Airbag complaints by model year
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (front, side and curtain air bags, sensors and inflators).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
Tl* the contact owns a 2007 Chevrolet Monte Carlo. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds and attempting to make a left turn, the steering wheel became difficult to turn. In addition, the contact stated that the brake pedal was depressed and the vehicle spun out of control. As a result, the contact crashed into a tree on the front driver side. The air bags failed to deploy. A police report was filed. The contact sustained head and back injuries that required medical attention. The vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The contact received NHTSA campaign number:14V355000(electrical system) and believed the failure was related to the failure. The approximate failure mileage was unknown.
[redacted]. VIN#[redacted]- WHITE CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO,PH# [redacted] JULY 7 20014 AUTO ACCIDENT HAPPENED ON HWY,31 LOUISVILLE KY 40272. MAN DIED. [redacted] HOSPITALIZED. CAR TURNED OFF OF RUN POSITION STALLED CAUSING ACCIDENT. MY LAWYER SAID TO CONTACT YOU ONE MORE TIME. THANKS [redacted]
Tl* the contact owned a 2006 Chevrolet Monte Carlo. While at a stop light to make a left turn, another vehicle crashed into the front driver side of the contact's vehicle. The air bags failed to deploy. As a result, the contact sustained head and back injuries that required medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed and repaired. On a separate occasion, another vehicle crashed into the driver's door of the contact's vehicle. The air bags failed to deploy. The vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The VIN and details of the crash were unknown. The approximate failure mileage was 80,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet Monte Carlo. The contact stated that another vehicle crashed into the driver side of the vehicle causing the vehicle to crash into a brick wall. The contact stated that during the incident the air bags failed to deploy. The contact suffered neck and back injuries. A police report was filed. In addition, the contact indicated that the key would sometimes be very difficult to remove from the ignition switch. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 170,000.
On a rainy day I was following at least three car lengths behind a truck that lost control and started to skid. I put my brakes on but my car hydroplaned and left the pavement the car came back down and slid as I was sliding I smacked a Ford f-150 my seatbelt did not lock on impact causing me to hit the steering wheel and my airbags did not deployed. Car had to be towed as it would no longer run.
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Monte Carlo. While traveling at an unknown speed and approaching a traffic light, another vehicle crashed into the contact's vehicle. The air bags failed to deploy. The steering wheel and the brakes intermittently locked while attempting to avoid the other vehicle. A police report was filed and the driver sustained whiplash, headaches, neck pains, and left shoulder pains that required medical attention. The passenger sustained whiplash and headaches, which also required medical attention. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 14e044000 (steering) and NHTSA campaign number: 04V190000 (service brakes, hydraulic). The approximate failure mileage was 63,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Monte Carlo. The contact stated that while driving approximately 30 MPH, the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle went off the road and crashed into a body of water. The air bags failed to deploy and the vehicle had to be pulled out of the water. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. The contact sustained facial lacerations and had a swollen ankle that did not require medical attention. The vehicle had not been taken to the dealer or diagnosed. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The approximate failure mileage was 189,000. Updated 12/30/14
I took my 2003 Chevy Monte Carlo into circle Chevrolet in shrewsbury, n.j. Because my car's air bag symbol had came on on my dash board. It had initially came on Saturday July 2 in the late afternoon. I immediately came home and did not drive my car until July 6, 2016 for service.... Because the cars owner manual says on page 3-30 " if the air bag readiness light stays on after you start the vehicle or comes on when you are driving, your air bag system May not work properly. Have your car serviced right away. " service told me it would take about 1 1/2 hours to look at it. I was there 4 hours instead ! Then they charged me $ 123.05. Told me they could not check the car unless the light was on. They never told me till the end. But they managed to give me a laundry list of other things, that had nothing to do with the air bag ! I had told them I am disabled. …
Related recalls (4)
Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module
On certain Mini vans, passenger and sport utility vehicles, some of these vehicles have a driver's side air bag that May not deploy as designed. In addition, the air bag inflator could rupture.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect, and if necessary, install a new driver's air bag. Owner notification began on March 11, 2003. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not…
Air bags › Frontal
On certain passenger, sport utility vehicles and Mini vans, some of these vehicles have a passenger air bag that was manufactured without a check valve pin. An air bag without the check valve pin could produce increased pressure at the onset of the air bag deployment and reduced pressure afterward.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the passenger air bag. Owner notification began December 16, 2002. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive…
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.
Air bags
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The air bag sensing and diagnostic modules (sdm) could experience a memory error resulting in the air bags not deploying in a crash situation.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the sensing and diagnostic module.
NHTSA investigations
Inappropriate air bag deployment
The failure rate (1.25/100K) on this issue is low.a safety-related defect trend has not been identified at this time and further use of the agency resources does not appear to be warranted.the closing of this investigation does not constiture a finding by NHTSA that no safety-related defect exists.odi will continue to closely monitor this issue.the agency reserves the right to take further action if warranted by the…
Frequently asked questions
Which Chevrolet Monte Carlo years have airbag problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2001 (26), 2002 (20), 1997 (15), 2000 (13) and 2003 (11) model years. Airbag complaints make up 9% of all complaints for the 2001.
Is there a recall for Chevrolet Monte Carlo airbag problems?
Yes — 4 recalls, including 03V-051 (inflator module, Feb 14, 2003); 02V-329 (frontal, Dec 9, 2002); 02V-222 (frontal, Aug 9, 2002). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Chevrolet Monte Carlo airbag problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 83,000 miles; 29% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the frontal (43 mentions), followed by the side/window (9).
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.