KnownCarProblemsHome › Chevrolet › Monte Carlo › 2002
2002 Chevrolet Monte Carlo Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 230 complaints with NHTSA about the 2002 Chevrolet Monte Carlo, most often about the engine (30% of complaints, typically around 90,000 miles). It is the 3rd most complained-about Monte Carlo model year since 2000 and has 4 recalls.
Most common 2002 Chevrolet Monte Carlo problems
Engine
68 complaints · 30%Half of these problems showed up before 90,000 miles. Parts named most often: engine, cooling system, exhaust system.
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…
I was driving (with my children in car) and the car just shut off. I had no power brakes or power steering. Luckily, one child was in drivers ed & knew to put car in neutral & we coasted to a stop. Once I calmed down, I drove my monte ss to the dealer and described what happened. The kept car for a week and insisted…
Electrical
55 complaints · 24%Half of these problems showed up before 97,500 miles. Parts named most often: ignition, wiring, instrument cluster/panel, software.
Loss of traction control and anti lock brakes in my car. My vehicle has allowed these safety features to quit working and after replacing the parts that the dealer said needed to be replaced, the vehicle's system does not recognize the new sensor and part, thus not allowing the traction control and ABS to work. After…
The contact owns a 2002 Chevrolet Monte Carlo. The contact stated that while driving 60 MPH, the key was erroneously bumped into by the driver and the vehicle stalled without warning. The driver was able to restart the vehicle. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer and the manufacturer was made aware of the failure.…
Brakes
36 complaints · 16%Half of these problems showed up before 43,000 miles. Parts named most often: foundation components, antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip, disc, antilock.
Car pulsates when braking. I took car into repair shop and was told before inspection that they had been receiving a lot of service work from the brake systems on the newer monte carlos with the 6th generation body style. Upon inspection, it was determined as discussed prior to inspection that the front rotors were…
I have a 2002 Monte Carlo ss. Without warning the ABS light came on. Notified dealer and they said was ok to drive until they could look at it. Turned out to be a sensor as they thought. The problem was fixed but at significant cost. Gm has designed the sensor such that it is part of the hub, so the whole thing had to…
Lights
33 complaints · 14%Half of these problems showed up before 78,000 miles. Parts named most often: turn signal, headlights, hazard flashing warning lights.
Tl contact owns a 2002 Chevrolet Monte Carlo. While driving 55 MPH at night, the headlights dimmed. The contact activated the dimmer switch and the lights illuminated. However, 40 miles later, the failure recurred. There were no warning lights, indicators, or noises present. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, but was…
Headlamps continue to fill with moisture and now water leaking in after every rainfall. Headlamps in danger of failing and lights obscured by vapor. Have removed, dried out, no cracks or seals broken but problem persists. Other complaints from gm owners with same problem have experienced complete electrical failure…
Air bags
20 complaints · 9%Half of these problems showed up before 55,500 miles. Parts named most often: frontal, side/window.
While parked the vehicle's driver side air bag deployed inadvertently. Two weeks later the passenger side air bag deployed inadvertently while driving. The cause has yet to be determined. Please provide any additional information.
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…
Steering
18 complaints · 8%Half of these problems showed up before 51,000 miles. Parts named most often: hydraulic power assist system, rack and pinion, linkages, column.
Abs and tac off light come on stay on and service traction system light comes on took to shop if didn't fix (meaning I have no antilock brakes and they thing its the ABS motor pump think) I wont be able to get a inspection sticker and they said it will cost 1600 to fix and went on web and seen many hundreds of 2002…
I own a 2002 Chevrolet Monte Carlo 53,000 miles on it with intermediate shaft problems and intake manifold gasket problems. Both are apparently common on this make and model. Chevrolet should make these repairs. The steering can be affected, which is a hazard and the gasket could cause engine freeze up while driving…
Fuel system
18 complaints · 8%Half of these problems showed up before 109,500 miles. Parts named most often: fuel injection system, storage, delivery.
My 2002 chevy montecarlo ss the gas gauge is very erratic it shows you having a full tank of a gas when you don't it bounces back and forth like this no matter if it's full or not very frustrating to know when to fill up...
I have a 2002 chevy Monte Carlo ss and I am having electrical issues the windshield wipers don't always function properly neither do the turning signals my seats will move on there own ,there is a ticking noise coming from the doors once keys are taken out of the ignition also I have a problem when pumping gas into…
Body and structure
8 complaints · 4%Parts named most often: frame and members, body.
