Check a VIN

Chevrolet Monte Carlo headlights problems

69 of the 2,120 owner complaints about the Chevrolet Monte Carlo describe headlights failing or too dim, most of them for the 2002 model year.

owner complaints
69
worst model year
2002
typical repair cost reported
$500
typical mileage
80,000
Is there a fix? No recall or service bulletin covers this area of the car yet.

By model year

What owners say

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 Jun 16, 2016 · Brakes, Lights · 90,000 miles · MI

I own a pristine 2003 monte ss, stored every winter and maintained by my mechanic husband. I have 2 issues with the car. First, I never use my bright lights because my headlights go out if I do. Second I am having brake issues. I have had the same thing with a silverado truck before. Abs would come on a slow speeds when not needed, dry pavement or gravel. Really scares me because I had an accident in my silverado truck from this same problem. Now my ABS light and service traction control are always on and not working. I have been a die hard chevy owner but I am so unhappy with the break systems in them. I have another foreign car that I drive in the winter and love the brakes.

Filed May 22, 2016 · Lights · 115,000 miles · MD

Turn signals fail to work and headlights go off when you are driving on interstate or local roads. Sometimes the headlights will come back on in a few seconds, other times it takes as long as thirty seconds

Filed Apr 28, 2016 · Electrical, Lights · 2,400 miles · NV

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 chevrolet monte carlo. The contact stated that the head lamp lenses had been oxidized and that there was a film build up which affected the visibility of the low beams while the vehicle was in motion causing the lighting to be dim. The contact also stated that the key less entry function failed intermittently and that upon entering the vehicle, it would not start. The contact was able to utilize the owners manual to override the system by either disconnecting and reconnecting the battery cable or resetting the computer. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The VIN was not available. The approximate failure mileage was 2,400.

Filed Jan 8, 2016 · Electrical, Lights · 150,000 miles · TX

Tl* the contact owns a 2004 chevrolet monte carlo. While driving 30 MPH, the instrument panel lights, tail lights and headlights failed when the high beam lights were activated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 150,000.

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.

Related recalls

No recalls on record for this model year.

Questions about the Chevrolet Monte Carlo headlights

Which Chevrolet Monte Carlo years have headlights failing or too dim problems?

The model years with the most reports are 2002 (18 complaints), 2005 (11 complaints) and 2001 (10 complaints).

How much does it cost to fix headlights failing or too dim on the Chevrolet Monte Carlo?

Owners who mentioned a price put the repair at about $500 (median of 8 complaints that include a dollar amount). Costs vary with mileage, warranty and where the work is done.

VIN decoder

See the problems and recalls for an exact car

Buying a used Chevrolet Monte Carlo?

Check the exact car before you pay: accidents, salvage or flood titles, odometer readings and previous owners.

Check its history