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2004 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

196 reports with mileage · 34 unknown

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.

  • Electrical System. Review the 151 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 23 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Steering. Review the 16 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

5 crash reports11 fire reports8 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

151 reports
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36,000 miles · Mar 6, 2008
Electrical System

I HAVE A 2004 MONTE CARLO SS THAT I BOUGHT BRAND NEW IN 2004. I HAVE ABOUT 38,000 MILES ON IT AND MY VOLT GAUGE, GAS GAUGE AND MY SPEEDOMETER ARE NOT WORKING PROPERLY, SPEEDOMETER SHOWS WRONG SPEED AND SOMETIMES DOESN'T WORK AT ALL. GAS AND VOLT GAUGES ARE POINTING STRAIGHT DOWN ALL THE TIME. THIS PROBLEM STARTED AROUND JANUARY.…

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I HAVE A 2004 MONTE CARLO SS THAT I BOUGHT BRAND NEW IN 2004. I HAVE ABOUT 38,000 MILES ON IT AND MY VOLT GAUGE, GAS GAUGE AND MY SPEEDOMETER ARE NOT WORKING PROPERLY, SPEEDOMETER SHOWS WRONG SPEED AND SOMETIMES DOESN'T WORK AT ALL. GAS AND VOLT GAUGES ARE POINTING STRAIGHT DOWN ALL THE TIME. THIS PROBLEM STARTED AROUND JANUARY. I SEARCHED AROUND ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND OUT THAT I COULD LEAVE A COMPLAINT HERE WITH YOUR AGENCY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10220238

20,000 miles · Mar 4, 2008
Electrical System

MY SPEEDOMETER AND GAS GAGE ON MY 2004 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO ARE ERRATIC IN THEIR READINGS. SOMETIMES IT WILL READ 100MPH WHILE I AM NOT MOVING, AND SOMETIMES IT WILL READ 0MPH WHEN I AM GOING AT LEAST 65MPH. I HAVE NOT HAD ANY CONSEQUENCES (SPEEDING TICKETS OR ACCIDENTS)DUE TO THIS FAILURE, BUT IT IS INCONVENIENT AND SURELY W…

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MY SPEEDOMETER AND GAS GAGE ON MY 2004 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO ARE ERRATIC IN THEIR READINGS. SOMETIMES IT WILL READ 100MPH WHILE I AM NOT MOVING, AND SOMETIMES IT WILL READ 0MPH WHEN I AM GOING AT LEAST 65MPH. I HAVE NOT HAD ANY CONSEQUENCES (SPEEDING TICKETS OR ACCIDENTS)DUE TO THIS FAILURE, BUT IT IS INCONVENIENT AND SURELY WILL CAUSE PROBLEMS IN THE FUTURE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10220057

60,800 miles · Mar 1, 2008
Electrical System

NO RECENT WORK LEADING UP TO THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN DONE TO THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLES SPEEDOMETER READS ERRATIC SPEEDS WHILE DRIVING. SOMETIMES IT WILL STOP WHILE BRAKING AND PICK UP AGAIN IMMEDIATELY UPON ACCELERATION. THUS SHOWING A HIGHER SPEED THAN ACTUAL. MOST OF THE TIME IT WILL STOP WHILE ACCELERATING AND EITHER STAY IMMOBI…

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NO RECENT WORK LEADING UP TO THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN DONE TO THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLES SPEEDOMETER READS ERRATIC SPEEDS WHILE DRIVING. SOMETIMES IT WILL STOP WHILE BRAKING AND PICK UP AGAIN IMMEDIATELY UPON ACCELERATION. THUS SHOWING A HIGHER SPEED THAN ACTUAL. MOST OF THE TIME IT WILL STOP WHILE ACCELERATING AND EITHER STAY IMMOBILE OR WILL PICK UP EVENTUALLY SHOWING A LOWER THAN ACTUAL SPEED INDICATION. I HAVE READ ABOUT THIS SAME COMPLAINT ON MULTIPLE FORUMS, ON A VARIETY OF GM VEHICLES. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO CORRECT THIS ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10219787

