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2005 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

94 reports with mileage · 26 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 87 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Exterior Lighting. Review the 17 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

1 crash reports3 fire reports0 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

87 reports
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62,000 miles · May 21, 2014
Electrical System

TRAVELING ON US 90 W. ALL OF A SUDDEN NO GAUGES. FOR WEEKS THERE AFTER I WAS SCARED AND EXTREMELY CONCERNED MY CAR WAS OVER HEATING(MAXED OUT TEMP RANGE)AND SPEEDOMETER ON ZERO. IN SHORT IT DOES EVERY THING READING WISE EXCEPT CORRECTLY ONCE THE KEY IS USED. I (THINK ) I'M HEARING A "POP OR DISTORTED/SHORT" IN THE SPEAKERS. …

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TRAVELING ON US 90 W. ALL OF A SUDDEN NO GAUGES. FOR WEEKS THERE AFTER I WAS SCARED AND EXTREMELY CONCERNED MY CAR WAS OVER HEATING(MAXED OUT TEMP RANGE)AND SPEEDOMETER ON ZERO. IN SHORT IT DOES EVERY THING READING WISE EXCEPT CORRECTLY ONCE THE KEY IS USED. I (THINK ) I'M HEARING A "POP OR DISTORTED/SHORT" IN THE SPEAKERS. .I HAVE NOT INSTALLED OR OTHERWISE ALTERED ANY EQUIPMENT OR MADE ANY CHANGES TO THE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT OF ANY KIND... AFTER REVIEWING THE INTERNET AND ASKING OTHER OWNERS OF LIKE MAKE/MODELS AND THE "OTHER CLOSELY RELATED MODELS I.E IMPALA I'VE BEEN TOLD MORE HAVING THIS PROBLEM THAN NOT. I'M ALSO FINDING IT SEEM TO BE A PROBLEM RATHER EARL IN PRODUCTION YEARS AND APPEARS TO BE A DEFECT IN ENGINEERING/ASSEMBLY OF THESE AUTOMOBILES. (PERHAPS A FULL REVIEW OF ELECTRICAL PATIENT/DESIGN AND ASSEMBLY METHODS MAY RESOLVE WHY THIS IS HAPPENING. I TRULY WANT TO START A CLASS ACTION TO "REPAIR" (NO MONEY)WITH NEW RE-DESIGNED INSTALLS BY DEALER. AS OF TODAY MY "CARLO" IS AT 89000 MI... PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME IF I CAN HELP OR YOU KNOW OF A CORRECT FIX.DEALER WANTS 700 TO REPLACE DASH..(IS THIS NEW DASH DIFFERENT IN ANY WAY FROM OEM BUILD I WONDER)ALSO MY AVALANCHE TRUCK AT 60,000+ DOING THE SAME THING. DOES IT TAKE A FIRE OR DEATH TO RECOGNIZE THIS A RECURRING DEFAULT IN MFG. OF CHEVROLETS. GM AND ITS DEALERS ARE MUM AND IT MUST BE MY FAULT. PERHAPS A COMPLETE ELECTRICAL REVIEW OF GM ENGINEERING IS IN ORDER NOT WITHSTANDING DURABILITY STANDARDS AND WHO MAKES THE WIRES/ASSEMBLY AND WHERE..I'M JUST SAYING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10592972

Mileage unknown · May 8, 2014
Electrical System

VEHICLE IGNITION RANDOMLY TURNING OFF ENGINE WHILE IN GEAR FROM 2006 TO SALE IN NOV 2007. TRIPS TO DEALERSHIPS IN MALDEN, MA AND WEST BABYLON, NY ADVISED "TOO HEAVY" KEYRING, BUT CONTINUED TO BE A PROBLEM. ELECTRICAL FAILURE OF ENTIRE DASHBOARD INCLUDING SPEEDOMETER OCCURRED IN JANUARY, 2007 AND WAS SUBSEQUENTLY REPAIRED BY DEAL…

