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2002 Chevrolet Monte Carlo problems

The most common problem on the 2002 Chevrolet Monte Carlo is engine and cooling, typically around 90,000 miles. It has 1.9 times the complaints of a typical Monte Carlo model year.

Typical year1.9x the typical complaints
Year score
49/100
Owner complaints
230
Recalls
4
Service bulletins
440
Worst area
Engine
Fuel economy
20-22mpg
Typical repair
$775

The worst 2002 Chevrolet Monte Carlo problems

Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.

Problems by type

Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.

Specific symptoms reported on the 2002 Chevrolet Monte Carlo

Headlights 18ABS 16Won't start 16Fire or smoke 15Stalling 13No deployment 8Adaptive cruise 7Check engine light 5Fuel gauge 5Loss of power 5

Recalls 4

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 engine’s 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

Electrical system: ignitionReported July 3, 2014 · 5,877,718 vehicles affected
What is wrong
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.
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.
Remedy
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.

Recall number 14V400000 · 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 engine’s front valve cover and front-valve-cover gasket with new parts of an improved design and remove the engine’s 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

Air bags: frontalReported August 9, 2002 · 133,221 vehicles affected
What is wrong
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.
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.
Remedy
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.

Recall number 02V222000 · Recall details

See all 4 recalls for the 2002 Chevrolet Monte Carlo

Defect investigations

Engine compartment firesOpened October 22, 2002, closed March 9, 2004

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 ruptures and related fires in other my 1995-2002 gm passenger cars equipped with the subject intake manifold.for additional information, see the attached closing report.

EA02030

Technical service bulletins for the 2002 Chevrolet Monte Carlo 440

Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.

See all 440 bulletins for the 2002 Chevrolet Monte Carlo

2002 Chevrolet Monte Carlo fuel economy

Official EPA estimates in miles per gallon (MPGe for electric). Ranges cover trims that share the same engine.

EngineDriveCityHighwayCombined
3.4L 6‑cylFWD192922
3.8L 6‑cylFWD172720

What 2002 Chevrolet Monte Carlo owners say

Most recent owner complaints, unedited.

Filed Jan 7, 2024 · Fuel system · TX

My car has the engine 3.1 L automatic. On January 4, I was going to go run errands so I went out to my car and cranked it to start the engine but instead, I heard a loud explosion, causing the front tires of the car to go up in the air and then land back on the ground. Smoke started coming out from the hood and a fire almost got started. I was scared to half to death causing me to almost have a heart attack. Morning inspection, I found that the intake manifold had exploded on the car and pieces of it were all over the engine. I feel that the pressure regulator may have been the culprit, but the plastic upper intake just literally blew up. Nobody was injured neighbors came out to see what the explosion had been, the window on my windshield cracked and major damage has been done to the Plenum. I have pictures but I’ve been unable to upload them but they are available. If you need them I went to Mission Chevrolet where I purchased the car but was referred to contact you in general. no recalls sent over this issue, but have I been driving when the explosion occurred it may have caused fatalities to myself, and perhaps other drivers on the freeway.

Filed Apr 13, 2021 · Electrical · 180,000 miles · MO

My instrument cluster will reset while I am driving. The guages will sweep and all the warning lights come on and the car will ding as if it was just started however the car never stalls and the radio stays on along with everything else.

Filed Apr 12, 2021 · Fuel system · 96,000 miles · WV · fire

Tl* the contact owned 2002 chevrolet monte carlo. The contact stated that the vehicle was serviced at apple valley chevrolet (650 foxcroft ave, martinsburg, wv 25401) for a fuel control sensor replacement. The vehicle would not start after it was serviced at the dealer then caught on fire while the contact's husband was trying to start it up. The contact's husband was able to put out the fire with a hose. No police report was filed. The vehicle was still at the contact's residence. The dealer and manufacturer were not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 96,000.

Filed Mar 22, 2020 · Engine, Fuel system · 126,000 miles · OH · fire

Started car and heard a loud boom and then smoke under the hood and intake cover and harness on fire

Filed Nov 5, 2019 · Electrical · 240,000 miles · IL

Was going about 55-60 MPH down the highway and my rpms started to drop and I let off gas and it just died. It cranks and turns over but will not fire

Filed May 11, 2019 · Engine, Fuel system · 165,000 miles · OH

The car's fuel gage stopped working. The car wouldn't turn over when I started it so I got a new battery since it said my old one was bad, but it's still not working. The security light is on and I don't understand why and if this is affecting it from turning on

Filed Mar 11, 2019 · Brakes · PA

The brake lines are rusted out car only has 55,000 miles it is sitting outside but on blacktop in our drive way. We went to use it and the dash lit like mad checked brake fluid it was low drove it and almost did,nt make it home with brakes.

Filed Aug 16, 2018 · Airbags, Brakes · KY

Abs light traction control light and air bag light are constantly on..,since ive owned it

Filed Nov 19, 2017 · Acceleration, Brakes · 60,000 miles · IN

About october 10th, 2017 I was coming up on a traffic light and when I applied the brakes, the pedal would not go down. I was going about 45 MPH by the grace of god I was able to blast through an intersection and miss everyone, everything!. Rattled I guess I shut the car off when I regained my composer I started the car and everything was fine. I did not want to believe this happened! I thought I did something wrong maybe had my foot under the brake pedal or something. Have been driving the car since 2 weeks ago was stranded in a parking lot, would not start. Had the car towed home, tried to start it and started right up. Now service track light is on and anti lock brakes is on and service engine light is on sometime and the cruise light is on. Yesterday wife was driving the car and same thing no brakes, you could not push the pedal down it is as if there is something under the pedal it's that solid. My concern for my own safety as well as other monte carlo owners is most important. If either time we would have been on a expressway where we could not turn to a shoulder this would be catastrophic . Called the service manager where the car was purchased, also harbor chevy in michigan city, in and gates chevy in south bend, indiana, all said they have never heard of this before. Got on the internet and found similar posts in car complaints without any problem, seems odd gm does not know anything about this. For every ones own safety this should be a redundant system in older cars you would not lose all brakes. Could understand if you lost anti lock part but still could stop. This has to be a overlooked flaw in design and gm should be made to correct this before someone gets killed. If someones been killed by this how could they tell you that he lost his brakes? Thank you mike

Filed Nov 5, 2017 · MS

Recall no.14v400

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Compare the 2002 Chevrolet Monte Carlo

Other model years

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Questions about the 2002 Chevrolet Monte Carlo

Is the 2002 Chevrolet Monte Carlo reliable?

Owners have filed 230 complaints about the 2002 Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 1.9 times a typical Monte Carlo model year.

What is the 2002 Chevrolet Monte Carlo year score?

The 2002 Chevrolet Monte Carlo scores 49 out of 100 (below average). The score compares it with the other model years of the Chevrolet Monte Carlo: 75 is a typical year, 50 means twice the usual complaints, and serious complaints and recalls lower it.

What is the most common problem with the 2002 Chevrolet Monte Carlo?

Engine and cooling, with 68 complaints, typically around 90,000 miles. Next is electrical (55).

How many recalls does the 2002 Chevrolet Monte Carlo have?

4 recalls, covering engine and engine cooling, electrical system and air bags.

Was there a recall on the 2002 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).

What gas mileage does the 2002 Chevrolet Monte Carlo get?

Official estimates for the 2002 Chevrolet Monte Carlo range from 20 to 22 mpg combined. The most efficient version (3.4L 6-cyl, FWD) gets 19 city and 29 highway.

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