1998 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO — Owner-Reported Problems

NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation Snapshot 2026-08-22 95 complaints · 5 recalls

Verdict & Safety Summary

Most-reported system: SERVICE BRAKES (20 complaints · 21.1%)
Safety signals:
  • Crashes 12
  • Fires 7
  • Injuries 10
  • Deaths 7
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 20 of 95 owner complaints (21.1%) in this vehicle snapshot. SERVICE BRAKES: 20 complaints, 21.1% of reports SERVICE BRAKES 20 · 21.1% · 3 crash reports ENGINE: 19 complaints, 20.0% of reports ENGINE 19 · 20.0% · 2 crash reports 5 fire reports STEERING: 9 complaints, 9.5% of reports STEERING 9 · 9.5% AIR BAGS: 8 complaints, 8.4% of reports AIR BAGS 8 · 8.4% · 4 crash reports FUEL SYSTEM: 7 complaints, 7.4% of reports FUEL SYSTEM 7 · 7.4% ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: 6 complaints, 6.3% of reports ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 6 · 6.3% · 2 fire reports EXTERIOR LIGHTING: 4 complaints, 4.2% of reports EXTERIOR LIGHTING 4 · 4.2% VISIBILITY: 4 complaints, 4.2% of reports VISIBILITY 4 · 4.2% SUSPENSION: 3 complaints, 3.2% of reports SUSPENSION 3 · 3.2% UNKNOWN OR OTHER: 66 complaints, 69.5% of reports UNKNOWN OR OTHER 66 · 69.5% · 6 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 20 21.1% 3 crashes · 0 fires
ENGINE 19 20.0% 2 crashes · 5 fires
STEERING 9 9.5% 0 crashes · 0 fires
AIR BAGS 8 8.4% 4 crashes · 0 fires
FUEL SYSTEM 7 7.4% 0 crashes · 0 fires
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 6 6.3% 0 crashes · 2 fires
EXTERIOR LIGHTING 4 4.2% 0 crashes · 0 fires
VISIBILITY 4 4.2% 0 crashes · 0 fires
SUSPENSION 3 3.2% 0 crashes · 0 fires
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 66 69.5% 6 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 Oct 1997; the first recall shown was reported in Sep 2001. 1997-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 1998-Q1: 2 owner reports 2 1998-Q2: 3 owner reports 3 1998-Q3: 2 owner reports 2 1999-Q1: 2 owner reports 2 1999-Q2: 5 owner reports 5 1999-Q3: 3 owner reports 3 1999-Q4: 5 owner reports 5 2000-Q1: 2 owner reports 2 2000-Q2: 4 owner reports 4 2000-Q3: 6 owner reports 6 2001-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2001-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2001-Q3: 2 owner reports 2 2002-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2002-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2002-Q3: 2 owner reports 2 2002-Q4: 6 owner reports 6 2003-Q1: 2 owner reports 2 2003-Q2: 2 owner reports 2 2003-Q3: 3 owner reports 3 2003-Q4: 3 owner reports 3 2004-Q1: 7 owner reports 7 2004-Q2: 5 owner reports 5 2004-Q3: 2 owner reports 2 2005-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2006-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2006-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2007-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2007-Q2: 2 owner reports 2 2008-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2009-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2010-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2010-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2011-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2013-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2013-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2014-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2014-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2014-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2015-Q4: 2 owner reports 2 2016-Q2: 2 owner reports 2 2016-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2017-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 Owner reports Oct 1997 Oct 2017 Recall campaign 01I014000 ◆ Recall campaign 01I014000 Recall campaign 03V527000 ◆ Recall campaign 03V527000 Recall campaign 07E021000 ◆ Recall campaign 07E021000 Recall campaign 09V116000 ◆ Recall campaign 09V116000 Recall campaign 15V701000 ◆ Recall campaign 15V701000 Investigation EA98019 ● Investigation EA98019 Investigation EA02030 ● Investigation EA02030 Investigation RQ03001 ● Investigation RQ03001 Investigation EA03019 ● Investigation EA03019
  • Campaign 01I014000 was reported 784 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 03V527000 was reported 2,235 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 07E021000 was reported 2,870 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 15V701000 was reported 6,506 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
View timeline records as a table
Date Record type Count Record identifier
1997-Q4 Owner reports 1
1998-Q1 Owner reports 2
1998-Q2 Owner reports 3
1998-Q3 Owner reports 2
1999-Q1 Owner reports 2
1999-Q2 Owner reports 5
1999-Q3 Owner reports 3
1999-Q4 Owner reports 5
2000-Q1 Owner reports 2
2000-Q2 Owner reports 4
2000-Q3 Owner reports 6
2001-Q1 Owner reports 1
2001-Q2 Owner reports 1
2001-Q3 Owner reports 2
2002-Q1 Owner reports 1
2002-Q2 Owner reports 1
2002-Q3 Owner reports 2
2002-Q4 Owner reports 6
2003-Q1 Owner reports 2
2003-Q2 Owner reports 2
2003-Q3 Owner reports 3
2003-Q4 Owner reports 3
2004-Q1 Owner reports 7
2004-Q2 Owner reports 5
2004-Q3 Owner reports 2
2005-Q3 Owner reports 1
2006-Q1 Owner reports 1
2006-Q3 Owner reports 1
2007-Q1 Owner reports 1
2007-Q2 Owner reports 2
2008-Q4 Owner reports 1
2009-Q2 Owner reports 1
2010-Q1 Owner reports 1
2010-Q2 Owner reports 1
2011-Q2 Owner reports 1
2013-Q1 Owner reports 1
2013-Q3 Owner reports 1
2014-Q2 Owner reports 1
2014-Q3 Owner reports 1
2014-Q4 Owner reports 1
2015-Q4 Owner reports 2
2016-Q2 Owner reports 2
2016-Q4 Owner reports 1
2017-Q4 Owner reports 1
Recall campaign 1 01I014000
Recall campaign 1 03V527000
Recall campaign 1 07E021000
Recall campaign 1 09V116000
Recall campaign 1 15V701000
Defect investigation 1 EA98019
Defect investigation 1 EA02030
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 (5)

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 →
  4. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 09V116000

    Report date
    Component:
    Not available in the source record
    Consequence:
    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.
    Remedy:
    DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ENGINE’S FRONT VALVE COVER AND FRONT-VALVE-COVER GASKET WITH NEW PARTS OF AN IMPROVED DESIGN AND REMOVE THE ENGINE’S PLASTIC COVER AND PLASTIC OIL-FILL-TUBE EXTENSION, FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING MAY 2016. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-630-6537, AND PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668 OR HTTP://WWW.PONTIAC.COM OR HTTP:WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →
  5. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 15V701000

    Report date
    Component:
    ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
    Consequence:
    Engine oil that drips onto the hot surface of the exhaust manifold may result in a fire.
    Remedy:
    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 engine’s 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 customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Oldsmobile customer service at 1-800-442-6537 and Pontiac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is 15757. Note: Until the improved remedy has been applied, owners are advised to park their vehicle outside since the fire risk exists even when the vehicle is unattended.
    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 95 complaints · page 1 of 4

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