2001 Chevrolet Monte Carlo: fire, smoke or burning smell

Filed Aug 15, 2019 · Fuel system · 117,166 miles · CA · fire · 1 injury

I purchased a 2001 chevy monte carlo ss in 9-01. I did not realize until recently the engine was built 2000. I would not have purchased. My car has had multiple problems. The recent occurred july 20th 2019. My odometer is 117,166 original miles. The intake manifolds and upper intake manifold is all made of a plastic. I went to start my car which has been running fine. Around 6-7:00 pm I heard a loud boom. It startled me and my nieghbors even came out. I noticed smoke coming from the front drivers side. I popped the hood and flames were shooting straight up the firewall onto the inside hood. I immediately screamed get me water and noticed the fire extinguisher. I smashed the glass grabbed it and began to put out the fire. Remind you the car has a cover I was using both hands removed the oil cap pulled the cover and still spraying I put the cover out and continued with the engine placing the oil cap to prevent cross contamination. I was able to put out the fire I had cuts to my hand and it singed the hair on my arms and my wrist had a slight burn. However, I have know idea how I was over looked on the 5-17-04 fuel pressure regulator recall part #03064b my car is a 3.8 litre k series. If I would have had my granddaughter she is in a car seat the damage would have been much worse. The flames were so high they almost reached the tree branch. The scary part is gmac is aware of the possible fire and is trying to settle with me for minimal amount. I just spent thousands because the car hit 100,000 so new radiator, tune up etc. This was a very expensive purchase and to think I have been driving a time bomb. Luckily I wasn't in traffic or in a place where I had to pull my granddaughter out and the car seat because the entire car would have burned. I honestly thought it was going to blow up. I can actually shove my fist in that upper intake manifold. See complaint odi112351110

Filed Jul 26, 2019 · Engine · 117,000 miles · CA · fire

Tl* the contact owns a 2001 chevrolet monte carlo. The contact stated that when she started her vehicle, she heard a loud boom from under the hood. The ignition was turned off and there was smoke coming from the hood. The hood was opened and a fire was discovered. The contact got a fire extinguisher and was able to put out the fire. The police and fire department were not called and no reports were filed. There were no injuries reported. The contact called the dealer future chevrolet of sacramento (4811 madison ave, sacramento, ca 95841 (916) 265-2473) and they suggested that the vehicle be towed over so they could inspect it for the cause of the fire. The vehicle had a the federal safety agency campaign number: 09v-116000 (engine and engine cooling) that may have contributed to the vehicle catching on fire. The contact had not moved the vehicle over to the dealer yet. The manufacturer took the incident down and gave the contact a case number and a case specialist to call back. The failure mileage was 117,000.

Filed Feb 21, 2019 · Engine, Fuel system · 134,000 miles · WA · fire · 1 injury

Engine backfired and exploded upon ignition after sitting for a week. Engine was cold and in cold weather. 3 foot flames, minor burns and injuries sustained er visit for smoke inhalation while extinguishing fire. Vehicle was parked on private property. A neighbor's car the same make and model similar year did the same thing a few weeks ago.

Filed May 1, 2017 · Electrical, Engine · 78,000 miles · KY · fire · 1 injury

Tl* the contact owned a 2001 chevrolet monte carlo. While driving 35 MPH, another motorist informed the contact that flames were coming from the front of her vehicle. While pulling off the roadway the steering wheel locked and all power was lost. There were no warning indicators illuminated. Two weeks prior to the failure, a diagnostic test was performed but no failure codes were found. The contact also mentioned that she received a recall notification for a key fob, but not the federal safety agency campaign number: 15v70100 (engine and engine cooling). The fire department was notified and extinguished the fire. A fire report and a police report were filed. The contact received medical treatment for elevated carbon monoxide in the blood and post traumatic stress disorder. The vehicle was towed and deemed a total loss. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The recall details for the key fob were not provided. The failure mileage was approximately 78,000. Updated 06/28/17*lj updated 9/28/18

Filed Dec 28, 2015 · Engine · IN · fire

Tl* the contact owned a 2001 chevrolet monte carlo. While parked, there was an abnormal noise and the vehicle caught fire. A fire report was filed. The fire department extinguished the fire. The vehicle was destroyed and no injuries were sustained. The contact received notification of the federal safety agency campaign number: 15v701000 (engine and engine cooling). The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The VIN and failure mileage were unknown.

