FaultScore

1998 Chevrolet Monte Carlo engine problems

21 of the 129 complaints about the 1998 Chevrolet Monte Carlo are about the engine — 16% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 129,000 miles.

F

21

Complaints

2

Crashes

5

Fires

2

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Gasoline 6 28.6%
Engine 6 28.6%
Engine AND Engine Cooling 5 23.8%
Engine 2 9.5%
Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe 1 4.8%
Emission Control 1 4.8%

Engine & Cooling across every Chevrolet Monte Carlo year

1995 23 4.6%
1996 46 9.1%
1997 30 6.0%
1998 21 4.2%
1999 42 8.3%
2000 73 14.5%
2001 98 19.5%
2002 71 14.1%
2003 57 11.3%
2004 30 6.0%
2006 12 2.4%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

Belleville, IL

ENGINE

1998 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO HIS DISAPPROVAL OF EXHAUST MANIFOLD RECALL NOTICE REMOVAL OF THE ENGINE PLASTIC "BEAUTY" COVER. *SMD THE CONSUMER WAS ADVISED THE RECALL INCLUDED REMOVING THE BEAUTY COVER. THE CONSUMER STATED THE RECALL NOTICE DOES SAY THAT THE COVER WILL BE REMOVED, BUT DOES NOT STATE THAT IT WOULDN'T BE RETURNED. UPDATED 10/10/2017

NHTSA complaint #10913415 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 190,000 miles Media, PA Crash Fire 1 injured

ENGINE

ON SEPTEMBER 24, 2015, MY WIFE WAS DRIVING OUR MONTE CARLO. UNBEKNOWNST TO HER THE CAR BEGAN SMOKING UNDERNEATH, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL WITH NEITHER STEERING NOR BRAKING CAPABILITY. OTHER DRIVERS, NOTICING THE SMOKE, WERE ATTEMPTING TO NOTIFY HER OF THE IMPENDING FIRE. SHE WAS ABLE TO DRIVE ABOUT ANOTHER MILE BEFORE LOSING CONTROL AND CRASHING INTO A TREE ON MY NEIGHBOR?S YARD. THE CAR BECAME COMPLETELY ENGULFED IN FLAMES AND WAS DESTROYED. WERE IT NOT FOR SEVERAL GOOD SAMARITANS, AND POLICE AND FIRE PERSONNEL, SHE WOULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. THE FOLLOWING IS A HISTORY OF ISSUES WITH THIS CAR, DOCUMENTED FULLY BY SERVICE RECORDS FROM ITS PURCHASE IN 1998. 1.BRAKE LIGHTS WORKING INTERMITTENTLY OR NOT AT ALL. 2.TURN SIGNAL FAILURE. 3.UNABLE TO START DUE TO SHORT IN ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. 4.WHEEL HUB ASSEMBLY REPLACED. 5.POWER STEERING PUMP REPLACED. 6.REAR SUSPENSION (PASSENGER'S SIDE) BROKEN. 7.PREMATURE ALTERNATOR FAILURE. 8.PREMATURE BRAKE REPLACEMENT, I.E., PADS, CALIPERS, ROTORS. 9.TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE FROM HARD BRAKING (INCIDENT NOT CONNECTED WITH FIRE) 10.INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET REPLACED DUE TO COOLANT FLOWING INTO CYLINDERS AND CRANKCASE. 11.PREMATURE RADIATOR REPLACEMENT. 12.ELECTRICAL SPIKE DISTRIBUTED THROUGH SYSTEM WHEN STARTING, CAUSING FULL-SCALE DEFLECTION OF INSTRUMENTATION AND LIGHTS TO BECOME EXTREMELY BRIGHT.

NHTSA complaint #10937463 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 180,000 miles Media, PA Crash Fire 1 injured

ENGINE

ON SEPTEMBER 24, 2015, MY WIFE WAS DRIVING OUR MONTE CARLO. UNBEKNOWN TO HER THE CAR BEGAN SMOKING UNDERNEATH, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL WITH NEITHER STEERING NOR BRAKING CAPABILITY. OTHER DRIVERS, NOTICING THE SMOKE, WERE ATTEMPTING TO NOTIFY HER OF THE IMPENDING FIRE. SHE WAS ABLE TO DRIVE ABOUT ANOTHER MILE BEFORE LOSING CONTROL AND CRASHING INTO A TREE ON MY NEIGHBOR'S YARD. THE CAR BECAME COMPLETELY ENGULFED IN FLAMES AND WAS DESTROYED. WERE IT NOT FOR SEVERAL GOOD SAMARITANS, AND POLICE AND FIRE PERSONNEL, SHE WOULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. ALL DOCUMENTATION IS AVAILABLE FOR REVIEW.

