1997 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO Recalls, Complaints & Safety

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 85 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME LOOSE AND CAUSED THE CONTACT TO TEMPORARILY LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THAT THE LOWER PINION BEARING FOR THE STEERING RACK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 03V527000 (STEERING:RACK AND PINION) HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 220,000.

MY 97 MONTE CARLO Z34 STARTED DYING ON ME WHENEVER I CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP AND AFTER I HAD BEEN DRIVING IT FOR A WHILE. AND IT WOULD SHOOT FORWARD AFTER I STARTED IT AGAIN IN NEUTRAL(THE ONLY WAY IT WOULD START). PLACING MYSELF IN THE MIDDLE OF INTERSECTIONS UNWILLINGLY, I WOULD HAVE TO START MY CAR AND MAKE SURE NO CARS WERE COMING ANY WAY OR ELSE I WOULD HAVE CRASHED! NOW MY CAR IS COMPLETELY UNDRIVABLE AND DIES WHENEVER I HIT MY BRAKES, I TOOK THE CAR TO SEVERAL MECHANICS SINCE THIS STARTED AND HAVE HAD THE FOLLOWING CHANGED/REPAIRED: UPPER AND LOWER INTAKE GASKET SET, THROTTLE BODY GASKET, THERMOSTAT, SPARK PLUGS AND WIRES, AIR FILTER, NUMEROUS VACUUM LEAKS, VALVE COVERS. *TR

MY 1997 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO WAS RECENTLY DIAGNOSED WITH AN INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET THAT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED (DUE TO LEAKING OF ENGINE COOLANT). TWO MECHANICS INFORMED ME THE REPAIR COSTS WOULD BE BETWEEN $800-$1000. AFTER FURTHER RESEARCH, I DISCOVERED SEVERAL GENERAL MOTORS VEHICLES BETWEEN 1996-2002 HAD THIS SAME PROBLEM. THOUGH NO OFFICIAL RECALL WAS DONE, GM DID PUBLISH A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN REGARDING THIS PROBLEM A FEW YEARS AGO. I KNOW CANADA HAS FILED CLASS ACTION SUITS AGAINST CANADA GM CONCERNING THIS ISSUE. THE CAR ONLY HAS 120K MILES ON IT, AND THE BLUEBOOK STATES THE VALUE TO BE AROUND $2200. DOES THE STATE OF MARYLAND HAVE INFORMATION ON THIS ISSUE REQUIRING GM TO PERFORM THIS WORK UNDER SOME KIND OF WARRANTY? *TR

MY 97 CHEVY MONTE CARLO HAS HAD NO LOWER BRAKE LIGHTS FOR SOME TIME . I HAD MY CAR CHECKED BY AN AUTO ELECTRICIAN AND WAS TOLD THAT THE PROBLEM WAS SO SEVERE AND IT WOULD PROBABLY NEVER FIND THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM. I AM VERY CONCERNED WITH THIS ISSUE BEING IT MAY CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY TO MY SELF/FAMILY OR OTHERS. AS I DRIVE ON THE ROAD I NOTICE MANY AUTOS OF THE SAME YEAR AND TYPE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM SO I KNOW ITS NOT ONLY MY VEHICLE .I THOUGHT IT COULD OF BEEN THE FACTORY INSTALLED SECURITY SYSTEM SO I HAD IT UNINSTALLED TO COME TO THE FACT THAT IT WAS NOT THE SECURITY SYSTEM AFTER ALL. PLEASE HELP WITH THIS ISSUE . THIS IS MY ONLY SOURCE OF TRANSPORTATION AS I AM DISABLED AND CANNOT AFFORD ANOTHER VEHICLE . I HAVE PUT CONSTANT REPAIRS ON THIS CAR , FUEL INJ TANK, ETC. AGAIN PLEASE ADDRESS THIS URGENT ISSUE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE ENGINE FELL OUT OF THE VEHICLE. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY THE SUB FRAME BOLTS NOT BEING TIGHTENED. THE BOLTS WERE RE-ATTACHED. AS OF AUGUST 14, 2007, NO OTHER FAILURES HAVE OCCURRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 145,000.

