CHEVROLET · vehicle model

CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO

2,961 NHTSA complaints and 15 safety recalls across model years 1974–2010.

Complaints
2,961
Recalls
15
Model years
25

The CHEVROLETMONTE CARLO appears in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database with 2,961 consumer safety complaints and 15 safety recalls across 25 model years (1974–2010). That averages roughly 118 complaints per model year, but the distribution is almost never even — most nameplates concentrate their defect reports in a handful of cohort years tied to specific platform refreshes, supplier changes, or component redesigns.

Complaint volume on a nameplate alone is not a reliability verdict: a long-running bestseller will accumulate more filings than a low-volume niche model simply because more of them are on the road. What matters is the year-over-year shape and the component concentration — which the table below isolates for the MONTE CARLO by showing complaint count, crash count, fire count, and NHTSA safety rating side by side for each model year. The filing-year histogram below the table shows whether complaints are still being submitted against this nameplate or whether the pattern has plateaued, an important distinction for used-car shoppers weighing older cohort years.

NHTSA has 57 investigation files tied to this model, with 2 currently open. Investigations precede recalls and signal that the Office of Defects Investigation is actively testing a theory about a specific component cluster. Together with the complaint-by-year breakdown and recall remedy status, they are the primary signals used by insurance actuaries, fleet managers, and used-vehicle appraisers when pricing CHEVROLETMONTE CARLO risk. Compare this nameplate against siblings in the same platform family to see whether a given defect pattern is model-specific or shared across the parent architecture.

Complaints by Year

YearComplaints
20106
20083
200754
2006146
2005155
2004275
2003201
2002319
2001417
2000332
1999170
1998129
1997218
1996255
1995244
19911
19885
19879
19866
19857
19843
19831
19822
19812
19741

Complaint Filing Trend

NHTSA complaint volume by year filed (not model year).

26
95
61
96
77
97
110
98
151
99
214
00
130
01
191
02
209
03
198
04
98
05
78
06
69
07
157
08
168
09
143
10
77
11
69
12
54
13
261
14
127
15
152
16
41
17
23
18
36
19
14
20
10
21
6
22
2
23
6
24
3
25
View all trending models →

Compare CHEVROLETMONTE CARLO to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 2 Open

View all 57 investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How reliable is the CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO?
The CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO has received 2,961 NHTSA complaints spanning model years 1974 to 2010, with 15 recalls. That averages about 118 complaints per model year.
What years of CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO are available?
PlainCars has complaint and recall data for the CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO from 1974 to 2010 (25 model years). Select any year to see component-level complaint breakdowns and safety ratings.
Does the CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO have safety ratings?
NHTSA safety ratings (NCAP 5-star program) are available for many CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO model years from 2011 onward. Select a specific year to see front crash, side crash, and rollover ratings where available.
What are the most common CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO complaints?
NHTSA complaints for the CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO are categorized by component — common areas include engine, transmission, electrical system, airbags, and brakes. Select a model year for a detailed component-by-component breakdown.
How do I check if my CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO has been recalled?
Visit the year-specific page on PlainCars to see all recalls for your model year, or enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov for official recall status and available remedies.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.