CLUSTER GAUGES WERE NOT EVEN WORKING. WE BOUGHT THIS CAR BRAND NEW OUT OF THE SHOWROOM. WHAT A LEMON IT TURNED OUT TO BE. SADLY, IT NOW SITS IN OUR DRIVEWAY AS IT IS NOT DEPENDABLE TO DRIVE ANYWHERE. THERE IS A RECALL TO REPLACE THE KEY RINGS, AND AN INSET IN THE KEY SLOT OR A COVER ON THE KEY HEAD INSTEAD GM SHOULD BE RECALLING THESE MODELS TO REPLACE THE IGNITIONS, SINCE THERE ARE OTHER PEOPLE POSTING ONLINE ABOUT THESE SAME ISSUES. *TR
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
DRIVING ON HWY 31 IN MCHENRY IL 60050 IGNITION TURNED OFF WITH NO WARNING. LOST ALL POWER STEERING BRAKES CAR STOPPED BY RUBBING INTO CURB. WAS NEARLY REAR ENDED BY A PICK UP TRUCK WHICH HAD NO WARNING THAT I WAS SUDDENLY STOPPING TRYING TO MANEUVER OF TRAFFIC. WITH THE CURB AND NO POWER I HAD NO WAY TO GET OFF THE ROAD. *TR
OWNED SINCE NEW 2002 MONTE CARLO. THIS VEHICLE IS ON THE 3RD IGNITION SWITCH. THE LATEST JUST THIS YEAR. EACH TIME, IT HAS EFFECTED A DIFFERENT PART OF THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THE CRUISE CONTROL, THE RADIO, THE SECURITY SYSTEM. THERE IS AN O-RING IN THE FUEL LINE UNDER THE HOOD THAT WAS FAULTY, CAUSING FUEL TO LEAK IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE POWER WINDOW REGULATOR HAS BEEN REPLACE TWICE ON THE DRIVERS DOOR, ONCE ON THE PASSENGER DOOR. THERE HAS BEEN AN ANTIFREEZE LEAK, CAUSING THE ENGINE TO OVERHEAT. THE FAN COOLING ASSEMBLY HAS BEEN REPLACE. THE DOOR WINDOW BUTTON HAS BEEN REPLACED 5 TIMES. THE LIGHT BULB CONTINUED TO BURN OUT EACH TIME.THE STEERING ASSEMBLY COLUMN HAS BEEN REPLACED, AND CONTINUES TO MAKE A CLUNKING SOUND. WHEN IT WAS RECALLED, THEY REPLACED IT AT THE DEALER AND MY HIGH BEAM FUNCTION HAS NEVER WORKED SINCE THAT REPAIR. THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WENT OUT RIGHT AFTER THE EMISSIONS WARRANTY EXPIRED, WITHIN A FEW THOUSAND MILES. CURRENT MILEAGE IS JUST OVER 120,000 MILES. THAT IS 40,000 MILES PER IGNITION SWITCH. THIS IGNITION SWITCH RECALL CURRENTLY BY GM SHOULD HAVE INCLUDED THE MONTE CARLO. *TR
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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