NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Engine And Engine Cooling complaints
31 reportsClear category filter85,000 miles · May 3, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling
INTAKE MANIFOLD COOLANT LEAK, HAPPENED TO MY 3.1 ENGINE, AND TO SEVERAL OF MY FRIENDS, EACH WITH THE 3.1 ENGINE. EACH STATED A COST OF $ 650.00 FOR THIS REPAIR, SEEMS THIS HAPPENS TO ALL THE 3.1 LITER ENGINES, SHOULDN'T CHEVROLET OWN UP TO THIS PROBLEM? WHEN IT HAPPENS TO A SELECT FEW THATS ONE THING, WHEN IT HAPPENS TO ALL OF …
Read full complaint
INTAKE MANIFOLD COOLANT LEAK, HAPPENED TO MY 3.1 ENGINE, AND TO SEVERAL OF MY FRIENDS, EACH WITH THE 3.1 ENGINE. EACH STATED A COST OF $ 650.00 FOR THIS REPAIR, SEEMS THIS HAPPENS TO ALL THE 3.1 LITER ENGINES, SHOULDN'T CHEVROLET OWN UP TO THIS PROBLEM? WHEN IT HAPPENS TO A SELECT FEW THATS ONE THING, WHEN IT HAPPENS TO ALL OF THEN IS IT NOT A DESIGN FLAW?*AK
NHTSA ODI #10068207
75,000 miles · Mar 11, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling
THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED AND STALLED DUE TO THE MANIFOLD LEAKING COOLANT INTO THE ENGINE. THE MANIFOLD WAS REPLACED. *NM MECHANIC SAID THAT THE OVERHEATING OF ENGINE IS ALMOST A MILE AWAY FROM A FIRE. *LA
NHTSA ODI #10055801
31,468 miles · Feb 1, 2004
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train
AT 31K INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET AND TRANS PAN GASKET ARE LEAKING ACCORDING TO CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP. AUTO HAS THE 3.1 L. ENGINE. DEALERSHIP NOT OVERLY CONCERNED AND THIS APPEARS TO BE NORMAL FOR A MONTE CARLO. INITIALLY THE TRANS PAN GASKET REPAIR WAS CONSIDERED AN OWNER MAINTENANCE RESPONSIBILITY RATHER THAN A COVERED EXTENDED …
Read full complaint
AT 31K INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET AND TRANS PAN GASKET ARE LEAKING ACCORDING TO CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP. AUTO HAS THE 3.1 L. ENGINE. DEALERSHIP NOT OVERLY CONCERNED AND THIS APPEARS TO BE NORMAL FOR A MONTE CARLO. INITIALLY THE TRANS PAN GASKET REPAIR WAS CONSIDERED AN OWNER MAINTENANCE RESPONSIBILITY RATHER THAN A COVERED EXTENDED WARRANTY ITEM. AFTER SPEAKING WITH DEALERSHIP AND ADVANTAGE A 2ND TIME, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE REPAIR WAS TO BE COVERED THROUGH THE WARRANTY. IN MY OPINION, CHEVROLET DOESN'T WANT TO STAND BEHIND ITS PRODUCT. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED AND WILL DEFINITELY NEVER BUY ANOTHER GM PRODUCT. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10056290
85,000 miles · Jan 15, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling
3.1 ENGINE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET LEAK. THIS PROBLEM STARTED JUST OUT OF WARRANTY AND WAS ABLE TO KEEP THE CAR GOING TILL NOW WITH STOP LEAK. I TOOK THE MANIFOLD OFF AND THE GASKET LOOKS TO BE BROKEN IN FOUR PLACES. A FRIEND OF MINE PAID ALMOST 500 DOLLARS TO FIX THE LEAK ON HIS 3.1 LAST WEEK. CHEVY SAYS THERE IS NO PROBLEM. JUS…
Read full complaint
3.1 ENGINE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET LEAK. THIS PROBLEM STARTED JUST OUT OF WARRANTY AND WAS ABLE TO KEEP THE CAR GOING TILL NOW WITH STOP LEAK. I TOOK THE MANIFOLD OFF AND THE GASKET LOOKS TO BE BROKEN IN FOUR PLACES. A FRIEND OF MINE PAID ALMOST 500 DOLLARS TO FIX THE LEAK ON HIS 3.1 LAST WEEK. CHEVY SAYS THERE IS NO PROBLEM. JUST LOOK ON THE NET THERE"S THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE LIKE US .CHEVY CASE #1-12-2500234 STARTED ABOUT 38000 MILES USED STOP LEAK TO KEEP IT GOING TILL 80000 MILES REPLACEING GASKETS AT THIS TIME CHEVY SAYS THERE IS NO PROBLEM YA RIGHT
NHTSA ODI #10070597
51,223 miles · Jan 15, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling
VEHICLE HAS A 3.1L V6 ENGINE THAT WAS LEAKING COOLANT AS A RESULT OF A CRACKED INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. I WAS TOLD BY MY MECHANIC THAT THEY ARE REPLACING THIS GASKET ON AT LEAST ONE VEHICLE A WEEK. AND THEY ARE JUST A SMALL SHOP. THE FIRST PROBLEM I NOTICED WITH THIS VEHICLE WAS A SLOW LEAK IN THE COOLING SYSTEM. THIS OCCUR…
Read full complaint
VEHICLE HAS A 3.1L V6 ENGINE THAT WAS LEAKING COOLANT AS A RESULT OF A CRACKED INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. I WAS TOLD BY MY MECHANIC THAT THEY ARE REPLACING THIS GASKET ON AT LEAST ONE VEHICLE A WEEK. AND THEY ARE JUST A SMALL SHOP. THE FIRST PROBLEM I NOTICED WITH THIS VEHICLE WAS A SLOW LEAK IN THE COOLING SYSTEM. THIS OCCURRED IN THE SUMMER OF 2002. LATER IN THE YEAR, I NOTICED COOLANT ON THE GARAGE FLOOR AND THOUGHT PERHAPS THE RADIATOR WAS LEAKING. WHEN I TOOK THE CAR IN TO BE REPAIRED ON DECEMBER 16, 2002, IT HAD 51,223 MILES ON IT. THE COST OF JUST REPAIRING THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET WAS $482.21 PLUS TAX, FOR A TOTAL OF $512.35.
