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2003 Chevrolet Monte Carlo airbags problems

11 complaints (7% of all complaints for this car). Typical mileage when it fails: 71,000. 4 crashes reported.

owner complaints
11
of this car's complaints
7%
typical mileage
71,000
crashes
4
recalls
2

Which part fails

  • Frontal: driver side: inflator module
    2
  • Frontal
    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 airbags problems in other years

199520002007

Specific symptoms reported on the 2003 Chevrolet Monte Carlo airbags

Phrases found in the owners' own descriptions, so one complaint can mention several symptoms.

No deployment 5

Related recalls

Air bags: frontal: driver side: inflator moduleReported February 14, 2003 · 130 vehicles affected
What is wrong
On certain mini vans, passenger and sport utility vehicles, some of these vehicles have a driver's side air bag that may not deploy as designed. In addition, the air bag inflator could rupture.
Risk
This could result in reduced capability of the air bag to protect the driver. Also if the air bag inflator ruptured, pieces of the inflator could strike and injure the vehicle occupants.
Remedy
Dealers will inspect, and if necessary, install a new driver's air bag. Owner notification began on march 11, 2003. 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, or pontiac at 1‑800‑762‑2737.

Recall number 03V051000 · 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

What 2003 Chevrolet Monte Carlo owners say

Most recent owner complaints, unedited.

Filed May 2, 2019 · Airbags, Driver assistance · 74,185 miles · NV

My car is a 2003 monte carlo, if I try to use the directional signals they make a buzzing sound and then the brake light and the air bag light comes on along with the battery light, no signal works, the hazard lights work , I replaced the hazard switch but that didnt solve it . Batter is fine and the alternator I had them checked there is no relay for the directionals its all in one . Something is strange going on I also noticed sometimes when your driving the those three lights will start coming on as well . I had put up the windows and they all went on too , sometimes just when driving it or even stopped had this car since it was brand new never had a problem till a few weeks ago

Filed Jul 13, 2016 · Airbags · 87,844 miles · NJ

I took my 2003 chevy monte carlo into circle chevrolet in shrewsbury, n.j. Because my car's air bag symbol had came on on my dash board. It had initially came on saturday july 2 in the late afternoon. I immediately came home and did not drive my car until july 6, 2016 for service.... Because the cars owner manual says on page 3-30 " if the air bag readiness light stays on after you start the vehicle or comes on when you are driving, your air bag system may not work properly. Have your car serviced right away. " service told me it would take about 1 1/2 hours to look at it. I was there 4 hours instead ! Then they charged me $ 123.05. Told me they could not check the car unless the light was on. They never told me till the end. But they managed to give me a laundry list of other things, that had nothing to do with the air bag ! I had told them I am disabled. My neck is fused and the last thing I need is for the air bag to inflate or not inflate at all. Evidently, this company has no heart and took my money. There has to be something wrong with the air bag, to cause the light to be intermittent !!!!!!! In closing .... I only wanted them to check the air bag problem. Only for them to tell me, the light has to be on for them to check the car ?????!!!!! They never told me that until they took my money ! I have never seen the air bag light since I took ownership of the car in 2003.

Filed Nov 5, 2014 · Airbags · NY

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 chevrolet monte carlo. The contact stated on two separate occasions, the contact was involved in two crashes however, the air bags did not deploy. The manufacturer and dealer were not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was repaired. The failure mileage was 60,000.

Filed Nov 4, 2014 · Airbags, Electrical · 171,000 miles · FL

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 chevrolet monte carlo. The contact received a recall notice for the air bags and took the vehicle to the dealer for repairs. The failure recurred after the repair. The contact received another recall notice for the federal safety agency campaign number: 14v350000 (electrical system) and stated that the ABS indicator remained illuminated ever since the first failure. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failures. The federal safety agency campaign number for the first failure was unknown. The failure mileage was 171,000.

Filed Aug 20, 2014 · Airbags, Electrical · 71,000 miles · MI · crash

I was driving home from work when a woman using her cell phone changed lanes into my lane without looking. Causing me to have to jam on my brakes and swerve to miss her. Upon doing this action my vehicle shut off and I rear ended her. I believe there is a defect in the ignition system as I have also had my ignition lock up and couldn't get the key out. When my air bag deployed it also quick deflated. I believe this should have been caught a long time ago and this accident would not have happened.

