2001 Chevrolet Monte Carlo Engine Problems

Which parts fail

• Engine
  10
• Engine › Gasoline
  7
• Exhaust system › Manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe
  6
• Cooling system
  5
• Exhaust system
  1
• Engine › Gasoline › Belts and associated pulleys
  1

Components named in complaints (engine, cooling system, oil leaks, timing chain, exhaust).

Mileage when the problem started

• Under 25k
  47%
• 25k–50k
  1016%
• 50k–75k
  915%
• 75k–100k
  1016%
• 100k–150k
  1728%
• 150k+
  1118%

Owner reports

Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2001 Chevrolet Monte Carlo owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).

Tl* the contact owns a 2001 Chevrolet Monte Carlo. The contact stated that when she started her vehicle, she heard a loud boom from under the hood. The ignition was turned off and there was smoke coming from the hood. The hood was opened and a fire was discovered. The contact got a fire extinguisher and was able to put out the fire. The police and fire department were not called and no reports were filed. There were no injuries reported. The contact called the dealer future Chevrolet of sacramento (4811 madison ave, sacramento, ca 9584[phone]) and they suggested that the vehicle be towed over so they could inspect it for the cause of the fire. The vehicle had a NHTSA campaign number: 09v-116000 (engine and engine cooling) that May have contributed to the vehicle catching on fire. The contact had not moved the vehicle over to the dealer yet. …

Tl* the contact owned a 2001 Chevrolet Monte Carlo. While driving 35 MPH, another motorist informed the contact that flames were coming from the front of her vehicle. While pulling off the roadway the steering wheel locked and all power was lost. There were no warning indicators illuminated. Two weeks prior to the failure, a diagnostic test was performed but no failure codes were found. The contact also mentioned that she received a recall notification for a key fob, but not NHTSA campaign number: 15v70100 (engine and engine cooling). The fire department was notified and extinguished the fire. A fire report and a police report were filed. The contact received medical treatment for elevated carbon monoxide in the blood and post traumatic stress disorder. The vehicle was towed and deemed a total loss. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. …

Tl* the contact owns a 2001 Chevrolet Monte Carlo. The contact stated that the key was difficult to turn over to start the vehicle. The contact exited the vehicle and, upon further inspection under the hood, it was noticed that there was a fire near the engine compartment which burned various components. The parts that fractured ejected from the vehicle in flames. The driver did not sustain any injuries and a police report was not filed. The contact was able to get a fire extinguisher to extinguish the fire. The vehicle was towed to an authorized dealer for further inspection. The vehicle was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 09V116000 (engine and engine cooling). The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 132,000.

Tl* the contact owns a 2001 Chevrolet Monte Carlo. While attempting to start the vehicle, the contact heard an exploding noise coming from the engine compartment. Upon further inspection, the contact noticed smoke and realized that the intake manifold had exploded. There were no injuries and a police report was not filed. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the intake manifold and fuel pressure regulator needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 98,000.

Tl* the contact owns a 2001 Chevrolet Monte Carlo. While the vehicle was parked in the garage, the contact observed smoke and fire coming under the hood. The local fire department extinguished the fire. The garage and fence were damaged during the fire. The vehicle was towed to a salvage yard where it was diagnosed as destroyed. A fire report was filed and there were no injuries reported. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 145,000.

Tl* the contact owns a 2001 Chevrolet Monte Carlo. After the vehicle was repaired per NHTSA campaign number: 15V701000 (engine and engine cooling), smoke appeared from the manifold and under the hood, which penetrated into the vehicle. The dealer stated that the smoke was not due to the repair. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. The approximate failure mileage was 200,000.

Intake manifold explosion resulting in damage to nearby vehicle. Attempting to start the vehicle one crank followed by loud explosion from under the hood. Upon inspection, the intake manifold had been blown apart into 15 - 20 pieces. A small fire erupted. Was able to extinguish the fire quickly one piece of the destroyed manifold hit a nearby vehicle resulting in paint damage.

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.

Tl* the contact owned a 2001 Chevrolet Monte Carlo. While driving 35 MPH, the vehicle caught fire from the engine compartment. The contact received a recall notice related to the fire. The vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The NHTSA campaign number was unknown. The failure mileage was 130,000.

I got into the vehicle to go to church Sunday with my mother-in-law. I turned the key in the ignition and there was an explosion from under the hood that made the hood jump and some smoke came out of the sides. It scared my mother-in-law half to death. Our company mechanic checked the engine and determined the intake had exploded. He checked on-line as to a probable cause and discovered there was a recall on various Pontiac, Buick and Chevy vehicles with 3.8l engines due to intake explosions due to faulty fuel pressure regulators. In some cases it seems to have bent a fuel rail and pulled an injector out of the head, which it looks to have done to mine also. He towed the vehicle to the dealership and they told him there were 3 recalls listed for this car and that was not one of them. One of the listed recalls was for the ignition which we took it in for and it still sticks. …

Related recalls

Engine complaints in other Monte Carlo years