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: 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
What owners actually said
164 reports
118,000 miles · Apr 29, 2003
Fuel System, OtherSteering
POWER STEERING LOCKED UP WHEN MAKING A LEFT TURN. AT FIRST IT HAPPEN WITH MY SON DRIVING, WAS FINE ONE DAY, AND LIKE SOMETHING BROKE THE NEXT. I TOOK MY CAR TO MY MECHANIC, THEY SAID THEY HAVE SEEN 3 MONTO CARLO'S THAT MONTH HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. I HAVE OWNED NUMEROUS VEHICLES IN MY LIFE AND HAVE NEVER HAD THIS KIND OF P…
Read full complaint
POWER STEERING LOCKED UP WHEN MAKING A LEFT TURN. AT FIRST IT HAPPEN WITH MY SON DRIVING, WAS FINE ONE DAY, AND LIKE SOMETHING BROKE THE NEXT. I TOOK MY CAR TO MY MECHANIC, THEY SAID THEY HAVE SEEN 3 MONTO CARLO'S THAT MONTH HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. I HAVE OWNED NUMEROUS VEHICLES IN MY LIFE AND HAVE NEVER HAD THIS KIND OF PROBLEM. IT IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. THEN WHEN DRIVING IT TO MY MECHANIC, THANK GOD MY SON WAS IN THE CAR WITH ME, AND HELPED ME MUSCLE THE CAR THROUGH THE TURN, OR THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. ALSO THE GAS GAUGE HAS NEVER GIVEN A ACCURATE READING. WHEN MY MECHANIC TOLD ME THEY HAD BEEN SEEING A LOT OF MONTE CARLOS WITH THIS PROBLEM, IT ALERTED ME THAT THERE MUST BE A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH THE POWER STEERING, AND I STARTING CHECKING THE RECALLS, AND SURE ENOUGH, GM HAS RECALLED 96 - 98'S CHEVROLET LUMINAS, WHICH IS A SISTER CAR TO THE MONTO CARLO, THE ONLY MAJOR DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THESE TWO CARS IS THE BODY STYLE COUPE (2 DOOR) TO SEDAN (FOUR DOOR). THEY HAVE THE SAME MECHANICAL WORKING PARTS. HOPEFULLY THEY'LL GET THE MONTE CARLO RECALLED SOON BEFORE THERE ARE SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10016691
Mileage unknown · Mar 27, 2003
SeatsCrashInjury
I AM A VICTIM OF A REAR-END MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENT. THE SEATS ARE DESIGNED TO LATCH WHEN THE VEHICLE'S BRAKES ARE SUDDENLY APPLIED AND/OR THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY COMES TO A STOP (AS PER THE OWNERS MANUAL). IN MY CASE, MY VEHICLE WAS ALREADY AT A STOP AND THEREFORE THE SEAT NEVER LATCHED. CONSEQUENTLY, THE SEAT CAME FORWARD AND T…
Read full complaint
I AM A VICTIM OF A REAR-END MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENT. THE SEATS ARE DESIGNED TO LATCH WHEN THE VEHICLE'S BRAKES ARE SUDDENLY APPLIED AND/OR THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY COMES TO A STOP (AS PER THE OWNERS MANUAL). IN MY CASE, MY VEHICLE WAS ALREADY AT A STOP AND THEREFORE THE SEAT NEVER LATCHED. CONSEQUENTLY, THE SEAT CAME FORWARD AND THE HEAD REST STRUCK ME LIKE A TWO BY FOUR. MY INJURIES WERE MORE SEVERE BECAUSE OF THIS SECONDARY IMPACT FROM THE HEAD REST. MY HUSBAND HAS A 1996 CHEVROLET CHEYENNE PICK-UP TRUCK THAT HAS THE SAME SEAT DESIGN. IN ADDITION, IN BOTH VEHICLES EVEN WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED, THE SEATS BACKS STILL COME FORWARD SEVERAL INCHES BEFORE EVENTUALLY LOCKING. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10013572
75,000 miles · Mar 22, 2003
Electrical SystemStructure
DOOR AND ELECTRICAL WINDOW . MY POWER WINDOW'S WILL NOT GO UP OR DOWN. THE CONTROL BUTTON WILL NOT EVEN MOVE. I SOMETIMES HAVE TO LIFT MY PASSENGER DOOR TO CLOSE IT. I ALSO HAVE PAINT CHIPPING OFF OF MY WIPER ASSEMBLY AND THE BODY OF MY CAR. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10010887
68,000 miles · Feb 6, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling
BLOWN MOTOR. WHEN CAR WAS TAKEN APART TO REMOVE ENGINE THE BOLTS ON THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WERE NOT TIGHT AND WERE REMOVED BY HAND, NO TOOLS NEEDED.
