170 of the
2,964 complaints filed about the Chevrolet Monte Carlo
are about the lighting —
6% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2001.
The cable harness in question runs from the fuse box under hood through firewall to the passenger side foot area. At this point it connects to another harness that connects to various items at the rear of the vehicle. One circuit in particular the rear window defogger is burning wiring and socket and plug of the two wiring harness. Either the wiring or connectors burned apart without the circuit fuse blowing. The circuit has a 40amp fuse. The wiring harness for this circuit is 12 Garage. I can't find any manufacturer who recommends using 12 gauge wire on a 40 Amp circuit. This isn't even close to being correct. This is so agreegessly out of specification it would appear GM knew they had an issue with the circuit and fixed it By over fusing the circuit. This same issue on multiple models over several years.
NHTSA complaint #11576777 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE MULTI FUNCTION SWITCH IS FAULTY. MY BLINKERS NEVER WORK RIGHT. SOMETIMES I HAVE RIGHT AND NO LEFT TURN SIGNAL AND MANY TIMES THE HAZARD LIGHTS TURN ON WHEN I USE TURN SIGNAL. THE TURN SIGNAL SOUND OF CLICKING NEVER STOPS, CONSTANT CLICKING THAT OFTEN STARTS BUZZING. QUITE OFTEN MY TURN SIGNALS DO NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY AND I HAVE NO WAY TO ALERT OTHER DRIVERS THAT I AM SWITCHING LANES. IT SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH CHEVROLET AND GMC AND EXPENSIVE TO CORRECT.
NHTSA complaint #11053609 — 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.
I OWN A PRISTINE 2003 MONTE SS, STORED EVERY WINTER AND MAINTAINED BY MY MECHANIC HUSBAND. I HAVE 2 ISSUES WITH THE CAR. FIRST, I NEVER USE MY BRIGHT LIGHTS BECAUSE MY HEADLIGHTS GO OUT IF I DO. SECOND I AM HAVING BRAKE ISSUES. I HAVE HAD THE SAME THING WITH A SILVERADO TRUCK BEFORE. ABS WOULD COME ON A SLOW SPEEDS WHEN NOT NEEDED, DRY PAVEMENT OR GRAVEL. REALLY SCARES ME BECAUSE I HAD AN ACCIDENT IN MY SILVERADO TRUCK FROM THIS SAME PROBLEM. NOW MY ABS LIGHT AND SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL ARE ALWAYS ON AND NOT WORKING. I HAVE BEEN A DIE HARD CHEVY OWNER BUT I AM SO UNHAPPY WITH THE BREAK SYSTEMS IN THEM. I HAVE ANOTHER FOREIGN CAR THAT I DRIVE IN THE WINTER AND LOVE THE BRAKES.
NHTSA complaint #10874573 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TURN SIGNALS FAIL TO WORK AND HEADLIGHTS GO OFF WHEN YOU ARE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE OR LOCAL ROADS. SOMETIMES THE HEADLIGHTS WILL COME BACK ON IN A FEW SECONDS, OTHER TIMES IT TAKES AS LONG AS THIRTY SECONDS
NHTSA complaint #10870208 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