Filed Dec 22, 2015 · Engine · 130,000 miles · CA · fire

Tl* the contact owned a 2001 chevrolet monte carlo. While driving 35 MPH, the vehicle caught fire from the engine compartment. The contact received a recall notice related to the fire. The vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The federal safety agency campaign number was unknown. The failure mileage was 130,000.

Filed Aug 3, 2015 · Engine, Fuel system · 73,000 miles · FL

I got into the vehicle to go to church sunday with my mother-in-law. I turned the key in the ignition and there was an explosion from under the hood that made the hood jump and some smoke came out of the sides. It scared my mother-in-law half to death. Our company mechanic checked the engine and determined the intake had exploded. He checked on-line as to a probable cause and discovered there was a recall on various pontiac, buick and chevy vehicles with 3.8l engines due to intake explosions due to faulty fuel pressure regulators. In some cases it seems to have bent a fuel rail and pulled an injector out of the head, which it looks to have done to mine also. He towed the vehicle to the dealership and they told him there were 3 recalls listed for this car and that was not one of them. One of the listed recalls was for the ignition which we took it in for and it still sticks. Our mechanic checked your web-site and did find recalls for this explosion problem. Some of the statements people posted about this happening resulted in fires as well as the explosion so this seems to be a significant hazard. Why is our car not listed with the dealer for this recall ? Though it is titled as a 2001 it was manufactured in 09/00 so seems it should be included in the recall, especially since it did the exact same thing as the others. They want over $700 to fix the intake, regulator and gasket and I should not be liable for what is apparently a manufacturers defect, and that's if it didn't cause more damage when it exploded.

Filed Feb 4, 2015 · Electrical, Engine · 132,000 miles · LA · fire

Tl* the contact owns a 2001 chevrolet monte carlo. The contact stated that the key was difficult to turn over to start the vehicle. The contact exited the vehicle and, upon further inspection under the hood, it was noticed that there was a fire near the engine compartment which burned various components. The parts that fractured ejected from the vehicle in flames. The driver did not sustain any injuries and a police report was not filed. The contact was able to get a fire extinguisher to extinguish the fire. The vehicle was towed to an authorized dealer for further inspection. The vehicle was not included in the federal safety agency campaign number: 09v116000 (engine and engine cooling). The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 132,000.

Filed Oct 10, 2014 · Engine · 112,000 miles · OH · fire

Tl* the contact owns a 2001 chevrolet monte carlo. The contact stated that while driving at 35 MPH, there was an abnormal noise and the engine stalled. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. The contact stated that while attempting to tow the vehicle to a dealer, the tow truck driver started the vehicle and it caught on fire. A police/fire report was not filed and there were no injuries reported. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 112,000.

Filed Dec 22, 2013 · Electrical, Engine · 195,000 miles · NJ · fire

Upon attempting to start my car, the engine made a loud bang and saw some smoke coming out from the sides of the hood. I then noticed in the reflection of some water on the street and orange glow. I got out of the car, saw fire under the car, and called 911.

Filed Dec 7, 2012 · Body, Electrical · 113,000 miles · IL · fire

I was stopped at a red light at the intersection of 31st street and la grange highway when I noticed smoke coming from under the hood of my car. I pulled into the cit-go gas station thinking my monte carlo was over heating. Then, flames began to come from the under the hood. I immediately called 911 and the la grange park police and fire department came within minutes. They had to saw my hood open to put the fire out and I immediately contacted gm. They notified me that my vehicle is in fact a recall and was negligent in sending me the registered vehicle owner any sort of notice of recall. Gm is denying fault and refuses to repair the vehicle or grant any sort of responsibility or compensation. Although they are responsible for the manufacturer defect they still refuse liability.

Filed Oct 30, 2011 · Engine · FL · fire · 1 injury

My husband and I got into my monte carlo ss 2001 to leave work on a cool day and it didn't start so we tried afew more times to start it. I started screaming the cars on fire, flames and heat hit the windshield from the hood so we jumped out and my husband opened it.the fire burned his hair and he backed off and called 911. I grabbed my purse and ran toward the shop we work at and the car made a loud boom that scared me so bad I flew into the building and hurt my back. A cop put the fire out and then the fire engine did the rest. The front of my car is a mess and I don't understand what happened or why. I loved my car and feel this is not ok. Shouldn't gm replace it or atleast pay something? My insurance company wont give me what I had into it, so what now?