1997 Chevrolet Monte Carlo

ONE AFTERNOON WE RETURNED TO THE VEHICLE AFTER DOING SOME SHOPPING TO FIND BOTH DOORS COMPLETELY AJAR. WE KNEW THAT WE HAD CLOSED THEM BEFORE LEAVING SO WE THOUGHT IT WAS VERY STRANGE. WE GOT IN THE CAR AND ATTEMPTED TO CLOSE THE DOORS AND THEY KEPT SWINGING OPEN. NEITHER DOOR WOULD CLOSE. WE HAD TO DRIVE HOME HOLDING THE DOORS CLOSED. ONCE HOME WE WERE ABLE TO TAKE A LOOK AT THE DOORS TO SEE WHAT MIGHT BE CAUSING IT. THE DRIVER DOOR TURNED OUT TO BE FIXABLE, FOR THE TIME BEING, THE THING THAT LATCHES THE DOOR WAS STUCK IN THE CLOSED POSITION SO WE JUST OPENED IT AND IT WAS FINE. THE PASSENGER DOOR, WE COULDN'T FIGURE OUT AT ALL. ABOUT A WEEK LATER THE DRIVER DOOR STOPPED CLOSING ALL TOGETHER AS WELL. WE HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO GET THE DOORS FIXED BECAUSE WE ARE NOT SURE WHAT HAS HAPPENED AND WE CAN'T AFFORD TO JUST TAKE IT IN AND HAVE IT DONE BY THE DEALERSHIP.*AK

Incident Nov 21, 2004

WHILE DRIVING MY CAR HOME ONE EVENING IT WAS IDLING HIGH AND AND EVERYTHING ELECTRICAL WAS ACTING LIKE IT WAS SHORT CIRCUTING AND THEN MY CAR DIED. THANK GOODNESS THAT NO ONE WAS BEHIND ME BECAUSE OF COURSE THE POWER STEERING THE FAILED AND THERE WAS A SOUND OF METAL AGAINST METAL. MY FATHER AND I THEN CHANGED THE ALTERNATOR THINKING THAT THAT MIGHT FIX THE PROBLEM. IT DIDN'T AND THE CAR HAS HAD THE PROBLEM MULTIPLE TIMES. NOW I AM UNABLE TO DRIVE IT FOR THE FEAR OF THIS HAPPENING IN HEAVY TRAFFIC OR OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF NO WHERE AND ME BE STUCK THERE. THE PROBLEM IS NOT A FAULTY ALTERNATOR SO I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF YOU HAVE ANY CLUE AS TO WHAT THE PROBLEM MIGHT BE. *AK

Incident Aug 21, 2004

THE TURN SIGNAL/BRAKE TAIL LIGHTS FAILS TO WORK PROPERLY. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. THE CAUSE WAS NOT DETERMINED. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.

Incident Aug 26, 2004

WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN AT 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER, CAUSING THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE TO HIT A POLE. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THE PROBLEM WAS DUE TO STEERING RACK FAILURE. *JB

Incident May 20, 2004

RECALL 03V527000 CONCERNING STEERING GEAR BEARINGS. CONSUMER HAD A CONCERN WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN THE VEHICLE LOST STEERING CONTROL. ALSO, AIR CONDITIONER/ HAZARD LIGHTS, AND DRIVER'S SIDE POWER WINDOW FAILED TO OPERATE. DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. *AK

Incident Sep 2, 2004

VEHICLE'S STEERING WENT OUT ALL OF A SUDDEN WHILE DRIVING. *MR RECALL #750283. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED HER MONEY BACK. *SC IN JAN. 2004 A RECALL WAS ISSUED ON THE STEERING RACK AND PINION. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD TO SEND IN HER PAPERWORK AND A REIMBURSEMENT CHECK WOULD BE SENT TO HER, BUT INSTEAD THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A DENIAL LETTER. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THE REASON FOR THE DENIAL OF REIMBURSEMENT WAS BECAUSE THE CONSUMER DID NOT HAVE THE VEHICLE SERVICED AT A GM DEALER. *JB

Incident May 1, 2003

WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED CONSUMER NOTICED FLUID LEAKING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. IT WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE GAS TANK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