Filed Jun 20, 2009 · Airbags, Brakes · 73,499 miles · OK · crash · 1 injury

Abs braking in my 2003 chevy monte carlo I was 2 cars lengths away from a ford bronka for whom I rearended, I was looking to turn in qt parking lot then I looked back and the cars ahead had stopped. I hit the breaks expecting to be able to avoid the contact but the breaks just locked up and the air bag did not deploy thank god for seatbelts. As the movement of the car was sliding forward and I had my foot pumping to slow but every time I touch the pedal it would just lock up. I tried this twice and them I just braced for the hit when we hit my foot was jammed back on the break now I have a broken foot.

Filed Feb 16, 2007 · Airbags, Brakes · 46,000 miles · OK · crash

Tl*- the contact stated that while driving the 2004 chevrolet monte carlo with 46000 failure mileage at 40 MPH on a snowy day he noticed a vehicle stopped in the fast lane of the highway. The contact applied the brakes, but could not stop in time and struck the vehicle. There was damage to the front end of the vehicle, but the airbag did not deploy. The vehicle had to be towed.

Filed Feb 5, 2007 · Airbags · 9,500 miles · PR

Tl*- on january 2, 2007 the contact took the 2003 chevrolet monte carlo to hermanos cabrera chevrolet in arecibo, puerto rico, tel 787‑880‑8080. The vehicle had an odometer reading of 9500 miles at the time of the failure and currently 9700 miles. The contact noticed the airbag light had turned on. The dealership explained that it was the driver 'sside inflator module. The contact wanted to file a complaint against gmc and the dealer for $789.35, the cost of the inflator module. The contact filed a complaint against gmc, and received two call backs to inform him that the case has been investigated. The case has been open since january 2,2007, case 71464874058 without resolution. There was a current the federal safety agency recall campaign id number: 03v051000 in regarding air bags: frontal:inflator module. *ak updated 03/30/07.

Filed Jan 11, 2007 · Airbags · 9,500 miles · PR

Tl* - the contact stated that every time he turns on his 2003 chevrolet impala the SRS light stays on. The contact took it to the dealership and they stated that the module for the airbags is not working properly and needs to be replaced. The contact feels that the vehicle should be covered under the federal safety agency campaign id number: 03v051000, but the dealer told contact that vehicles VIN doesn't fall under the recall.

Filed Sep 23, 2005 · Airbags · 54,000 miles · AL · crash · 2 injuries

Dt: 2003 chevrolet monte carlo. The consumer's vehicle was involved in an accident while traveling 55 MPH three weeks ago. Upon impact, the air bags did not deploy. There was a deer in the road, vehicle swerved and hit an embankment. The vehicle was totaled. There was a deer in the road vehicle swerved and hit an embankment driver sustained a knot the forehead and was hit on the chest and forehead. She was still under a physician's care. Another passenger also sustained injuries. No one has inspected the vehicle to find out why the air bags did not deploy. A police report was taken by the state trooper. The consumer had a friend who worked at gm and who indicated they had found numerous vehicles without air bags. *ak

Questions about the 2003 Chevrolet Monte Carlo airbags

Does the 2003 Chevrolet Monte Carlo have airbags problems?

Owners have filed 11 complaints about the airbags of the 2003 Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 7% of all its complaints.

At what mileage do 2003 Chevrolet Monte Carlo airbags problems start?

The typical (median) mileage in owner complaints is 71,000 miles.

Was there a recall on the 2003 Chevrolet Monte Carlo airbags?

Yes, 2 recalls: 03V051000, 02V222000. Check your VIN to see if your car still needs the free repair.

What year does the Chevrolet Monte Carlo have bad airbags?

The Chevrolet Monte Carlo model years with the most airbags complaints are 2001 (26 complaints), 2002 (20 complaints) and 1997 (15 complaints).

Other 2003 Chevrolet Monte Carlo problems

Engine 55Electrical 49Brakes 24Transmission 11Lights 7Driver assistance 5Fuel system 5Visibility 5Acceleration 4Suspension 4Steering 3Tires 3Body 2Seat belts 1Wheels 1

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