NHTSA ODI #10069949
Mileage unknown · Dec 3, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling
THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET HAD TO BE REPLACE AFTER LOSING COOLANT- $650.00 REPAIR. *NLM
NHTSA ODI #10049117
Mileage unknown · Aug 6, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling
CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AND WITH NO WARNING VEHICLE WILL STALL, AND IT WILL BE HARD FOR THE CONSUMER TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10032252
Mileage unknown · Aug 6, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling
CONSUMER STATES THAT INTAKE MANIFOLD IS CRACKED. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10032250
90,000 miles · Jul 29, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling
MY 1999 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO LS, ENGINE 3100 V-6, HAS NEEDED A PARTICULARLY EXPENSIVE REPAIR TWICE. THIS REPAIR WAS TO FIX A COOLANT LEAK NEAR/ON THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. THE FIRST REPAIR (AT 52,000 MILES) WAS DONE UNDER WARRANTY, THE SECOND (AT 90,000 MILES) WAS DONE AT A LOCAL SERVICE STATION BECAUSE THE CAR WAS NO LONGE…
Read full complaint
MY 1999 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO LS, ENGINE 3100 V-6, HAS NEEDED A PARTICULARLY EXPENSIVE REPAIR TWICE. THIS REPAIR WAS TO FIX A COOLANT LEAK NEAR/ON THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. THE FIRST REPAIR (AT 52,000 MILES) WAS DONE UNDER WARRANTY, THE SECOND (AT 90,000 MILES) WAS DONE AT A LOCAL SERVICE STATION BECAUSE THE CAR WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. WITH THIS PROBLEM, THE COOLANT LEAKS OUT FAIRLY QUICKLY, AND COULD CAUSE AN ENGINE FIRE IF THE ENGINE GETS TOO HOT, ALSO THE COOLANT IS FLAMMABLE. THIS PROBLEM WAS THE SUBJECT OF A RECALL OF SEVERAL GM MODELS WITH 2000 TO 2002 MODEL YEAR CARS (CHEVY, PONTIAC, ETC) WITH THE 3100 AND 3800 ENGINE MODELS. HOWEVER, THE 1999 MODELS HAVE NOT BEEN RECALLED, AND MY CAR WITH I KNOW MANY OTHERS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH THE SAME ENGINE PARTS AS THE 2000 TO 2002 MODEL YEAR CARS. I PAID THE SECOND REPAIR AT MY OWN EXPENSE OF APPROXIMATELY $825. I HAVE CALLED CHEVROLET AND THEY HAVE DENIED ANY REIMBURSEMENT FOR MY EXPENSES INCURRED FOR THE REPAIR. IS THERE ANY OTHER WAY I CAN SSEK TO HAVE THE REPAIR REIMBURSED? IN ANY CASE, SHOULDN'T THE RECALL AFFECT THE 1999 OR PREVIOUS MODELS?*AK
NHTSA ODI #10030355
77,800 miles · Apr 3, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling
INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET LEAK, 1999 CHEV MONTE CARLO. NOTICE LOW RADIATOR COOLANT AT ABOUT 50M, PROBLEM GOT WORSE AND FOUND THAT DEXCOOL COOLANT WAS LEANKING TO THE OUTSIDE OF THE ENGINE FROM THE INTAKE MANIFOLD.
NHTSA ODI #10013906
Official recalls
3Oct 26, 2015
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 1998-1999 Chevrolet Lumina and Oldsmobile Intrigue, 1997-2004 Buick Regal and Pontiac Grand Prix, 2000-2004 Chevrolet Impala, and 1998-2004 Chevrolet Monte Carlo vehicles. The affected vehicles were previously repaired under recalls 08V-118, 09V-116, and 15V-201 to address the possibility that engine oil may drip onto the hot exhaust manifold.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Engine oil that drips onto the hot surface of the exhaust manifold may result in a fire.
