1998 Chevrolet Monte Carlo Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often write about braking problems: a pedal that sinks or needs pumping, extended stopping distances, and antilock activation on rough pavement, frequently in wet weather. Steering noise and power-steering loss, coolant leaks, and a handful of underhood fires also recur in the sample. Many reports come from relatively low-mileage cars, and the fires and oil-leak complaints appear across a wide mileage range.

1. 1
   Brakes

   Brake pedal sinks or brakes slow to respond (wet weather)

   • 18 complaints (18%)
   • median 58,000 mi at 5.0 yrs old (3 state mileage, few)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1999–2005

   Complaints describe a brake pedal that goes to the floor, especially in rain or after the car has sat, and extended stopping distances that require pumping to restore pressure. Several owners say dealers could not reproduce the condition or told them to press the pedal harder; others report ABS valve or ABS module replacement without lasting results. A few describe the antilock system activating over gravel, sand or bumps and the vehicle pulling or spinning during braking. Reported from low mileage up to about 103,000 miles, most often during wet or rainy conditions.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Drive the car in wet conditions if possible and check that the pedal stays firm and the ABS light works; ask for brake and ABS service records, including whether the ABS pump and front wheel speed sensors have been addressed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “On june 1, 2000 I was going to work, while driving down the highway I realized I was going a little faster than the speed limit and pressed the brakes. At that point in time my 1998 Monte Carlo ls veered to the left and I had no control. The car went through the median to oncoming traffic before I regained control. The marks on the road were felt to show that my brake system had locked up. (I do have the police report and pictures of the scene).”

   NHTSA complaint #10016988, filed 2003-05, 40,000 miles

   “The vehicle has intermittent brake failure during wet or rainy conditions. The brake pedal will go to the floor and requires pumping to get the pressure back up. We have had the vehicle to 2 different dealerships. The dealer was unable to duplicate concern has a potential for catastrophic results. An associate of mine whom is a district service manager for general motors has informed me that there is a bulletin out on the brake pressure modulator valve for the w-body vehicles. …”

   NHTSA complaint #784557, filed 1999-10
2. 2
   Engine

   Engine fires and oil dripping onto hot exhaust

   • 9 complaints (9%)
   • median 154,500 mi at 12.5 yrs old (6 state mileage, few)
   • 8 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2004–2016

   Several complaints describe smoke and flames from the engine compartment, sometimes while driving and sometimes shortly after stopping, with the hood latch cable or release melting. Other owners mention oil leaking onto the engine and concern about fire risk, and some reference recall notices about oil dripping onto the exhaust manifold. A separate complaint notes that the recall repair involved removing the engine cosmetic cover. Reported across a wide range, from about 98,000 to 198,000 miles, with fires occurring both while driving and at a stop.

   Recall 15V701000Recall 09V116000

   What to check: Ask whether recalls 09V116000 and 15V701000 were performed on this car, look for oil residue or staining on and around the exhaust manifold, and watch for fuel or oil smells after driving.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “While driving the speed limit (70 MPH) down the interstate I-20 returning home from a weekend vacation, my car (1998 Chevrolet Monte Carlo) had a slight putter and smoke started roaring out the rear. I pulled over, turned off the engine, popped the hood and flames were all over the backside of the engine. I called 911 to come put the fire out. No person was injured but my engine is totaled. The engine is completely burned up and melted.”

   NHTSA complaint #10320629, filed 2010-03, 129,000 miles

   “On september 24, 2015, my wife was driving our Monte Carlo. Unbeknown to her the car began smoking underneath, causing loss of control with neither steering nor braking capability. Other drivers, noticing the smoke, were attempting to notify her of the impending fire. She was able to drive about another mile before losing control and crashing into a tree on my neighbor's yard. The car became completely engulfed in flames and was destroyed. Were it not for several good samaritans, and police and fire personnel, she would have been killed. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10881372, filed 2016-06, 180,000 miles
3. 3
   Steering

   Clunk or growl from front end, hard steering, power assist

   • 9 complaints (9%)
   • median 90,500 mi at 6.6 yrs old (4 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1997–2016

   Owners report clunking or rubbing noises from the front end at low-speed turns, wandering or torque-steer-like behavior on the highway, and in some cases intermittent loss of power steering or a steering wheel that locks briefly. Dealer responses ranged from adding a restrictor to the power steering return line to replacing the rack and pinion; several complaints say the noise or hard steering remained afterward. Most reports fall between roughly 26,000 and 98,000 miles, typically noticed at parking-lot speeds or during low-speed turns.