THIS IS MY SECOND GM VEHICLE WITH THE SAME MALFUNCTION. FIRST, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD NOT TURN ON. THEN THE RIGHT BLINKER WOULD NOT WORK (STAYS SOLID, DOESN'T FLASH). THEN THERE WAS A SMALL FIRE ACCOMPANIED BY A LOT OF SMOKE COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. THIS IS A 1997 CHEVY MONTE CARLO. THE OTHER CAR I HAD WITH THE SAME MALFUNCTION WAS A 1995 CHEVY BERETTA. ALL REPAIRS ARE COSTLY. *JB

Fire

THIS IS MY SECOND GM VEHICLE WITH THE SAME MALFUNCTION. FIRST, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD NOT TURN ON. THEN THE RIGHT BLINKER WOULD NOT WORK (STAYS SOLID, DOESN'T FLASH). THEN THERE WAS A SMALL FIRE ACCOMPANIED BY A LOT OF SMOKE COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. THIS IS A 1997 CHEVY MONTE CARLO. THE OTHER CAR I HAD WITH THE SAME MALFUNCTION WAS A 1995 CHEVY BERETTA. ALL REPAIRS ARE COSTLY. *JB

Fire

THIS IS MY SECOND GM VEHICLE WITH THE SAME MALFUNCTION. FIRST, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD NOT TURN ON. THEN THE RIGHT BLINKER WOULD NOT WORK (STAYS SOLID, DOESN'T FLASH). THEN THERE WAS A SMALL FIRE ACCOMPANIED BY A LOT OF SMOKE COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. THIS IS A 1997 CHEVY MONTE CARLO. THE OTHER CAR I HAD WITH THE SAME MALFUNCTION WAS A 1995 CHEVY BERETTA. ALL REPAIRS ARE COSTLY. *JB

Fire

THE TURN SIGNAL SWITCH HAS AN UNNATURAL TENDENCY TO FAIL ON ALL 95-99 MONTE CARLO AND 95- 00 LUMINA'S MADE BY CHEVROLET THIS CAN CAUSE A FAILURE IN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM RESULTING IN THE FAILURE OF THE BRAKE LIGHTS. THE TURN SIGNAL SWITCH WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED. THIS HAS RESULTED IN THE PROPER OPERATION OF THE BRAKE LIGHTS. OLD PART NOT AVAILABLE. *NM

DECREASE BRAKING ABILITY ON WET PAVEMENT. *JB

DT: CONSUMER HAD RECALL 03V527000 REPAIRS DONE IN FEBRUARY WHICH WAS SUPPOSE TO BE PREVENTIVE RECALL WORK. VEHICLE WAS STILL EXPERIENCING LOSS OF POWER STEERING. CONSUMER SAID WHEN SHE TURNED LEFT THE VEHICLE DEMONSTRATED HIGH RESISTANCE. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER AFTER MANUFACTURER ADVISED HER TO TAKE IT TO ANY DEALER. THE DEALER INSISTED THAT SHE GO BACK TO DEALER WHO DID THE ORIGINAL RECALL REPAIRS. DEALER CHECKED VEHICLE AFTER SHE AGREED TO PAY FOR THE LABOR. MECHANIC CHECKED VEHICLE AND CLAIMED IT WAS RACK AND PINION PROBLEM. *AK

DT: 1997, MONTE CARLO, CRUISE CONTROL WAS SET FOR 68 MPH. CONSUMER WENT TO TURN OFF AT AN EXIT AND THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NOT SHUT OFF. BECAUSE OF THIS VEHICLE WOULD NOT SLOW DOWN ,CAUSING A COLLISION. CONSUMER AND OTHER OCCUPANTS WERE INJURED. *AK THE DRIVER WAS BRAKING HARD BUT COULD NOT SLOW DOWN VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS ON A INTERSTATE HIGHWAY, WHEN ACCIDENT OCCURRED.*SB

Crash 2 injured

WHILE DRIVING MY CAR HOME ONE EVENING IT WAS IDLING HIGH AND AND EVERYTHING ELECTRICAL WAS ACTING LIKE IT WAS SHORT CIRCUTING AND THEN MY CAR DIED. THANK GOODNESS THAT NO ONE WAS BEHIND ME BECAUSE OF COURSE THE POWER STEERING THE FAILED AND THERE WAS A SOUND OF METAL AGAINST METAL. MY FATHER AND I THEN CHANGED THE ALTERNATOR THINKING THAT THAT MIGHT FIX THE PROBLEM. IT DIDN'T AND THE CAR HAS HAD THE PROBLEM MULTIPLE TIMES. NOW I AM UNABLE TO DRIVE IT FOR THE FEAR OF THIS HAPPENING IN HEAVY TRAFFIC OR OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF NO WHERE AND ME BE STUCK THERE. THE PROBLEM IS NOT A FAULTY ALTERNATOR SO I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF YOU HAVE ANY CLUE AS TO WHAT THE PROBLEM MIGHT BE. *AK

THE TURN SIGNAL/BRAKE TAIL LIGHTS FAILS TO WORK PROPERLY. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. THE CAUSE WAS NOT DETERMINED. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.

