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1997 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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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 28 of 164 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 33 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 30 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Steering. Review the 30 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

14 crash reports1 fire reports8 injury reports

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

30 reports
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Mileage unknown · Jun 22, 1999
Engine And Engine CoolingService Brakes, Hydraulic

BRAKES HAVE BEEN WORKED ON AT LEAST 6 TIMES THIS TIME THEY TOTALLY LOCKED UP AND WERE SMOKING AT THE SERVICE DESK. I ALSO HAVE BEEN HAVING TROUBLE WITH MY ENGINE OIL AND ENGINE RUNNING RUFF AND HARD TO START. A OIL CONSUMPTION TEST WAS STARTED WHERE I HAVE LOST MORE THAN 15QTS OF OIL WITHIN THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS. IT IS NOW AT …

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BRAKES HAVE BEEN WORKED ON AT LEAST 6 TIMES THIS TIME THEY TOTALLY LOCKED UP AND WERE SMOKING AT THE SERVICE DESK. I ALSO HAVE BEEN HAVING TROUBLE WITH MY ENGINE OIL AND ENGINE RUNNING RUFF AND HARD TO START. A OIL CONSUMPTION TEST WAS STARTED WHERE I HAVE LOST MORE THAN 15QTS OF OIL WITHIN THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS. IT IS NOW AT THE DEALER AND THE ENGINE IS OUT. *AK

NHTSA ODI #707764

Mileage unknown · Jun 21, 1999
Engine And Engine Cooling

VEHICLE EXPERIENCING ON-GOING / INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH ENGINE STALLING WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE BEEN IN / OUT OF DEALER SHOP AND NOTHING COULD BE FOUNDED. CAN NHTSA PROVIDE ADDTIONAL INFORMATION ON THIS PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI #840609

Mileage unknown · Mar 9, 1999
Engine And Engine CoolingSteering

POWER STEERING RACK HAD CONSTANT LEAK. YH

NHTSA ODI #782014

Mileage unknown · Feb 2, 1999
Engine And Engine CoolingUnknown Or Other

ENGINE CHECK LIGHT COMES ON, INTERMITTENTLY STARTS HARD OR RIDES ROUGH. DEALER CONTACTED AND SERVICE PROVIDED SEVEN TIMES. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. WARRANTY EFFECTIVE. PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.

NHTSA ODI #834389

Mileage unknown · Nov 13, 1998
Engine And Engine Cooling

DUE TO THE DEFECTIVE EXHAUST MANIFOLD GASKET "NOT SEALING" CAUSED THE OIL TO LEAK AND WHICH MAY CAUSE A FIRE IF THERE IS A SOURCE OF IGNITION. CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ODI #830780

Mileage unknown · Nov 8, 1998
Engine And Engine Cooling

ENGINE HAS ERRATIC IDLE. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON. ENGINE STALLS AND WILL NOT START. ENGINE STALLS WHILE DRIVING AND LEAVES YOU WITH NO POWER STEERING OR POWER BRAKES. ENGINE ACCELERATES ON ITS OWN. ENGINE HAS FAILED 11 TIMES. VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT DEALERSHIP FOR THE THIRD TIME . AFTER LAST DEALERSHIP LOOKED AT CAR, BRAKE P…

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ENGINE HAS ERRATIC IDLE. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON. ENGINE STALLS AND WILL NOT START. ENGINE STALLS WHILE DRIVING AND LEAVES YOU WITH NO POWER STEERING OR POWER BRAKES. ENGINE ACCELERATES ON ITS OWN. ENGINE HAS FAILED 11 TIMES. VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT DEALERSHIP FOR THE THIRD TIME . AFTER LAST DEALERSHIP LOOKED AT CAR, BRAKE PEDAL TURNED INTO GAS PEDAL. CAR IS NOW MORE DANGEROUS THAN EVER. PURCHASED CAR JULY 1997. CURRENT MILAGE 5218 MILES. FILED COMPLAINT WITH BBB.

NHTSA ODI #700417

Mileage unknown · Apr 9, 1998
Engine And Engine Cooling

DESIGN OF THE ENGINE ALLOWS FOR THE SPARK PLUG WIRES TO WRAP AROUND AND UNDER THE ENGINE CAUSING THEM TO OVERHEAT AND MELT RESULTING IN SHORTING OUT AND FAILURE OF THE SPARK PLUGS AND WIRES, THREE REPAIRS DUE TO FAILURES.

