1998 Chevrolet Monte Carlo engine problems

20 complaints (20% of all complaints for this car). Typical mileage when it fails: 129,000. 2 crashes reported.

owner complaints: 20
of this car's complaints: 20%
typical mileage: 129,000
crashes: 2
recalls: 2

Which part fails

Engine: gasoline
6
Engine
2
Exhaust system: manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe
1
Exhaust system: emission control
1

At what mileage

Complaints by mileage at the time of the problem.

0k-25k

25k-50k

50k-75k

75k-100k

100k-125k

125k-150k

150k-175k

175k-200k

200k+

Chevrolet Monte Carlo engine problems in other years

Related recalls

Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: manifold/header/muffler/tail pipeReported October 26, 2015 · 1,003,556 vehicles affected

What is wrong: 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.
Risk: 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 engines 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.

Recall number 15V701000 · Recall details

Engine and engine coolingReported April 8, 2009 · 1,497,516 vehicles affected

What is wrong: 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.
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.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the engines front valve cover and front-valve-cover gasket with new parts of an improved design and remove the engines 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.

Recall number 09V116000 · Recall details

What 1998 Chevrolet Monte Carlo owners say

Most recent owner complaints, unedited.

Filed Oct 10, 2017 · Engine · IL

1998 chevrolet monte carlo. Consumer writes in regards to his disapproval of exhaust manifold recall notice removal of the engine plastic "beauty" cover. *smd the consumer was advised the recall included removing the beauty cover. The consumer stated the recall notice does say that the cover will be removed, but does not state that it wouldn't be returned. Updated 10/10/2017

Filed Dec 26, 2016 · Electrical, Engine · 190,000 miles · PA · crash · fire · 1 injury

On september 24, 2015, my wife was driving our monte carlo. Unbeknownst to her the car began smoking underneath, causing loss of control with neither steering nor braking capability. Other drivers, noticing the smoke, were attempting to notify her of the impending fire. She was able to drive about another mile before losing control and crashing into a tree on my neighbor?s yard. The car became completely engulfed in flames and was destroyed. Were it not for several good samaritans, and police and fire personnel, she would have been killed. The following is a history of issues with this car, documented fully by service records from its purchase in 1998. 1.brake lights working intermittently or not at all. 2.turn signal failure. 3.unable to start due to short in electrical system. 4.wheel hub assembly replaced. 5.power steering pump replaced. 6.rear suspension (passenger's side) broken. 7.premature alternator failure. 8.premature brake replacement, I.e., pads, calipers, rotors. 9.total brake failure from hard braking (incident not connected with fire) 10.intake manifold gasket replaced due to coolant flowing into cylinders and crankcase. 11.premature radiator replacement. 12.electrical spike distributed through system when starting, causing full-scale deflection of instrumentation and lights to become extremely bright.

Filed Jun 29, 2016 · Engine · 180,000 miles · PA · crash · fire · 1 injury

On september 24, 2015, my wife was driving our monte carlo. Unbeknown to her the car began smoking underneath, causing loss of control with neither steering nor braking capability. Other drivers, noticing the smoke, were attempting to notify her of the impending fire. She was able to drive about another mile before losing control and crashing into a tree on my neighbor's yard. The car became completely engulfed in flames and was destroyed. Were it not for several good samaritans, and police and fire personnel, she would have been killed. All documentation is available for review.

Filed Jun 24, 2016 · Engine · NC

Tl* the contact owns a 1998 chevrolet monte carlo. The contact received notification of the federal safety agency campaign number: 15v701000 (engine and engine cooling); however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

Filed Dec 18, 2015 · Engine · OH · fire

Tl* the contact owned a 1998 chevrolet monte carlo. The contact stated that the vehicle caught on fire near the engine. The vehicle was destroyed. No further details were available. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown. Updated 05/11/16*bf

Filed Oct 1, 2014 · Brakes, Engine · 175,000 miles · MO

At approximately 4 pm I was driving with three other people in my car on the street in the south saint louis county(railroad crossing weber rd and close to new hampshire) and we were going across the railroad, when all functions of my car died and the brakes .steering. Engine , all went off and I got scared but in the heat of the moment I pulled my emergency break and pulled the car to a stop. All these happened on a very well paved street., and all happened just when I crossed the railroad tracks. I was very frighten as well all the people in my car. I was wondering if any of this that happened to my car has to do with the recalls that happened with gm ignition switches. I also talk to my friend and he said that he used to have a chevy lumina 1995 and same thing happened to him on a highway in south saint louis and he did same thing and no one got hurt. When will anyone contact us that and all other people that drive these types of cars and check this out and fix this problems.

Filed Jul 23, 2013 · Engine · CA

1998 chevrolet monte carlo. Consumer requests information on vehicle recall policy.

Filed Feb 7, 2013 · Engine · IA · fire

1998 chevrolet monte carlo. Consumer writes in regards to engine compartment fire recall notice and seeks reimbursement. *smd the consumer stated the vehicle caught fire, prior to receiving the recall notice. The vehicle was taken to a junk yard.

Filed Jun 3, 2010 · Engine · 98,000 miles · WI

Tl* the contact owns a 1998 chevrolet monte carlo. The contact stated that he received notification of the federal safety agency campaign id number: 09v116000 (engine and engine cooling). The vehicle was not taken to the dealer for remedy repairs. In addition, there was oil leaking onto the engine, which the contact stated could potentially start a fire. The contact believed the issue should have been addressed in the recent recall because it was a safety issue. The current and failure mileages were approximately 98,000.

Filed Mar 18, 2010 · Engine · 129,000 miles · LA · fire

While driving the speed limit (70 MPH) down the interstate I-20 returning home from a weekend vacation, my car (1998 chevrolet monte carlo) had a slight putter and smoke started roaring out the rear. I pulled over, turned off the engine, popped the hood and flames were all over the backside of the engine. I called 911 to come put the fire out. No person was injured but my engine is totaled. The engine is completely burned up and melted.

Questions about the 1998 Chevrolet Monte Carlo engine

Does the 1998 Chevrolet Monte Carlo have engine problems?

Owners have filed 20 complaints about the engine of the 1998 Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 20% of all its complaints.

At what mileage do 1998 Chevrolet Monte Carlo engine problems start?

The typical (median) mileage in owner complaints is 129,000 miles.

Was there a recall on the 1998 Chevrolet Monte Carlo engine?

Yes, 2 recalls: 15V701000, 09V116000. Check your VIN to see if your car still needs the free repair.

What year does the Chevrolet Monte Carlo have bad engine?

The Chevrolet Monte Carlo model years with the most engine complaints are 2001 (95 complaints), 2000 (70 complaints) and 2002 (68 complaints).