RECALL 03V527000 CONCERNING STEERING GEAR BEARINGS. CONSUMER HAD A CONCERN WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN THE VEHICLE LOST STEERING CONTROL. ALSO, AIR CONDITIONER/ HAZARD LIGHTS, AND DRIVER'S SIDE POWER WINDOW FAILED TO OPERATE. DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. *AK

VEHICLE'S STEERING WENT OUT ALL OF A SUDDEN WHILE DRIVING. *MR RECALL #750283. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED HER MONEY BACK. *SC IN JAN. 2004 A RECALL WAS ISSUED ON THE STEERING RACK AND PINION. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD TO SEND IN HER PAPERWORK AND A REIMBURSEMENT CHECK WOULD BE SENT TO HER, BUT INSTEAD THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A DENIAL LETTER. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THE REASON FOR THE DENIAL OF REIMBURSEMENT WAS BECAUSE THE CONSUMER DID NOT HAVE THE VEHICLE SERVICED AT A GM DEALER. *JB

WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN AT 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER, CAUSING THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE TO HIT A POLE. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THE PROBLEM WAS DUE TO STEERING RACK FAILURE. *JB

Crash

WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED CONSUMER NOTICED FLUID LEAKING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. IT WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE GAS TANK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

1997 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO VIN#[XXX] MILES 36,366 DATE 04/12/02 HEAD GASKET BLOWN (RESEAL INTAKE MANIFOLD) SERVICE#47886 ANDREW CHEVROLET 1500 WEST SILVER SPRING MILWAUKEE,WISC. 53209 REPAIR COST $916.58 REASON GIVEN WHY IT WENT OUT BY SERVICE TECH ENGINE HEATS UP AND COOLS DOWN. 05/14/04 MILEAGE 48,933 SERVICE #89628 HEAD GASKET AGAIN BLOWN(RESEAL INTAKE MANIFOLD WANT ANOTHER $8-900 REFUSED TO PAY AGAIN CAR SITS AT HOME. *LA UPDATED 07/25/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

CONSUMER'S CLAIM WAS DENIED FOR REIMBURSEMENT SINCE THE REPAIRS WERE DONE PRIOR TO RECEIVING THE RECALL NOTICE. *PH

STEERING WHEEL DID NOT TURN UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC, AND HE DETERMINED THE RACK AND PINION STEERING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP. CONSUMER TRIED TO UNLOCK IT BUT WAS UNABLE TO DO SO. CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES AND PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND HIT A MEDIAN STEEL BARRIER. THEN, VEHICLE ROLLED THREE TIMES AND LANDED UPSIDE DOWN ON THE HIGHWAY. UPON IMPACT, BOTH FRONTAL AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. DRIVER SUSTAINED NECK AND BACK INJURIES AND WAS TRANSPORTED BY AMBULANCE, TO THE HOSPITAL. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *AK

Crash 1 injured

WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP. CONSUMER TRIED TO UNLOCK IT BUT WAS UNABLE TO DO SO. CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES AND PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND HIT A MEDIAN STEEL BARRIER. THEN, VEHICLE ROLLED THREE TIMES AND LANDED UPSIDE DOWN ON THE HIGHWAY. UPON IMPACT, BOTH FRONTAL AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. DRIVER SUSTAINED NECK AND BACK INJURIES AND WAS TRANSPORTED BY AMBULANCE, TO THE HOSPITAL. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *AK

Crash 1 injured

WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP. CONSUMER TRIED TO UNLOCK IT BUT WAS UNABLE TO DO SO. CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES AND PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND HIT A MEDIAN STEEL BARRIER. THEN, VEHICLE ROLLED THREE TIMES AND LANDED UPSIDE DOWN ON THE HIGHWAY. UPON IMPACT, BOTH FRONTAL AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. DRIVER SUSTAINED NECK AND BACK INJURIES AND WAS TRANSPORTED BY AMBULANCE, TO THE HOSPITAL. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *AK

Crash 1 injured

WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH VEHICLE SKIDDED ON AN ICY PATCH ON THE ROAD, DRIVER LOST CONTROL, AND VEHICLE HIT AN EMBANKMENT HEAD ON. UPON IMPACT, DUAL AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DRIVER SUSTAINED SEVERE INJURIES TO THE FACE AND NECK, AND PASSENGER SUSTAINED A CONCUSSION AND A BLACK EYE. DUE TO SEVERE DAMAGE THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *AK *LA

Crash 2 injured

COOLANT STARTING LEAKING WITH A MINIMAL AMOUNT AND KEPT GETTING WORSE. WAS INFORMED THAT INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET NEEDS REPLACED. HEARD OF SEVERAL MONTE CARLOS AND LUMINAS HAVING THIS PROBLEM.*AK

