Most common 2002 Chevrolet Monte Carlo problems
Share of the 230 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Chevrolet Monte Carlo complaints by model year
Best Monte Carlo years: 2007, 2003, 1998. Years to avoid: 2001. Compare all years →
2002 Chevrolet Monte Carlo recalls (4)
Engine and engine cooling › Exhaust system › Manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 1998-1999 Chevrolet Lumina and Oldsmobile Intrigue, 1997-2004 Buick Regal and Pontiac Grand Prix, 2000-2004 Chevrolet Impala, and 1998-2004 Chevrolet Monte Carlo vehicles.
Remedy: The remedy applied under recalls 08V-118, 09V-116, and 15V-201 did not adequately remove the safety risk. Under the improved remedy, dealers will replace the engine's front valve cover and gasket.
Electrical system › Ignition
This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. Until this recall is performed, customers should remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the ignition key. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will install two key rings and an insert in the key slot or a cover over the key head on all ignition keys, free of charge. The recall began on September 9, 2014.
Engine and engine cooling
General motors is recalling 1,497,516 my 1997-2003 Buick regal, my 1998-2003 Chevrolet lumina, monte carlo and impala, my 1998-1999 Oldsmobile intrigue, my 1997-2003 Pontiac grand prix vehicles equipped with a 3.8l v6 naturally aspirated engine.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the engine's front valve cover and front-valve-cover gasket with new parts of an improved design and remove the engine's plastic cover and plastic oil-fill-tube extension, free of charge.
Air bags › Frontal
Certain passenger, Mini vans, and sport utility vehicles have an air bag inflator on the driver's side that could fracture at a weld during a deployment.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect, and replace, if necessary, the air bag module assembly on the driver's side. Owner notification began August 15, 2002.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 2002 Chevrolet Monte Carlo:
Engine compartment fires
Ea02-030 is closed with gmea02-030 is closed with GM?s actions in 03v-473 and 04v-090 recalling approximately 529,000 my 1998-99 c- and h-body vehicles equipped with defective fuel pressure regulators.these vehicles were equipped with plastic intake manifolds that are unable to contain pressures that occur in some backfire events and defective fuel pressure regulators with leaking diaphragms that can provide a…
What 2002 Chevrolet Monte Carlo owners say
Engine & cooling all 68 →
Tl* the contact owned a 2002 Chevrolet Monte Carlo. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 45 MPH, when the vehicle began to smoke both inside the vehicle and under the hood of the vehicle without warning. The contact merged to the shoulder of the road and exited the vehicle along with all the other occupants. A fire started under the hood of the vehicle. The contact attempted to put out the fire however, was unable to lift the hood of the vehicle. The fire department extinguished the fire. The vehicle was towed and deemed totaled. The two occupants received smoke inhalation and slight burns to their arms. No medical attention was needed. A police report was not filed. The vehicle was included in NHTSA campaign number: 15V701000 (engine and engine cooling). The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 90,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 Chevrolet Monte Carlo. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, fumes of smoke emitted from the hood before it caught on fire. The failure recurred intermittently. The contact extinguished the fire. No fire report was filed. The contact did not sustain any injuries. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where an offer to buy the vehicle was given but the contact declined. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact received a notification of NHTSA campaign number: 15V701000 (engine and engine cooling) however, the part for the recall was not available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 110,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
Electrical system all 55 →
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 Chevrolet Monte Carlo. While driving approximately 30 MPH, the vehicle jerked and the computer turned on and off as smoke emitted under the hood. The contact extinguished the fire. A police and a fire report were not filed and there were no injuries. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The VIN was included in 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 failure mileage was approximately 119,000.
My father n law, n I were going to see a family member 12miles away from his home, when we stopped. At the convenience store for snacks, etc... We literally couldn't have been out of car 5 min, when store clerk yells hey someone's (chevys) smoking? We saw it was his n went to investigate the problem I went straight to driver side of vehicle n popped the trunk(thinking it wasn't more than a blown radiator hose) lord n heaven was I wrong, the engine looked as if it were all on fire...I immediately pushed hood down n ran for an extinguisher luckily the store had a good one. This recall as the country n state n manufacturers, call it is seriously deadly, to b 100 percent honest it is flat out wrong. Something this deadly should b notified to all current owners, of the vehicles. …
Brakes all 37 →
At driving the speed of 30 miles per hour, going around a bend, there was a popping noise, I then lost control of the steering and had no brakes. Trying to steer the car left around the bend the car proceeded to go straight. Causing the car to go up the driveway apron through a yard lodging the car into a shrub ,stopping 5 inches from going into a garge. I had the car towed to metro Chevrolet, was contacted by dealer saying it sounded like a mechanical error. Again contacted by the service department, the next day saying the car was driven over a curb, or hit something. I explained the car went through the driveway apron, did not hit curb, and resting on a shrub will not cause the damage that it substained. Dealer refused to take responibility. I proceeded to take pitcures of the sceen of the accident, showing the path of the car. …
About October 10th, 2017 I was coming up on a traffic light and when I applied the brakes, the pedal would not go down. I was going about 45 MPH by the grace of god I was able to blast through an intersection and miss everyone, everything!. Rattled I guess I shut the car off when I regained my composer I started the car and everything was fine. I did not want to believe this happened! I thought I did something wrong maybe had my foot under the brake pedal or something. Have been driving the car since 2 weeks ago was stranded in a parking lot, would not start. Had the car towed home, tried to start it and started right up. Now service track light is on and anti lock brakes is on and service engine light is on sometime and the cruise light is on. …
2002 Chevrolet Monte Carlo engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.4L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 19 / 29 / 22 |
| 3.8L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 17 / 27 / 20 |
EPA ratings. Class: Midsize car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2002 Chevrolet Monte Carlo a good car?
Based on 230 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2002 Monte Carlo rates average: about as many complaints as a typical year of the Monte Carlo at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2002 Chevrolet Monte Carlo?
The engine & cooling — 68 complaints, 30% of all complaints for this model year, most often about cooling system. Next are the electrical system (55) and brakes (37).
How many recalls does the 2002 Chevrolet Monte Carlo have?
There are 4 recalls for the 2002 Chevrolet Monte Carlo, the most recent from October 26, 2015 (manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Chevrolet Monte Carlo?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2007, 2003 and 1998. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2001. See the full Chevrolet Monte Carlo years comparison.
At what mileage do 2002 Chevrolet Monte Carlo problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 75,000 miles; 33% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.