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Chevrolet Monte CarloYears to avoid, problems & recalls

Based on 2,147 NHTSA owner complaints across 34 model years, no Chevrolet Monte Carlo year stands out as one to avoid, and the strongest years are 1999, 2005, 2006 and 2007. The Monte Carlo has 44 safety recalls on record.

Chevrolet Monte Carlo
Years to avoidNoneUse caution: 2000, 2001, 2002Best years'99 '05 '06 '07Fewest complaints for their ageOwner complaints2,147Top: Electrical systemSafety recalls441970–2010 model years

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports. Updated daily. How we score years. Photo: Elise240SX, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Best & worst years

Chevrolet Monte Carlo years to avoid

Complaints by model year, colored by the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Monte Carlo median. Tap a year for its full report.

'70'73'74'75'76'77'78'79'80'81'82'83'84'85'86'87'88'90'91'95'96'97'98'99'00'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'10
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
2010Not rated–/1002 complaints · 0 recalls2008Not rated–/1002 complaints · 0 recalls2007Best79/10042 complaints · 1 recall2006Solid58/100113 complaints · 1 recall2005Solid62/100120 complaints · 1 recall2004Solid43/100230 complaints · 4 recalls2003Solid48/100158 complaints · 6 recalls2002Caution40/100230 complaints · 4 recalls2001Caution35/100276 complaints · 5 recalls2000Caution37/100233 complaints · 5 recalls1999Solid58/100125 complaints · 3 recalls1998Solid57/100100 complaints · 3 recalls1997Solid50/100164 complaints · 1 recall1996Solid52/100155 complaints · 1 recall1995Solid46/100169 complaints · 3 recalls1991Not rated–/1001 complaint · 1 recall1990Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall1988Not rated–/1003 complaints · 0 recalls1987Not rated–/1005 complaints · 1 recall1986Not rated–/1006 complaints · 2 recalls1985Not rated–/1004 complaints · 0 recalls1984Not rated–/1003 complaints · 2 recalls1983Not rated–/1001 complaint · 1 recall1982Not rated–/1002 complaints · 1 recall1981Not rated–/1002 complaints · 1 recall1980Not rated–/1000 complaints · 3 recalls1979Not rated–/1000 complaints · 4 recalls1978Not rated–/1000 complaints · 7 recalls1977Not rated–/1000 complaints · 2 recalls1976Not rated–/1000 complaints · 3 recalls1975Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall1974Not rated–/1001 complaint · 2 recalls1973Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall1970Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall
Complaints by system

Most common Chevrolet Monte Carlo problems

All model years combined: 2,147 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Electrical system60054
Engine and engine cooling30032
Service brakes, hydraulic28730
Steering20121
Engine19776
Exterior lighting1586
Power train1537
Air bags13474
Fuel system, gasoline8717
23 other systems61676
44 recalls

Chevrolet Monte Carlo recalls

Newest first. The ring shows the share of affected vehicles repaired, from the manufacturer's latest report to NHTSA.

26%Engine and engine cooling: engine15V-701 · 1998–2004 · Oct 26, 2015 · 1,003,556 vehicles25%Engine and engine cooling: engine15V-201 · 2004 · Apr 6, 2015 · 330,742 vehicles22%Electrical system: ignition14V-400 · 2000–2005 · Jul 3, 2014 · 5,877,718 vehicles62%Electrical system: ignition14V-355 · 2006–2007 · Jun 23, 2014 · 3,141,731 vehicles–Engine and engine cooling09V-116 · 1998–2003 · Apr 8, 2009 · 1,497,516 vehicles–Service brakes, hydraulic04V-287 · 2004 · Jun 23, 2004 · 47,991 vehicles–Fuel system, gasoline: delivery04V-090 · 2000 · Feb 24, 2004 · 910,873 vehicles–Steering: rack and pinion03V-527 · 1997–1998 · Dec 11, 2003 · 750,283 vehicles–Other: owners/service/other manual03V-250 · 2003 · Jul 15, 2003 · 1,707,825 vehicles–Driver side: inflator module03V-051 · 2003 · Feb 14, 2003 · 130 vehicles–Air bags: frontal02V-329 · 1999 · Dec 9, 2002 · 272 vehicles–Air bags: frontal02V-222 · 2002–2003 · Aug 9, 2002 · 133,221 vehicles

Showing the 12 newest of 44 recalls. Each model-year page lists all recalls for that year.

16 investigations

NHTSA investigations of the Monte Carlo

  1. POWER STEERING FLUID LEAKS - FIRESPE09025 · 2006 · closed Oct 2, 2009
    No recall
  2. POWER RACK AND PINION STEERING FAILUREEA03019 · 1996–1998 · closed Dec 18, 2003
    Led to recall 03V-527
  3. POWER RACK AND PINION STEERING FAILURERQ03001 · 1996–1998 · closed Sep 15, 2003
    No recall
  4. ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRESEA02030 · 1998–2002 · closed Mar 9, 2004
    Led to recall 04V-090
  5. ENGINE CRADLE SEPARATIONEA00011 · 1989–1991 · closed Jan 12, 2001
    Led to recall 00V-189
  6. ENGINE CRADLE SEPARATIONRQ99002 · 1991 · still open
    Led to recall 97V-058
  7. DEGRADED BRAKING PERFORMANCEEA98019 · 1995–1998 · closed Dec 13, 2001
    No recall
  8. DEGRADED BRAKING PERFORMANCEPE98023 · 1996–1997 · closed Aug 31, 1998
    Led to recall 01I014000
  9. CRADLE BOLT FAILURESRQ97017 · 1990–1991 · still open
    Led to recall 97V-058
  10. INAPPROPRIATE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENTEA96023 · 1996 · closed Feb 13, 1998
    No recall