Total Complaints
218 filings
CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO · model year
218 NHTSA complaints, 17 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1997CHEVROLETMONTE CARLO carries 218 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 17 crashes, 3 fires, 13 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1997 MONTE CARLO is service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip with 24 filings, followed by engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline (17) and steering:rack and pinion (16). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.
NHTSA currently has 57 investigation files overlapping the 1997 MONTE CARLO, and 2 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
Total Complaints
218 filings
Crashes Reported
17 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Above median complaint volume — review patterns below.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP | 24 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 17 |
| STEERING:RACK AND PINION | 16 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 8 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 7 |
| AIR BAGS | 6 |
| AIR BAGS:FRONTAL | 6 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR | 6 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS | 5 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 5 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR | 4 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY | 4 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY | 4 |
| SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER | 3 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE | 3 |
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 85 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME LOOSE AND CAUSED THE CONTACT TO TEMPORARILY LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THAT THE LOWER PINION BEARING FOR THE STEERING RACK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 03V527000 (STEERING:RACK AND PINION) HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 220,000.
Mileage: 220,000
MY 97 MONTE CARLO Z34 STARTED DYING ON ME WHENEVER I CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP AND AFTER I HAD BEEN DRIVING IT FOR A WHILE. AND IT WOULD SHOOT FORWARD AFTER I STARTED IT AGAIN IN NEUTRAL(THE ONLY WAY IT WOULD START). PLACING MYSELF IN THE MIDDLE OF INTERSECTIONS UNWILLINGLY, I WOULD HAVE TO START MY CAR AND MAKE SURE NO CARS WERE COMING ANY WAY OR ELSE I WOULD HAVE CRASHED! NOW MY CAR IS COMPLETELY UNDRIVABLE AND DIES WHENEVER I HIT MY BRAKES, I TOOK THE CAR TO SEVERAL MECHANICS SINCE THIS STARTED AND HAVE HAD THE FOLLOWING CHANGED/REPAIRED: UPPER AND LOWER INTAKE GASKET SET, THROTTLE BODY GASKET, THERMOSTAT, SPARK PLUGS AND WIRES, AIR FILTER, NUMEROUS VACUUM LEAKS, VALVE COVERS. *TR
MY 1997 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO WAS RECENTLY DIAGNOSED WITH AN INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET THAT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED (DUE TO LEAKING OF ENGINE COOLANT). TWO MECHANICS INFORMED ME THE REPAIR COSTS WOULD BE BETWEEN $800-$1000. AFTER FURTHER RESEARCH, I DISCOVERED SEVERAL GENERAL MOTORS VEHICLES BETWEEN 1996-2002 HAD THIS SAME PROBLEM. THOUGH NO OFFICIAL RECALL WAS DONE, GM DID PUBLISH A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN REGARDING THIS PROBLEM A FEW YEARS AGO. I KNOW CANADA HAS FILED CLASS ACTION SUITS AGAINST CANADA GM CONCERNING THIS ISSUE. THE CAR ONLY HAS 120K MILES ON IT, AND THE BLUEBOOK STATES THE VALUE TO BE AROUND $2200. DOES THE STATE OF MARYLAND HAVE INFORMATION ON THIS ISSUE REQUIRING GM TO PERFORM THIS WORK UNDER SOME KIND OF WARRANTY? *TR
