1997 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO — Owner-Reported Problems

NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation Snapshot 2026-08-22 164 complaints · 3 recalls

Verdict & Safety Summary

Most-reported system: SERVICE BRAKES (28 complaints · 17.1%)
Safety signals:
  • Crashes 14
  • Fires 1
  • Injuries 10
  • Deaths 0
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-08-21 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Component Problem Distribution

Share of owner complaints filed for each vehicle system (unaffected by sales volume)

Component Problem Distribution SERVICE BRAKES appears in 28 of 164 owner complaints (17.1%) in this vehicle snapshot. SERVICE BRAKES: 28 complaints, 17.1% of reports SERVICE BRAKES 28 · 17.1% ENGINE: 25 complaints, 15.2% of reports ENGINE 25 · 15.2% STEERING: 24 complaints, 14.6% of reports STEERING 24 · 14.6% · 2 crash reports AIR BAGS: 14 complaints, 8.5% of reports AIR BAGS 14 · 8.5% · 8 crash reports ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: 13 complaints, 7.9% of reports ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 13 · 7.9% POWER TRAIN: 8 complaints, 4.9% of reports POWER TRAIN 8 · 4.9% FUEL SYSTEM: 7 complaints, 4.3% of reports FUEL SYSTEM 7 · 4.3% SEAT BELTS: 7 complaints, 4.3% of reports SEAT BELTS 7 · 4.3% EXTERIOR LIGHTING: 6 complaints, 3.7% of reports EXTERIOR LIGHTING 6 · 3.7% · 1 fire reports UNKNOWN OR OTHER: 131 complaints, 79.9% of reports UNKNOWN OR OTHER 131 · 79.9% · 11 crash reports 1 fire reports 0% 25% 50% 75% 100%

UNKNOWN OR OTHER is an NHTSA classification artifact and is always listed last.

View component data as a table
System / Component Complaints Share of Reports Safety Reports (Crashes / Fires)
SERVICE BRAKES 28 17.1% 0 crashes · 0 fires
ENGINE 25 15.2% 0 crashes · 0 fires
STEERING 24 14.6% 2 crashes · 0 fires
AIR BAGS 14 8.5% 8 crashes · 0 fires
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 13 7.9% 0 crashes · 0 fires
POWER TRAIN 8 4.9% 0 crashes · 0 fires
FUEL SYSTEM 7 4.3% 0 crashes · 0 fires
SEAT BELTS 7 4.3% 0 crashes · 0 fires
EXTERIOR LIGHTING 6 3.7% 0 crashes · 1 fires
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 131 79.9% 11 crashes · 1 fires
NHTSA Consumer Complaints, NHTSA Safety Recalls, and NHTSA Defect Investigations Snapshot 2026-08-22 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Problem & Recall Timeline

Observed complaint volume and manufacturer recall actions over time

Problem & Recall Timeline Owner reports in this snapshot begin in Jan 1997; the first recall shown was reported in Sep 2001. 1997-Q1: 4 owner reports 4 1997-Q2: 2 owner reports 2 1997-Q3: 6 owner reports 6 1997-Q4: 4 owner reports 4 1998-Q1: 10 owner reports 10 1998-Q2: 6 owner reports 6 1998-Q3: 3 owner reports 3 1998-Q4: 6 owner reports 6 1999-Q1: 13 owner reports 13 1999-Q2: 4 owner reports 4 1999-Q3: 10 owner reports 10 1999-Q4: 7 owner reports 7 2000-Q1: 5 owner reports 5 2000-Q2: 5 owner reports 5 2000-Q3: 5 owner reports 5 2000-Q4: 2 owner reports 2 2001-Q1: 4 owner reports 4 2001-Q2: 7 owner reports 7 2001-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2001-Q4: 2 owner reports 2 2002-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2002-Q2: 2 owner reports 2 2002-Q3: 4 owner reports 4 2002-Q4: 4 owner reports 4 2003-Q1: 6 owner reports 6 2003-Q2: 2 owner reports 2 2003-Q3: 4 owner reports 4 2003-Q4: 3 owner reports 3 2004-Q1: 9 owner reports 9 2004-Q2: 6 owner reports 6 2004-Q3: 6 owner reports 6 2004-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2005-Q3: 2 owner reports 2 2006-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2006-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2006-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2007-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2008-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2008-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2009-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2012-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 Owner reports Jan 1997 Oct 2012 Recall campaign 01I014000 ◆ Recall campaign 01I014000 Recall campaign 03V527000 ◆ Recall campaign 03V527000 Recall campaign 07E021000 ◆ Recall campaign 07E021000 Investigation PE98023 ● Investigation PE98023 Investigation EA98019 ● Investigation EA98019 Investigation RQ03001 ● Investigation RQ03001 Investigation EA03019 ● Investigation EA03019
  • Campaign 01I014000 was reported 1,370 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 03V527000 was reported 1,774 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 07E021000 was reported 2,961 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
View timeline records as a table
Date Record type Count Record identifier
1997-Q1 Owner reports 4
1997-Q2 Owner reports 2
1997-Q3 Owner reports 6
1997-Q4 Owner reports 4
1998-Q1 Owner reports 10
1998-Q2 Owner reports 6
1998-Q3 Owner reports 3
1998-Q4 Owner reports 6
1999-Q1 Owner reports 13
1999-Q2 Owner reports 4
1999-Q3 Owner reports 10
1999-Q4 Owner reports 7
2000-Q1 Owner reports 5
2000-Q2 Owner reports 5
2000-Q3 Owner reports 5
2000-Q4 Owner reports 2
2001-Q1 Owner reports 4
2001-Q2 Owner reports 7
2001-Q3 Owner reports 1
2001-Q4 Owner reports 2
2002-Q1 Owner reports 1
2002-Q2 Owner reports 2
2002-Q3 Owner reports 4
2002-Q4 Owner reports 4
2003-Q1 Owner reports 6
2003-Q2 Owner reports 2
2003-Q3 Owner reports 4
2003-Q4 Owner reports 3
2004-Q1 Owner reports 9
2004-Q2 Owner reports 6
2004-Q3 Owner reports 6
2004-Q4 Owner reports 1
2005-Q3 Owner reports 2
2006-Q1 Owner reports 1
2006-Q3 Owner reports 1
2006-Q4 Owner reports 1
2007-Q3 Owner reports 1
2008-Q1 Owner reports 1
2008-Q2 Owner reports 1
2009-Q3 Owner reports 1
2012-Q4 Owner reports 1
Recall campaign 1 01I014000
Recall campaign 1 03V527000
Recall campaign 1 07E021000
Defect investigation 1 PE98023
Defect investigation 1 EA98019
Defect investigation 1 RQ03001
Defect investigation 1 EA03019
NHTSA Safety Recalls Snapshot 2026-08-22 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Safety Recalls (3)

