2003 Chevrolet Monte Carlo problems
Owners have filed 204 complaints with NHTSA about the 2003 Chevrolet Monte Carlo. Engine is the most reported problem area, at 26% of complaints. Next are electrical system (24%) and brakes (12%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 204 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Engine 27% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 14 and 24
- Injuries and deaths
- 9 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 76,000 miles 152 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 | 25 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 12 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 20 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 20 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 16 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 13 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 16 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 12 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 13 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 3 |
| 200k+ miles | 2 |
What the data shows
Of the 152 complaints that include odometer readings, half describe a problem before roughly 76,000 miles. For engine specifically, the median reported mileage is about 118,000 miles (34 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 14 complaints mention a crash; 24 complaints mention a fire; 9 injuries reported. Its complaints are more severe on average than those of 80% of model years in our database.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 2003 ranks 11th most-complained-about out of 13 model years of the Chevrolet Monte Carlo with enough data (76 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 6 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.
The light that comes on when you open the passenger door (under the dash) stayed on with the door shut. The light bulb, burned the plastc around the wires and started the carpet on fire under the dashboard. My husband removed the light bulb and burned his fingers to put the glowing carpet out. Then, my turn signals worked sometimes and then at other times did not. They eventually stopped working all together. I took the car for repairs and was told that a relay switch had gone out.
Tl*the contact owns a 2003 chevrolet monte carlo. The contact's vehicle caught fire where the exhaust manifold and dip stick are located. She sustained injuries. GM recall number 90047 and NHTSA campaign id number 09v116000 were referenced. The contact called the manufacturer and sent them copies of all the requested information, but they have not responded. The fire occurred two months ago. The contact called the manufacturer and was informed that they could not assist because GM filed for bankruptcy.
Brake problems, rotors turned before 8,000 miles due to vibration.brakes now ssqueal and pull to the right. Involved in accident hit another car and when I tryed to get it stoped the brakes pulled hard to the right causing me to hit a elect. Pole.seat belt did not lock air bags did not deploy.
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 chevrolet monte carlo. The contact stated that the vehicle unexpectedly engulfed in flames. The contact was able to exit the vehicle safely and sustained no personal injuries.the fire department extinguished the flames and the vehicle was completely destroyed. The vehicle was towed to a savage facility. The manufacturer was notified of the problem. The approximate failure mileage was 50,129. The VIN was unavailable.
Low beam headlight failure, both low beams and daytime running lights do not work. Taillights work, parking lights work.