Incident Jan 20, 2001

1997 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO VIN#[XXX] MILES 36,366 DATE 04/12/02 HEAD GASKET BLOWN (RESEAL INTAKE MANIFOLD) SERVICE#47886 ANDREW CHEVROLET 1500 WEST SILVER SPRING MILWAUKEE,WISC. 53209 REPAIR COST $916.58 REASON GIVEN WHY IT WENT OUT BY SERVICE TECH ENGINE HEATS UP AND COOLS DOWN. 05/14/04 MILEAGE 48,933 SERVICE #89628 HEAD GASKET AGAIN BLOWN(RESEAL INTAKE MANIFOLD WANT ANOTHER $8-900 REFUSED TO PAY AGAIN CAR SITS AT HOME. *LA UPDATED 07/25/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Incident Apr 12, 2002

WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH VEHICLE SKIDDED ON AN ICY PATCH ON THE ROAD, DRIVER LOST CONTROL, AND VEHICLE HIT AN EMBANKMENT HEAD ON. UPON IMPACT, DUAL AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DRIVER SUSTAINED SEVERE INJURIES TO THE FACE AND NECK, AND PASSENGER SUSTAINED A CONCUSSION AND A BLACK EYE. DUE TO SEVERE DAMAGE THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *AK *LA

Incident Apr 1, 2004

CONSUMER'S CLAIM WAS DENIED FOR REIMBURSEMENT SINCE THE REPAIRS WERE DONE PRIOR TO RECEIVING THE RECALL NOTICE. *PH

Incident Nov 1, 2003

STEERING WHEEL DID NOT TURN UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC, AND HE DETERMINED THE RACK AND PINION STEERING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

Incident Mar 14, 2004

WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP. CONSUMER TRIED TO UNLOCK IT BUT WAS UNABLE TO DO SO. CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES AND PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND HIT A MEDIAN STEEL BARRIER. THEN, VEHICLE ROLLED THREE TIMES AND LANDED UPSIDE DOWN ON THE HIGHWAY. UPON IMPACT, BOTH FRONTAL AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. DRIVER SUSTAINED NECK AND BACK INJURIES AND WAS TRANSPORTED BY AMBULANCE, TO THE HOSPITAL. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *AK

Incident Apr 20, 2004

COOLANT STARTING LEAKING WITH A MINIMAL AMOUNT AND KEPT GETTING WORSE. WAS INFORMED THAT INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET NEEDS REPLACED. HEARD OF SEVERAL MONTE CARLOS AND LUMINAS HAVING THIS PROBLEM.*AK

Incident Jun 1, 2003

FUEL GUAGE DOESN'T WORK PROPERLY. *AK

Incident Aug 15, 2002

NHTSA RECALL# 03V527000 SUBJECT:STEERING GEAR BEARINGS. CONSUMER RECEIVED THE NOTICE FOR THE RECALL THE FIRST PART OF FEBRUARY. CONSUMER CALLED THE DEALER SIX TIMES. DEALER DID NOT HAVE THE TOOLS TO FIX THE RECALLED PART, AND TOLD THE CONSUMER TO CALL BACK IN APRIL. THE VEHICLE WAS HAVING STEERING PROBLEMS.*AK

CONSUMER DISSATISFIED WITH THE WORK DONE ON HER VEHICLE. *PH THE DEALER TOLD THE CONSUMER THAT THE STEERING PROBLEM SHE EXPERIENCED HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH RECALL 03V-527000. THE CONSUMER DISAGREES AND BELIEVES THAT THE DEALER REFUSED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE UNDER RECALL BECAUSE SHE REFUSED TO LET THEM REPLACE OTHER ITEMS ON THE VEHICLE. *NM

LTR FM JAMS M. CLARK (MD) RE THE DEFECTIVE 4L60 ELECTRONICALLY CONTROLLED 4 SPEED TRANSMISSION W/OVERDRIVE IN HIS 1997 CHEVROLET FULL SIZE CONVERSION VAN, REPLY IN DUPLICATE ATTN DENISE NOOE/ANNAPOLIS OFC. *PH THE CONSUMER ALSO HAD A FULL BRAKE REPLACEMENT PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE. *JB (1997 CHEVROLET FULL SIZE CONVERSION VAN)

WHEN MAKING A LEFT TURN, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP. THE DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. THE DEALER IS REPLACED THE RACK AND PINION. *JB *NM

Incident Jun 9, 2003

HEARD A LOUD RUMBLING NOISE WHILE BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND DEALER DETERMINED THAT RACK AND PINION STEERING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD RUBBING NOISE WHEN BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY. CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER CONCERNING FRONT SUSPENSION:WHEEL BEARINGS. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND THE DEALER REPLACED WHEEL BEARINGS. *AK