NHTSA complaint #10881372 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Atkinson, NC

ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF 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 MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA complaint #10876459 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Canton, OH Fire

ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1998 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE NEAR THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. NO FURTHER DETAILS WERE AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. UPDATED 05/11/16*BF

NHTSA complaint #10811160 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 175,000 miles Saint Louis, MO

ENGINE

AT APPROXIMATELY 4 PM I WAS DRIVING WITH THREE OTHER PEOPLE IN MY CAR ON THE STREET IN THE SOUTH SAINT LOUIS COUNTY(RAILROAD CROSSING WEBER RD AND CLOSE TO NEW HAMPSHIRE) AND WE WERE GOING ACROSS THE RAILROAD, WHEN ALL FUNCTIONS OF MY CAR DIED AND THE BRAKES .STEERING. ENGINE , ALL WENT OFF AND I GOT SCARED BUT IN THE HEAT OF THE MOMENT I PULLED MY EMERGENCY BREAK AND PULLED THE CAR TO A STOP. ALL THESE HAPPENED ON A VERY WELL PAVED STREET., AND ALL HAPPENED JUST WHEN I CROSSED THE RAILROAD TRACKS. I WAS VERY FRIGHTEN AS WELL ALL THE PEOPLE IN MY CAR. I WAS WONDERING IF ANY OF THIS THAT HAPPENED TO MY CAR HAS TO DO WITH THE RECALLS THAT HAPPENED WITH GM IGNITION SWITCHES. I ALSO TALK TO MY FRIEND AND HE SAID THAT HE USED TO HAVE A CHEVY LUMINA 1995 AND SAME THING HAPPENED TO HIM ON A HIGHWAY IN SOUTH SAINT LOUIS AND HE DID SAME THING AND NO ONE GOT HURT. WHEN WILL ANYONE CONTACT US THAT AND ALL OTHER PEOPLE THAT DRIVE THESE TYPES OF CARS AND CHECK THIS OUT AND FIX THIS PROBLEMS.

NHTSA complaint #10640636 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Vacaville, CA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

1998 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO. CONSUMER REQUESTS INFORMATION ON VEHICLE RECALL POLICY. *SMD

NHTSA complaint #10525458 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Casey, IA Fire

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

1998 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE RECALL NOTICE AND SEEKS REIMBURSEMENT. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE, PRIOR TO RECEIVING THE RECALL NOTICE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A JUNK YARD.

NHTSA complaint #10497061 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 98,000 miles Milwaukee, WI

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 09V116000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR REMEDY REPAIRS. IN ADDITION, THERE WAS OIL LEAKING ONTO THE ENGINE, WHICH THE CONTACT STATED COULD POTENTIALLY START A FIRE. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THE ISSUE SHOULD HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED IN THE RECENT RECALL BECAUSE IT WAS A SAFETY ISSUE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 98,000.

NHTSA complaint #10334421 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 129,000 miles Baton Rouge, LA Fire

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

WHILE DRIVING THE SPEED LIMIT (70 MPH) DOWN THE INTERSTATE I-20 RETURNING HOME FROM A WEEKEND VACATION, MY CAR (1998 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO) HAD A SLIGHT PUTTER AND SMOKE STARTED ROARING OUT THE REAR. I PULLED OVER, TURNED OFF THE ENGINE, POPPED THE HOOD AND FLAMES WERE ALL OVER THE BACKSIDE OF THE ENGINE. I CALLED 911 TO COME PUT THE FIRE OUT. NO PERSON WAS INJURED BUT MY ENGINE IS TOTALED. THE ENGINE IS COMPLETELY BURNED UP AND MELTED.

NHTSA complaint #10320629 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 28,000 miles Hamilton, OH

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

THE VEHICLE HAS AN INTERNAL COOLANT LEAK WITHIN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE LEAK OCCURRED BECAUSE THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET WAS MADE WITH A THIN MATERIAL WHICH DISINTEGRATED AND CREATED AN ORANGE SLUG IN THE ENGINE, PER THE DEALERSHIP.

