1997 Chevrolet Monte Carlo Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Monte Carlo years
- About as many complaints as other years 6th of 15 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 1 recall: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 164 complaints with NHTSA about the 1997 Chevrolet Monte Carlo. That ranks 6th out of 15 Monte Carlo model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is service brakes, hydraulic (33 complaints, 20%), typically at around 96,450 miles. Complaints mention 14 crashes, 1 fire, 10 injuries. There is 1 safety recall covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 4 defect investigations involving it.
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- 164owner complaints
- 1safety recalls
- 4NHTSA investigations
- 14complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 1997 Chevrolet Monte Carlo problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 33 | 20% | 96,450 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 30 | 18% | 68,000 | — | — |
| Steering | 30 | 18% | 118,000 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 17 | 10% | 92,000 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 15 | 9% | 97,000 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 9 | 5% | — | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 9 | 5% | — | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 8 | 5% | 103,000 | — | — |
| Power Train | 8 | 5% | — | — | — |
| Suspension | 8 | 5% | — | — | — |
| Visibility | 8 | 5% | 120,000 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 7 | 4% | 82,500 | — | — |
| Structure | 6 | 4% | 75,000 | — | — |
| Seats | 5 | 3% | — | — | — |
| Fuel System, Other | 4 | 2% | 118,000 | — | — |
| Equipment | 3 | 2% | 120,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Air | 3 | 2% | 50,000 | — | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 2 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Wheels | 2 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Child Seat | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Interior Lighting | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
1997 Chevrolet Monte Carlo recalls (1)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Steering:rack and pinion
Problem: Certain passenger vehicles have lower pinion bearings in the power rack and pinion assembly in which the retainer tabs were not crimped properly. These retainers could fail and permit the ball bearings to escape.
Risk: If this occurs, the pinion shaft can be forced upward during left turns and back down as the steering wheel is moved back and to the right. If the pinion shaft moves further, the driver will need to exert more effort to turn the steering wheel, similar to a vehicle without power assisted steering. If the pinion shaft moves even further, the driver will require much higher effort to turn left and may not be able to turn the wheel as much as intended. With the maximum pinion shaft movement, which requires internal gear component damage, the driver can encounter high resistance to turning left, followed by unintended power assist to the right. In any of these conditions, a crash could occur.
Fix: Dealers will install a new lower pinion bearing unless inspect of the existing bearing indicates that replacement of the gear assembly is necessary. Owner notification began on february 5, 2004. Owners should contact buick at 1-866-608-8080; chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438; oldsmobile at 1-800-630-6537; or pontiac at 1-800-620-7668.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
NHTSA defect investigations
- Power rack and pinion steering failure (EA03019) — opened Sep 15, 2003, closed Dec 18, 2003, led to recall 03V527000.
- Power rack and pinion steering failure (RQ03001) — opened Jan 2, 2003, closed Sep 15, 2003.
- Degraded braking performance (EA98019) — opened Aug 31, 1998, closed Dec 13, 2001.
- Degraded braking performance (PE98023) — opened Apr 23, 1998, closed Aug 31, 1998, led to recall 01I014000.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
Tl* the contact owns a 1997 chevrolet monte carlo. The contact stated that while driving 85 mph, the steering wheel became loose and caused the contact to temporarily lose control of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the technician advised that the lower pinion bearing for the…
My 97 monte carlo z34 started dying on me whenever i came to a complete stop and after i had been driving it for a while. And it would shoot forward after i started it again in neutral(the only way it would start). Placing myself in the middle of intersections unwillingly, i would have to start my…
My 1997 chevrolet monte carlo was recently diagnosed with an intake manifold gasket that needs to be replaced (due to leaking of engine coolant). Two mechanics informed me the repair costs would be between $800-$1000. After further research, i discovered several general motors vehicles between…
My 97 chevy monte carlo has had no lower brake lights for some time . I had my car checked by an auto electrician and was told that the problem was so severe and it would probably never find the source of the problem. I am very concerned with this issue being it may cause serious injury to my…
Tl*the contact owns a 1997 chevrolet monte carlo. While driving 5 mph, the engine fell out of the vehicle. The mechanic stated that the failure was caused by the sub frame bolts not being tightened. The bolts were re-attached. As of august 14, 2007, no other failures have occurred. The current and…
Other Chevrolet Monte Carlo years
← 1996 Monte Carlo · 1998 Monte Carlo →
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 Monte Carlo | 2 | 0 |
| 2008 Monte Carlo | 2 | 0 |
| 2007 Monte Carlo | 42 | 1 |
| 2006 Monte Carlo | 113 | 1 |
| 2005 Monte Carlo | 120 | 1 |
| 2004 Monte Carlo | 230 | 4 |
| 2003 Monte Carlo | 158 | 6 |
| 2002 Monte Carlo | 230 | 4 |
| 2001 Monte Carlo | 276 | 5 |
| 2000 Monte Carlo | 233 | 5 |
| 1999 Monte Carlo | 125 | 3 |
| 1998 Monte Carlo | 100 | 3 |
| 1997 | 164 | 1 |
| 1996 Monte Carlo | 155 | 1 |
| 1995 Monte Carlo | 169 | 3 |
See all Chevrolet Monte Carlo problems by year, every Chevrolet model, or the Chevrolet VIN decoder.
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 1997 Chevrolet Monte Carlo?
Owners most often report service brakes, hydraulic, engine and engine cooling, steering problems. The top one, service brakes, hydraulic, accounts for 33 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 1997 Chevrolet Monte Carlo?
Yes, 1 safety recall. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 1997 Chevrolet Monte Carlo a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Monte Carlo model years, the 1997 has about as many complaints as a typical year. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.