MY 1997 MONTE CARLO IS IN NEED OF AN INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET REPLACEMENT. WHY ISN'T THIS A GM RECALL? THE REPAIR COST IS $800 AND MY INTERNET RESEARCH SHOWS THAT THIS IS A PREVALENT PROBLEM IN GM CARS. MY CAR IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE UNTIL THE REPAIR IS COMPLETE. THE ENGINE COULD CATCH FIRE OR FREEZE UP WHILE DRIVING. GM NEEDS TO RECALL THESE DEFECTIVE PLASTIC GASKETS IMMEDIATELY BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED! *JB

Incident Feb 17, 2003

WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL TOWARDS THE LEFT, THE STEERING LOCKED UP, WHICH CAUSED THE CONSUMER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. *AK THE RACK AND PINION WAS REPLACED *JB *NM

Incident May 1, 2003

TURN SIGNALS AND BRAKE LIGHTS FAIL TO FUNCTION PROPERLY. WHEN DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS ARE ON THE BRAKE LIGHTS FAIL TO BRIGHTEN WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED. I LOOKED UP A FORUM TYPE WEBSITE "MYMONTE.COM" AND FOUND NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. ALL SAID THAT IT IS A FAULTY TURN SIGNAL SWITCH RELATING SPECIFICALLY TO 95-99 YEAR MODELS OF CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO. A FEW OF THESE HAVE HAD REPEATED OCCURRENCES. IT IS A FAIRLY COMMON COMPLAINT WITH MANY MONTE CARLO OWNERS. *CB

Incident Jan 12, 2004

I AM HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MY 1997 MONTE CARLO. THE POWER STEERING INTERMITTENTLY LOCKS UP AND/OR BECOMES VERY DIFFICULT TO OPERATE. PROBLEM ALWAYS OCCURS WHEN TURNING TO THE LEFT, USUALLY AT LOW SPEEDS. PROBLEM BECOMING PROGRESSIVELY WORSE TO THE POINT WHERE VEHICLE IS NOT DRIVABLE.*AK

Incident Jan 3, 2004

WHILE WAITING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED. AS A RESULT, THE ACCELERATOR THROTTLE MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO JUMP A CURB AND LAND IN A DITCH. UPON IMPACT, THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED SEVERE INJURIES TO HIS NECK AND BACK AND WAS TAKEN TO HOSPITAL FOR TREATMENT. *AK *SC *JB

Incident Oct 26, 2003

WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH AND WITHOUT WARNING REAR AXLE SNAPPED, CAUSING THE DRIVER TO PULL OFF THE ROAD. THE CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER. *AK

Incident Oct 22, 2003

LEFT REAR BOLT THAT HELD THE CONTROL ARM ON TO THE AXLE BROKE OFF. IT WAS NOTICED WHEN VEHICLE WAS BEING BACKED OUT OF THE GARAGE. VEHICLE WAS CHECKED AT THE DEALER. AND NO EVIDENCE OF PREVIOUS DAMAGE WAS FOUND.*AK

CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE THE AUTOMOBILE WAS SITTING IN THE DRIVEWAY, THE AIR BAG BEGAN TO INFLATE ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. HOWEVER, ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE IT DID NOT INFLATE, IT IS STILL INTACT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER, WHO STATED THAT THEY HAD NO ANSWER AS WHAT MADE THE AIR BAG INFLATE.*AK *TS *JB

Incident Aug 6, 2003

WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THE STEERING FAILED WITHOUT WARNING, WHICH CAUSED THE CONSUMER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO THE CURB. DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE RACK AND PINION SYSTEM WAS DEFECTIVE. *AK GM STATED THAT THERE WAS A DEFECT IN THE RACK AND PINION BUT NOT THIS VEHICLE. *SCC *JB

Incident Jul 1, 2003

FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE POWER WINDOW SWITCH FAILED, CAUSING THE WINDOW TO BE INOPERATIVE. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

