Suspension complaints by model year
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (struts, shocks, control arms, ball joints, springs).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
Tl contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Monte Carlo. The contact stated that the vehicle shut off and would not restart. The vehicle was driving abnormally and the transmission did not shift when the vehicle was cold. The brain, PCM, wheel bearings, and ic shaft were replaced. Also, on one occasion while driving at an unknown speed, the interior and exterior lights dimmed and the vehicle had to be shut off and restarted in order for the lights to illuminate again. The current mileage was 40,000 and failure mileage was 34,800.
Consumer 2005 Monte Carlo engine failed and tires were out of balance. The vehicle has a vibration in the front end that after several attempts by two dealers, has not been fixed. One dealer claimed the vibration was due to the tires and the type of vehicle. The other dealer found a tire out of balance. After tire was rebalanced the vibration was still present. The vehicle is also experiencing engine problem now that the weather is cold.
I was driving on the freeway and my steering was tighter at 75 MPH. My ABS light came on which has flashed on before about 6 times but quickly went off. I thought those time my car was just having a computer fluke. But this time the ABS light was lit with my steering tight. Traction control light came on and said it was off. My brakes started to lock on me as I tried to pull over which was a hassle considering I couldn't turn the wheel easily . Eventually I was able to pull over without a major accident although it was a close call. It took more than 1/2 a mile to get my car to stop. My car was towed. The wheel hub was so damaged that the repair shop said that they are surprised it didn't fall off. The sensors were just floating around . Thus my ABS and traction control warning lights turning on and off. …
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?
The whole front end of the car is making a noise and it is wobbling all over. I replaced the struts and it did not help it has been well maintained something is just not safe up there in the front suspension.I think they used as cheap of parts as they could get.it feels as if there are zero shocks on the car.
Axle broke sudently on the highway thus provocing the car to stop outside in the field..GM nor the dealership refuse any responsability. Car is under 36000 miles warranty.car has only 23000 miles and was regularly serviced at the dealership.
2001 Monte Carlo ss failure of steering knuckle passenger side. Replaced outer tie rod two times on second replacement noticed tie rod was loose in knuckle after looking closer I saw large crack in tierod hole that if separated completely the steering would have failed. Had to replace steering knuckle and tierod again. Was told that this happens very frequently with all models of GM cars with this same setup. Mileage at failure was around 110,000 miles.
Steering wheel viberates and visibly shakes from side-to-side after reaching a speed of approximately 40 MPH. Vehicle pulls slightly in both directions on a regular basis. Steering column is not centered, and has not been since first day of ownership. Dealership has been alerted to these defects, but has not returned calls. Service call was originally scheduled in April of 2001, but dealership would not furnish courtesy transportation. Therefore vehicle was not left for service/inspection. Vibration worsens at higher speeds such as highway driving. Difficul to control and is thrown when hitting flaw in roadway.
Related recalls (1)
Suspension › Front › Control arm › Lower ball joint
A right-hand lower control arm tapered ball joint mounting hole was incorrectly machined. Movement within this attachment can allow the ball joint stud to fatigue and fracture.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the right-hand lower control arm and ball joint stud on all involved vehicles.
Frequently asked questions
Which Chevrolet Monte Carlo years have suspension problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2000 (18), 1995 (16), 1997 (8), 2001 (6) and 2004 (5) model years. Suspension complaints make up 8% of all complaints for the 2000.
Is there a recall for Chevrolet Monte Carlo suspension problems?
Yes — 1 recall, including 94V-230 (lower ball joint, Nov 21, 1994). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Chevrolet Monte Carlo suspension problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 76,000 miles; 40% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the front (20 mentions), followed by the front › control arm (8).
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.