Problems · by component

2003 Chevrolet Monte Carlo engine and engine cooling problems

25 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2003 Chevrolet Monte Carlo cite engine and engine cooling, 16% of all 157 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 2 recalls on this component.

Complaints
25
16% of all complaints
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
7
Reported by owners
Injuries
1
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the engine and engine cooling

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 6, 2016Engine and engine coolingODI 10883015
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2003 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FLAMES ENGULFED FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE CONTACT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS NOT NOTIFIED AND NO POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V701000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000. UPDATED 06/29/16*LJ UPDATED 08/03/16.*JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 27, 2016Engine and engine coolingFire reportedODI 10871222
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V701000 (ENGINE, ENGINE COOLANT) AND STATED THAT THE PART NEEDED WAS UNAVAILABLE TO PERFORM THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT. UPDATED 05/17/16*LJ *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 10, 2016Engine and engine cooling, EngineODI 10845936
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BEAUTY COVER WAS REMOVED AS A REMEDY FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V701000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING), WHICH LEFT ALL THE ENGINE WIRES EXPOSED. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THAT THE REMEDY PRESENTED A SAFETY RISK. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY WERE FOLLOWING MANUFACTURER INSTRUCTIONS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE SAFETY CONCERN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 124,000. UPDATED 05/31/2016*LJ UPDATED 06/01/16.*JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 10, 2016Engine and engine coolingODI 10845991
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. A FIRE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACTS RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT SHE RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V701000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) AFTER THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000. UPDATED 03/23/16*LJ *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 4, 2016Engine and engine cooling, EngineFire reportedODI 10817612
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED. THE CONTACT ADDED ANTIFREEZE INTO THE RADIATOR AND DISCOVERED A LEAK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE UPPER MANIFOLD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 66,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 16, 2014Engine and engine coolingODI 10648156

Showing 6 of 25 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 9, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Related recalls

2 recalls on this component

Engine and engine cooling: engine

Free remedy

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 1998-1999 Chevrolet Lumina and Oldsmobile Intrigue, 1997-2004 Buick Regal and Pontiac Grand Prix, 2000-2004 Chevrolet Impala, and 1998-2004 Chevrolet Monte Carlo vehicles. The affected vehicles were previously repaired under recalls 08V-118, 09V-116, and 15V-201 to address the possibility that engine oil may drip onto the hot exhaust manifold.

Engine and engine coolingReported Oct 26, 2015NHTSA 15V701000

Engine and engine cooling

Free remedy

GENERAL MOTORS IS RECALLING 1,497,516 MY 1997-2003 BUICK REGAL, MY 1998-2003 CHEVROLET LUMINA, MONTE CARLO AND IMPALA, MY 1998-1999 OLDSMOBILE INTRIGUE, MY 1997-2003 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A 3.8L V6 NATURALLY ASPIRATED ENGINE. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE A CONDITION IN WHICH DROPS OF ENGINE OIL MAY BE DEPOSITED ON THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD THROUGH HARD BRAKING.

Engine and engine coolingReported Apr 8, 2009NHTSA 09V116000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 9, 2026

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

Other 2003 Monte Carlo problem areas