NHTSA complaint #10861985 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I BEGAN HAVING TROUBLE WITH THIS CAR A FEW MONTHS AFTER I PURCHASED IT. I CAN'T DRIVE THE CAR AT NIGHT WITH THE LIGHTS ON BRIGHT, BECAUSE WHEN I DO THE LIGHTS SHUT COMPLETELY OFF AND THE ONLY WAY TO GET THEM TO COME BACK ON IS TO FLIP THE DIMMER SWITCH. I HAVE BEEN ON THE INTERSTATE AND HIGHWAY BOTH, DRIVING THE POSTED SPEED LIMIT WHEN THIS HAS HAPPENED. THIS PROBLEM, IN MY OPINION IS A BIG HAZARD AND VERY UNSAFE. I HAD TO HAVE THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH REPLACED, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL REPLACED, BECAUSE IT FAILED COMPLETELY WHILE I WAS GOING ON VACATION, I HAD NO IDEA HOW MUCH GAS WAS IN MY CAR OR WHAT SPEED I WAS GOING ALL GAUGES WERE OUT OF WHACK. THE CAR SMELLS LIKE GASOLINE, I'VE TAKEN THIS TO THE DEALER AUTO REPAIR SHOP, THEY CLAIM THEY CAN'T FIND THE PROBLEM, EVEN THOUGH THEY COULD SMELL THE GAS BOTH ON THE OUTSIDE AND INSIDE OF CAR. THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE KEY, I TOOK INTO DEALER AND THEY PUT A COVER OVER THE OLD KEY, I PERSONALLY DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO TAKE CARE OF WHATEVER THE PROBLEM WAS. I HAVE NOTICED THAT OTHERS ON HERE HAVE LISTED SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS CAR. WHAT I'D LIKE TO KNOW IS, IF THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE HAVING THE EXACT SAME PROBLEMS WITH THESE CARS, WHY HASN'T THERE BEEN A RECALL ISSUED? I CAN'T SPEAK FOR ANYONE ELSE, BUT I PAID HARD EARNED MONEY FOR THIS CAR AND I'M SICK AND TIRED OF HAVING TO CONSTANTLY REPAIR STUFF, WHICH SEEMS TO BE A BIG PROBLEM ON THIS MAKE AND MODEL. I THINK SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE BEFORE SOMEONE GETS SERIOUSLY INJURED OR WORSE. AND IT SHOULDN'T TAKE SOMEONE'S LIFE BEFORE SOMETHING IS DONE ABOUT THIS.
NHTSA complaint #10860219 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS, TAIL LIGHTS AND HEADLIGHTS FAILED WHEN THE HIGH BEAM LIGHTS WERE ACTIVATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.
NHTSA complaint #10818983 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE HEADLIGHTS CUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS FLASHED OFF AND ON INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER TO BE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,400. UPDATED 02/23/16*LJ UPDATED 4/30/18*JB
NHTSA complaint #10807474 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
JUST PURCHASED THE CAR, DROVE HIM WITH NO PROBLEMS, WENT FOR ANOTHER DRIVE RIGHT AFTER THE BLINKERS INSIDE NOR OUTSIDE THE CAR WOULD WORK, THEY AT TIMES WOULD WORK AFTER THIS THEN JUST NOT WORK AGAIN, AFTER DOING RESEARCH ABOUT THIS PROBLEM I LEARNED THE HAZZARD SWITCH WAS THE PROBLEM AND MAKING THE BLINKERS NOT WORK AT TIMES, I ROACH THE HAZZARD SWITCH NOW THE BLINKERS ARE JUST FINE.
NHTSA complaint #10733377 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I WAS DRIVING AT NIGHT AND BOTH HEADLIGHTS (LOW BEAMS) STARTED FLASHING OFF AND ON THEN WENT COMPLETELY OUT, I HIT THE DIMMER SWITCH AND TURNED THE HI BEAMS ON AND THEY WORKED FINE. WHEN I SHUT MY HIGH BEAMS OFF MY LOW BEAMS CAME BACK ON AND STAYED ON FOR THE REST OF MY 120 MILE TRIP. FOUR DAYS LATER ON MY WAY TO WORK IN THE DARK THE SAME THING HAPPENED, THE FOLLOWING DAY MY LOW BEAMS WOULD NOT TURN ON AND I HAVE TO HOLD THE DIMMER SWITCH TO KEEP MY HIGH BEAMS ON OR I WILL HAVE NO HEADLIGHTS. ( ONE HAND ON THE DIMMER SWITCH ONE HAND ON THE STEERING WHEEL). I SUSPECT IT IS THE MULTI FUNCTION SWITCH IN THE STEERING COLUMN WHICH IS A $300 PART. BUT HAVE NOT HAD IT PROFESSIONALLY DIAGNOSED. THIS IS A REAL SAFETY ISSUE THAT GM NEEDS TO ADDRESS!