Mileage: 119,000
MY 97 CHEVY MONTE CARLO HAS HAD NO LOWER BRAKE LIGHTS FOR SOME TIME . I HAD MY CAR CHECKED BY AN AUTO ELECTRICIAN AND WAS TOLD THAT THE PROBLEM WAS SO SEVERE AND IT WOULD PROBABLY NEVER FIND THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM. I AM VERY CONCERNED WITH THIS ISSUE BEING IT MAY CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY TO MY SELF/FAMILY OR OTHERS. AS I DRIVE ON THE ROAD I NOTICE MANY AUTOS OF THE SAME YEAR AND TYPE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM SO I KNOW ITS NOT ONLY MY VEHICLE .I THOUGHT IT COULD OF BEEN THE FACTORY INSTALLED SECURITY SYSTEM SO I HAD IT UNINSTALLED TO COME TO THE FACT THAT IT WAS NOT THE SECURITY SYSTEM AFTER ALL. PLEASE HELP WITH THIS ISSUE . THIS IS MY ONLY SOURCE OF TRANSPORTATION AS I AM DISABLED AND CANNOT AFFORD ANOTHER VEHICLE . I HAVE PUT CONSTANT REPAIRS ON THIS CAR , FUEL INJ TANK, ETC. AGAIN PLEASE ADDRESS THIS URGENT ISSUE. *TR
MY 97 CHEVY MONTE CARLO HAS HAD NO LOWER BRAKE LIGHTS FOR SOME TIME . I HAD MY CAR CHECKED BY AN AUTO ELECTRICIAN AND WAS TOLD THAT THE PROBLEM WAS SO SEVERE AND IT WOULD PROBABLY NEVER FIND THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM. I AM VERY CONCERNED WITH THIS ISSUE BEING IT MAY CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY TO MY SELF/FAMILY OR OTHERS. AS I DRIVE ON THE ROAD I NOTICE MANY AUTOS OF THE SAME YEAR AND TYPE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM SO I KNOW ITS NOT ONLY MY VEHICLE .I THOUGHT IT COULD OF BEEN THE FACTORY INSTALLED SECURITY SYSTEM SO I HAD IT UNINSTALLED TO COME TO THE FACT THAT IT WAS NOT THE SECURITY SYSTEM AFTER ALL. PLEASE HELP WITH THIS ISSUE . THIS IS MY ONLY SOURCE OF TRANSPORTATION AS I AM DISABLED AND CANNOT AFFORD ANOTHER VEHICLE . I HAVE PUT CONSTANT REPAIRS ON THIS CAR , FUEL INJ TANK, ETC. AGAIN PLEASE ADDRESS THIS URGENT ISSUE. *TR
MY 97 CHEVY MONTE CARLO HAS HAD NO LOWER BRAKE LIGHTS FOR SOME TIME . I HAD MY CAR CHECKED BY AN AUTO ELECTRICIAN AND WAS TOLD THAT THE PROBLEM WAS SO SEVERE AND IT WOULD PROBABLY NEVER FIND THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM. I AM VERY CONCERNED WITH THIS ISSUE BEING IT MAY CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY TO MY SELF/FAMILY OR OTHERS. AS I DRIVE ON THE ROAD I NOTICE MANY AUTOS OF THE SAME YEAR AND TYPE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM SO I KNOW ITS NOT ONLY MY VEHICLE .I THOUGHT IT COULD OF BEEN THE FACTORY INSTALLED SECURITY SYSTEM SO I HAD IT UNINSTALLED TO COME TO THE FACT THAT IT WAS NOT THE SECURITY SYSTEM AFTER ALL. PLEASE HELP WITH THIS ISSUE . THIS IS MY ONLY SOURCE OF TRANSPORTATION AS I AM DISABLED AND CANNOT AFFORD ANOTHER VEHICLE . I HAVE PUT CONSTANT REPAIRS ON THIS CAR , FUEL INJ TANK, ETC. AGAIN PLEASE ADDRESS THIS URGENT ISSUE. *TR
MY 97 CHEVY MONTE CARLO HAS HAD NO LOWER BRAKE LIGHTS FOR SOME TIME . I HAD MY CAR CHECKED BY AN AUTO ELECTRICIAN AND WAS TOLD THAT THE PROBLEM WAS SO SEVERE AND IT WOULD PROBABLY NEVER FIND THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM. I AM VERY CONCERNED WITH THIS ISSUE BEING IT MAY CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY TO MY SELF/FAMILY OR OTHERS. AS I DRIVE ON THE ROAD I NOTICE MANY AUTOS OF THE SAME YEAR AND TYPE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM SO I KNOW ITS NOT ONLY MY VEHICLE .I THOUGHT IT COULD OF BEEN THE FACTORY INSTALLED SECURITY SYSTEM SO I HAD IT UNINSTALLED TO COME TO THE FACT THAT IT WAS NOT THE SECURITY SYSTEM AFTER ALL. PLEASE HELP WITH THIS ISSUE . THIS IS MY ONLY SOURCE OF TRANSPORTATION AS I AM DISABLED AND CANNOT AFFORD ANOTHER VEHICLE . I HAVE PUT CONSTANT REPAIRS ON THIS CAR , FUEL INJ TANK, ETC. AGAIN PLEASE ADDRESS THIS URGENT ISSUE. *TR