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VEHICLE IGNITION RANDOMLY TURNING OFF ENGINE WHILE IN GEAR FROM 2006 TO SALE IN NOV 2007. TRIPS TO DEALERSHIPS IN MALDEN, MA AND WEST BABYLON, NY ADVISED "TOO HEAVY" KEYRING, BUT CONTINUED TO BE A PROBLEM. ELECTRICAL FAILURE OF ENTIRE DASHBOARD INCLUDING SPEEDOMETER OCCURRED IN JANUARY, 2007 AND WAS SUBSEQUENTLY REPAIRED BY DEALERSHIP IN WEST BABYLON NY WHERE I WAS TOLD KEYS WERE TOO HEAVY FOR IGNITION REPORTING NOW DUE TO SIMILAR INSTANCES IN OTHER CHEVROLET VEHICLES BUT NOTICED MONTE CARLOS WERE NOT ADDRESSED AS AN ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10587327

30,000 miles · Mar 20, 2014
Electrical SystemSteering

THE STEERING PROBLEM WAS FROM THE BEGINNING WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR USED WITH 19,000 MILES.. VERY TIGHT STEERING, WAS IN WARRANTY AT THE TIME AND HAD IT SERVICED. HOWEVER, ALL THEY SAID WAS IT WAS ADJUSTED. *TR THIS WAS THE SPRING OF 2006. STEERING AT THIS TIME IS STILL VERY TIGHT, AND IT IS REAL BAD IN SUMMER MONTHS. THE …

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THE STEERING PROBLEM WAS FROM THE BEGINNING WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR USED WITH 19,000 MILES.. VERY TIGHT STEERING, WAS IN WARRANTY AT THE TIME AND HAD IT SERVICED. HOWEVER, ALL THEY SAID WAS IT WAS ADJUSTED. *TR THIS WAS THE SPRING OF 2006. STEERING AT THIS TIME IS STILL VERY TIGHT, AND IT IS REAL BAD IN SUMMER MONTHS. THE CAR NOW HAS 39,000 APPROX. IF MY CAR WAS RECALLED BECAUSE OF THIS, I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED THE SPEEDOMETER AFTER THE CAR WARMS UP, BEGINS TO STOP WORKING. USUALLY AFTER STOPPING AT A LIGHT, I WOULD NOTICE THE SPEEDOMETER REGISTERS BELOW ZERO (0) THEN I KNOW UPON ACCELERATING IT WILL NOT GO UP EVEN TO 45 MPH...AT TIMES IT STICKS TO AROUND 25 OR SO. THEN AFTER ABRUPTLY STOPPING AND THEN GOING FORWARD, IT WILL GO BACK TO NORMAL. THIS IS DANGEROUS, BECAUSE I TRY TO STAY WITHIN THE PROPER SPEED, ACCORDING TO OTHER CARS AROUND ME, BUT IF I WAS TO GO SLOWER THAN I THOUGHT TO BE, I COULD GET SLAMMED INTO BECAUSE OF NOT KEEPING UP WITH OTHERS. I FEAR THIS. THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE IS ALSO NOT READING RIGHT, IT USUALLY SHOULD STAY BELOW HALF TEMP... IT GOES UP ABOVE EVEN THOUGH I HAVE HAD ANTI FREEZE REPLACED WITH FRESH. THAT TOO IS DANGEROUS. OTHER THAN THESE THINGS, I HAVE HAD LITTLE TO NO PROBLEMS. I LOVE THE CAR, I JUST HATE WHEN THERE IS A PROBLEM. I WOULD LIKE FOR THE MANUFACTURER TO LOOK INTO THIS, AS I HAVE NOTICED I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THESE CONCERNS OF THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. FOR ME, THE STEERING IS THE MOST DANGEROUS. NOW IF MY CAR WAS IN ANY RECALL I MAY NOT HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED, AS I MOVED OUT WEST FOR A FEW YEARS, AND ADDRESS HAD CHANGED. I AM NOW BACK HOME. NATURALLY WHEN YOUR NEW / USED CAR WARRANTY STOPS, THEN "THINGS" HAPPEN AND STILL MAKING CAR PAYMENTS MAKES IT HARD TO SERVICE THE EXPENSIVE PARTS.