Incident Aug 6, 2003

ABS LIGHT ON AND ABS SYSTEM FAILED AT 50,000 MILES.*AK

Incident Jul 15, 2003

HIGH PRESSURE POWER STEERING HOSE FAILURE. NLM

Incident Jan 10, 2003

POWER STEERING LOCKED UP WHEN MAKING A LEFT TURN. AT FIRST IT HAPPEN WITH MY SON DRIVING, WAS FINE ONE DAY, AND LIKE SOMETHING BROKE THE NEXT. I TOOK MY CAR TO MY MECHANIC, THEY SAID THEY HAVE SEEN 3 MONTO CARLO'S THAT MONTH HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. I HAVE OWNED NUMEROUS VEHICLES IN MY LIFE AND HAVE NEVER HAD THIS KIND OF PROBLEM. IT IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. THEN WHEN DRIVING IT TO MY MECHANIC, THANK GOD MY SON WAS IN THE CAR WITH ME, AND HELPED ME MUSCLE THE CAR THROUGH THE TURN, OR THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. ALSO THE GAS GAUGE HAS NEVER GIVEN A ACCURATE READING. WHEN MY MECHANIC TOLD ME THEY HAD BEEN SEEING A LOT OF MONTE CARLOS WITH THIS PROBLEM, IT ALERTED ME THAT THERE MUST BE A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH THE POWER STEERING, AND I STARTING CHECKING THE RECALLS, AND SURE ENOUGH, GM HAS RECALLED 96 - 98'S CHEVROLET LUMINAS, WHICH IS A SISTER CAR TO THE MONTO CARLO, THE ONLY MAJOR DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THESE TWO CARS IS THE BODY STYLE COUPE (2 DOOR) TO SEDAN (FOUR DOOR). THEY HAVE THE SAME MECHANICAL WORKING PARTS. HOPEFULLY THEY'LL GET THE MONTE CARLO RECALLED SOON BEFORE THERE ARE SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES. *JB

Incident Apr 16, 2003

I AM A VICTIM OF A REAR-END MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENT. THE SEATS ARE DESIGNED TO LATCH WHEN THE VEHICLE'S BRAKES ARE SUDDENLY APPLIED AND/OR THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY COMES TO A STOP (AS PER THE OWNERS MANUAL). IN MY CASE, MY VEHICLE WAS ALREADY AT A STOP AND THEREFORE THE SEAT NEVER LATCHED. CONSEQUENTLY, THE SEAT CAME FORWARD AND THE HEAD REST STRUCK ME LIKE A TWO BY FOUR. MY INJURIES WERE MORE SEVERE BECAUSE OF THIS SECONDARY IMPACT FROM THE HEAD REST. MY HUSBAND HAS A 1996 CHEVROLET CHEYENNE PICK-UP TRUCK THAT HAS THE SAME SEAT DESIGN. IN ADDITION, IN BOTH VEHICLES EVEN WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED, THE SEATS BACKS STILL COME FORWARD SEVERAL INCHES BEFORE EVENTUALLY LOCKING. *JB

Incident Dec 21, 1999

DOOR AND ELECTRICAL WINDOW . MY POWER WINDOW'S WILL NOT GO UP OR DOWN. THE CONTROL BUTTON WILL NOT EVEN MOVE. I SOMETIMES HAVE TO LIFT MY PASSENGER DOOR TO CLOSE IT. I ALSO HAVE PAINT CHIPPING OFF OF MY WIPER ASSEMBLY AND THE BODY OF MY CAR. *JB

Incident Feb 1, 2003

BLOWN MOTOR. WHEN CAR WAS TAKEN APART TO REMOVE ENGINE THE BOLTS ON THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WERE NOT TIGHT AND WERE REMOVED BY HAND, NO TOOLS NEEDED.

Incident Aug 3, 2002

WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL WILL NOT ROTATE BACK TO STANDARD POSITION. THE WHEEL CONTINUES TO ROTATE AROUND IN A CIRCLE. PH

Incident Jan 15, 2003

DURING A SNOW STORM I WAS IN A CAR ACCIDENT WHERE THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME ABRUPTLY STOPPED AND BECAUSE OF THE ROAD CONDITIONS I WAS UNABLE TO DECELERATE FAST ENOUGH AND I TRIED TO PULL TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD TO AVOID HITTING THE OTHER CAR BUT I STILL SLID INTO THE OTHER CAR AND THEN HIT A TREE. THERE WAS EXTENSIVE DAMAGE(APPROX $5,000) DONE TO THE FRONT END OF MY CAR AND MY AIR BAGS NEVER DEPLOYED.

Incident Dec 1, 2002

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE THE FRONT BRAKE PAD BROKE. DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED AT THE TIME OF THIS CALL. PH

CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT THE RACK AN PINION STEERING BROKE. ALSO STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE THE RACK AND PINION STEERING BROKE WHICH IT COMPLETELY LEFT THE CONSUMER WITH NO CONTROL OF THE STEERING. DEALER AND MANUFACTURE WERE CONTACTED AND HAVE A RECALL AND THAT THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. TS

Incident Oct 28, 2002