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1985 Chevrolet Monte Carlo

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 1 of 4 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Exterior Lighting. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Seat Belts. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

1 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports

What owners actually said

4 reports
65,000 miles · Jul 8, 2016
Seat BeltsSeatsStructure

AFTER HAVING THE VEHICLE SPRAY PAINTED, I NOTICED A BURST-LIKE OPENING IN THE PILLAR NEXT TO THE WINDSHIELD. I RETURNED THE VEHICLE TO THE BUSINESS FOR REPAIR. HOWEVER, SOME MONTHS LATER THE BURST-LIKE OPENING REAPPEARED. THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY. IS THERE A PERMANENT FIX FOR THIS PROBLEM? THRE…

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AFTER HAVING THE VEHICLE SPRAY PAINTED, I NOTICED A BURST-LIKE OPENING IN THE PILLAR NEXT TO THE WINDSHIELD. I RETURNED THE VEHICLE TO THE BUSINESS FOR REPAIR. HOWEVER, SOME MONTHS LATER THE BURST-LIKE OPENING REAPPEARED. THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY. IS THERE A PERMANENT FIX FOR THIS PROBLEM? THREE GAUGES HAVE STOPPED WORKING SUDDENLY. THIS OCCURRED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON A CITY STREET. THE GAS GAUGE IS PARTIALLY OPERABLE. PART OF A LEVER THAT WORKS WITH THE SEAT BELT, HAS BROKEN OFF. I FOUND IT TO BE BENT OUT OF SHAPE, THEN IT BROKE OF. THE VEHICLE BEING STATIONARY. THE REAR SEAT IS OUT OF PLACE AND STUCK.

NHTSA ODI #10883598

Mileage unknown · Feb 10, 2004
Service Brakes, HydraulicCrash

THE CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKE PEDAL WHILE EXITING THE TURNPIKE. THE BRAKE LIGHT ON THE DASH SUDDENLY ILLUMINATED AND THE BRAKES BECAME INOPERATIVE. AS A RESULT THE VEHICLE STRUCK A MEDIAN BARRIER AT A TOLLBOOTH. TWO DAYS PRIOR TO THIS ACCIDENT THE CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE'S MASTER CYLINDER AND BRAKE LINES REPLACED (OHIO TRA…

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THE CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKE PEDAL WHILE EXITING THE TURNPIKE. THE BRAKE LIGHT ON THE DASH SUDDENLY ILLUMINATED AND THE BRAKES BECAME INOPERATIVE. AS A RESULT THE VEHICLE STRUCK A MEDIAN BARRIER AT A TOLLBOOTH. TWO DAYS PRIOR TO THIS ACCIDENT THE CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE'S MASTER CYLINDER AND BRAKE LINES REPLACED (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT). *PH *NM

NHTSA ODI #10057818

Mileage unknown · Feb 25, 2002
Exterior LightingService Brakes, Hydraulic

CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE IN FOR AN INSPECTION AND WAS INFORMED BY MECHANIC THAT THE BRAKE LINE PROCEDURE THAT WAS PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE WAS ILLEGAL, CONUSMER THEN CONTACTED THE BUSINESS THAT PERFORMED THE WORK AND WAS TOLD THAT THE PROCEDURE THEY USED WAS CALLED COMPRESSION FITTINGS WHICH WAS USED ALL THE TIME, ALSO THE MARKER L…

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CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE IN FOR AN INSPECTION AND WAS INFORMED BY MECHANIC THAT THE BRAKE LINE PROCEDURE THAT WAS PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE WAS ILLEGAL, CONUSMER THEN CONTACTED THE BUSINESS THAT PERFORMED THE WORK AND WAS TOLD THAT THE PROCEDURE THEY USED WAS CALLED COMPRESSION FITTINGS WHICH WAS USED ALL THE TIME, ALSO THE MARKER LIGHTS WERE OUT.*JB

NHTSA ODI #8004468

Mileage unknown · Oct 24, 2000
Tires

PE00-020; WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 30 MPH, RIGHT REAR TIRE EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION, STILL WITH AIR IN IT, CONSUMER HEARD A FLAPPING NOISE, TIRE WAS A FIRESTONE FIREHAWK SS P215/65R15 DOT 15101AT340. *SLC

NHTSA ODI #873755

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

4

PE89145 · Parking Brake Cable

Opened Jul 21, 1989 · Closed Sep 22, 1989

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Parking Brake

===

PE89104 · Jammed Steering Mechanism

Opened Mar 17, 1989 · Closed May 12, 1989

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering

SUMMARY: THE OIL FILL TUBE MAY BECOME LOOSE, CAUSING IT TO FALL ANDPOSSIBLY BECOME LODGED NEAR THE STEERING GEAR.THIS MAY CAUSE THESTEERING MECHANISM TO BECOME JAMMED, RESULTING IN A LOSS OF VEHICLECONTROL.===

C89001 · Throttle NON-RETURN

Opened Mar 6, 1989 · Closed Jan 16, 1990

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages

There is no summary currently available

EA86025 · Windshield Wipers

Opened Aug 25, 1986 · Closed Mar 2, 1988

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Visibility

SUMMARY:GM BELIEVES THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN CORRECTED THROUGH ITS PUBLI-CATION OF 7 SERVICE BULLETINS CONCERNING THIS MATTER. IN ADDITION, GMDOES NOT BELIEVE WINDSHIELD WIPER FAILURE REPRESENTS A SAFETY HAZARD.ANALYSIS: THREE FAILURE MODES HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED; INSULATING FILM MAYBUILD UP BETWEEN THE BRUSH FACE AND THE COMMUTATOR OF THE WIPER MOTOR,CORROSION MAY FORM IN THE WIPER MOTOR BRUSH AND DISENGAGEMENT OF THEWIPER ARMS MAY OCCUR. IN VIEW OF THE EXISTING LEGAL PRECEDENT, THE LARGENUMBER OF WARRANTY CLAIMS CONCERNING WIPER MOTOR FAILURES (114,000) ANDTHE HIGH WIPER MOTOR AND MOTOR KIT PART SALES (251,000), IT IS IMPERATIVETHAT THIS MATTER RECEIVE MANAGEMENT SUPPORT.STATUS: GM RESPONSE DATED 2/23/87. ANALYZING AS TIME PERMITS.EA CLOSED 3/2/88.=== D@