NHTSA ODI #10573861

100,000 miles · Mar 13, 2014
Electrical SystemFuel/propulsion System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE SPEEDOMETER, TACHOMETER AND FUEL GAUGE READINGS FLUCTUATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS IN OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. T…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE SPEEDOMETER, TACHOMETER AND FUEL GAUGE READINGS FLUCTUATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS IN OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10568969

84,800 miles · Jul 18, 2013
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SPEEDOMETER DISPLAYED THE INCORRECT READING AND OCCASIONALLY REGISTER 80 MPH IN A 40 MPH ZONE. THE INSTRUMENTAL MESSAGING CENTER FAILURE ALSO CAUSED THE LIGHTS TO FLICKER AND BECOME DIM. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SPEEDOMETER DISPLAYED THE INCORRECT READING AND OCCASIONALLY REGISTER 80 MPH IN A 40 MPH ZONE. THE INSTRUMENTAL MESSAGING CENTER FAILURE ALSO CAUSED THE LIGHTS TO FLICKER AND BECOME DIM. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE FAILURE WAS LOCATED WITHIN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER AND IT NEEDED TO BE REPROGRAMMED; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED AT 45,000 MILES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 84,800. THE APPROXIMATE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 86,500.

NHTSA ODI #10525533

75,000 miles · Dec 31, 2012
Electrical SystemFire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT WARMER WAS ACTIVATED WHEN THE SEAT CAUGHT FIRE. THE CONTACT SHUT OFF THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT WARMER. NO ONE WAS INJURED DURING THE FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS NOT CALLED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER FOR A DIAGNOS…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT WARMER WAS ACTIVATED WHEN THE SEAT CAUGHT FIRE. THE CONTACT SHUT OFF THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT WARMER. NO ONE WAS INJURED DURING THE FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS NOT CALLED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WHERE THE DEALER ADVISED THAT A SHORT IN THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT WARMER CAUSED THE FIRE. THE DEALER DID NOT PERFORM ANY REPAIRS TO THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000.

NHTSA ODI #10490614

176,000 miles · Oct 11, 2012
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENTAL PANEL GAUGES WERE ALL NON-FUNCTIONAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE WAS UNABLE TO VIEW THE THERMOSTAT, SPEEDOMETER, FUEL LEVELS, ETC. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO ADVISED THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENTAL PANEL GAUGES WERE ALL NON-FUNCTIONAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE WAS UNABLE TO VIEW THE THERMOSTAT, SPEEDOMETER, FUEL LEVELS, ETC. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO ADVISED THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 176,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 180,000.

NHTSA ODI #10479798

70,000 miles · Jun 21, 2012
Electrical SystemExterior LightingFuel System, Gasoline

A YR. AFT. I BOUGHT MY 2005 MONTE CARLO, THINGS BEGAN GOING WRONG WITH IT. FIRST 2 THINGS TO GO:THE CRUISE CONTROL & RE-WINDOW DEFROSTER. THE NEXT YR, WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT ON THE INTERSTATE, I SWITCHED MY LIGHTS TO BRIGHTS & WITHIN SECONDS I HAD NO LIGHTS AT ALL! THIS COULD OF CAUSED A VERY BAD ACCIDENT, I WAS ABLE TO QUICKLY …

