136 of the
2,964 complaints filed about the Chevrolet Monte Carlo
are about the fuel system —
5% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2000.
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 complaint #11564051 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Vehicle stalls when starting. While driving vehicle may shut off when moving on highway if you are not pushing on gas pedal. May be due to faulty EGR or emissions component
NHTSA complaint #11438831 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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 complaint #11407573 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WE BOUGHT THE 2000 CHEVY MONTE CARLO SS VIN [XXX] BACK IN JUNE 2019 WE HAVE DONE SOME REGULAR REPAIRS ON IT WHEN WE FIRST GOT IT AND EVERYTHING WORKED GREAT! STARTED EVERY SINGLE TIME. 02/18/2020 WE WENT TO START IT AND IT WAS ACTING LIKE THE BATTERY WAS DEAD. WENT AND CHECK THE BATTERY VOLT READ AND IT WAS READING AT 8 SO I HOOKED UP JUMPER CABLE TO IT AND LET IT SIT FOR A COUPLE MINUTES. GOT IN A TURNED THE KEY OVER TO START IT. THE WHOLE PLASTIC INTAKE BLEW UP AND PIECES WENT EVERYWHERE. THEN CAUGHT FIRE. IT WAS SO BAD VERY SCARY. THE DAMAGE WAS LITTLE COMPARED OF WHAT IT COULD HAVE BEEN IF THE HOOD WAS CLOSED. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
NHTSA complaint #11310077 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I PURCHASED A 2001 CHEVY MONTE CARLO SS IN 9-01. I DID NOT REALIZE UNTIL RECENTLY THE ENGINE WAS BUILT 2000. I WOULD NOT HAVE PURCHASED. MY CAR HAS HAD MULTIPLE PROBLEMS. THE RECENT OCCURRED JULY 20TH 2019. MY ODOMETER IS 117,166 ORIGINAL MILES. THE INTAKE MANIFOLDS AND UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD IS ALL MADE OF A PLASTIC. I WENT TO START MY CAR WHICH HAS BEEN RUNNING FINE. AROUND 6-7:00 PM I HEARD A LOUD BOOM. IT STARTLED ME AND MY NIEGHBORS EVEN CAME OUT. I NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE. I POPPED THE HOOD AND FLAMES WERE SHOOTING STRAIGHT UP THE FIREWALL ONTO THE INSIDE HOOD. I IMMEDIATELY SCREAMED GET ME WATER AND NOTICED THE FIRE EXTINGUISHER. I SMASHED THE GLASS GRABBED IT AND BEGAN TO PUT OUT THE FIRE. REMIND YOU THE CAR HAS A COVER I WAS USING BOTH HANDS REMOVED THE OIL CAP PULLED THE COVER AND STILL SPRAYING I PUT THE COVER OUT AND CONTINUED WITH THE ENGINE PLACING THE OIL CAP TO PREVENT CROSS CONTAMINATION. I WAS ABLE TO PUT OUT THE FIRE I HAD CUTS TO MY HAND AND IT SINGED THE HAIR ON MY ARMS AND MY WRIST HAD A SLIGHT BURN. HOWEVER, I HAVE KNOW IDEA HOW I WAS OVER LOOKED ON THE 5-17-04 FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR RECALL PART #03064B MY CAR IS A 3.8 LITRE K SERIES. IF I WOULD HAVE HAD MY GRANDDAUGHTER SHE IS IN A CAR SEAT THE DAMAGE WOULD HAVE BEEN MUCH WORSE. THE FLAMES WERE SO HIGH THEY ALMOST REACHED THE TREE BRANCH. THE SCARY PART IS GMAC IS AWARE OF THE POSSIBLE FIRE AND IS TRYING TO SETTLE WITH ME FOR MINIMAL AMOUNT. I JUST SPENT THOUSANDS BECAUSE THE CAR HIT 100,000 SO NEW RADIATOR, TUNE UP ETC. THIS WAS A VERY EXPENSIVE PURCHASE AND TO THINK I HAVE BEEN DRIVING A TIME BOMB. LUCKILY I WASN'T IN TRAFFIC OR IN A PLACE WHERE I HAD TO PULL MY GRANDDAUGHTER OUT AND THE CAR SEAT BECAUSE THE ENTIRE CAR WOULD HAVE BURNED. I HONESTLY THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO BLOW UP. I CAN ACTUALLY SHOVE MY FIST IN THAT UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD. SEE COMPLAINT ODI112351110
NHTSA complaint #11244180 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
CECKING THE FUSES, NONE OF THEM WERE BLOWN. GAUGE WOULD BE READING HOT TEMPERATURE, WOULD CHECK THE HOSES AND RADIATOR NOTHING. FUEL SYSTEM IS DOWN NOW.