MY 97 CHEVY MONTE CARLO HAS HAD NO LOWER BRAKE LIGHTS FOR SOME TIME . I HAD MY CAR CHECKED BY AN AUTO ELECTRICIAN AND WAS TOLD THAT THE PROBLEM WAS SO SEVERE AND IT WOULD PROBABLY NEVER FIND THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM. I AM VERY CONCERNED WITH THIS ISSUE BEING IT MAY CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY TO MY SELF/FAMILY OR OTHERS. AS I DRIVE ON THE ROAD I NOTICE MANY AUTOS OF THE SAME YEAR AND TYPE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM SO I KNOW ITS NOT ONLY MY VEHICLE .I THOUGHT IT COULD OF BEEN THE FACTORY INSTALLED SECURITY SYSTEM SO I HAD IT UNINSTALLED TO COME TO THE FACT THAT IT WAS NOT THE SECURITY SYSTEM AFTER ALL. PLEASE HELP WITH THIS ISSUE . THIS IS MY ONLY SOURCE OF TRANSPORTATION AS I AM DISABLED AND CANNOT AFFORD ANOTHER VEHICLE . I HAVE PUT CONSTANT REPAIRS ON THIS CAR , FUEL INJ TANK, ETC. AGAIN PLEASE ADDRESS THIS URGENT ISSUE. *TR
MY 97 CHEVY MONTE CARLO HAS HAD NO LOWER BRAKE LIGHTS FOR SOME TIME . I HAD MY CAR CHECKED BY AN AUTO ELECTRICIAN AND WAS TOLD THAT THE PROBLEM WAS SO SEVERE AND IT WOULD PROBABLY NEVER FIND THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM. I AM VERY CONCERNED WITH THIS ISSUE BEING IT MAY CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY TO MY SELF/FAMILY OR OTHERS. AS I DRIVE ON THE ROAD I NOTICE MANY AUTOS OF THE SAME YEAR AND TYPE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM SO I KNOW ITS NOT ONLY MY VEHICLE .I THOUGHT IT COULD OF BEEN THE FACTORY INSTALLED SECURITY SYSTEM SO I HAD IT UNINSTALLED TO COME TO THE FACT THAT IT WAS NOT THE SECURITY SYSTEM AFTER ALL. PLEASE HELP WITH THIS ISSUE . THIS IS MY ONLY SOURCE OF TRANSPORTATION AS I AM DISABLED AND CANNOT AFFORD ANOTHER VEHICLE . I HAVE PUT CONSTANT REPAIRS ON THIS CAR , FUEL INJ TANK, ETC. AGAIN PLEASE ADDRESS THIS URGENT ISSUE. *TR
MY 97 CHEVY MONTE CARLO HAS HAD NO LOWER BRAKE LIGHTS FOR SOME TIME . I HAD MY CAR CHECKED BY AN AUTO ELECTRICIAN AND WAS TOLD THAT THE PROBLEM WAS SO SEVERE AND IT WOULD PROBABLY NEVER FIND THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM. I AM VERY CONCERNED WITH THIS ISSUE BEING IT MAY CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY TO MY SELF/FAMILY OR OTHERS. AS I DRIVE ON THE ROAD I NOTICE MANY AUTOS OF THE SAME YEAR AND TYPE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM SO I KNOW ITS NOT ONLY MY VEHICLE .I THOUGHT IT COULD OF BEEN THE FACTORY INSTALLED SECURITY SYSTEM SO I HAD IT UNINSTALLED TO COME TO THE FACT THAT IT WAS NOT THE SECURITY SYSTEM AFTER ALL. PLEASE HELP WITH THIS ISSUE . THIS IS MY ONLY SOURCE OF TRANSPORTATION AS I AM DISABLED AND CANNOT AFFORD ANOTHER VEHICLE . I HAVE PUT CONSTANT REPAIRS ON THIS CAR , FUEL INJ TANK, ETC. AGAIN PLEASE ADDRESS THIS URGENT ISSUE. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE ENGINE FELL OUT OF THE VEHICLE. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY THE SUB FRAME BOLTS NOT BEING TIGHTENED. THE BOLTS WERE RE-ATTACHED. AS OF AUGUST 14, 2007, NO OTHER FAILURES HAVE OCCURRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 145,000.
