2005 Chevrolet Monte Carlo: headlights failing or too dim

Filed Oct 31, 2016 · Driver assistance, Electrical · 138,000 miles · KS

Key fob quit working. I use the key to manually unlock car. However, after car is parked and off, the doors lock and unlock themselves. The front and rear lights flash while doors locking and unlocking. The other night, it was flashing morse code for over 24hours. I do not have on star connected. Horn quit working 4 months right before key fob quit. I can't use my bright lights, because I lose dash lights, head lights. My son and I share this car to drive to work. Since the lights started flashing all day and night, I felt it is unsafe for him to drive to work which is 40 miles one way. Why so many issues that are not being taken serious? I drive my car during day time. I pray I make it to work. I have to drive 9 miles one way to work. However, I drive highway 75 with semi trucks going 70 miles an hour. If this car loses power on that highway, I will probably not survive. Unsafe and not reliable vehicle. Chevy should help us monte carlo owners get them fixed. Thanks for your time.

Filed Nov 30, 2015 · Lights · 95,400 miles · MT

Tl* the contact owns a 2005 chevrolet monte carlo. While driving 35 MPH, the headlights cut off without warning. The contact stated that the headlights flashed off and on intermittently. The vehicle was taken to a dealer to be repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was 95,400. Updated 02/23/16*lj updated 4/30/18*jb

Filed May 16, 2015 · Lights · 184,000 miles · MN

I was driving at night and both headlights (low beams) started flashing off and on then went completely out, I hit the dimmer switch and turned the hi beams on and they worked fine. When I shut my high beams off my low beams came back on and stayed on for the rest of my 120 mile trip. Four days later on my way to work in the dark the same thing happened, the following day my low beams would not turn on and I have to hold the dimmer switch to keep my high beams on or I will have no headlights. ( one hand on the dimmer switch one hand on the steering wheel). I suspect it is the multi function switch in the steering column which is a $300 part. But have not had it professionally diagnosed. This is a real safety issue that gm needs to address!

Filed Dec 23, 2014 · Electrical, Lights · 92,000 miles · KS

Tl* the contact owns a 2005 chevrolet monte carlo. The contact stated that while driving at night, the headlights and instrument panel failed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 92,000.

Filed Sep 17, 2014 · Electrical, Lights · OR

I cannot use the high beams on the car. When I do the dashboard electric and headlights all turn off. Switching it back to low beams they will come back on. Cannot use when driving.

Filed Jul 29, 2014 · Electrical, Lights · 135,000 miles · OH

While driving home car's headlights became stuck on high beam and stayed stuck for several days then functioned as normal. A few weeks later while driving home at night headlights failed to function at all. Signal lights and fog lights were all that illuminated the roads. Visibility was only a couple of feet. Dealership is aware of issue and has issued several technical service bulletins for it not only this model year, but others. They will not fix or even reduce costs to fix because they claim this is not a safety issue. Not having any headlights at all is a huge safety issue in poor weather, but especially at night! Upon inspecting multifunction switch in steering column and flipping external switch for high beams/wipers/signals to see if there is any function after a month of car sitting in drive, smoke began to steadily come out of steering column at switch. Battery was diconnected which stopped the smoke.

Filed Nov 3, 2010 · Lights · 29,000 miles · NH

Pertaining to my 2005 monte carlo lt 3.8 v-6... While driving with high beams on the headlights will shut off... This has happened at least a dozen times since I bought the car used with 23,000 miles on it last august 2009... When they shout off I have to use the dash switch to turn them back on... I did end up driving off the edge of the road one evening when this happened... No major damage done to myself, the vehicle or property where the incident occur but scared me really bad!!! I did go back and rack the ruts out of the edge of the lawn where it happened... Very dangerous situation... Should be and needs to be addressed by gm...

Filed Mar 2, 2010 · Lights · 550,000 miles · NY

No crashes but my chevy monte carlo 05 has a problem it seems like the high beams are on a timer and shut down the lights while driving. I know of one other person that had this problem. How many more are there? I wont let my kids even use the car after dusk.

Filed May 19, 2009 · Lights · 104,000 miles · WV

Was driving home around 9:30pm when the headlights just went out, flickered, then came back on. Scared my passenger (and me!). First time it has happened, but I see other people have this problem, and I'm worried this may start to happen more frequently. This is dangerous!

Filed Mar 31, 2008 · Lights · KY

2005 chevrolet monte carlo lt with 3.8l v6 driving home after work. The headlights went out. The lights where on dim the parking lights and fog lights under the bumper remained on. I started slowing down and used the multi function switch to turn on the high beams and the lights came back on. After some reading on the internet I see that this is a common problem on the monte carlo, after inspecting the vehicle they believe that the multi function switch must be replaced. The multi function switch is the turn signal stalk switch that controls the high/low beam headlights, turn signals, windshield wipers and washer fluid. The cost for me is over $300 if I buy the part and install it my self. My first concern is the obvious safety issue of losing your headlights while driving at night. My second concern is this appears to be a short in the switch, is there a risk of fire? I am a chevy man, but will I buy another chevy????????????

Filed Mar 26, 2008 · Lights · 44,486 miles · MI

2005 chevrolet monte carlo lt with 3.8l v6 driving home a few hours after purchasing the car the headlights went out. The parking lights and fog lights under the bumper remained on. I started slowing down and used the multi function switch to turn on the high beams and the lights came back on. I brought this to the dealer's attention, after inspecting the vehicle they believe that the multi function switch must be replaced. The multi function switch is the turn signal stalk switch that controls the high/low beam headlights, turn signals, windshield wipers and washer fluid. The dealer refused to pay for repairs. The cost for me to have them fix it is over $600 my first concern is the obvious safety issue of losing your headlights while driving at night. Luckily I was on an empty road and the fog lights stayed on, however I was still traveling over 50mph. My second concern is this appears to be a short in the switch, is there a risk of fire?