Remedy: The remedy applied under recalls 08V-118, 09V-116, and 15V-201 did not adequately remove the safety risk. Under the improved remedy, dealers will replace the engines front valve cover and gasket. Vehicles that are covered by recalls 08V-118, 09V-116, or 15V-201 that have not yet received the original remedy will instead receive the improved remedy under the original recall number. The recall began on February 19, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Oldsmobile customer service at 1-800-442-6537 and Pontiac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is 15757. Note: Until the improved remedy has been applied, owners are advised to park their vehicle outside since the fire risk exists even when the vehicle is unattended.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Engine And Engine Cooling:exhaust System:manifold/header/muffler/tail Pipe
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 1998-1999 Chevrolet Lumina and Oldsmobile Intrigue, 1997-2004 Buick Regal and Pontiac Grand Prix, 2000-2004 Chevrolet Impala, and 1998-2004 Chevrolet Monte Carlo vehicles. The affected vehicles were previously repaired under recalls 08V-118, 09V-116, and 15V-201 to address the possibility that engine oil may drip onto the hot exhaust manifold.
Consequence: Engine oil that drips onto the hot surface of the exhaust manifold may result in a fire.
Remedy: The remedy applied under recalls 08V-118, 09V-116, and 15V-201 did not adequately remove the safety risk. Under the improved remedy, dealers will replace the engines front valve cover and gasket. Vehicles that are covered by recalls 08V-118, 09V-116, or 15V-201 that have not yet received the original remedy will instead receive the improved remedy under the original recall number. The recall began on February 19, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Oldsmobile customer service at 1-800-442-6537 and Pontiac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is 15757. Note: Until the improved remedy has been applied, owners are advised to park their vehicle outside since the fire risk exists even when the vehicle is unattended.
Engine And Engine Cooling:engine
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 1998-1999 Chevrolet Lumina and Oldsmobile Intrigue, 1997-2004 Buick Regal and Pontiac Grand Prix, 2000-2004 Chevrolet Impala, and 1998-2004 Chevrolet Monte Carlo vehicles. The affected vehicles were previously repaired under recalls 08V-118, 09V-116, and 15V-201 to address the possibility that engine oil may drip onto the hot exhaust manifold.
Consequence: Engine oil that drips onto the hot surface of the exhaust manifold may result in a fire.
Remedy: The remedy applied under recalls 08V-118, 09V-116, and 15V-201 did not adequately remove the safety risk. Under the improved remedy, dealers will replace the engines front valve cover and gasket. Vehicles that are covered by recalls 08V-118, 09V-116, or 15V-201 that have not yet received the original remedy will instead receive the improved remedy under the original recall number. The recall began on February 19, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Oldsmobile customer service at 1-800-442-6537 and Pontiac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is 15757. Note: Until the improved remedy has been applied, owners are advised to park their vehicle outside since the fire risk exists even when the vehicle is unattended.
Apr 8, 2009
GENERAL MOTORS IS RECALLING 1,497,516 MY 1997-2003 BUICK REGAL, MY 1998-2003 CHEVROLET LUMINA, MONTE CARLO AND IMPALA, MY 1998-1999 OLDSMOBILE INTRIGUE, MY 1997-2003 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A 3.8L V6 NATURALLY ASPIRATED ENGINE. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE A CONDITION IN WHICH DROPS OF ENGINE OIL MAY BE DEPOSITED ON THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD THROUGH HARD BRAKING.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THE MANIFOLD IS HOT ENOUGH AND THE OIL RUNS BELOW THE HEAT SHIELD, IT MAY IGNITE INTO A SMALL FLAME AND MAY SPREAD TO THE PLASTIC SPARK PLUG WIRE CHANNEL AND BEYOND INCREASING THE RISK OF AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ENGINES FRONT VALVE COVER AND FRONT-VALVE-COVER GASKET WITH NEW PARTS OF AN IMPROVED DESIGN AND REMOVE THE ENGINES PLASTIC COVER AND PLASTIC OIL-FILL-TUBE EXTENSION, FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING MAY 2016. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-630-6537, AND PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668 OR HTTP://WWW.PONTIAC.COM OR HTTP:WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM.
Dec 9, 2002
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER, SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES AND MINI VANS, SOME OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE A PASSENGER AIR BAG THAT WAS MANUFACTURED WITHOUT A CHECK VALVE PIN. AN AIR BAG WITHOUT THE CHECK VALVE PIN COULD PRODUCE INCREASED PRESSURE AT THE ONSET OF THE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT AND REDUCED PRESSURE AFTERWARD.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS COULD INCREASE THE SEVERITY OF INJURY TO A PERSON WHO WAS NOT PROPERLY RESTRAINED AND WHO WAS CLOSE TO THE PASSENGER AIR BAG AT THE TIME OF DEPLOYMENT. IT COULD ALSO REDUCE THE AB8ILITY OF THE AIR BAG TO PROTECT A RESTRAINED FRONT SEAT PASSENGER.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE PASSENGER AIR BAG. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN DECEMBER 16, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-222-1020, PONTIAC AT 1-800-762-2737, OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-442-6537, OR SATURN AT 1-800-553-6000, PROMPT #3.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
Illustration