FaultScore

2003 Chevrolet Monte Carlo transmission problems

13 of the 204 complaints about the 2003 Chevrolet Monte Carlo are about the transmission — 6% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 41,500 miles.

C

13

Complaints

1

Crashes

1

Fires

0

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Automatic Transmission 5 38.5%
Power Train 3 23.1%
Torque Converter 1 7.7%
Cooling Unit AND Lines 1 7.7%
Control Module (Tcm/Pcm/Tecm) 1 7.7%
Seal 1 7.7%
Driveline 1 7.7%

Transmission & Drivetrain across every Chevrolet Monte Carlo year

1995 28 20.7%
1996 11 8.1%
1997 10 7.4%
2000 16 11.9%
2001 18 13.3%
2003 13 9.6%
2006 27 20.0%
2007 12 8.9%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 160,000 miles Kansas City, MO Fire

POWER TRAIN

MY 2003 MONTE SS HAD BEEN SMOKING AND HAVING PROBLEMS ACCELERATING & SHIFTING AND PUT ON TESTERS AND READ CODE AND I NEEDED A AIR FLOW SENSOR SO I HAD THAT PUT ON, WAS RECOMMENDED I GET TUNE UP SO I GOT THAT, AND HAD JUST PUT NEW BATTERY IN THE CAR. THE FOLLOWING DAY AFTER PUTTING GAS IN THE CAR I WAS LEAVING GAS STATION AND LOST ACCELERATION AGAIN AND THE CAR SMOKED AGAIN. I SOON LOST ALL POWER INCLUDING GAS & BREAKS AND WINDOWS. PEOPLE PASSING BY WERE HONKING AND SAID THE UNDERNEATH OF CAR AND UNDER HOOD HAD FLAMES IN FRONT OF CAR. I HAD TO THROW IT IN PARK AND JUMP OUT BECAUSE THE PEDDLES QUIT WORKING AND THE CAR EXPLODED IN FLAMES AND HAD I NOT HAD MY WINDOW DOWN I WOULD HAVE BEEN LOCKED INSIDE AND COULD HAVE LOST MY LIFE. THE ENGINE AND WHOLE ELECTRICAL WIRE HARNESS HAD CAUGHT FIRE AND THE CAR BURNED UP WITH 3-5 MINUTES. THIS WAS OUR ONLY CAR AND THE ONLY MEANS OF GETTING DISABLED CHILD TO THE APPOINTMENTS HE NEEDED AND TO WORK AND HAS PUT HARDSHIP ON OUR FAMILY.

NHTSA complaint #10632913 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 221,549 miles Fowlerville, MI Crash

POWER TRAIN

VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH TRANSMISSIONS IN THE 2000-2005 IMPALA AND MONTE CARLO MODELS. TRANSMISSION MAKES GOING IN MOTION FROM A STOP DELAYED. TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN SERVICED ON/REPLACED TWICE. HAS CAUSED A MINOR ACCIDENT ONLY BECAUSE BOTH PARTIES WERE GOING SLOW.

NHTSA complaint #10578652 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Memphis, TN

POWER TRAIN

WHEN THE CAR IS BEING PUT INTO REVERSE, THE GEAR SHIFTER STICKS AND IS VERY HARD TO SHIFT. I HAVE TO PUT FORCE ON IT TO SHIFT GEARS.

NHTSA complaint #10452139 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 57,000 miles Carmichael, CA

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

JUST PURCHASED 2003 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO LS 2D TODAY, VEHICLE HAS 1ST GEAR ENGAGEMENT (SLIPS), WHEN PULLING OFF FROM STATIONARY POSITION VEHICLE WILL LOSE POWER THEN JERK/CLUNK FORWARD LIKE BEING HIT FROM BEHIND ONLY OCCURS WHEN PULLING OFF FROM STAND STILL POSITION OR MAKING TURNS, ALSO NOTICED DASH BOARD PANEL IS SEPARATING FROM AIRBAG COMPARTMENT AND GLUE/FOAM SHOWING.

NHTSA complaint #10394494 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 103,000 miles Chula Vista, CA

POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE

2003 MONTE CARLO SS. NEW PROBLEM, BUT OCCURS EVERY TIME THIS SEQUENCE OF EVENTS IS FOLLOWED. TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT ON DASH COMES ON AFTER BACKING UP WITH STEERING WHEEL TURNED, THEN SHIFTING TO DRIVE AND MOVING FORWARD. LIGHT IS ACCOMPANIED BY GROWLING SOUND FROM FRONT END. PAVEMENT IS DRY, SO THERE IS NO VALID TRACTION ISSUE. LIGHT TURNS OFF AFTER 5 - 10 SECONDS AND GROWLING SOUND DISAPPEARS. HAVE NOT HAD VEHICLE CHECKED OUT BY CHEVROLET YET, BUT I SEE A HUGE EXPENSE COMING. APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM ON THE MONTE CARLO / IMPALA BASED ON VARIOUS WEBSITE REPORTS. SEEMS CHEVROLET SHOULD HAVE SOME RESPONSIBILITY HERE.

