2000 Chevrolet Monte Carlo Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2000 Chevrolet Monte Carlo most often describe intake manifold gasket leaks that mix coolant and oil, repeated stalling or sudden shutoff while driving, and a clunking or popping noise from the front end and steering. The sample also includes several reports of the plastic upper intake failing and, in some cases, a fire starting during a jump start or extended cranking. Many of these reports come in at higher mileages, though gasket, steering and brake-line complaints also appear well under 80,000 miles.

1. 1
   Engine

   Upper intake cracks or bursts, sometimes with fire

   • 42 complaints (18%)
   • median 130,000 mi at 13.5 yrs old (34 state mileage)
   • 27 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2000–2022

   Owners describe a loud bang under the hood during starting or extended cranking, with the black plastic upper intake cracking or blowing apart, and in several reports a fire in the engine compartment. Some mention a fuel smell or prior fuel pressure regulator replacement, and others describe a backfire before the intake failed. A few note the plastic intake was replaced and the same failure happened again. Described anywhere from very low mileage to about 195,000 miles, often during a hard start, jump start, or cold weather.

   Recall 04V090000Recall 09V116000Recall 15V701000

   What to check: Inspect the plastic upper intake for cracks, staining or previous repair, and ask whether the fuel pressure regulator and the exhaust manifold recalls (04V090000, 15V701000) were performed; never jump start or crank repeatedly if fuel smell is present.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Car shuts off while driving down the road , we will put the flashers on and put car in neutral and try to restart sometimes it will sometimes not. We will try to get far enough off the road and continue to try an restart, sometimes car has to sit about 10 minutes before starting.. The intake has exploded on me while sitting in the driveway....my biggest concern is my family , husband son an myself is going to be badly hurt or killed in this car.. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10611005, filed 2014-07, 164,500 miles

   “Had to charge battery so I could take car in for ignition recall. Since I don't use the car much anymore. Upon trying to start vehicle, engine backfired and upper intake manifold exploded and pieces all over the driveway. This is the same issue as described in the 2004 recall which was performed on the fuel pressure regulator. Since the recall. I did have to replace the fuel pressure regulator again around 2011. I also had replaced the upper and lower intake gaskets that were faulty oem parts. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10654028, filed 2014-11, 165,000 miles
2. 2
   Electrical system

   Stalls or shuts off while driving

   • 33 complaints (14%)
   • median 82,500 mi at 9.9 yrs old (22 state mileage)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2001–2015

   Owners describe the engine quitting without warning at speed or at low speed, sometimes restarting after a few minutes and sometimes not. Several report security or battery warning lights coming on, and that dealers could not reproduce the problem or replaced ignition switch components, an idle air control valve, or a body control module without a lasting fix. Mostly reported between about 45,000 and 150,000 miles, at various speeds.

   Recall 14V400000

   What to check: Ask whether the ignition switch recall work (14V400000) was completed and whether the security light has ever kept the car from starting; a test drive should include steady-speed and stop-and-go running.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “This vehicle kept cutting off on me while going 55 MPH down the road. I took it to hubert vester Chevrolet and they could find nothing wrong. They replaced the switch at a cost of $388.98 invoice no 73404c this still did not fix my vehicle. To this day it is still cutting off while going down the road at 55 MPH I am scared to drive but could not sell it for this reason. I have had the car all this time and now find out that it has this recall for cutting off while going down the road. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10651213, filed 2014-10, 145,127 miles

   “Well gmc I don't even know where to start. 1st my transmission is stalling and seems like it is having a hard time shifting from 2nd to3rd gear there for stalling consistently as soon as the cars RPM goes to 2 and before 3 I have taken it various times to get it fixed and has been very costly and still the problem exists. 2. The security light come on and locks the car from starting almost 3 to 4 times daily took it to get fixed they ended up replacing ignition switch ignition holder everything on the inside of ignition over 1000.00. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10596792, filed 2014-06, 80,000 miles
3. 3
   Steering

   Front-end clunk or pop, steering noise

   • 26 complaints (11%)
   • median 43,500 mi at 5.2 yrs old (13 state mileage)
   • filed 2000–2014

   Complaints describe a rattling, clunking or popping noise from the front of the car, often felt through the steering wheel at low speed or over bumps. Owners report the dealer replacing the intermediate shaft in the steering column, sometimes more than once, and others describe rack and pinion or tie rod end replacement. Some note whining when turning and a power steering pump or hose leak. Appears from about 18,000 to 100,000 miles, often noticed at low speeds and over bumps.