NHTSA complaint #10716834 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT, THE HEADLIGHTS AND INSTRUMENT PANEL FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 92,000.
NHTSA complaint #10667902 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
1.)CANNOT DRIVE WITH THE BRIGHTS ON BECAUSE IT WILL UNEXPECTEDLY TRIGGER ALL LIGHTS TO FAIL AND YOU WILL BE DRIVING BLIND IN THE COMPLETE PITCH BLACK NIGHT. 2.)THE SPEEDOMETER, GAS GAUGE, AND TEMP GAUGE HAVEN'T WORKED SINCE ABOUT 75,000 MILES. I PURCHASED THIS CAR BRAND NEW AND HAVE HAD IT SERVICED AS NEEDED. THIS IS A FACTORY DEFECT, NOT SOMETHING THAT WAS CAUSED SOMEHOW BY ME. I THINK THAT IT IS RIDICULOUS THAT I HAVE TO DEAL WITH THESE DEFECTS WITH MY OWN MONEY WHEN I SPECIFICALLY PURCHASED A BRAND NEW CAR SO I DIDN'T HAVE TO DEAL WITH PROBLEMS OF THE VEHICLE THAT ONE WOULD ASSOCIATE WITH A USED VEHICLE. THE BRIGHTS ISSUE COULD LITERALLY KILL PEOPLE, I'M SURE IT PROBABLY HAS.
NHTSA complaint #10654393 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I CANNOT USE THE HIGH BEAMS ON THE CAR. WHEN I DO THE DASHBOARD ELECTRIC AND HEADLIGHTS ALL TURN OFF. SWITCHING IT BACK TO LOW BEAMS THEY WILL COME BACK ON. CANNOT USE WHEN DRIVING.
NHTSA complaint #10637052 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHILE DRIVING HOME CAR'S HEADLIGHTS BECAME STUCK ON HIGH BEAM AND STAYED STUCK FOR SEVERAL DAYS THEN FUNCTIONED AS NORMAL. A FEW WEEKS LATER WHILE DRIVING HOME AT NIGHT HEADLIGHTS FAILED TO FUNCTION AT ALL. SIGNAL LIGHTS AND FOG LIGHTS WERE ALL THAT ILLUMINATED THE ROADS. VISIBILITY WAS ONLY A COUPLE OF FEET. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF ISSUE AND HAS ISSUED SEVERAL TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS FOR IT NOT ONLY THIS MODEL YEAR, BUT OTHERS. THEY WILL NOT FIX OR EVEN REDUCE COSTS TO FIX BECAUSE THEY CLAIM THIS IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE. NOT HAVING ANY HEADLIGHTS AT ALL IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE IN POOR WEATHER, BUT ESPECIALLY AT NIGHT! UPON INSPECTING MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH IN STEERING COLUMN AND FLIPPING EXTERNAL SWITCH FOR HIGH BEAMS/WIPERS/SIGNALS TO SEE IF THERE IS ANY FUNCTION AFTER A MONTH OF CAR SITTING IN DRIVE, SMOKE BEGAN TO STEADILY COME OUT OF STEERING COLUMN AT SWITCH. BATTERY WAS DICONNECTED WHICH STOPPED THE SMOKE.
