Problems · NHTSA complaints
2003 Chevrolet Monte Carlo problems
Owners filed 157 complaints about the 2003 Chevrolet Monte Carlo with NHTSA between Oct 2002 and Dec 2023. The most-cited component is electrical system (48).
Complaints
157
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
10
Reported by owners
Fires
18
Reported by owners
Injuries
8
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Electrical system48
- Engine31
- Engine and engine cooling25
- Service brakes, hydraulic22
- Air bags11
- Power train11
- Exterior lighting7
- Visibility5
- Suspension4
- Vehicle speed control4
- Fuel system, gasoline4
- Steering3
- Tires3
- Traction control system3
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 9, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
1
15
13
12
1
6
11
9
7
5
4
2
17
14
21
7
5
4
0
2
0
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2002 | 1 |
| 2003 | 15 |
| 2004 | 13 |
| 2005 | 12 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2007 | 6 |
| 2008 | 11 |
| 2009 | 9 |
| 2010 | 7 |
| 2011 | 5 |
| 2012 | 4 |
| 2013 | 2 |
| 2014 | 17 |
| 2015 | 14 |
| 2016 | 21 |
| 2017 | 7 |
| 2018 | 5 |
| 2019 | 4 |
| 2020 | 0 |
| 2021 | 2 |
| 2022 | 0 |
| 2023 | 1 |
Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Electrical system
48 reports4 crashes4 fires1 related recall
“Vehicle stalls when starting. While driving vehicle may shut off when moving on highway if you are not pushing on gas pedal. May be due to faulty EGR or emissions component”
Engine
31 reports9 fires
“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.”
Engine and engine cooling
25 reports7 fires2 related recalls
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V701000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.”
Service brakes, hydraulic
22 reports3 crashes
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CHECK ENGINE, SERVICE TRACTION, AND ABS WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FRONT WHEEL HUB WITH THE ABS SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL HUBS WERE REPLACED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. NEITHER THE MANUFACTURER NOR THE DEALER WERE CONTACTED OR NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 127,856.”
Air bags
11 reports4 crashes2 related recalls
“MY CAR IS A 2003 MONTE CARLO, IF I TRY TO USE THE DIRECTIONAL SIGNALS THEY MAKE A BUZZING SOUND AND THEN THE BRAKE LIGHT AND THE AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON ALONG WITH THE BATTERY LIGHT, NO SIGNAL WORKS, THE HAZARD LIGHTS WORK , I REPLACED THE HAZARD SWITCH BUT THAT DIDNT SOLVE IT . BATTER IS FINE AND THE ALTERNATOR I HAD THEM CHECKED THERE IS NO RELAY FOR THE DIRECTIONALS ITS ALL IN ONE . SOMETHING IS STRANGE GOING ON I ALSO NOTICED SOMETIMES WHEN YOUR DRIVING THE THOSE THREE LIGHTS WILL START COMING ON AS WELL . I HAD PUT UP THE WINDOWS AND THEY ALL WENT ON TOO , SOMETIMES JUST WHEN DRIVING IT OR EVEN STOPPED HAD THIS CAR SINCE IT WAS BRAND NEW NEVER HAD A PROBLEM TILL A FEW WEEKS AGO”
Power train
11 reports1 crash1 fire
“MY 2003 MONTE SS HAD BEEN SMOKING AND HAVING PROBLEMS ACCELERATING & SHIFTING AND PUT ON TESTERS AND READ CODE AND I NEEDED A AIR FLOW SENSOR SO I HAD THAT PUT ON, WAS RECOMMENDED I GET TUNE UP SO I GOT THAT, AND HAD JUST PUT NEW BATTERY IN THE CAR. THE FOLLOWING DAY AFTER PUTTING GAS IN THE CAR I WAS LEAVING GAS STATION AND LOST ACCELERATION AGAIN AND THE CAR SMOKED AGAIN. I SOON LOST ALL POWER INCLUDING GAS & BREAKS AND WINDOWS. PEOPLE PASSING BY WERE HONKING AND SAID THE UNDERNEATH OF CAR AND UNDER HOOD HAD FLAMES IN FRONT OF CAR. I HAD TO THROW IT IN PARK AND JUMP OUT BECAUSE THE PEDDLES QUIT WORKING AND THE CAR EXPLODED IN FLAMES AND HAD I NOT HAD MY WINDOW DOWN I WOULD HAVE BEEN LOCKED INSIDE AND COULD HAVE LOST MY LIFE. THE ENGINE AND WHOLE ELECTRICAL WIRE HARNESS HAD CAUGHT FIRE AND THE CAR BURNED UP WITH 3-5 MINUTES. THIS WAS OUR ONLY CAR AND THE ONLY MEANS OF GETTING DISABLED CHILD TO THE APPOINTMENTS HE NEEDED AND TO WORK AND HAS PUT HARDSHIP ON OUR FAMILY. *TR”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 9, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.