FaultScore

Worst years for a Chevrolet Monte Carlo

Owners have filed 2,964 complaints about the Chevrolet Monte Carlo with NHTSA across model years 1974 to 2010. More of them are about the electrical system than anything else.

Avoid

2001 Chevrolet Monte Carlo

417 complaints — the highest FaultScore of any year, mostly engine & cooling.

Cleanest on record

2005 Chevrolet Monte Carlo

155 complaints — the lowest FaultScore of the graded years.

Every Chevrolet Monte Carlo year, graded

The grade compares each year against the rest of this model's own run — never against another car. Click any bar or row to open that year's report.

Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade: A B C D F ungraded
Year Grade Complaints Crashes Fires Median miles Most reported
2010 6 0 0 Electrical System
2008 3 0 0 Engine & Cooling
2007 C 54 9 5 65,192 Electrical System
2006 C 146 15 0 56,485 Electrical System
2005 B 155 2 5 69,000 Electrical System
2004 C 275 10 16 56,000 Electrical System
2003 C 204 14 24 75,500 Engine & Cooling
2002 D 319 14 36 70,000 Engine & Cooling
2001 F 417 20 47 76,800 Engine & Cooling
2000 D 332 18 46 93,000 Engine & Cooling
1999 B 170 6 9 80,000 Brakes
1998 C 129 19 12 98,000 Brakes
1997 C 218 17 3 96,450 Brakes
1996 C 255 21 1 86,000 Electrical System
1995 C 244 35 1 119,461 Brakes
1991 1 0 0 Tires
1988 5 0 0 Seats
1987 9 0 0 Transmission & Drivetrain
1986 6 1 2 Transmission & Drivetrain
1985 7 1 0 Brakes
1984 3 0 0 Brakes
1983 1 0 0 Brakes
1982 2 0 0 Windows, Mirrors & Wipers
1981 2 0 0 Brakes
1974 1 1 0 Suspension

What breaks on a Chevrolet Monte Carlo

Across every model year on file. Follow a row for that part's complaints and the year it was worst.

Electrical System 626 21.1%

Worst in 2004

Engine & Cooling 518 17.5%

Worst in 2001

Brakes 395 13.3%

Worst in 1999

Steering 207 7.0%

Worst in 2001

Lights 170 5.7%

Worst in 2001

Worst in 1995

Airbags 137 4.6%

Worst in 2001

Worst in 2000

Suspension 89 3.0%

Worst in 2000

Worst in 2000

Worst in 2000

Worst in 1995

Seats 54 1.8%

Worst in 1995

Worst in 1996

Exactly what failed on a Chevrolet Monte Carlo

The named sub-assemblies behind those complaints, across every model year.

Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip 151 22.5%
Instrument Cluster/Panel 100 14.9%
Automatic Transmission 85 12.7%
Engine 70 10.4%
Gasoline 65 9.7%
Rotor 57 8.5%
Frontal 43 6.4%
Cooling System 35 5.2%
Ignition 34 5.1%
Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe 31 4.6%

Complaints filed over time

Every complaint about every Chevrolet Monte Carlo, by the month it reached NHTSA.

Apr 1995 peak 57 Apr 2026

Chevrolet Monte Carlo problems by state

Where owners filed from. Heavier states are usually just bigger markets, but a part that fails in heat or salt shows up here first.

Compare the Chevrolet Monte Carlo

Side by side on complaint history. Remember that raw totals track how many were sold as much as how good they were.