Problems · by component

2001 Chevrolet Monte Carlo electrical system problems

77 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2001 Chevrolet Monte Carlo cite electrical system, 27% of all 281 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 1 recall on this component.

Complaints
77
27% of all complaints
Crashes
3
Reported by owners
Fires
6
Reported by owners
Injuries
3
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the electrical system

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“MY 2001 MONTECARLO WAS HIT IN FRONT WITH FRONT END DAMAGE AND THE AIR BAGS DIDN'T GO OFF CAUSING MY GIRL FRIEND TO HAVE A BROKEN NOSE ..THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON A CITY STREET IN THE TURNING LANE *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 18, 2020Electrical system, Air bags, StructureCrash reportedODI 11321466
“THE DEALER YEARS AGO JUST PUT AN INSERT INTO THE KEY. NOW THE IGNITION DOES NOT PROPERLY WORK. YOU HAVE TO WIGGLE THE KEY FOR OPERATION. SOMETIMES THE CAR WON'T START,OTHER TIMES THE COMPONENTS WON'T WORK UNLESS I WIGGLE THE KEY. CAR HAS 57,000 MILES. WAS PART OF THE ORIGINAL RECALL FOR IGNITION PROBLEMS.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 12, 2017Electrical systemODI 11004765
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2001 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, ANOTHER MOTORIST INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT FLAMES WERE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF HER VEHICLE. WHILE PULLING OFF THE ROADWAY THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND ALL POWER WAS LOST. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. TWO WEEKS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WAS PERFORMED BUT NO FAILURE CODES WERE FOUND. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT SHE RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR A KEY FOB, BUT NOT NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V70100 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS NOTIFIED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. A FIRE REPORT AND A POLICE REPORT WERE FILED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED MEDICAL TREATMENT FOR ELEVATED CARBON MONOXIDE IN THE BLOOD AND POST TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND DEEMED A TOTAL LOSS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE RECALL DETAILS FOR THE KEY FOB WERE NOT PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 78,000. UPDATED 06/28/17*LJ UPDATED 9/28/18*JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 1, 2017Steering, Electrical system, EngineFire reportedODI 10981679
“PROBLEM 1: DRIVING NEAR MY HOME AND VEHICLE QUIT ON ME. GAS GAUGE SHOWED FULL BUT COME TO FIND OUT, I WAS OUT OF GAS. GOOD THING I WASN'T TRAVELING AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED, LIKE INTERSTATE DRIVING. PROBLEM 2: VEHICLE WOULDN'T START, I'M BEING TOLD IT IS THE PASSLOCK SYSTEM. SECURITY LIGHT HAS ONLY COME ON 1 TIME. I NEVER KNOW WHEN ITS GOING TO START. VERY WORRIED WHEN I TRAVEL BY MYSELF. THESE HAVE HAPPENED AT DIFFERENT TIMES.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 11, 2016Electrical system, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 10915247
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE TEMPERATURE AND FUEL GAUGES DISPLAYED INCORRECT READINGS. IN ADDITION, THE LOW COOLANT WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS COOLANT IN THE VEHICLE. THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 163,000. UPDATED 09/20/16*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED IF THE VEHICLE SAT FOR TWO DAYS, THE BATTERY WAS DRAIN AND DIE. HIS MECHANIC STATED IT WAS DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. ALSO ,THE REAR DEFROSTER DID NOT WORK, THE FAN SWITCH DID NOT WORK RIGHT AWAY, AND THE TURN SIGNAL LIGHT DID NOT WORK UNLESS HE TAPPED THE DASHBOARD, AND THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTED HARD. UPDATED 10/13/16. *JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 22, 2016Fuel system, gasoline, Power train, Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Air bags, EngineODI 10887671
“TAKATA RECALL. I SPOKE TO A REPRESENTATIVE AT GM ASKING ABOUT THE RECALL OF MY VEHICLE AND SAID MY WARRANTY WAS EXPIRED. I JUST RECENTLY BOUGHT THE CAR FROM ANOTHER PERSON SO HOW I WAS SUPPOSE TO KNOW ABOUT THE CARS RECALL. THE PROBLEM WITH THE CAR IS THE IGNITION SWITCH WHENEVER I ROTATE IT TO TURN IT ON IT DOES NOT START. I WOULD HAVE TO ROTATE IT SLOWLY TO THE START AND AS WELL LET IT GO SLOWLY FOR IT TO START. SO ITS NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. I WANT TO FILE A COMPLAINT TO GM FOR I CAN GET MY CAR FIX SINCE IT COULD BE CAUSED OF MY DEATH AND THE DEATH OF OTHER CIVILIANS THAT ARE NEAR MY CAR WHENEVER IT GIVES UP OR EVEN WORST.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 5, 2016Steering, Electrical system, Electronic stability control (esc)ODI 10882692

Showing 6 of 77 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 8, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Related recalls

1 recall on this component

Electrical system: ignition

Free remedy

This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. Until this recall is performed, customers should remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the ignition key. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring. General Motors LLC (GM) notified the agency on July 3, 2014, that they are recalling 5,877,718 model year 2000-2005 Chevrolet Impala and Monte Carlo, 1997-2003 Chevrolet Malibu, 2004-2005 Malibu Classic, 1999-2004 Oldsmobile Alero, 1998-2002 Oldsmobile Intrigue, 1999-2005 Pontiac Grand Am and 2004-2008 Pontiac Grand Prix vehicles. In these models, the weight on the key ring and/or road conditions or some other jarring event may cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position, turning off the engine.

Electrical systemReported Jul 3, 2014NHTSA 14V400000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 8, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.