NHTSA ODI #10005402
Mileage unknown · Feb 4, 2003
Steering
WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL WILL NOT ROTATE BACK TO STANDARD POSITION. THE WHEEL CONTINUES TO ROTATE AROUND IN A CIRCLE. PH
NHTSA ODI #10006272
132,013 miles · Jan 27, 2003
Air BagsCrash
DURING A SNOW STORM I WAS IN A CAR ACCIDENT WHERE THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME ABRUPTLY STOPPED AND BECAUSE OF THE ROAD CONDITIONS I WAS UNABLE TO DECELERATE FAST ENOUGH AND I TRIED TO PULL TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD TO AVOID HITTING THE OTHER CAR BUT I STILL SLID INTO THE OTHER CAR AND THEN HIT A TREE. THERE WAS EXTENSIVE DAMAGE…
Read full complaint
DURING A SNOW STORM I WAS IN A CAR ACCIDENT WHERE THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME ABRUPTLY STOPPED AND BECAUSE OF THE ROAD CONDITIONS I WAS UNABLE TO DECELERATE FAST ENOUGH AND I TRIED TO PULL TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD TO AVOID HITTING THE OTHER CAR BUT I STILL SLID INTO THE OTHER CAR AND THEN HIT A TREE. THERE WAS EXTENSIVE DAMAGE(APPROX $5,000) DONE TO THE FRONT END OF MY CAR AND MY AIR BAGS NEVER DEPLOYED.
NHTSA ODI #10003502
Mileage unknown · Jan 21, 2003
Service Brakes, Air
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE THE FRONT BRAKE PAD BROKE. DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED AT THE TIME OF THIS CALL. PH
NHTSA ODI #10004278
Mileage unknown · Dec 31, 2002
Steering
CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT THE RACK AN PINION STEERING BROKE. ALSO STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE THE RACK AND PINION STEERING BROKE WHICH IT COMPLETELY LEFT THE CONSUMER WITH NO CONTROL OF THE STEERING. DEALER AND MANUFACTURE WERE CONTACTED AND HAVE A RECALL AND THAT THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. TS
NHTSA ODI #10001774
Mileage unknown · Dec 23, 2002
Service Brakes, Air
CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT THE FRONT BRAKES. ALSO STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE THE FRONT BRAKE ON THE DRIVERS SIDE BROKE. DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED AT THE TIME OF THIS CALL. TS
NHTSA ODI #10001397
Mileage unknown · Dec 9, 2002
Child Seat
WHEN THE CHILD IS PLACED IN THE CHILD SAFETY SEAT AND HAS ON A COAT, THE HARNESS STRAPS ARE THE LAST ADJUSTMENT NOTCH AND THERE IS HARDLY ENOUGH ROOM TO PLACE THE CHILD'S ARMS THROUGH THE STRAPS. THE CHILD IS VERY UNCOMFORTABLE AS THE HARNESS IS VERY TIGHT. TS SCC
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.
1997 Chevrolet Monte Carlo Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
Illustration