2002 Chevrolet Monte Carlo problems
Owners have filed 319 complaints with NHTSA about the 2002 Chevrolet Monte Carlo. Engine is the most reported problem area, at 20% of complaints. Next are electrical system (18%) and brakes (13%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 319 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Engine 20% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 14 and 36
- Injuries and deaths
- 13 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 70,000 miles 237 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 31 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 28 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 40 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 31 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 25 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 24 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 20 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 18 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 7 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 9 |
| 200k+ miles | 4 |
What the data shows
Of the 237 complaints that include odometer readings, half describe a problem before roughly 70,000 miles. For engine specifically, the median reported mileage is about 100,000 miles (45 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 14 complaints mention a crash; 36 complaints mention a fire; 13 injuries reported.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 2002 ranks 6th most-complained-about out of 13 model years of the Chevrolet Monte Carlo with enough data (128 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 4 safety recall campaigns.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
Tl* the contact owned a 2002 chevrolet monte carlo. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 45 MPH, when the vehicle began to smoke both inside the vehicle and under the hood of the vehicle without warning. The contact merged to the shoulder of the road and exited the vehicle along with all the other occupants. A fire started under the hood of the vehicle. The contact attempted to put out the fire however, was unable to lift the hood of the vehicle. The fire department extinguished the fire.
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 chevrolet monte carlo. The contact was driving 29 MPH and crashed into another vehicle. The air bags failed to deploy. The contact sustained injuries to the chest, legs and shoulder. A police report was filed. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 65,000. Updated 03/05/14
Went out to start car. Turned on key, set radio. Then turned key to start engine with a resulting loud explosion from under hood. In hurry to get up hood and extinguish fire experienced burns on hands from lifting hood and a fuel line that was squirting fuel/flames. Fire extinguisher extinguished flames. Upper intake manifold is blow apart with multiple sensors destroyed. Thank god this happened at home with an extinguisher handy and not driving down the road with no time to slow down.
Went to start car one day. Turned key and heard loud pop. Rushed to lift good and top of motor on fire. Luckily had extinguisher right inside garage door and immediately extinguished. Plastic intake cover was blown apart in multiple pieces. After searching on the internet I found there have been many of this same incident, somewhere claiming that it comes from a faulty fuel shift of valve or something. If you notice with low miles, this car is barely driven and always babied.
2002 chevrolet monte carlo. Only has 59,000 miles. Car stalled in traffic. No crash/accident resulted. Intake gasket leaked anti-freeze into engine and oil lubrication system. The anti-freeze got into the ball bearings (as well as rest of engine) and caused corrosion damage and misfires. The engine threw a rod. The nearest chevrolet dealership says that the engine must be replaced, and will cost $5,000 dollars.