   Recall 03V5270001 related service bulletin

   What to check: Listen for clunking or growling during slow full-lock turns, feel for uneven or heavy steering effort, and ask whether the rack and pinion has been replaced or the recall 03V527000 repair was completed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “1998 Monte Carlo :complained of growling noise at low speed turns; also, not mentioned to shop but was told by friend that he thought the wheel was harder to turn then other vehicles. Shop informed me that rack and pinion needed to be replaced. I checked the service manual to find out why it could not be reconditioned but stopped after seeing that there was a existing problem being investigated about faulty rack and pinions. Note this vehicle only has 26000 miles on it.”

   NHTSA complaint #10043545, filed 2003-10, 26,759 miles

   “When making a left hand turn at 5 MPH vehicle lost power steering. Consumer pulled over, and had the vehicle towed. Dealership was notified, but did not resolve the problem.”

   NHTSA complaint #10093981, filed 2004-09, 94,000 miles
4. 4
   Engine cooling

   Hesitation, stalling and rough running

   • 11 complaints (11%)
   • median 110,500 mi at 11.6 yrs old (4 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1998–2016

   Complaints describe sporadic hesitation on acceleration whether the engine is cold or warm, episodes where pressing the gas produces no response for 15 to 20 seconds, and stalling or dying at idle in gear. Owners report plugs, wires, PCM and oxygen sensors replaced without resolving the problem, and dealers unable to duplicate it. One owner describes an internal coolant leak traced to a disintegrating intake manifold gasket that left a residue in the cooling system. Mostly reported on cars with lower mileage, with the coolant leak noted around 28,000 miles and stalling complaints with no mileage listed.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask about any history of coolant loss or intake gasket work, check the coolant for sludge or discoloration, and test-drive from cold to look for hesitation or stalling.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The vehicle has an internal coolant leak within the engine compartment. The leak occurred because the intake manifold gasket was made with a thin material which disintegrated and created an orange slug in the engine, per the dealership.”

   NHTSA complaint #10065509, filed 2004-04, 28,000 miles

   “While driving at 85mph the engine shut off. The owner notified the dealer, and was informed that there is an engine limit. When the vehicle reaches certain MPH, power is cut off from the engine. Owner states that the dealer did not tell the owner about this .”

   NHTSA complaint #820223, filed 1998-01
5. 5
   Fuel system

   Fuel tank rust and leaks

   • 7 complaints (7%)
   • median 36,806 mi at 6.3 yrs old (4 state mileage, few)
   • filed 1998–2006

   Owners report fuel tanks rusted through or cracked, with fuel leaking and the smell of gasoline around the car; in two cases the tank was described as leaking near a seam at low mileage. One owner also reports repeated fuel injector replacements. In the leaking-tank cases the dealer was notified but the problem was not resolved at the time of the complaint. Reported between roughly 35,000 and 62,000 miles on cars that were otherwise garaged and lightly used.

   What to check: Look underneath at the tank and seams for rust or damp spots, check for a fuel smell after filling, and ask whether the tank or fuel lines have been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The gas tank on my 1998 Chevrolet Monte Carlo has rusted through and is leaking.it has 38550 miles on it and it has been kept in a garage.the cost to repay it is about $800.00. I feel this must be a defect in the tank.”

   NHTSA complaint #10041714, filed 2003-10, 38,500 miles

   “The fuel tank cracked which caused fuel to leak. The consumer was forced to refuel the vehicle more often. The dealership was notified but did not resolve the problem.”

   NHTSA complaint #10059320, filed 2004-03, 35,113 miles

Buying note. These are older cars, so condition and service history matter more than mileage: confirm the two oil-drip recalls were done, have the brakes and steering inspected closely, and check the fuel tank and coolant for the problems owners describe before purchase.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.