NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Engine And Engine Cooling complaints
31 reportsClear category filter15,000 miles · Feb 12, 2009
Engine And Engine Cooling
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO. FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS, THE VEHICLE WOULD DECELERATE ON ITS OWN INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN SMOKING UNDER THE HOOD WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 45-55 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND THEY DUPLICATED THE FAIL…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO. FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS, THE VEHICLE WOULD DECELERATE ON ITS OWN INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN SMOKING UNDER THE HOOD WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 45-55 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND THEY DUPLICATED THE FAILURE. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE ENGINE WOULD NEED TO BE DISASSEMBLED IN ORDER TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WERE NOT LIABLE FOR THE REPAIRS. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 16,500 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,000. UPDATED 11/04/09. *LJ UPDATED 11/05/09.*JB
NHTSA ODI #10258449
189,457 miles · Sep 23, 2008
Engine And Engine CoolingEquipmentFuel System, GasolineFire
I WAS AT A FRIENDS FOR SEVERAL HOURS PROCEEDING INCIDENT. I DROVE MY 1999 CHEVY MONTE CARLO Z34 ABOUT 1 MILE FROM MY FRIENDS TO TACO BELL. THE CAR HAD BEEN RUNNING GREAT. I WENT INSIDE TO ORDER I WAS IN THEIR 10-15 MINUTES. WHEN I CAME OUT SMOKE WAS COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I OPENED THE HOOD AND THE TOP OF THE ENGINE W…
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I WAS AT A FRIENDS FOR SEVERAL HOURS PROCEEDING INCIDENT. I DROVE MY 1999 CHEVY MONTE CARLO Z34 ABOUT 1 MILE FROM MY FRIENDS TO TACO BELL. THE CAR HAD BEEN RUNNING GREAT. I WENT INSIDE TO ORDER I WAS IN THEIR 10-15 MINUTES. WHEN I CAME OUT SMOKE WAS COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I OPENED THE HOOD AND THE TOP OF THE ENGINE WAS ON FIRE. TACO BELL EMPLOYEES CALLED 911 AND THEN PROVIDED A FIRE EXTINGUISHER. THE FIRE WAS PUT OUT BY THE EXTINGUISHER AND THEY CANCELLED THE 911 CALL. I CALLED A TOW COMPANY AND HAD THE CAR TOWED HOME DUE TO THE HOUR AND MY ENGINE BEING MELTED. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10243150
47,000 miles · May 24, 2006
Engine And Engine Cooling
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS AN ODOR COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. UPON INSPECTION THE DEALER AND INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP DETERMINED THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING ANTI-FREEZE. THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET WAS CRACKED DUE TO HEAT FROM THE ENGINE AND NEEDS REPLACED WITH A METAL GASKET. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, AFTER THE VEHICLE W…
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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS AN ODOR COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. UPON INSPECTION THE DEALER AND INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP DETERMINED THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING ANTI-FREEZE. THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET WAS CRACKED DUE TO HEAT FROM THE ENGINE AND NEEDS REPLACED WITH A METAL GASKET. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED THE ENGINE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AFTER COOLING FOR AN HOUR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT RETURNED TO THE DEALER OR MECHANIC. UPDATED 06/07/2006. *AK *TS
NHTSA ODI #10158198
Mileage unknown · Oct 22, 2005
Engine And Engine Cooling
I HAVE JUST FOUND OUT THAT MY 3.1 LITRE ALSO HAS HAD THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET GO BAD. THE CAR ONLY HAS 57,000 MILES. LIKE OTHERS HERE IT IS GOING TO COST ME $450 TO GET IT FIXED. GM NEEDS TO STEP UP AND CREATE A RECALL OR AT LEAST PAY TO HAVE A NEW GASKET INSTALLED. IT IS MY BELIEF THAT IT ALL STEMS FROM DEXCOOL. I HAVE KNOWN …
