Engine complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | Share of year's complaints | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 2 | 5% | 73,000 miles |
| 2006 | 12 | 11% | 54,000 miles |
| 2005 | 7 | 6% | 49,000 miles |
| 2004 | 29 | 13% | 107,000 miles |
| 2003 | 55 | 35% | 117,000 miles |
| 2002 | 68 | 30% | 90,000 miles |
| 2001 | 95 | 34% | 97,000 miles |
| 2000 | 70 | 30% | 109,000 miles |
| 1999 | 40 | 32% | 85,000 miles |
| 1998 | 20 | 20% | 129,000 miles |
| 1997 | 30 | 18% | 68,000 miles |
| 1996 | 40 | 26% | 80,000 miles |
| 1995 | 19 | 11% | 125,000 miles |
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (engine, cooling system, oil leaks, timing chain, exhaust).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet Monte Carlo. While driving at an unknown speed, the vehicle stalled without warning. When attempting to start the vehicle and depressing the brake pedal, the engine failed to operate without warning and the check engine warning light illuminated. The failure recurred several times. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 105,000.
Transmisson will shift hard sometimes from complete stop or while traveling , mainly from complete stop or stopping at stop light and not a complete stop . Its like it is slipping. Now air bag light is coming sometimes when car is 1st crank. Dash is also coming apart. Car has 118,000 miles on it. Trasmission is worring me the most.
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Monte Carlo. The contact received notice of NHTSA campaign number: 14V400000 (electrical system). The contact stated that the air bag, brakes, battery and check engine warning lights illuminated while the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failures. The failure mileage was 166,000.
2005 Monte Carlo over heats,second year I bought the car. Replace a number of things. Gas gauge does not work,speed gauge does not work,rear defrost does not work. This is 2012 and I bought it in 2005. Til this day the car is still over heating. The car is a lemon. When you have a car for seven years,and have to keep financing. To make payments and full coverage insurance and to fix the car, and don't get to drive the car for almost two years. You lose respect for the company that built this model.the manufacturer ought to pay me for taking their lemon off their hands. What ever we fix the car will run, but not long and the list goes on.
The contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Monte Carlo. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, there was a burning odor blowing through the air vents into the cabin of the vehicle. While depressing the accelerator pedal, the oil gauge increased to high. Additionally, the engine overheated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer regarding NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V201000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) however, the part had to be ordered,ed and the vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was not yet contacted. The failure mileage was 215,000.
I took my car into Freeland Chevrolet for the recall my car was running great,when i picked it up it was idling rough and smoking on my way home it was stalling out at every stop causing me to loose control of power steering and braking creating a safty haszard called them the next day and told them about it which they already knew because the manager was outside when i started it up. They said it was thowing 11codes when i brought it in saying that was the problem,which i could not have drove it their in that condition and never would.got in touch with corp office. In the mean time I had it towed back to them on DEC1,,,.Because its undrivable. Then on Dec11 got a call from corporate say i had to pay 253.00 for a Diagnostic also they told them it was throwing 21 codes when i brought it in.whats the Truth? …
I keep rewriting this because for some reason it keeps timing out everytime I look for the video to attach. I brought the car to taska twice for underhood fire and ignition. No head gasket got fixed no spark plugs there is several issues water keeps getting in tires are rotted electrical problems and now head gasket is messed up because the hood wasn't put on till afterwards for the recall the ignition is still not fixed. Last time I drove it back it stalled out and smelled over heated
The service manager told me the Engine cover will be removed and NOT replaced. This downgrades the vehicle as the engine cover is part of the appearance element and gives a certain amount of protection to some components and wiring harnesses. It will soon be a Classic and the engine cover is part of the original equiptment that needs to be on it. There is NO logical reason the valve cover gasket cannot be replaced AND keep the engine cover in place. Thank you for your help.
Related recalls (3)
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.
Engine and engine cooling › Engine
General Motors LLC (GM) notified the agency on April 2, 2015, that they are is recalling certain model year 2004 Buick Regal vehicles manufactured April 9, 2003, to June 1, 2003, 2004 Chevrolet Impala vehicles manufactured April 8, 2003, to June 23, 2003, and 2004 Chevrolet Monte Carlo vehicles manufactured April 7, 2003, to…
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will remove the plastic cover and plastic oil fill tube extension and replace the front valve cover and gasket. These repairs will be done free of charge.
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.
Frequently asked questions
Which Chevrolet Monte Carlo years have engine problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2001 (95), 2000 (70), 2002 (68), 2003 (55) and 1996 (40) model years. Engine complaints make up 34% of all complaints for the 2001.
Is there a recall for Chevrolet Monte Carlo engine problems?
Yes — 3 recalls, including 15V-701 (manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe, Oct 26, 2015); 15V-201 (engine, Apr 6, 2015); 09V-116 (engine and engine cooling, Apr 8, 2009). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Chevrolet Monte Carlo engine problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 97,000 miles; 21% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the engine (70 mentions), followed by the engine › gasoline (63).
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.