2002 Chevrolet Monte Carlo problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Engine (29) · Electrical System (25) · Exterior Lighting (19)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Chevrolet Monte Carlo model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
170 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (2)
Engine And Engine Cooling:exhaust System:manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe 2015-10-26 · campaign 15V701000 · 1,003,556 vehicles
Defect: 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.
Risk: Engine oil that drips onto the hot surface of the exhaust manifold may result in a fire.
Fix: 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 c
Electrical System:ignition 2014-07-03 · campaign 14V400000 · 5,877,718 vehicles
Defect: 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, 1998-200
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
Service bulletins (440)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Unknown Or Other 2025-07-18 · PIP5601C · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this pi communicates the requirement to provide a pico file to receive diagnostic assistance from tac.
Unknown Or Other 2025-02-20 · PIP5358D · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this preliminary information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have an unusual noise and is difficult to identify, isolate or pinpoint. technician should get record a sound clip or take a video of the noise for assessment by engineering. technician will need to
Electrical System 2024-10-25 · PIP4723J · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this preliminary information communicates to the dealer the process for downloading or updating operating software for the tire pressure monitor, active fuel injector tester, multi media tester, pico scope, gr8 starting/charging tester and vehicle data recorder tools, giving website address and ste
Unknown Or Other 2024-09-12 · PIT5099H · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this preliminary information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that the heater-vent-air conditioning blows warm air. before calling general motors technical assistance center technician will need to have high and low pressures, outside temperature, humidity, and ven
Unknown Or Other 2024-09-12 · PIT5099H · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this preliminary information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that the heater-vent-air conditioning blows warm air. before calling general motors technical assistance center technician will need to have high and low pressures, outside temperature, humidity, and ven
Electrical System 2024-08-26 · General Communication · Service Campaign
vehicle wide programming (vwp) is a new process to update software on gm vehicles. it provides the ability via a single selection within techline connect to first identify which modules need updating and then proceed to updating affected modules (with some exceptions). the updating of modules is com
Showing the 6 most recent of 440 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2024-01-07 · Fuel/Propulsion System“my car has the engine 3.1 l automatic. on january 4, i was going to go run errands so i went out to my car and cranked it to start the engine but instead, i heard a loud explosion, causing the front tires of the car to go up in the air and then land back on the ground. smoke started coming out from the hood and a fire almost got started. i was scar…”
2021-04-13 · Electrical System · 180,000 mi“my instrument cluster will reset while i am driving. the guages will sweep and all the warning lights come on and the car will ding as if it was just started however the car never stalls and the radio stays on along with everything else.…”
2021-04-12 · Fuel System, Diesel · 96,000 mi · 🔥 fire“tl* the contact owned 2002 chevrolet monte carlo. the contact stated that the vehicle was serviced at apple valley chevrolet (650 foxcroft ave, martinsburg, wv 25401) for a fuel control sensor replacement. the vehicle would not start after it was serviced at the dealer then caught on fire while the contact's husband was trying to start it up. the c…”
2020-03-22 · Unknown Or Other · 126,000 mi · 🔥 fire“started car and heard a loud boom and then smoke under the hood and intake cover and harness on fire…”
2019-11-05 · Electrical System · 240,000 mi“was going about 55-60 mph down the highway and my rpms started to drop and i let off gas and it just died. it cranks and turns over but will not fire…”
2019-05-11 · Fuel/Propulsion System · 165,000 mi“the car's fuel gage stopped working. the car wouldn't turn over when i started it so i got a new battery since it said my old one was bad, but it's still not working. the security light is on and i don't understand why and if this is affecting it from turning on…”
2019-03-11 · Service Brakes“the brake lines are rusted out car only has 55,000 miles it is sitting outside but on blacktop in our drive way. we went to use it and the dash lit like mad checked brake fluid it was low drove it and almost did,nt make it home with brakes.…”
2018-08-16 · Service Brakes“abs light traction control light and air bag light are constantly on..,since ive owned it…”
2017-11-19 · Vehicle Speed Control · 60,000 mi“about october 10th, 2017 i was coming up on a traffic light and when i applied the brakes, the pedal would not go down. i was going about 45 mph by the grace of god i was able to blast through an intersection and miss everyone, everything!. rattled i guess i shut the car off when i regained my composer i started the car and everything was fine. i d…”
2017-06-27 · Fuel/Propulsion System · 32,000 mi · 🔥 fire“tl* the contact owns a 2002 chevrolet monte carlo. while driving 2 mph, the accelerator pedal was depressed, but the vehicle failed to accelerate. the contact observed flames under the vehicle. the fire department extinguished the fire. the fire department stated that the fire occurred due to a fuel leak. prior to the fire, there were no leaks pres…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.