FUEL GUAGE DOESN'T WORK PROPERLY. *AK

CONSUMER DISSATISFIED WITH THE WORK DONE ON HER VEHICLE. *PH THE DEALER TOLD THE CONSUMER THAT THE STEERING PROBLEM SHE EXPERIENCED HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH RECALL 03V-527000. THE CONSUMER DISAGREES AND BELIEVES THAT THE DEALER REFUSED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE UNDER RECALL BECAUSE SHE REFUSED TO LET THEM REPLACE OTHER ITEMS ON THE VEHICLE. *NM

NHTSA RECALL# 03V527000 SUBJECT:STEERING GEAR BEARINGS. CONSUMER RECEIVED THE NOTICE FOR THE RECALL THE FIRST PART OF FEBRUARY. CONSUMER CALLED THE DEALER SIX TIMES. DEALER DID NOT HAVE THE TOOLS TO FIX THE RECALLED PART, AND TOLD THE CONSUMER TO CALL BACK IN APRIL. THE VEHICLE WAS HAVING STEERING PROBLEMS.*AK

CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD RUBBING NOISE WHEN BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY. CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER CONCERNING FRONT SUSPENSION:WHEEL BEARINGS. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND THE DEALER REPLACED WHEEL BEARINGS. *AK

HEARD A LOUD RUMBLING NOISE WHILE BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND DEALER DETERMINED THAT RACK AND PINION STEERING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

MY 1997 MONTE CARLO IS IN NEED OF AN INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET REPLACEMENT. WHY ISN'T THIS A GM RECALL? THE REPAIR COST IS $800 AND MY INTERNET RESEARCH SHOWS THAT THIS IS A PREVALENT PROBLEM IN GM CARS. MY CAR IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE UNTIL THE REPAIR IS COMPLETE. THE ENGINE COULD CATCH FIRE OR FREEZE UP WHILE DRIVING. GM NEEDS TO RECALL THESE DEFECTIVE PLASTIC GASKETS IMMEDIATELY BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED! *JB

WHEN MAKING A LEFT TURN, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP. THE DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. THE DEALER IS REPLACED THE RACK AND PINION. *JB *NM

TURN SIGNALS AND BRAKE LIGHTS FAIL TO FUNCTION PROPERLY. WHEN DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS ARE ON THE BRAKE LIGHTS FAIL TO BRIGHTEN WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED. I LOOKED UP A FORUM TYPE WEBSITE "MYMONTE.COM" AND FOUND NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. ALL SAID THAT IT IS A FAULTY TURN SIGNAL SWITCH RELATING SPECIFICALLY TO 95-99 YEAR MODELS OF CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO. A FEW OF THESE HAVE HAD REPEATED OCCURRENCES. IT IS A FAIRLY COMMON COMPLAINT WITH MANY MONTE CARLO OWNERS. *CB

I AM HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MY 1997 MONTE CARLO. THE POWER STEERING INTERMITTENTLY LOCKS UP AND/OR BECOMES VERY DIFFICULT TO OPERATE. PROBLEM ALWAYS OCCURS WHEN TURNING TO THE LEFT, USUALLY AT LOW SPEEDS. PROBLEM BECOMING PROGRESSIVELY WORSE TO THE POINT WHERE VEHICLE IS NOT DRIVABLE.*AK

WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL TOWARDS THE LEFT, THE STEERING LOCKED UP, WHICH CAUSED THE CONSUMER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. *AK THE RACK AND PINION WAS REPLACED *JB *NM

WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH AND WITHOUT WARNING REAR AXLE SNAPPED, CAUSING THE DRIVER TO PULL OFF THE ROAD. THE CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER. *AK

WHILE WAITING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED. AS A RESULT, THE ACCELERATOR THROTTLE MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO JUMP A CURB AND LAND IN A DITCH. UPON IMPACT, THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED SEVERE INJURIES TO HIS NECK AND BACK AND WAS TAKEN TO HOSPITAL FOR TREATMENT. *AK *SC *JB

Crash 1 injured

WHILE WAITING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED. AS A RESULT, THE ACCELERATOR THROTTLE MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO JUMP A CURB AND LAND IN A DITCH. UPON IMPACT, THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED SEVERE INJURIES TO HIS NECK AND BACK AND WAS TAKEN TO HOSPITAL FOR TREATMENT. *AK *SC *JB

Crash 1 injured

LEFT REAR BOLT THAT HELD THE CONTROL ARM ON TO THE AXLE BROKE OFF. IT WAS NOTICED WHEN VEHICLE WAS BEING BACKED OUT OF THE GARAGE. VEHICLE WAS CHECKED AT THE DEALER. AND NO EVIDENCE OF PREVIOUS DAMAGE WAS FOUND.*AK