NHTSA complaint #10617232 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THOUGHT THIS WAS THE CAR FOR ME. WRONG. AFTER PURCHASING THE CAR THE FOLLOWING THINGS HAVE GONE WRONG AND MOST SEEM DANGEROUS. NO WAY TO CONTROL HEADLIGHTS .. DRIVING AT NIGHT AT 55 MPH, LIGHTS ALL SHUT OFF THE INDICATOR LIGHTS ALSO STOP WORKING AT RANDOM TIMES IGNITION DOES NOT ACCEPT KEY EVERY TIME RESULTING IN LEAVING A SPARE KEY IN THE IGNITION AND HOPE IT STARTS. IF NOT I'M REQUIRED TO WAIT 15 MINUTES BEFORE STARTING OR LONGER. THE TRACTION SYSTEM NO LONGER WORKS, ALONG WITH CRUISE, OR STEERING CONTROLS TOTAL POWER LOST TO STEERING WHEEL, HOPE THIS DOESN'T AFFECT THE AIRBAG. I HAVE THE SUPERCHARGED VERSION, THE ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. NEEDLESS TO SAY IT IS NO LONGER SUPERCHARGED. NOT SO SURE ABOUT THIS ISSUE, HOWEVER WHEN PUMPING GAS THE PUMP WILL KICK OFF EVERY HALF GALLON PUMPED INTO TANK. ANOTHER FIRE ISSUE?
NHTSA complaint #10592925 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE FAILED TO START AFTER NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR WAS REPLACED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE WAS EXPERIENCED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS AND HEADLIGHTS FAILED TO OPERATE AFTER THE BULBS WERE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89,300. UPDATED 06/10/14
NHTSA complaint #10585556 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AS DRIVING AT 45 MPH DURING RUSH HOUR, I USED MY INDICATOR TO CHANGE LANES. THIS IS A ROAD THAT HAS 3 LANES. I WAS CHANGING LANES INTO THE MIDDLE. I HAD MY STEREO ON AT A NORMAL VOLUME WITH MY BABY IN THE CAR. AS I STARTED TO MOVE INTO THE MIDDLE LANE SO DID ANOTHER CAR FROM THE 3RD LANE. I WAS BEING HONKED AT BY SEVERAL CARS. AS I TRIED TO RECOVER, I WAS ALMOST HIT BY THE CAR MOVING INTO THE MIDDLE LANE AND ALMOST CAUSED A BIGGER ACCIDENT BY TRYING TO RECOVER BACK INTO THE LANE I WAS IN. IT WAS AT THIS POINT I REALIZED MY INDICATORS HAD SUDDENLY STOPPED WORKING. I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. AFTER 20 MINUTES OF DRIVING THE INDICATORS SUDDENLY CAME BACK ON. FOUR DAYS LATER I WAS IN THE SAME SITUATION. NAVIGATING THE ROADS WITHOUT INDICATORS. OUT OF PANIC I HIT THE HAZARDS. THE LIGHTS ALL TURNED ON WITH THE HAZARD BUTTON. I TURNED IT OFF AND NOW THE INDICATORS WERE WORKING AGAIN. WELL THAT MUST HAVE BEEN A ONE TIME THING. EVERY TIME THE INDICATORS HAVE GONE OUT SINCE, NOTHING WORKS TO GET THEM WORKING AGAIN.
NHTSA complaint #10578957 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
MY 2002 CHEVY MONTE CARLO HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS SINCE I HAVE OWNED IT. THE CRUISE CONTROL COMES ON WITHOUT BEING SELECTED AND THEN THE HEATING/COOLING SYSTEMS GOES OFF AND ON BY ITSELF. THE TURN SIGNAL GOES ON AND OFF. SOMETIMES IT WILL WORK SOMETIMES IT WILL NOT. THE FUEL GAUGE DOES NOT REGISTER CORRECTLY GOES UP AND DOWN SO I AM NEVER SURE WHAT IS IN THE TANK. OCCASIONALLY THE CAR WILL NOT START AT ALL EVEN THOUGH THE LIGHTS WORK, THE RADIO PLAYS, AND EVERYTHING ELSE WILL OPERATE INSIDE THE CAR. I WILL SIT AND WAIT A WHILE. AFTER ABOUT 15-25 MINUTES I WILL TRY TO START IT AND THEN IT WILL START UP. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING MORE AND MORE. I HAVE TALKED TO OTHER CHEVY MONTE CARLO OWNER AND THEY HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH THEIR CAR.
NHTSA complaint #10557473 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.