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

Seats complaints

5 reports

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140,000 miles · Aug 6, 2012

Electrical SystemSeatsWheels

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I WAS DRIVING 55 MPH AND MY SPEEDOMETER SAID I WAS DOING 10MPH. THEN MY TAC STOPPED WORKING. THEN MY SPEEDOMETER STOPPED WORKING TOTALLY. MY DRIVER SIDE SEAT WILL NOT HEAT AT ALL. MY WHEELS ARE PEELING. THE CHROME IS PEELING RIGHT OFF THE WHEELS. MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON ALL THE TIME. I HAVE HAD IT CHECKED FOR THE CODE SO THEY REPLACED THE GAS CAP AND DID A RESET WITHIN 75 MILES THE LIGHT CAME BACK ON. I AM GIVING UP ON CHEVROLETS. EVERY VEHICLE WE OWN IS A CHEVY, WHAT'S UP WITH ALL THESE PROBLEMS AND NO SOLUTIONS???? WITH ALL THE COMPLAINTS ON THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM YOU WOULD THINK THERE WOULD BE A RECALL AND A SOLUTION. WHEN THE HEAT ON MY SEAT STOPPED WORKING IT SMELLED LIKE SOMETHING WAS BURNING INSIDE THE CAR SO I QUICKLY SHUT IT OFF AND PULLED THE CAR OVER TO CHECK UNDER MY SEAT TO MAY SURE THERE WAS NO FIRE. THANK GOODNESS THERE WASN'T A FIRE. I PAID THE EXTRA MONEY FOR THE INTIMIDATOR, WHAT A WASTE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10469323

40,000 miles · Mar 11, 2010

SeatsFireInjury

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I HAVE A 2002 CHEVY IMPALA AND A 2004 CHEVY MONTE CARLO. RIGHT AFTER MY WARRANTY EXPIRED ON THE MONTE CARLO, MY HEATED SEAT COVER CAUGHT FIRE, CAUSED PERSONAL INJURY AND PROPERTY DAMAGE. AN ADJUSTER CAME OUT TO LOOK AT IT AND ASSURED ME THAT GM WOULD FIX THE PROBLEM. 2 YEARS LATER, I CAN'T EVEN GET A RETURN PHONE CALL. SINCE THEN I PURCHASED A 2002 IMPALA. HEATED SEATS WORKED FOR 2 DAYS AND I NOTICED A BURN STARTING IN THE SAME EXACT SPOT WHERE THE MONTE CARLO CAUGHT FIRE. GM WANTS ME TO PAY ANOTHER $90 FOR THE DEALER TO VERIFY THAT THE HEATED SEAT COVER PROBLEM IS IN FACT A HEATED SEAT COVER PROBLEM. THESE CARS ARE NOT SAFE TO DRIVE AND I DON'T FEEL SAFE AFTER BEING BURNED BY IT. GM NEEDS TO ISSUE A RECALL. I'VE CALLED GM MANY MANY TIMES AND EVERY TIME, SOMEONE HAS CLOSED THE CASE ON THE IMPALA. SUPPOSEDLY, GM HAD ISSUED A CHECK TO REPAIR THE MONTE CARLO, BUT I NEVER RECEIVED IT AND THEY WON'T CALL ME BACK ABOUT IT. THIS ISSUE NEEDS TO BE RECALLED BY EITHER GM OR THE HEATED SEAT MANUFACTURER. SO FAR, ONLY ONE PERSON HAS BEEN INJURED BY THE MONTE CARLO. SINCE THEN, THE HEATED SEAT HAS BEEN DISCONNECTED. THE IMPALA SEAT HAS NOT YET CAUGHT FIRE, BUT A BURN HOLE HAS STARTED AND WHEN IT STARTED TO GET HOT, THE HEATED SEAT WAS IMMEDIATELY DISCONNECTED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10318955