NHTSA ODI #533960

Mileage unknown · Sep 11, 1997
Engine And Engine Cooling

VEHICLE CUTS OFF AT HIGH SPEED. BEEN TO DEALER TWICE, PROBLEM NOT SOLVED. *AK ON ALL OCCASIONS IN WHICH THE VEHICLE STALL, THE AIR TEMPERATURE WAS 90 OR ABOVE AND THE A/C WAS ON. THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN CONTACTED BY THE CONSUMER. *YH

NHTSA ODI #815562

Mileage unknown · Aug 7, 1997
Engine And Engine Cooling

WHILE DRIVING ON FREEWAY AT ABOUT 60 MPH THE ENGINE JUST CUTS OFF WITHOUT ANY WARNING. IT HAS DONE THAT SEVERAL TIMES, LEAVING NO POWER STEERING OR POWER BRAKES. CONSUMER STATES THAT IT DOESN'T MAKE A NOISE, IT JUST CUTS OFF. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER, AND THE DEALER HAS TRIED TO FIX THE PROBLEM THREE TIMES BUT IT KEEP …

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WHILE DRIVING ON FREEWAY AT ABOUT 60 MPH THE ENGINE JUST CUTS OFF WITHOUT ANY WARNING. IT HAS DONE THAT SEVERAL TIMES, LEAVING NO POWER STEERING OR POWER BRAKES. CONSUMER STATES THAT IT DOESN'T MAKE A NOISE, IT JUST CUTS OFF. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER, AND THE DEALER HAS TRIED TO FIX THE PROBLEM THREE TIMES BUT IT KEEP DOING THE SAME THING OVER AGAIN. *AK

NHTSA ODI #813682

Mileage unknown · Aug 6, 1997
Engine And Engine Cooling

VEHICLE HAS DIED OUT 4 TIMES WITHOUT WARNING WHEN DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 30MPH. DEALER CAN'T FIND PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ODI #814247

Official recalls

1

03V527000 · Steering:rack And Pinion

Dec 11, 2003

CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES HAVE LOWER PINION BEARINGS IN THE POWER RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLY IN WHICH THE RETAINER TABS WERE NOT CRIMPED PROPERLY. THESE RETAINERS COULD FAIL AND PERMIT THE BALL BEARINGS TO ESCAPE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THIS OCCURS, THE PINION SHAFT CAN BE FORCED UPWARD DURING LEFT TURNS AND BACK DOWN AS THE STEERING WHEEL IS MOVED BACK AND TO THE RIGHT. IF THE PINION SHAFT MOVES FURTHER, THE DRIVER WILL NEED TO EXERT MORE EFFORT TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL, SIMILAR TO A VEHICLE WITHOUT POWER ASSISTED STEERING. IF THE PINION SHAFT MOVES EVEN FURTHER, THE DRIVER WILL REQUIRE MUCH HIGHER EFFORT TO TURN LEFT AND MAY NOT BE ABLE TO TURN THE WHEEL AS MUCH AS INTENDED. WITH THE MAXIMUM PINION SHAFT MOVEMENT, WHICH REQUIRES INTERNAL GEAR COMPONENT DAMAGE, THE DRIVER CAN ENCOUNTER HIGH RESISTANCE TO TURNING LEFT, FOLLOWED BY UNINTENDED POWER ASSIST TO THE RIGHT. IN ANY OF THESE CONDITIONS, A CRASH COULD OCCUR.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW LOWER PINION BEARING UNLESS INSPECT OF THE EXISTING BEARING INDICATES THAT REPLACEMENT OF THE GEAR ASSEMBLY IS NECESSARY. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 5, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT BUICK AT 1-866-608-8080; CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438; OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-630-6537; OR PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668.

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

EA03019 · Power Rack And Pinion Steering Failure

Opened Sep 15, 2003 · Closed Dec 18, 2003

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering; Steering:rack And Pinion

GM'S LETTER TO NHTSA DATED DECEMBER 11, 2003, EXPANDS ITS ORIGINAL RECALL (NHTSA 02V286) TO INCLUDE CERTAIN W-BODY VEHICLES: 96-97 OLDS CUTLASS SUPREME; 98 OLDS INTRIGUE; 97-98 OLDS CUTLASS; 97-98 CHEVY LUMINA, MONTE CARLO AND MALIBU; 96 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX; AND 96-98 BUICK REGAL.THE NUMBER OF VEHICLES RECALLED IS 750,283.GM DETERMINED THAT FAILURE OF THE RACK AND PINION IS RELATED TO DAMAGE OF THE LOWER PINION BEARING AND THE LEVEL OF THE PINION BEARING PRE-LOAD SPRING FORCE.GM STATES, HIGHER RACK PRE-LOAD SPRING FORCE (133 LB.) IS THE DESIGN CHARACTERISTIC MOST CLOSELY ASSOCIATED WITH HIGHER BEARING DAMAGE RATES IN MOST OF THE VEHICLE APPLICATIONS THAT USED THE GENERAL BEARING COMPANY (GBC) BEARING.ALL OF THE VEHICLES COVERED IN THE EXPANDED RECALL HAVE THE 133 LB SPRING FORCE.THE 96 LUMINA/MONTE CARLO AND 97-98 CENTURY W-BODY VEHICLES INCLUDED IN THIS INVESTIGATION UTILIZE A LOWER SPRING FORCE AND ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Steering