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I HAVE JUST FOUND OUT THAT MY 3.1 LITRE ALSO HAS HAD THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET GO BAD. THE CAR ONLY HAS 57,000 MILES. LIKE OTHERS HERE IT IS GOING TO COST ME $450 TO GET IT FIXED. GM NEEDS TO STEP UP AND CREATE A RECALL OR AT LEAST PAY TO HAVE A NEW GASKET INSTALLED. IT IS MY BELIEF THAT IT ALL STEMS FROM DEXCOOL. I HAVE KNOWN SEVERAL PEOPLE THAT HAVE HAD OR ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10140514
44,554 miles · Mar 30, 2005
Engine And Engine Cooling
WE WERE PREPARING TO TAKE A LONG TRIP AND TOOK OUR 1999 MONTE CARLO INTO OUR MECHANIC FOR A PRE-TRIP ONCE-OVER. HE JUST CALLED AND INFORMED US THAT THE RADIATOR WAS ALMOST EMPTY AND THAT THERE IS A LEAK IN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET, IT CAN (AND WILL) BE FIXED FOR A COST OF $750.00. OUR MECHANIC HAS A SMALL SHOP AND HE HAS FIXED…
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WE WERE PREPARING TO TAKE A LONG TRIP AND TOOK OUR 1999 MONTE CARLO INTO OUR MECHANIC FOR A PRE-TRIP ONCE-OVER. HE JUST CALLED AND INFORMED US THAT THE RADIATOR WAS ALMOST EMPTY AND THAT THERE IS A LEAK IN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET, IT CAN (AND WILL) BE FIXED FOR A COST OF $750.00. OUR MECHANIC HAS A SMALL SHOP AND HE HAS FIXED THE SAME PROBLEM AT LEAST ONCE A MONTH ON GM PRODUCTS WITH A 3.1 LITER ENGINE, HE JUST HAD A BUICK LAST WEEK WITH THE IDENTICAL PROBLEM. DOESN'T ANYBODY ELSE SEE THIS AS AN ISSUE THAT GM NEEDS TO TAKE SOME KIND OF ACTION ABOUT?? WE WOULD HAVE BEEN LIVID IF THIS CAR HAD BROKEN DOWN IN THE DESERT ON THE WAY TO LAS VEGAS!! WE WERE REALLY HAPPY WITH THIS VEHICLE, BUT NOW PLAN TO SELL IT AND WE WILL BE LOOKING FOR SOMETHING WITOUT A RECURRING PROBLEM OF THIS MAGNITUDE! *AK
NHTSA ODI #10116111
77,925 miles · Jan 11, 2005
Engine And Engine Cooling
THERE IS A FLUID CALLED DEX/COOL WHICH IS LIKE ANTI-FREEZE. HOWEVER, IT EATS AWAY AT THE GASKET. CONSUMER HAS HAD TO HAVE THE GASKET REPLACED. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE INTAKE GASKET WAS LEAKING. LOSS OF RADIATION FLUID AT 77000 MILES. *TC
NHTSA ODI #10107165
91,000 miles · Dec 22, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling
MY 1999 MONTE CARLO STATED LEAKING ANTIFREEZE DIPS AT A TIME. THEN THE NEXT THING I KNOW THERE WAS PUDDLES OF ANTI-FREEZE UNDER MY CAR. I TOOK THE CAR TO A SHOP AND THE MECHANIC SAID I NEEDED A INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET AND THAT'S GOING TO BE $450.00. I DIDN'T HAVE THE MONEY SO I HAD THE CAR PUSHED HOME AND NOW I AM WAITING TO GET …
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MY 1999 MONTE CARLO STATED LEAKING ANTIFREEZE DIPS AT A TIME. THEN THE NEXT THING I KNOW THERE WAS PUDDLES OF ANTI-FREEZE UNDER MY CAR. I TOOK THE CAR TO A SHOP AND THE MECHANIC SAID I NEEDED A INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET AND THAT'S GOING TO BE $450.00. I DIDN'T HAVE THE MONEY SO I HAD THE CAR PUSHED HOME AND NOW I AM WAITING TO GET THE CAR FIXED WHEN I CAN COME UP WITH THE MONEY. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10104355
74,000 miles · Nov 10, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling
INTAKE GASKET LEAKING COOLANT. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10098581
Mileage unknown · Jun 10, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling
INTAKE MANIFOLD COOLANT LEAK ON 3.1 ENGINE, WITH A COST OF $ 650.00 FOR THIS REPAIR. SEEMS TO BE A COMMON OCCURENCE WITH ALL THE 3.1 LITER ENGINES. MAYBE IT'S TIME GM STEPPED UP TO THE PLATE, AND TOOK A LOOK AT THIS PROBLEM. NO WONDER IMPORTS ARE BECOMING MORE POPULAR!!!*AK
NHTSA ODI #10075192
Mileage unknown · May 14, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling
WHEN DRIVING AT AN UNDETERMINED SPEED CONSUMER HEARD A KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE ENGINE FAILED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10073631
Official recalls
3Oct 26, 2015
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 1998-1999 Chevrolet Lumina and Oldsmobile Intrigue, 1997-2004 Buick Regal and Pontiac Grand Prix, 2000-2004 Chevrolet Impala, and 1998-2004 Chevrolet Monte Carlo vehicles. The affected vehicles were previously repaired under recalls 08V-118, 09V-116, and 15V-201 to address the possibility that engine oil may drip onto the hot exhaust manifold.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Engine oil that drips onto the hot surface of the exhaust manifold may result in a fire.