   What to check: Turn the wheel slowly in a parking lot and drive over a speed bump with the windows down; ask whether the intermediate shaft or rack has been replaced and whether the power steering system has been leaking.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I have a 2000 chevy Monte Carlo with 56,000 miles on it. It has been nothing but trouble. Have had alot of repairs on it. Now it has a popping noise in the steering column, and loud front end noise. I was told the steering column problem had a recall on it,because one of my friends chevy impala had the same problem and theirs was fixed under recall. I contacted Chevrolet, they said there was no recall on my Monte Carlo. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10273101, filed 2009-06, 1,200 miles

   “I too, like all the others have experienced major front end problems with this car. It's always vibrated and I've always heard noises. The dealer did try to rectify this situation by replacing my rack and pinion and replacing my tie rod ends, because both of my front tires were about to fall off. I've extremely scared to put my children in this car, but have no choice. Now, as of today my emergency brake light and trac off light stay on constantly. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10002852, filed 2003-01, 40,000 miles
4. 4
   Engine cooling

   Intake manifold gasket leaks (coolant and oil)

   • 19 complaints (8%)
   • median 77,000 mi at 9.0 yrs old (15 state mileage)
   • 4 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2001–2020

   Complaints describe coolant disappearing, turning brown or sludgy, and oil and coolant mixing in the engine. Owners report the dealer or an independent shop replacing the upper and lower intake gaskets, and several say a mechanic recognized the problem before inspecting the car. Some also mention overheating, low coolant warnings, and that the intake gasket replacement led to follow-on cooling system work such as a radiator and thermostat. Reported from roughly 40,000 to 130,000 miles, with several under 80,000.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Check the coolant reservoir for a brown, sludgy appearance and look for oil residue or coolant weeping around the intake seams; ask for receipts showing whether the intake gaskets were already replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I have a 2000 Monte Carlo and had to have the intake manifold gaskets replaced due to oil and water mixing together in the engine. When I talked to the mechanic about my problem he knew without looking at it exactly what was wrong. Chevy puts a plastic gasket in this model that ends up cracking due to heat. I had to pay my mechanic $700 dollars to repair this problem.”

   NHTSA complaint #10310289, filed 2010-02, 85,000 miles

   “I have a 2000 Monte Carlo which I had serviced at borchers auto in blackwood nj . They replaced the intake gasket set [ ms90565 ] , and the valve cover gasket set [ vs50442r ] . I wanted to know if this was a recall for that model year that I was not aware of.”

   NHTSA complaint #10037511, filed 2003-09, 100,000 miles
5. 5
   Brakes

   Brake lines rusted through, pedal to the floor

   Mentioned in 6 of 60 sampled complaints

   Complaints describe the brake pedal sinking toward the floor, brake fluid loss, and brake and traction warning lights coming on, with inspection finding corroded, leaking brake lines and rusty supports. Owners in snowy states were told road salt was the cause, and in one report the vehicle was involved in a collision when the brakes did not engage. One owner also noted a humming ABS pump and an ABS light. Reported from roughly 36,000 to 100,000 miles, often in vehicles driven in winter-salt areas.

   What to check: Have the steel brake lines and their mounts inspected underneath for rust and seepage, and check whether the ABS light stays on after the bulb-check sequence.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “On highway and applied brakes when felt brake pedal pressure failing. At same time brake light and traction light indicators came on and pulled off the highway. Towed to a service place and told me the brake lines are all corroded and leaking. There is rust even on supports holding lines. Chevrolet doesn't make the lines anymore.”

   NHTSA complaint #10460334, filed 2012-06, 63,000 miles

   “I just purchased this vehicle. The car is in great condition. However, for a vehicle with low miles, these problems should not be an issue. Abs braking system problems; suspension problems; noise in the tires. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10498209, filed 2013-02, 98,000 miles

Buying note. A 2000 Monte Carlo is old enough that condition and service history matter more than mileage, so ask for receipts covering the intake gaskets, ignition switch recall work, and brake line condition. A pre-purchase inspection that includes the underside and the cooling system is worthwhile before you buy.

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.