Car part recalled. Got notice in july 09. Car caught fire because of part in sep 09. 2002 Monte Carlo. I was told that the car's warranty had run out! Part was just recalled this year. They just found out that the part is defective. Denied claim. 9 mo old and 3 yr old in car when it caught fire on expressway.
The contact owns a 2002 Chevrolet Monte Carlo. The contact stated that after shifting into drive, the vehicle accelerated rapidly and independently. The failure was caused by the floor mats, which had become stuck over the accelerator pedal. The contact was able to stop vehicle and remedy the failure. The manufacturer…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2002 Chevrolet Monte Carlo recalls
Engine: manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe
Risk: Engine oil that drips onto the hot surface of the exhaust manifold may result in a fire.
Fix: 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 engineâs 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 s
Full defect summary
General motors llc (gm) is recalling certain model year 1998-1999 chevrolet lumina and oldsmobile intrigue, 1997-2004 buick regal and pontiac grand prix, 2000-2004 chevrolet impala, and 1998-2004 chevrolet monte carlo vehicles. The affected vehicles were previously repaired under recalls 08v-118, 09v-116, and 15v-201 to address the possibility that engine oil may drip onto the hot exhaust manifold.
Electrical: ignition
Risk: If the key is not in the run position, the air bags may not deploy if the vehicle is involved in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: Gm will notify owners, and dealers will install two key rings and an insert in the key slot or a cover over the key head on all ignition keys, free of charge. The recall began on september 9, 2014. Gm's number for this recall is 14350.
Full defect summary
This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. Until this recall is performed, customers should remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the ignition key. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring. General motors llc (gm) notified the agency on july 3, 2014, that they are recalling 5,877,718 model year 2000-2005 chevrolet impala and monte carlo, 1997-2003 chevrolet malibu, 2004-2005 malibu classic, 1999-2004 oldsmobile alero, 1998-2002 oldsmobile intrigue, 1999-2005 pontiac grand am and 2004-2008 pontiac grand prix vehicles. In these models, the weight on the key ring and/or road conditions or some other jarring event may cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position, turning off the engine.
Engine: engine and engine cooling
Risk: 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.
Fix: Dealers will replace the engineâs front valve cover and front-valve-cover gasket with new parts of an improved design and remove the engineâs 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.
Full defect summary
General motors is recalling 1,497,516 my 1997-2003 buick regal, my 1998-2003 chevrolet lumina, monte carlo and impala, my 1998-1999 oldsmobile intrigue, my 1997-2003 pontiac grand prix vehicles equipped with a 3.8l v6 naturally aspirated engine. Some of these vehicles have a condition in which drops of engine oil may be deposited on the exhaust manifold through hard braking.
Air bags: frontal
Risk: Pieces of the inflator could strike and injure vehicle occupants and the air bag cushion would not inflate fully, reducing the capability of the bag to protect the driver.
Fix: Dealers will inspect, and replace, if necessary, the air bag module assembly on the driver's side. Owner notification began august 15, 2002. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact buick at 1-800-521-7300, cadillac at 1-800-458-8006, chevrolet at 1-800-222-1020, gmc at 1-800-462-8782, oldsmobile at 1-800-442-6537, or pontiac at 1-800-762-2737.
Full defect summary
Certain passenger, mini vans, and sport utility vehicles have an air bag inflator on the driver's side that could fracture at a weld during a deployment.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Engine compartment fires
Summary
Ea02-030 is closed with gmea02-030 is closed with gm?s actions in 03v-473 and 04v-090 recalling approximately 529,000 my 1998-99 c- and h-body vehicles equipped with defective fuel pressure regulators.these vehicles were equipped with plastic intake manifolds that are unable to contain pressures that occur in some backfire events and defective fuel pressure regulators with leaking diaphragms that can provide a source of fuel to produce a combustible air-fuel mixture in the manifold.the closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by odi that no safety defect exists in the vehicles that are not included in gm?s recalls.odi will continue to monitor the incidence of manifold rupt
Questions about the 2002 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
- What are the most common problems with the 2002 Chevrolet Monte Carlo?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: engine (68 complaints, typically around 90,000 miles); electrical (55 complaints, typically around 97,500 miles); brakes (36 complaints, typically around 43,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2002 Chevrolet Monte Carlo have?
- 4 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from October 26, 2015 (engine). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2002 a bad year for the Chevrolet Monte Carlo?
- It is the 3rd most complained-about Monte Carlo model year since 2000, with 230 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.