GM'S LETTER TO NHTSA DATED DECEMBER 11, 2003, EXPANDS ITS ORIGINAL RECALL (NHTSA 02V286) TO INCLUDE CERTAIN W-BODY VEHICLES: 96-97 OLDS CUTLASS SUPREME; 98 OLDS INTRIGUE; 97-98 OLDS CUTLASS; 97-98 CHEVY LUMINA, MONTE CARLO AND MALIBU; 96 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX; AND 96-98 BUICK REGAL.THE NUMBER OF VEHICLES RECALLED IS 750,283.GM DETERMINED THAT FAILURE OF THE RACK AND PINION IS RELATED TO DAMAGE OF THE LOWER PINION BEARING AND THE LEVEL OF THE PINION BEARING PRE-LOAD SPRING FORCE.GM STATES, HIGHER RACK PRE-LOAD SPRING FORCE (133 LB.) IS THE DESIGN CHARACTERISTIC MOST CLOSELY ASSOCIATED WITH HIGHER BEARING DAMAGE RATES IN MOST OF THE VEHICLE APPLICATIONS THAT USED THE GENERAL BEARING COMPANY (GBC) BEARING.ALL OF THE VEHICLES COVERED IN THE EXPANDED RECALL HAVE THE 133 LB SPRING FORCE.THE 96 LUMINA/MONTE CARLO AND 97-98 CENTURY W-BODY VEHICLES INCLUDED IN THIS INVESTIGATION UTILIZE A LOWER SPRING FORCE AND ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL.

Steering:rack And Pinion

GM'S LETTER TO NHTSA DATED DECEMBER 11, 2003, EXPANDS ITS ORIGINAL RECALL (NHTSA 02V286) TO INCLUDE CERTAIN W-BODY VEHICLES: 96-97 OLDS CUTLASS SUPREME; 98 OLDS INTRIGUE; 97-98 OLDS CUTLASS; 97-98 CHEVY LUMINA, MONTE CARLO AND MALIBU; 96 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX; AND 96-98 BUICK REGAL.THE NUMBER OF VEHICLES RECALLED IS 750,283.GM DETERMINED THAT FAILURE OF THE RACK AND PINION IS RELATED TO DAMAGE OF THE LOWER PINION BEARING AND THE LEVEL OF THE PINION BEARING PRE-LOAD SPRING FORCE.GM STATES, HIGHER RACK PRE-LOAD SPRING FORCE (133 LB.) IS THE DESIGN CHARACTERISTIC MOST CLOSELY ASSOCIATED WITH HIGHER BEARING DAMAGE RATES IN MOST OF THE VEHICLE APPLICATIONS THAT USED THE GENERAL BEARING COMPANY (GBC) BEARING.ALL OF THE VEHICLES COVERED IN THE EXPANDED RECALL HAVE THE 133 LB SPRING FORCE.THE 96 LUMINA/MONTE CARLO AND 97-98 CENTURY W-BODY VEHICLES INCLUDED IN THIS INVESTIGATION UTILIZE A LOWER SPRING FORCE AND ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL.

RQ03001 · Power Rack And Pinion Steering Failure

Opened Jan 2, 2003 · Closed Sep 15, 2003

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering; Steering:rack And Pinion

GM CONDUCTED A SAFETY RECALL (NHTSA # 02V286) TO ADDRESS A STEERING DEFECT PERTAINING TO A LOWER PINION BEARING (LPB) WITHIN THE RACK AND PINION STEERING GEAR (R&P). THE RECALL COVERED 1,159,156 MODEL YEAR 1997-1998 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX VEHICLES BUILT BETWEEN MARCH 1, 1996 AND OCTOBER 31, 1997, 1996-1998 PONTIAC TRANS SPORT, CHEVROLET LUMINA APV, CHEVROLET VENTURE, OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE MINIVANS, AND CHEVROLET CAVALIER AND PONTIAC SUNFIRE SEDANS BUILT BETWEEN JANUARY 1, 1996 AND OCTOBER 31, 1997.ODI OPENED THIS RQ AFTER RECEIVING REPORTS THAT OTHER VEHICLES WERE EXHIBITING THE SAME SYMPTOMS AS THE RECALLED VEHICLES.BASED ON ODI'S REVIEW OF TECHNICAL AND COMPLAINT DATA COLLECTED DURING THE RQ, THE W-CARS ARE ASSOCIATED WITH EITHER A HIGHER STEERING COMPLAINT RATE OR A HIGHER LPB FAILURE RATE THAN THE OTHER VEHICLES INVESTIGATED UNDER THE RQ AND ARE ABOVE OR NEAR THE RATES FOR THE RECALLED VEHICLES.THUS, ODI WILL FURTHER EXAMINE THE W-CARS (1996-1997 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS SUPREME, 1996-1998 BUICK REGAL, CHEVROLET LUMINA, CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO, 1997-1998 BUICK CENTURY, AND 1998 OLDSMOBILE INTRIGUE) UNDER A NEW INVESTIGATION, ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA)03-019.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Steering