NHTSA complaint #11241335 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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 complaint #11207045 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE BACKFIRED AND EXPLODED UPON IGNITION AFTER SITTING FOR A WEEK. ENGINE WAS COLD AND IN COLD WEATHER. 3 FOOT FLAMES, MINOR BURNS AND INJURIES SUSTAINED ER VISIT FOR SMOKE INHALATION WHILE EXTINGUISHING FIRE. VEHICLE WAS PARKED ON PRIVATE PROPERTY. A NEIGHBOR'S CAR THE SAME MAKE AND MODEL SIMILAR YEAR DID THE SAME THING A FEW WEEKS AGO.
NHTSA complaint #11181640 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO. WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE, AN ABNORMAL NOISE WAS HEARD FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND A FIRE STARTED. THERE WAS NO WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME SYMPTOMS AS LISTED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V090000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 69,000.
NHTSA complaint #11174591 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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 complaint #11001693 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AFTER CHARGING THE BATTERY L THEN STARTED THE CAR AN HAD A BACK FIRE. WHEN THE CAR BACK FIRED IT BLEW OUT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD AN THERE WAS A LOT OF SMOKE . WAS WONDERING IF THER WAS A RECALL ON THE FUEL PUMP PRESSURE REGULATER . WHICH COULD BE THE CAUSE OF IT .
NHTSA complaint #10970573 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
MY CAR HAS A STRONG GAS ODOR PARTICULARLY IN COLDER WEATHER. I NOTICED IT LAST WINTER AND IT WENT AWAY DURING THE SUMMER. NOW THAT THE TEMPS ARE GETTING COOLER, IT HAS STARTED AGAIN. I TURN ON THE HEAT AND HAVE TO DRIVE WITH THE WINDOWS DOWN FOR VENTILATION. I'VE HAD THREE DIFFERENT MECHANIC SHOPS CHECK IT OUT. NONE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO FIND THE CAUSE. IT IS EMBARRASSING IN THE SCHOOL CAR RIDER LINE OR IN A DRIVE THROUGH. SOMEONE ALWAYS COMMENTS ON IT. I AM WORRIED IT MAY CATCH FIRE.
NHTSA complaint #10926462 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
PROBLEM 1: DRIVING NEAR MY HOME AND VEHICLE QUIT ON ME. GAS GAUGE SHOWED FULL BUT COME TO FIND OUT, I WAS OUT OF GAS. GOOD THING I WASN'T TRAVELING AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED, LIKE INTERSTATE DRIVING. PROBLEM 2: VEHICLE WOULDN'T START, I'M BEING TOLD IT IS THE PASSLOCK SYSTEM. SECURITY LIGHT HAS ONLY COME ON 1 TIME. I NEVER KNOW WHEN ITS GOING TO START. VERY WORRIED WHEN I TRAVEL BY MYSELF. THESE HAVE HAPPENED AT DIFFERENT TIMES.
NHTSA complaint #10915247 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO. AFTER REFUELING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED FUEL LEAKING UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE POWER WINDOWS AND THE AIR CONDITIONER FAILED TO FUNCTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL TANK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND THE AIR CONDITIONING UNIT NEEDED TO BE RECHARGED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE WITH THE AIR CONDITIONER RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.
NHTSA complaint #10908112 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I WAS DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND THE TEMP GAUGE DROPPEF TO ZERO, AIR CONDITIONING STOPPED WORKING, AND CAR BEGAN TO STRUGGLE. I PULLED THE CAR OFF THE HIGHWAY TO SEE IF WAS DUMPING COOLANT PUT. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE SHOP AND HE NEW WHAT WAS WRONG BECAUSE A LOT OF THESE CARS COME IN WITH THE PROBLEM. I HAD TO HAVE THE TIMING COVER REPLACED AND THE ECT SENSOR. THE MECHANIC SAID THIS HAPPENS OFTEN AS GM CARS HAVE THESE ISSUES. WAS ALSO TOLD IT LOOKED AS IF THE CAR OVERHEATED AND WAS LUCKY IT DIDN'T BLOW UP ON THE HIGHWAY AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT.
NHTSA complaint #10896572 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE TEMPERATURE AND FUEL GAUGES DISPLAYED INCORRECT READINGS. IN ADDITION, THE LOW COOLANT WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS COOLANT IN THE VEHICLE. THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 163,000. UPDATED 09/20/16*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED IF THE VEHICLE SAT FOR TWO DAYS, THE BATTERY WAS DRAIN AND DIE. HIS MECHANIC STATED IT WAS DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. ALSO ,THE REAR DEFROSTER DID NOT WORK, THE FAN SWITCH DID NOT WORK RIGHT AWAY, AND THE TURN SIGNAL LIGHT DID NOT WORK UNLESS HE TAPPED THE DASHBOARD, AND THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTED HARD. UPDATED 10/13/16.
NHTSA complaint #10887671 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.