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A YR. AFT. I BOUGHT MY 2005 MONTE CARLO, THINGS BEGAN GOING WRONG WITH IT. FIRST 2 THINGS TO GO:THE CRUISE CONTROL & RE-WINDOW DEFROSTER. THE NEXT YR, WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT ON THE INTERSTATE, I SWITCHED MY LIGHTS TO BRIGHTS & WITHIN SECONDS I HAD NO LIGHTS AT ALL! THIS COULD OF CAUSED A VERY BAD ACCIDENT, I WAS ABLE TO QUICKLY SWITCH THE LIGHTS BACK TO DIM & LUCKILY THEY CAME BACK ON. SINCE THEN, I NO LONGER USE THE BRIGHT LIGHTS, FOR FEAR OF MY LIGHTS NOT COMING BACK ON. THEN IT SEEMED LIKE EVERYTHING WENT HAYWIRE AFTER THAT, ODOMETER SHOWED THAT I WAS GOING 110, GAS GAUGE QUIT & TEMP GAUGE REGISTERED PAST 260. NOT A FUN NIGHT TO BE DRIVING, NOT KNOWING MY CORRECT SPEED, HOW MUCH GAS I HAD, IF MY CAR WAS GOING TO OVERHEAT OR HAVE NO LIGHTS! SINCE 6/15/2012 THE TACH NOW REGISTERS BETWEEN 6000-7000 RPMS & NONE OF THE GAUGES ARE WORKING PROPERLY. MY CAR ALSO SMELLS LIKE IT HAS AN EXHAUST OR FUEL LEAK WHICH COMES THRU THE VENTS, IT MAKES ME SICK & GIVES ME HEADACHES. I TOOK IT TO A DEALER A YR. AGO, PAID $98.00 FOR THEM TO TELL ME THEY COULDN'T FIND A PROBLEM. TO THIS DAY, MY CAR STILL SMELLS LIKE GASOLINE, I PRAY IT DOESN'T CATCH ON FIRE. TONIGHT I'VE BEEN RESEARCHING THESE PROBLEMS & FOUND THAT THE FAULTY GAUGES IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE CARS & QUITE EXPENSIVE TO FIX. I FEEL CHEVY SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR REPAIRING THIS PROBLEM & ALL THE OTHERS, AFTER ALL THEY'RE THE ONES WHO BUILT A CAR WITH MANY SERIOUS PROBLEMS. THIS IS VERY UNFAIR FOR THE MANY CONSUMERS OUT THERE WHO HAVE SPENT THEIR HARD EARNED MONEY TO BUY THIS CAR. NOT EVERYONE CAN AFFORD TO GET THIS FIXED ALONG WITH PAYING THE CAR PAYMENT. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THEY CAN'T BE MADE TO TAKE CARE OF THIS. WHAT WOULD HAVE TO HAPPEN IN ORDER TO MAKE THEM PAY? WHAT'S LISTED ABOVE? A CRASH, FIRE, INJURY OR DEATH? SHOULDN'T HAVE TO BE THAT WAY, SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE BEFORE ANY OF THAT HAPPENS! *TT

NHTSA ODI #10462492

Mileage unknown · May 23, 2012
Electrical SystemUnknown Or OtherVehicle Speed Control

ALL OF MY GAUGES STOPPED WORKING CORRECTLY. THIS PROBLEM FIRST STARTED SEVERAL MONTHS AGO WITH MY TEMPERATURE GAUGE AND BATTERY GAUGES. NOW MY SPEEDOMETER IS FLUCTUATING IRRATICALLY AND GETTING STUCK. AFTER REVIEW OF OTHER BLOGS AND POSTS THIS IS DEFINATELY A MANUFACTURE DEFECT AND SHOULD BE FIXED BY THE GM. *TT

NHTSA ODI #10459360

69,000 miles · Mar 5, 2012
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENTAL PANEL FAILED AND THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO READ THE SPEEDOMETER, FUEL GAUGE OR THE TACHOMETER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND LOCATED THE FAILURE AT THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED A…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENTAL PANEL FAILED AND THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO READ THE SPEEDOMETER, FUEL GAUGE OR THE TACHOMETER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND LOCATED THE FAILURE AT THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 69,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 78,000. UPDATED 03/28/12*LJ UPDATED 03/30/12

NHTSA ODI #10450255

Official recalls

1

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.

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.