88,000 miles · Feb 21, 2008
Electrical System

SPEEDOMETER IN 2004 MONTE CARLO BEGAN BEHAVING ERRATICALLY ABOUT 10K MILES AGO. NOW IT HAS AFFECTED THE OTHER GAUGES. THE SPEEDOMETER READS ANYWHERE FROM 60 TO 120 AT A STANDSTILL. RPM GAUGE IS MAXED. THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH GM IC'S AND I AM WONDERING WHY THERE IS NO RECALL NOTICE. AT THIS TIME I CAN NOT AF…

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SPEEDOMETER IN 2004 MONTE CARLO BEGAN BEHAVING ERRATICALLY ABOUT 10K MILES AGO. NOW IT HAS AFFECTED THE OTHER GAUGES. THE SPEEDOMETER READS ANYWHERE FROM 60 TO 120 AT A STANDSTILL. RPM GAUGE IS MAXED. THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH GM IC'S AND I AM WONDERING WHY THERE IS NO RECALL NOTICE. AT THIS TIME I CAN NOT AFFORD TO HAVE IT FIXED OR BE WITHOUT IT FOR 3 DAYS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10218740

53,000 miles · Feb 20, 2008
Electrical System

MY SPEEDOMETER IS ERRATIC. IT WILL SHOW INCORRECT SPEEDS. I HAVE HAD THIS REPLACED ONCE BY THE DEALER WHILE THE CAR WAS UNDER WARRANTY BUT IT IS NO LONGER COVERED. I HAVE READ ON THE INTERNET THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH CHEVROLET PRODUCTS. I BELIEVE SOMEONE SHOULD FORCE CHEVROLET TO RECALL THESE CARS SINCE THE INSTRUM…

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MY SPEEDOMETER IS ERRATIC. IT WILL SHOW INCORRECT SPEEDS. I HAVE HAD THIS REPLACED ONCE BY THE DEALER WHILE THE CAR WAS UNDER WARRANTY BUT IT IS NO LONGER COVERED. I HAVE READ ON THE INTERNET THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH CHEVROLET PRODUCTS. I BELIEVE SOMEONE SHOULD FORCE CHEVROLET TO RECALL THESE CARS SINCE THE INSTRUMENTS IN THE CLUSTERS CANNOT BE DEPENDED ON TO BE ACCURATE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10218609

30,000 miles · Feb 19, 2008
Electrical System

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO. WHEN THE VEHICLE IS TRAVELING ONE SPEED, THE SPEEDOMETER DISPLAYS ANOTHER SPEED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT YET BEEN TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 67,937 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000. UPDATED 04/16/08. *LJ

NHTSA ODI #10218513

Mileage unknown · Feb 12, 2008
Electrical System

HI THERE, I BOUGHT A 2004 CHEVY MONTE CARLO FROM CARMAX IN OCTOBER 2007. ALL WAS FUNCTIONING FINE UNTIL I NOTICED ABOUT A WEEK AGO, FEBRUARY 7, 2008, THAT THE RPM WAS REGISTERING AS VERY HIGH ON THE TACHOMETER, ALMOST INTO THE RED AREA, AROUND 5500 AND HIGHER. PANICKING, I TOOK IT TO A MEINEKE CAR REPAIR PLACE, WHERE THEY TOL…