50,500 miles · Dec 10, 2008

SeatsFireInjury

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TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN, I HAVE A 2004 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO. THIS IS A VERY NICE CAR WITH ALL THE OPTIONS. THE HEATED SEAT CAUGHT FIRE AND IN TURN CAUGHT ME ON FIRE. I PUT THE FIRE OUT WITH MY HAND BUT NOT BEFORE IT BURNED A HOLE THROUGH THE SEAT AND IN MY COAT. FORTUNATELY, I WAS JUST PARKING WHEN THIS OCCURRED. IF I WOULDN?T HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SNUFF THE FIRE BEFORE IT GOT OUT OF HAND, I COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED. FURTHER, JUST THINK IF I HAD KIDS IN THE BACK SEAT. THIS IS A 2-DOOR CAR AND I WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GET ANYONE OUT OF THE BACK SEAT IF THE FRONT SEAT WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. I CALLED THE CUSTOMER SUPPORT LINE FOR GM AND THEY INFORMED ME TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR A DIAGNOSTIC. THE DEALERSHIP CONFIRMED THE FIRE WAS CAUSED BY FAULTY WIRING IN THE SEAT HEATER. THE DEALERSHIP THEN MADE THE NECESSARY CALLS AND INFORMED ME THAT THE SEAT WOULD NOT BE FIXED AND I MUST CALL MY INSURANCE COMPANY AND OPEN A CLAIM WHICH WOULD COST ME A $500 DEDUCTIBLE. I HAVE READ REPORTS OF SOME BRAND NEW 2009 CHEVROLET CARS/TRUCKS THAT ALREADY HAVE RECALLS FOR SEATS WHICH CAN CAUSE FIRES. SINCE MY CAR IS A 2004 IT'S NO LONGER COVERED. IF A HEATED SEAT WOULD FAIL, I WOULD EXPECT IT TO NOT GET WARM, OR WORK INTERMITTENTLY. BUT TO CATCH FIRE, BURN MY CLOTHING AND CAUSE PHYSICAL HARM DUE TO NO FAULT OF MY OWN, THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. I HAVE OWNED MANY GM CARS; THREE CAMAROS, A BLAZER, AND NOW THE MONTE CARLO. I HAVE ALWAYS TAKEN A CHEVROLET OVER ANY OTHER CAR. EXCUSE THE PUN, BUT THAT FLAME IS GONE. MY CAR IS NOW WORTH LESS THAN HALF THE PRICE OF LAST YEAR. WITH A BURNED SEAT AND THE COST OF REPAIRS AND REPLACEMENT OF MY BURNED CLOTHING, IT'S WORTH EVEN LESS. I WILL NEVER AGAIN OWN A VEHICLE LABELED, BUILT, CONTRACTED, DESIGNED, OWNED, OR SOLD BY GM OR ANY OF ITS AFFILIATES. REPLACING A HEATED SEAT CONSISTS OF ONE PART. THE HEATING ELEMENT IS MOLDED INTO THE LEATHER SEAT COVER. UNFORTUNATELY FOR GM, A LAWSUIT AND BAD PUBLICITY WILL COST MORE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10251286

Mileage unknown · Oct 26, 2008

SeatsInjury

SINCE ITS BEEN GETTING COLDER, I HAVE BEEN USING MY CAR SEAT WARMERS. I'VE BEEN NOTICING IN THE LAST WEEK THAT IT HAS BEEN GETTING EXTREMELY HOT WITHIN A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME & I'M NOTICING A BURNING SMELL. YESTERDAY I TURNED THE DRIVER SEAT, SEAT WARMER ON & IT STARTED TO SMOKE & NEARLY SPARKED A FIRE IN THE SEAT. THE STITCHIN…

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NHTSA ODI #10246772

56,000 miles · Jan 8, 2007

Seats

DRIVERS SIDE HEATED SEAT INOPERATIVE. TOOK TO DEALER AND WAS TOLD I NEEDED A NEW COVER. I INSPECTED THE SEAT AND DISCOVERED A QUARTER SIZE BURN MARK INSIDE THE CUSHION. THE HEATING ELEMENT BECAME OVERHEATED AND BEGAN TO BURN THE CUSHION. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10178081

Official recalls

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 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

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

Consequence: Engine oil that drips onto the hot surface of the exhaust manifold may result in a fire.

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

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.