Official safety recall campaigns filed with NHTSA

  1. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 01I014000

    Report date
    Component:
    SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
    Consequence:
    THE BRAKING COULD FEEL DELAYED MOMENTARILY WHEN LIGHT OR MODERATE FORCE IS APPLIED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL WHILE DRIVING ON WET ROADS OR AFTER GOING THROUGH A CAR WASH.
    Remedy:
    DEALER WILL MODIFY THE FRONT FENDER LINERS TO REMOVE A PORTION OF THE CLOSEOUT PANELS IN THE FRONT WHEEL WELLS AT NO CHARGE TO THE CONSUMER. THIS SERVICE WILL BE AVAILABLE THROUGH AUGUST 2004.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →
  2. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 03V527000

    Report date
    Component:
    STEERING
    Consequence:
    IF THIS OCCURS, THE PINION SHAFT CAN BE FORCED UPWARD DURING LEFT TURNS AND BACK DOWN AS THE STEERING WHEEL IS MOVED BACK AND TO THE RIGHT. IF THE PINION SHAFT MOVES FURTHER, THE DRIVER WILL NEED TO EXERT MORE EFFORT TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL, SIMILAR TO A VEHICLE WITHOUT POWER ASSISTED STEERING. IF THE PINION SHAFT MOVES EVEN FURTHER, THE DRIVER WILL REQUIRE MUCH HIGHER EFFORT TO TURN LEFT AND MAY NOT BE ABLE TO TURN THE WHEEL AS MUCH AS INTENDED. WITH THE MAXIMUM PINION SHAFT MOVEMENT, WHICH REQUIRES INTERNAL GEAR COMPONENT DAMAGE, THE DRIVER CAN ENCOUNTER HIGH RESISTANCE TO TURNING LEFT, FOLLOWED BY UNINTENDED POWER ASSIST TO THE RIGHT. IN ANY OF THESE CONDITIONS, A CRASH COULD OCCUR.
    Remedy:
    DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW LOWER PINION BEARING UNLESS INSPECT OF THE EXISTING BEARING INDICATES THAT REPLACEMENT OF THE GEAR ASSEMBLY IS NECESSARY. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 5, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT BUICK AT 1-866-608-8080; CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438; OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-630-6537; OR PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →
  3. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 07E021000

    Report date
    Component:
    FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER
    Consequence:
    FUEL MAY LEAK, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A FIRE.
    Remedy:
    DELPHI WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE UPR FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 23, 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT DELPHI AT 877-411-8770.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-08-21 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Complaint Narrative Explorer

Verbatim owner-reported defect narratives from NHTSA public records

Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation · snapshot 2026-08-21
Safety incident filters
Showing 0 of 164 complaints · page 1 of 7

No complaints match the current filters.

EPA Fuel Economy Database Snapshot 2026-08-21 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Estimated Ownership Cost

EPA fuel economy ratings and annual operating cost estimates

Data: US EPA Fuel Economy Guide · snapshot 2026-08-21
Supported range: 1,000–60,000 miles per year
Supported range: $1.50–$10.00 per gallon
55% city45% highway
Estimate unavailable

EPA fuel-economy data is unavailable for this vehicle.

No estimate is shown when required EPA values are unavailable.

Open Ownership Cost Calculator →

Adjacent Model Years

Immediate preceding and succeeding model year records

NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-08-21 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Methodology & Data Integrity

Data sourced from NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Snapshot date: 2026-08-21.

Read our complete data methodology → Sources