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HI THERE, I BOUGHT A 2004 CHEVY MONTE CARLO FROM CARMAX IN OCTOBER 2007. ALL WAS FUNCTIONING FINE UNTIL I NOTICED ABOUT A WEEK AGO, FEBRUARY 7, 2008, THAT THE RPM WAS REGISTERING AS VERY HIGH ON THE TACHOMETER, ALMOST INTO THE RED AREA, AROUND 5500 AND HIGHER. PANICKING, I TOOK IT TO A MEINEKE CAR REPAIR PLACE, WHERE THEY TOLD ME NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE CAR ENGINE ETC., AND THAT IT WAS THE GAUGE ITSELF THAT WAS MESSED UP. THEY SUGGESTED I CHECK RECALLS. I FOUND NO RECALLS ON TACHOMETERS FOR 2004 CHEVY MONTE CARLOS. I THOUGHT I'D WAIT AND CHECK AROUND FOR PRICES, BUT THIS MORNING, FEBRUARY 12, 2008, ON MY WAY IN TO WORK, MY SPEEDOMETER STARTED SHOWING 30MPH, WHEN I KNEW I WAS GOING AT LEAST 70MPH. I'VE CHECKED FOR RECALLS ON SPEEDOMETERS, AND I SEE NONE. THE TACHOMETER WAS BAD ENOUGH, BUT I CANNOT DRIVE PROPERLY WITHOUT A FUNCTIONING SPEEDOMETER, AND FROM CHECKING ONLINE, IT LOOKS LIKE OTHER MONTE CARLO DRIVERS ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. I LOVE MY CAR, BUT THIS IS A PROBLEM. PLEASE RECALL THE AFFECTED PART (INSTRUMENT PANEL/CLUSTER). THANK YOU, EULENA JONSSON *TR

NHTSA ODI #10217833

38,000 miles · Feb 2, 2008
Electrical System

INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. MORE SPECIFICALLY THE ODOMETER AND TEMP GAUGE JUST GET STUCK AND GO ALL OVER THE PLACE WHILE DRIVING. THE ODOMETER WILL READ 50 MPH WHEN GOING MUCH FASTER AD THE MORE YOU SLOW DOWN THE LOWER IT READS FINALLY WHEN YOU STOP THE NEEDLE READS WELL BELOW 0 THEN WHEN YOU START MOVING AGAIN YOU CAN BE AT 40-45 MPH A…

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INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. MORE SPECIFICALLY THE ODOMETER AND TEMP GAUGE JUST GET STUCK AND GO ALL OVER THE PLACE WHILE DRIVING. THE ODOMETER WILL READ 50 MPH WHEN GOING MUCH FASTER AD THE MORE YOU SLOW DOWN THE LOWER IT READS FINALLY WHEN YOU STOP THE NEEDLE READS WELL BELOW 0 THEN WHEN YOU START MOVING AGAIN YOU CAN BE AT 40-45 MPH AND IT READS 10MPH OR LESS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10216749

9,000 miles · Jan 28, 2008
Electrical SystemEquipmentService Brakes, Hydraulic

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO. WHILE DECELERATING FROM 45 MPH, THE BRAKES FAILED. THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND STRUCK A GUARD RAIL. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE DEALER CLEANED THE ROTORS AND BRAKES; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO HESITATE WHEN ATTEMPTING TO STOP. THE MANUFACTURER STATED T…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO. WHILE DECELERATING FROM 45 MPH, THE BRAKES FAILED. THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND STRUCK A GUARD RAIL. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE DEALER CLEANED THE ROTORS AND BRAKES; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO HESITATE WHEN ATTEMPTING TO STOP. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE DEALER SHOULD DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 31,498 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 9,000. UPDATED 02-19-08 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THEY DID NOT HIT THE GUARD RAIL, THERE WERE LIMITED BRAKES THE VEHICLE PULLED TO THE RIGHT. THE CONSUMER FURTHER STATED THIS IS THE SECOND INCIDENT AND THE REMEDY FOR THE DEALER IS TO MACHINE THE ROTORS, HOWEVER THE DEFECT PERSISTS AND PEDAL PULSATES. THE CONSUMER STATED AFTER VEHICLE STARTS THE STARTER STAYS ENGAGED AND A/C IS INOPERABLE. UPDATED 02/14/08 *TR

