What Owners Report NHTSA ODI · 2,175,102 complaints · MY1998–2026

2003 Chevrolet Monte Carlo

Typical pattern

7.1% of complaints about the 2003 Chevrolet Monte Carlo came in the first year, which is unremarkable for a 2003 vehicle — around the middle of the 228 model-years on record. The median complaint arrives at 9.6 yr in service. The most-reported system is electrical system (47 complaints), typically at 11.6 yr or about 99,000 miles.

Complaints
198
Median age at failure
9.6 yr
Median mileage
82,000 n=150
Crash / fire / tow
19.2% of reports
Safety recalls
9

When each system is reported — middle 50% of complaints

System
0y2y4y6y8y10y12y14y
Electrical system
47 reports · 99,000 mi
11.6 yr
17%
Engine
32 reports · 127,856 mi
13.3 yr
28.1%
Engine cooling
25 reports · 75,000 mi
6.8 yr
28%
Service brakes, hydraulic
20 reports · 26,000 mi
2.2 yr
15%

Safety recalls — NHTSA campaigns

15V701000 2015-10-26
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.

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

14V400000 2014-07-03
Electrical system:ignition

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 the

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.

09V116000 2009-04-08
Engine cooling

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.

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.

09E005000 2009-02-17
Steering

DORMAN IS RECALLING 979 STEERING KNUCKLES, DORMAN P/NOS. 697-902 AND 697-903, SOLD UNDER DORMAN'S "OE SOLUTIONS<SUP>TM</SUP>" BRAND NAME, AND NAPA P/NOS. 7-8502 AND 7-8503 WHICH WERE SOLD FOR REPLACEMENT USE ON THE VARIOUS VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. A POTENTIAL MATERIAL OR DESIGN DEFECT COULD RESULT IN THE STEERING KNUCKLE BREAKING IN THE HUB AREA.

A BROKEN STEERING KNUCKLE COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL AND A POSSIBLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

08E063000 2008-10-17
Steering

DORMAN PRODUCTS IS RECALLING 3,900 INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFTS DORMAN PART NOS. 425-151, 425-152, AND 425-153, (SOLD UNDER DORMAN'S "OE SOLUTIONS" BRAND NAME), BALKAMP #'S 7-3057, 7-3058, 7-3059 (SOLD UNDER THE "NAPA" BRAND NAME), AND PLATINUM PARTS #'S 2425151, 2425152, AND 2425153 MANUFACTURED DURING THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER 2007. THESE REPLACEMENT STEERING SHAFTS CAN BE USED ON THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE WELD CONNECTING THE INNER TUBE TO THE OUTER TUBE MAY BE DEFECTIVE.

IF THE WELD FAILS, LOSS OF STEERING COULD RESULT, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

07E021000 2007-03-12
Fuel system, other:storage:tank assembly:pressure relief devices

CERTAIN DELPHI FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS, P/NOS. FP10020-11B1, FP10026-11B1, AND FP10027-11B1, SOLD AFTER JANUARY 9, 2007, AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE UNIVERSAL PRESSURE REGULATORS (UPR) WERE PRODUCED WITHOUT AN O'RING AND RETAINER.

FUEL MAY LEAK, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A FIRE.

03V250000 2003-07-15
Equipment:other:owners/service/other manual

CERTAIN MINIVANS, PASSENGER AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 225, "CHILD RESTRAINT ANCHORAGE SYSTEM." THE OWNER'S MANUAL DOES NOT EXPLAIN THE MEANING OF THE LOCATION SYMBOLS FOR THE CHILD RESTRAINT LOWER UNIVERSAL ANCHORAGE SYSTEM.

THIS DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE STANDARD.

03V051000 2003-02-14
Air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module

ON CERTAIN MINI VANS, PASSENGER AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, SOME OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE A DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG THAT MAY NOT DEPLOY AS DESIGNED. IN ADDITION, THE AIR BAG INFLATOR COULD RUPTURE.

THIS COULD RESULT IN REDUCED CAPABILITY OF THE AIR BAG TO PROTECT THE DRIVER. ALSO IF THE AIR BAG INFLATOR RUPTURED, PIECES OF THE INFLATOR COULD STRIKE AND INJURE THE VEHICLE OCCUPANTS.

02V222000 2002-08-09
Air bags:frontal

CERTAIN PASSENGER, MINI VANS, AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES HAVE AN AIR BAG INFLATOR ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE THAT COULD FRACTURE AT A WELD DURING A DEPLOYMENT.

PIECES OF THE INFLATOR COULD STRIKE AND INJURE VEHICLE OCCUPANTS AND THE AIR BAG CUSHION WOULD NOT INFLATE FULLY, REDUCING THE CAPABILITY OF THE BAG TO PROTECT THE DRIVER.

In owners’ own words

Electrical system mileage not reported 1.3 yr in service
CONSUMER STATES IN THE COLD WEATHER THE HORN MALFUNCTIONS CAUSING NO USE OF THE HORN WHEN NEEDED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. TS
Electrical system 13,120 mi 1.2 yr in service
WHILE ON A TRIP, I LEFT CAR SIT FOR 1 WEEK (APPROXIMATELY 7 DAYS) IN THE GARAGE OF MY HOUSE WITH NO ACCESSORIES PLUGGED IN, AND THE CAR WOULD NOT START WHEN I RETURNED. THE BATTERY WAS COMPLETELY DRAINED AND DID NOT EVEN HAVE ENOUGH POWER LEFT IN IT TO EVEN UNLOCK THE DOORS. TOOK CAR TO DEALERSHIP AND THEY FOUND NOTHING WRONG WITH THE BATTERY, CHARGING SYSTEM, OR CURRENT DRAW WHEN NOT RUNNING. THIS SORT OF THING SHOULD NOT HAPPEN TO A CAR WITH AN MSRP OF $30,000. *LA
Electrical system 2,400 mi 1.4 yr in service crash / fire / tow
1. UNABLE TO ACTIVATE HORN DUE TO POOR PLACEMENT ON AIRBAG ASSEMBLY. RESULT: ACCIDENT DUE TO INABILITY TO HONK HORN TO ALERT OTHER DRIVER, 2ND INCIDENT NO ACCIDENT, NEAR MISS. 2. DESIGN PROHIBITS HORN ACTIVATION UNLESS ICON (BUGLE) IS PRESSED DIRECTLY. 3. DRIVER MUST TAKE EYES OFF ROAD TO LOCATE THE MINUTE ICON TO BE ABLE TO HONK HORN. 4. CONTACTED CHEVROLET DIRECTLY WITH COMPLAINT, NO ACTION WAS TAKEN, HAVE TO LIVE WITH IT. *JB
Service brakes, hydraulic 74 mi 3 mo in service
BOUGHT NEW 2003 MONTE CARLO SS. BRAKES HAVE GONE OUT, ABS KICKS IN PREMATURELY, TRACTION LIGHT COMES ON. BODY THROTTLE HAS CRACKED. BOUGHT DECEMBER 17, 2002, AS OF DATE BEEN IN SHOP SIX TIMES. *NLM

Other Monte Carlo model years

2007200620052004200320022001200019991998

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