NHTSA complaint #10334280 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 34,000 miles Monroe Falls, OH

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN PULLING OFF FROM A STATIONARY POSITION THE VEHICLE WILL DRAG AND THEN JERK FORWARD LIKE YOU HAVE BEEN HIT FROM BEHIND. THE DEALER HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIND OUT WHAT IS CAUSING THE PROBLEM EVEN THOUGH THEY HAVE SEEN THE PROBLEM ON OTHER VEHICLES. THE PROBLEM DOES NOT HAPPEN WHILE DRIVING; THIS IS A FAILURE THAT ONLY OCCURS YOURE PULLING OFF FROM A STAND STILL POSITION. THE VIN NUMBER WAS NOT AVAILABLE AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT.THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 34000 AND THE CURRENT FAILURE 41000.RL

NHTSA complaint #10326617 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 84,569 miles Katy, TX

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD SNAP SIMILAR TO THE SOUND OF A RUBBER BAND. THE VEHICLE THEN LOST ALL POWER AND SHUT OFF ON ITS OWN. THE CONTACT MANAGED TO PULL OFF THE ROAD. A DIAGNOSTIC INDICATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION LINES HAD RUPTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AT THE PIT STOP AND IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 84,569 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 104,000.

NHTSA complaint #10239020 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 41,500 miles Prairie Village, KS

POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT:SEAL

WHILE DRIVING THE CAR TO WORK, HEARD A CLUNK-GRIND SOUND ON A RIGHT TURN. DROVE TO WORK ANYWAY ON THE FREEWAY - ABOUT 15 MINUTES. WHEN PULLING INTO MY PARKING SPOT, TURNING RIGHT, THE CLUNK-GRIND SOUND APPEARED AGAIN AND THEN JUST MADE A GRINDING SOUND. AFTER HAVING THE CAR TOWED TO A CHEVY DEALER, WAS TOLD IT WAS A BROKEN RIGHT-FRONT AXLE. THE DEALER IS CURRENTLY REPAIRING, BUT THE CAR IS LESS THAN TWO FULL YEARS OLD AND HAS ONLY 41,500 MILES. I CALLED CHEVORLET CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY ARE PICKING UP ALMOST 50% OF THE $600 REPAIR BILL. THANK GOODNESS THIS DIDN'T BREAK WHILE I WAS DRIVING 75 MPH. ON THE FREEWAY!

NHTSA complaint #10137986 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 36,000 miles Lebanon, IN

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:TORQUE CONVERTER

CAR BEGAN HAVING A HARD SHIFT IN ALL GEARS AT 41,000 MILES, 5,000 MILES OUT OF 3 YEAR/36,000 BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY. THE HIGH MILEAGE ON MY VEHICLE IS DUE TO EXTENSIVE HIGHWAY TRAVEL TO AND FROM WORK. THE PROBLEM DIAGNOSED WAS A LEAKING TRANSMISSION COOLANT LINE, DEFECTIVE TORQUE CONVERTOR CLUTCH SYLENOID, AND A DEFECTIVE PRESSURE CONTROL SYLENOID. IT WAS ALSO NOTED THAT UPON MANUFACTURING A WIRE TO THE TRANSMISSION WAS CRIMPED. ALL PARTS HAD TO BE REPLACED.

NHTSA complaint #10112553 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 36,000 miles Lebanon, IN

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)

CAR BEGAN HAVING A HARD SHIFT IN ALL GEARS AT 41,000 MILES, 5,000 MILES OUT OF 3 YEAR/36,000 BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY. THE HIGH MILEAGE ON MY VEHICLE IS DUE TO EXTENSIVE HIGHWAY TRAVEL TO AND FROM WORK. THE PROBLEM DIAGNOSED WAS A LEAKING TRANSMISSION COOLANT LINE, DEFECTIVE TORQUE CONVERTOR CLUTCH SYLENOID, AND A DEFECTIVE PRESSURE CONTROL SYLENOID. IT WAS ALSO NOTED THAT UPON MANUFACTURING A WIRE TO THE TRANSMISSION WAS CRIMPED. ALL PARTS HAD TO BE REPLACED.

NHTSA complaint #10112553 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 36,000 miles Lebanon, IN

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:COOLING UNIT AND LINES

CAR BEGAN HAVING A HARD SHIFT IN ALL GEARS AT 41,000 MILES, 5,000 MILES OUT OF 3 YEAR/36,000 BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY. THE HIGH MILEAGE ON MY VEHICLE IS DUE TO EXTENSIVE HIGHWAY TRAVEL TO AND FROM WORK. THE PROBLEM DIAGNOSED WAS A LEAKING TRANSMISSION COOLANT LINE, DEFECTIVE TORQUE CONVERTOR CLUTCH SYLENOID, AND A DEFECTIVE PRESSURE CONTROL SYLENOID. IT WAS ALSO NOTED THAT UPON MANUFACTURING A WIRE TO THE TRANSMISSION WAS CRIMPED. ALL PARTS HAD TO BE REPLACED.

NHTSA complaint #10112553 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 3,000 miles Auburn, NY

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TRANSMISSION DELAYED FIRST GEAR ENGAGEMENT (SLIPS). DEFECTIVE PRESSURE VALVE REPLACED BY DEALERSHIP " PER SERVICE BULLETIN".

NHTSA complaint #10028603 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Jacksonville, FL

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

CONSTANT HARD UP-SHIFT / DOWNSHIFT ACTION UNLESS CONTINUAL POWER APPLIED. POSSIBLY A TORQUE CONVERTER LOCK-UP. MR

NHTSA complaint #768469 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 2003 Chevrolet Monte Carlo problems

← Full 2003 Chevrolet Monte Carlo report