NHTSA ODI #10216308

45,000 miles · Dec 19, 2007
Electrical System

FAULTY SPEEDOMETER. DOES NOT READ ACCURATE SPEED THE MAJORITY OF THE TIME. NOT SURE IF ODOMETER IS AFFECTED ALSO, BUT I DO KNOW THAT THERE IS A PRESENT PROBLEM GM HAS ADMITTED TO WHICH AFFECTS THEIR TRUCKS AND SUVS IN THE SAME YEAR. SPECIAL POLICY FOR REPLACEMENT/REPAIR IS BEING OFFERED TO OWNERS OF THOSE VEHICLES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10212305

Official recalls

4

15V701000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:engine; Engine And Engine Cooling:exhaust System:manifold/header/muffler/tail Pipe

Oct 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 engine’s 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 engine’s 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 engine’s 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.

15V201000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:engine

Apr 6, 2015

General Motors LLC (GM) notified the agency on April 2, 2015, that they are is recalling certain model year 2004 Buick Regal vehicles manufactured April 9, 2003, to June 1, 2003, 2004 Chevrolet Impala vehicles manufactured April 8, 2003, to June 23, 2003, and 2004 Chevrolet Monte Carlo vehicles manufactured April 7, 2003, to June 23, 2003. On May 18, 2015, GM expanded the recall to cover an additional 49,751 2004 Pontiac Grand Prix vehicles manufactured January 6, 2003, to June 25, 2004. In the affected vehicles, the valve cover gasket may leak.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: The leaking engine oil can drip onto the hot surface of the exhaust manifold, increasing the risk of a fire.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will remove the plastic cover and plastic oil fill tube extension and replace the front valve cover and gasket. These repairs will be done free of charge. The recall began on April 24, 2015. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Pontiac customer service at 1-800-762-2737 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 14574.

14V400000 · Electrical System:ignition

Jul 3, 2014

This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. Until this recall is performed, customers should remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the ignition key. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring. General Motors LLC (GM) notified the agency on July 3, 2014, that they are recalling 5,877,718 model year 2000-2005 Chevrolet Impala and Monte Carlo, 1997-2003 Chevrolet Malibu, 2004-2005 Malibu Classic, 1999-2004 Oldsmobile Alero, 1998-2002 Oldsmobile Intrigue, 1999-2005 Pontiac Grand Am and 2004-2008 Pontiac Grand Prix vehicles. In these models, the weight on the key ring and/or road conditions or some other jarring event may cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position, turning off the engine.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the key is not in the run position, the air bags may not deploy if the vehicle is involved in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will install two key rings and an insert in the key slot or a cover over the key head on all ignition keys, free of charge. The recall began on September 9, 2014. GM's number for this recall is 14350.

04V287000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic

Jun 23, 2004

CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES WERE PRODUCED WITH LOWER THAN SPECIFIED TORQUE ON BOTH FRONT BRAKE CALIPER TO STEERING KNUCKLE ATTACHMENT BOLTS. WITH IMPROPER TORQUE, THE CLAMP LOAD AT THE JOINT MAY NOT BE ADEQUATE TO PREVENT MOVEMENT BETWEEN THE CALIPER BRACKET AND KNUCKLE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: DEPENDING ON WHETHER ONE OR BOTH BOLTS BACKS OUT OR FRACTURES, THE RESULT CAN BE LOCKING OF THE AFFECTED WHEEL DURING BRAKING AND AN ABRUPT STEERING INPUT IN THE DIRECTION OF THE LOCKED WHEEL, REDUCED BRAKING AND NOISE FROM THE AFFECTED WHEEL, OR SEVERING OF A BRAKE HOSE, INCREASED BRAKE PEDAL TRAVEL, AND REDUCED STEERING CONTROL. REDUCED BRAKING OR STEERING CONTROL COULD CAUSE A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS ARE TO TIGHTEN BOTH BOLTS TO THE SPECIFIED TORQUE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON JUNE 28, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET 1-800-630-2438 OR PONTIAC 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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.