NHTSA complaint #10065509 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Highland, IN

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

PROBLEMS WITH HEAVY ENGINE KNOCKING, CRANKSHAFT SENSOR, OIL CONSUMPTION, OIL PAN GASKET...ETC.

NHTSA complaint #10037999 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 46,000 miles Sarasota, FL

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE

THE VEHICLE LEAKED COOLANT DUE TO THE FAULTY MANIFOLD GASKET. *NLM

NHTSA complaint #10019990 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Raleigh, NC

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

VEHICLE SPORADICALLY HESITATES ON ACCELERATION. DOES NOT MATTER IF ENGINE IS COLD OR WARM. SYMPTOMS ALSO HAPPEN AT SPEED AND IT FEELS LIKE THE ENGINE IS NOT RECEIVING ENOUGH GASOLINE TO OPERATE AT SPEED. ENGINE HAS SHUT OFF BY ITSELF AT IDLE IN GEAR TWO TIMES. COMPUTER HAS NOT SET ANY CODES. PLUGS AND WIRES REPLACED. NO HELP WITH THE PROBLEM. ENGINE WILL USUALLY TURN TO NORMAL WITHIN 15 TO 20 SECONDS OF EPISODE. DURING EPISODE PRESSURE ON GAS PEDAL DOES NOT RESULT IN ACCELERATION. MECHANIC RELUCTANT TO REPLACE COMPONENTS (I.E TPS, EGR, ETC.) SINCE NO CODES HAVE APPEARED AND CONFIDENCE LOW AS TO WHICH COMPONET (IF ANY) IS CAUSING THE PROBLEM. PROBLEM PARTICULARLY BOTHERSOME WHEN PULLING INTO TRAFFIC AS VEHICLE WILL NOT ALWAYS ACCELERATE TO SPEED AS ANTICIPATED. *JB *****DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTER AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS****764525

NHTSA complaint #10007122 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Huntington, CT

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AND NO WARNING WHEN PRESSING ON THE GAS PEDAL IT WILL BOGGLE DOWN CAUSING IT TO BE HARD FOR THE CONSUMER TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. DEALER NOTIFIED. MR CONSUMER STATED THAT PCM, OXYGEN SENSOR AND WIRES AROUND THE KNOCK SENSOR REPLACED AS A CAUSE, BUT THE PROBLEM STILL EXIST.

NHTSA complaint #8021135 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Huntington, CT

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AND NO WARNING WHEN PRESSING ON THE GAS PEDAL IT WILL BOGGLE DOWN CAUSING IT TO BE HARD FOR THE CONSUMER TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. DEALER NOTIFIED. MR CONSUMER STATED THAT PCM, OXYGEN SENSOR AND WIRES AROUND THE KNOCK SENSOR REPLACED AS A CAUSE, BUT THE PROBLEM STILL EXIST.

NHTSA complaint #8021135 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Phila, PA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #725051 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Lakeview, NY

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

THE CAR WOULD EITHER STALL OR HESITATE IF DRIVEN, THEN LET COOL OFF FOR A WHILE AND THE WENT TO DRIVE AGAIN. DEALER WAS INFORMED BUT NOT ABLE TO FIX.

NHTSA complaint #724142 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SAN Antion, TX

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

WHEN OIL WAS CHANGED NOTICED LOTS OF FLUIDS LEAKING. DEALER STATED RACK AND PINION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.

NHTSA complaint #862663 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

North Port, FL

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

ON 4 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS VEHICLE STALLED OUT AND DIED WITHOUT WARNING. DEALER HAS INSPECTED VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES, AND HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #854473 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Felah, WA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

WHILE DRIVING AT 85MPH THE ENGINE SHUT OFF. THE OWNER NOTIFIED THE DEALER, AND WAS INFORMED THAT THERE IS AN ENGINE LIMIT. WHEN THE VEHICLE REACHES CERTAIN MPH, POWER IS CUT OFF FROM THE ENGINE. OWNER STATES THAT THE DEALER DID NOT TELL THE OWNER ABOUT THIS .

NHTSA complaint #820223 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 1998 Chevrolet Monte Carlo problems

← Full 1998 Chevrolet Monte Carlo report