GM CONDUCTED A SAFETY RECALL (NHTSA # 02V286) TO ADDRESS A STEERING DEFECT PERTAINING TO A LOWER PINION BEARING (LPB) WITHIN THE RACK AND PINION STEERING GEAR (R&P). THE RECALL COVERED 1,159,156 MODEL YEAR 1997-1998 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX VEHICLES BUILT BETWEEN MARCH 1, 1996 AND OCTOBER 31, 1997, 1996-1998 PONTIAC TRANS SPORT, CHEVROLET LUMINA APV, CHEVROLET VENTURE, OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE MINIVANS, AND CHEVROLET CAVALIER AND PONTIAC SUNFIRE SEDANS BUILT BETWEEN JANUARY 1, 1996 AND OCTOBER 31, 1997.ODI OPENED THIS RQ AFTER RECEIVING REPORTS THAT OTHER VEHICLES WERE EXHIBITING THE SAME SYMPTOMS AS THE RECALLED VEHICLES.BASED ON ODI'S REVIEW OF TECHNICAL AND COMPLAINT DATA COLLECTED DURING THE RQ, THE W-CARS ARE ASSOCIATED WITH EITHER A HIGHER STEERING COMPLAINT RATE OR A HIGHER LPB FAILURE RATE THAN THE OTHER VEHICLES INVESTIGATED UNDER THE RQ AND ARE ABOVE OR NEAR THE RATES FOR THE RECALLED VEHICLES.THUS, ODI WILL FURTHER EXAMINE THE W-CARS (1996-1997 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS SUPREME, 1996-1998 BUICK REGAL, CHEVROLET LUMINA, CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO, 1997-1998 BUICK CENTURY, AND 1998 OLDSMOBILE INTRIGUE) UNDER A NEW INVESTIGATION, ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA)03-019.

Steering:rack And Pinion

GM CONDUCTED A SAFETY RECALL (NHTSA # 02V286) TO ADDRESS A STEERING DEFECT PERTAINING TO A LOWER PINION BEARING (LPB) WITHIN THE RACK AND PINION STEERING GEAR (R&P). THE RECALL COVERED 1,159,156 MODEL YEAR 1997-1998 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX VEHICLES BUILT BETWEEN MARCH 1, 1996 AND OCTOBER 31, 1997, 1996-1998 PONTIAC TRANS SPORT, CHEVROLET LUMINA APV, CHEVROLET VENTURE, OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE MINIVANS, AND CHEVROLET CAVALIER AND PONTIAC SUNFIRE SEDANS BUILT BETWEEN JANUARY 1, 1996 AND OCTOBER 31, 1997.ODI OPENED THIS RQ AFTER RECEIVING REPORTS THAT OTHER VEHICLES WERE EXHIBITING THE SAME SYMPTOMS AS THE RECALLED VEHICLES.BASED ON ODI'S REVIEW OF TECHNICAL AND COMPLAINT DATA COLLECTED DURING THE RQ, THE W-CARS ARE ASSOCIATED WITH EITHER A HIGHER STEERING COMPLAINT RATE OR A HIGHER LPB FAILURE RATE THAN THE OTHER VEHICLES INVESTIGATED UNDER THE RQ AND ARE ABOVE OR NEAR THE RATES FOR THE RECALLED VEHICLES.THUS, ODI WILL FURTHER EXAMINE THE W-CARS (1996-1997 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS SUPREME, 1996-1998 BUICK REGAL, CHEVROLET LUMINA, CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO, 1997-1998 BUICK CENTURY, AND 1998 OLDSMOBILE INTRIGUE) UNDER A NEW INVESTIGATION, ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA)03-019.

EA98019 · Degraded Braking Performance

Opened Aug 31, 1998 · Closed Dec 13, 2001

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic

There is no summary currently available

PE98023 · Degraded Braking Performance

Opened Apr 23, 1998 · Closed Aug 31, 1998

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic

No summary supplied.