Chevrolet Monte Carlo Air Bags Problems
Owners have filed 134 complaints with NHTSA about air bags problems on the Chevrolet Monte Carlo across 13 model years. The 2001 model year has the most (26). The words owners use most often: “air bag” (36% of reports).
- 134air bags complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 74mention a crash
- 47mention an injury
- 4related recalls
- 27%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Air bag: mentioned in 48 of 134 complaints (36%)
- Bags failed: mentioned in 23 of 134 complaints (17%)
- Upon impact: mentioned in 12 of 134 complaints (9%)
- Deploy sustained: mentioned in 9 of 134 complaints (7%)
At what mileage do air bags problems happen?
Based on 56 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 134 complaints, 74 mention a crash, 1 a fire, 47 an injury.
Chevrolet Monte Carlo air bags complaints by model year
| Model year | Air Bags complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 Monte Carlo | 4 | 10% | 65,195 |
| 2006 Monte Carlo | 10 | 9% | 80,000 |
| 2005 Monte Carlo | 3 | 3% | 167,000 |
| 2004 Monte Carlo | 3 | 1% | 130,000 |
| 2003 Monte Carlo | 11 | 7% | 62,500 |
| 2002 Monte Carlo | 20 | 9% | 55,650 |
| 2001 Monte Carlo | 26 | 9% | 55,445 |
| 2000 Monte Carlo | 13 | 6% | 99,000 |
| 1999 Monte Carlo | 3 | 2% | — |
| 1998 Monte Carlo | 9 | 9% | 129,000 |
| 1997 Monte Carlo | 15 | 9% | 97,000 |
| 1996 Monte Carlo | 7 | 5% | — |
| 1995 Monte Carlo | 10 | 6% | — |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (4)
Air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module
Model years: 2003
Problem: 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.
Fix: 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.
Air bags:frontal
Model years: 1999
Problem: On certain passenger, sport utility vehicles and mini vans, some of these vehicles have a passenger air bag that was manufactured without a check valve pin. An air bag without the check valve pin could produce increased pressure at the onset of the air bag deployment and reduced pressure afterward.
Risk: This could increase the severity of injury to a person who was not properly restrained and who was close to the passenger air bag at the time of deployment. It could also reduce the ab8ility of the air bag to protect a restrained front seat passenger.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the passenger air bag. Owner notification began december 16, 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 chevrolet at 1-800-222-1020, pontiac at 1-800-762-2737, oldsmobile at 1-800-442-6537, or saturn at 1-800-553-6000, prompt #3.
Air bags:frontal
Model years: 2002, 2003
Problem: 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.
Fix: 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.
Air bags
Model years: 2001
Problem: Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The air bag sensing and diagnostic modules (sdm) could experience a memory error resulting in the air bags not deploying in a crash situation.
Risk: In a crash, a front seat occupant may receive more serious injuries.
Fix: Dealers will replace the sensing and diagnostic module.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
My 2001 montecarlo was hit in front with front end damage and the air bags didn't go off causing my girl friend to have a broken nose ..the vehicle was in motion on a city street in the turning lane *tr
Airbag opened while parked in a parking lot. Vehicle as stationary.
Car malfunction my passenger who was my babymamma pasaed away
Takatarecall stil till i have that problems
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…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Chevrolet Monte Carlos have air bags problems?
No. NHTSA has 134 owner complaints about air bags for the Chevrolet Monte Carlo. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the Chevrolet Monte Carlo air bags?
Yes: 4 safety recalls list air bags. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
What do owners say about air bags problems on the Chevrolet Monte Carlo?
The most frequent phrase is “air bag”, in 48 of 134 complaints, followed by “bags failed” (23).
Other Chevrolet Monte Carlo problems
See all Chevrolet Monte Carlo problems.