Remedy: The remedy applied under recalls 08V-118, 09V-116, and 15V-201 did not adequately remove the safety risk. Under the improved remedy, dealers will replace the engines front valve cover and gasket. Vehicles that are covered by recalls 08V-118, 09V-116, or 15V-201 that have not yet received the original remedy will instead receive the improved remedy under the original recall number. The recall began on February 19, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Oldsmobile customer service at 1-800-442-6537 and Pontiac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is 15757. Note: Until the improved remedy has been applied, owners are advised to park their vehicle outside since the fire risk exists even when the vehicle is unattended.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Engine And Engine Cooling:exhaust System:manifold/header/muffler/tail Pipe
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 1998-1999 Chevrolet Lumina and Oldsmobile Intrigue, 1997-2004 Buick Regal and Pontiac Grand Prix, 2000-2004 Chevrolet Impala, and 1998-2004 Chevrolet Monte Carlo vehicles. The affected vehicles were previously repaired under recalls 08V-118, 09V-116, and 15V-201 to address the possibility that engine oil may drip onto the hot exhaust manifold.
Consequence: Engine oil that drips onto the hot surface of the exhaust manifold may result in a fire.
Remedy: The remedy applied under recalls 08V-118, 09V-116, and 15V-201 did not adequately remove the safety risk. Under the improved remedy, dealers will replace the engines front valve cover and gasket. Vehicles that are covered by recalls 08V-118, 09V-116, or 15V-201 that have not yet received the original remedy will instead receive the improved remedy under the original recall number. The recall began on February 19, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Oldsmobile customer service at 1-800-442-6537 and Pontiac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is 15757. Note: Until the improved remedy has been applied, owners are advised to park their vehicle outside since the fire risk exists even when the vehicle is unattended.
Engine And Engine Cooling:engine
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 1998-1999 Chevrolet Lumina and Oldsmobile Intrigue, 1997-2004 Buick Regal and Pontiac Grand Prix, 2000-2004 Chevrolet Impala, and 1998-2004 Chevrolet Monte Carlo vehicles. The affected vehicles were previously repaired under recalls 08V-118, 09V-116, and 15V-201 to address the possibility that engine oil may drip onto the hot exhaust manifold.
Consequence: Engine oil that drips onto the hot surface of the exhaust manifold may result in a fire.
Remedy: The remedy applied under recalls 08V-118, 09V-116, and 15V-201 did not adequately remove the safety risk. Under the improved remedy, dealers will replace the engines front valve cover and gasket. Vehicles that are covered by recalls 08V-118, 09V-116, or 15V-201 that have not yet received the original remedy will instead receive the improved remedy under the original recall number. The recall began on February 19, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Oldsmobile customer service at 1-800-442-6537 and Pontiac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is 15757. Note: Until the improved remedy has been applied, owners are advised to park their vehicle outside since the fire risk exists even when the vehicle is unattended.
Apr 8, 2009
GENERAL MOTORS IS RECALLING 1,497,516 MY 1997-2003 BUICK REGAL, MY 1998-2003 CHEVROLET LUMINA, MONTE CARLO AND IMPALA, MY 1998-1999 OLDSMOBILE INTRIGUE, MY 1997-2003 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A 3.8L V6 NATURALLY ASPIRATED ENGINE. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE A CONDITION IN WHICH DROPS OF ENGINE OIL MAY BE DEPOSITED ON THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD THROUGH HARD BRAKING.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THE MANIFOLD IS HOT ENOUGH AND THE OIL RUNS BELOW THE HEAT SHIELD, IT MAY IGNITE INTO A SMALL FLAME AND MAY SPREAD TO THE PLASTIC SPARK PLUG WIRE CHANNEL AND BEYOND INCREASING THE RISK OF AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ENGINES FRONT VALVE COVER AND FRONT-VALVE-COVER GASKET WITH NEW PARTS OF AN IMPROVED DESIGN AND REMOVE THE ENGINES PLASTIC COVER AND PLASTIC OIL-FILL-TUBE EXTENSION, FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING MAY 2016. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-630-6537, AND PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668 OR HTTP://WWW.PONTIAC.COM OR HTTP:WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM.
Dec 9, 2002
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: 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.
Remedy: 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.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
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