Mileage: 145,000
THIS IS MY SECOND GM VEHICLE WITH THE SAME MALFUNCTION. FIRST, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD NOT TURN ON. THEN THE RIGHT BLINKER WOULD NOT WORK (STAYS SOLID, DOESN'T FLASH). THEN THERE WAS A SMALL FIRE ACCOMPANIED BY A LOT OF SMOKE COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. THIS IS A 1997 CHEVY MONTE CARLO. THE OTHER CAR I HAD WITH THE SAME MALFUNCTION WAS A 1995 CHEVY BERETTA. ALL REPAIRS ARE COSTLY. *JB
Mileage: 120,000
THIS IS MY SECOND GM VEHICLE WITH THE SAME MALFUNCTION. FIRST, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD NOT TURN ON. THEN THE RIGHT BLINKER WOULD NOT WORK (STAYS SOLID, DOESN'T FLASH). THEN THERE WAS A SMALL FIRE ACCOMPANIED BY A LOT OF SMOKE COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. THIS IS A 1997 CHEVY MONTE CARLO. THE OTHER CAR I HAD WITH THE SAME MALFUNCTION WAS A 1995 CHEVY BERETTA. ALL REPAIRS ARE COSTLY. *JB
Mileage: 120,000
THIS IS MY SECOND GM VEHICLE WITH THE SAME MALFUNCTION. FIRST, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD NOT TURN ON. THEN THE RIGHT BLINKER WOULD NOT WORK (STAYS SOLID, DOESN'T FLASH). THEN THERE WAS A SMALL FIRE ACCOMPANIED BY A LOT OF SMOKE COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. THIS IS A 1997 CHEVY MONTE CARLO. THE OTHER CAR I HAD WITH THE SAME MALFUNCTION WAS A 1995 CHEVY BERETTA. ALL REPAIRS ARE COSTLY. *JB
Mileage: 120,000
THE TURN SIGNAL SWITCH HAS AN UNNATURAL TENDENCY TO FAIL ON ALL 95-99 MONTE CARLO AND 95- 00 LUMINA'S MADE BY CHEVROLET THIS CAN CAUSE A FAILURE IN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM RESULTING IN THE FAILURE OF THE BRAKE LIGHTS. THE TURN SIGNAL SWITCH WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED. THIS HAS RESULTED IN THE PROPER OPERATION OF THE BRAKE LIGHTS. OLD PART NOT AVAILABLE. *NM
Mileage: 55,000
DECREASE BRAKING ABILITY ON WET PAVEMENT. *JB
Mileage: 96,450
DT: CONSUMER HAD RECALL 03V527000 REPAIRS DONE IN FEBRUARY WHICH WAS SUPPOSE TO BE PREVENTIVE RECALL WORK. VEHICLE WAS STILL EXPERIENCING LOSS OF POWER STEERING. CONSUMER SAID WHEN SHE TURNED LEFT THE VEHICLE DEMONSTRATED HIGH RESISTANCE. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER AFTER MANUFACTURER ADVISED HER TO TAKE IT TO ANY DEALER. THE DEALER INSISTED THAT SHE GO BACK TO DEALER WHO DID THE ORIGINAL RECALL REPAIRS. DEALER CHECKED VEHICLE AFTER SHE AGREED TO PAY FOR THE LABOR. MECHANIC CHECKED VEHICLE AND CLAIMED IT WAS RACK AND PINION PROBLEM. *AK
Mileage: 127,000
DT: 1997, MONTE CARLO, CRUISE CONTROL WAS SET FOR 68 MPH. CONSUMER WENT TO TURN OFF AT AN EXIT AND THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NOT SHUT OFF. BECAUSE OF THIS VEHICLE WOULD NOT SLOW DOWN ,CAUSING A COLLISION. CONSUMER AND OTHER OCCUPANTS WERE INJURED. *AK THE DRIVER WAS BRAKING HARD BUT COULD NOT SLOW DOWN VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS ON A INTERSTATE HIGHWAY, WHEN ACCIDENT OCCURRED.*SB
Mileage: 65,000
WHILE DRIVING MY CAR HOME ONE EVENING IT WAS IDLING HIGH AND AND EVERYTHING ELECTRICAL WAS ACTING LIKE IT WAS SHORT CIRCUTING AND THEN MY CAR DIED. THANK GOODNESS THAT NO ONE WAS BEHIND ME BECAUSE OF COURSE THE POWER STEERING THE FAILED AND THERE WAS A SOUND OF METAL AGAINST METAL. MY FATHER AND I THEN CHANGED THE ALTERNATOR THINKING THAT THAT MIGHT FIX THE PROBLEM. IT DIDN'T AND THE CAR HAS HAD THE PROBLEM MULTIPLE TIMES. NOW I AM UNABLE TO DRIVE IT FOR THE FEAR OF THIS HAPPENING IN HEAVY TRAFFIC OR OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF NO WHERE AND ME BE STUCK THERE. THE PROBLEM IS NOT A FAULTY ALTERNATOR SO I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF YOU HAVE ANY CLUE AS TO WHAT THE PROBLEM MIGHT BE. *AK
Mileage: 92,000
THE TURN SIGNAL/BRAKE TAIL LIGHTS FAILS TO WORK PROPERLY. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. THE CAUSE WAS NOT DETERMINED. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.
Mileage: 86,000
Loss of motive power due to engine failure
Loss of Motive Power due to the Battery Energy Control Module
Electric Vehicle Battery Fires
Outboard Front Seat Belt Anchor Cable Failure
Fuel Line Leak
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.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.