NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Electrical System complaints
151 reportsClear category filter30,000 miles · Jun 9, 2010
Electrical System
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO. WHILE DRIVING AT 15 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE SPEEDOMETER ALONG WITH OTHER GAUGES ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WERE NON-FUNCTIONAL. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS INFORMED THAT SHE WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL REPAIR COSTS. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE T…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO. WHILE DRIVING AT 15 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE SPEEDOMETER ALONG WITH OTHER GAUGES ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WERE NON-FUNCTIONAL. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS INFORMED THAT SHE WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL REPAIR COSTS. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 30,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 50,288.
NHTSA ODI #10335554
50,000 miles · May 23, 2010
Electrical System
EVERY GAUGE ON MY INSTRUMENT PANEL OF A 2004 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO ARE INOPERABLE. THIS HAS BEEN ONGOING FOR YEARS, WITH EACH GAUGE FAILING. DEALERS, OF COURSE, ARE COMPLETELY AWARE THAT THE PROBLEM IS RAMPANT IN MONTE CARLOS OVER A 5-6 YEAR PRODUCTION PERIOD AND ARE CHARGING APPROXIMATELY $600 OR MORE TO REPAIR. AFTER READIN…
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EVERY GAUGE ON MY INSTRUMENT PANEL OF A 2004 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO ARE INOPERABLE. THIS HAS BEEN ONGOING FOR YEARS, WITH EACH GAUGE FAILING. DEALERS, OF COURSE, ARE COMPLETELY AWARE THAT THE PROBLEM IS RAMPANT IN MONTE CARLOS OVER A 5-6 YEAR PRODUCTION PERIOD AND ARE CHARGING APPROXIMATELY $600 OR MORE TO REPAIR. AFTER READING MANY POSTS ON INTERNET SITES AND TALKING TO OWNERS AND DEALERS, THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT SHOULD RESULT IN A RECALL. DON'T HAVE $600 OR MORE TO REPAIR SO I HAVE RESORTED TO USING A GIFT CARD AND PURCHASING A GPS FOR $50 SO I CAN AT LEAST SEE MY SPEED AS I'M DRIVING. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10331836
77,000 miles · May 17, 2010
Electrical System
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO. WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE SPEEDOMETER SUDDENLY FELL TO 0 MPH AND OTHER COMPONENTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL DID NOT FUNCTION CORRECTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO REPLACED THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 77,…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO. WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE SPEEDOMETER SUDDENLY FELL TO 0 MPH AND OTHER COMPONENTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL DID NOT FUNCTION CORRECTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO REPLACED THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 77,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 111,000. UPDATED 07/19/10 *BF UPDATED 07/21/10*JB
NHTSA ODI #10330892
Mileage unknown · Apr 30, 2010
Electrical System
2004 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO. CONSUMER STATES ELECTRONIC INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FAILURE. *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED AFTER ONLY 43,000, THE SPEEDOMETER BEGAN PERFORMING SPORADICALLY. HE HAD NO WAY OF KNOWING HOW FAST HE WAS ACTUALLY DRIVING. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10328526
75,000 miles · Apr 17, 2010
Electrical System
INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FREQUENTLY MALFUNCTIONS, I.E. SPEEDOMETER, GAS GAGE, RMP GAGE, AS NEEDS ON CLUSTER EITHER "STICK" OR DO NOT RETURN TO THEIR PROPER POSITION WHEN THE CAR IS SHUT OFF. GM CURRENTLY DOES NOT HAVE THIS LISTED UNDER THEIR RECALL AGREEMENT, NEGLECTING A POTENTIALLY SERIOUS RISK OF ACCIDENTS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10326148
61,000 miles · Mar 26, 2010
Electrical System
2004 MONTE CARLO SPEDOMETER AND INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WORKS ERRADICLE DURING NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS AND COULD RESULT IN A FASTER THAN POSTED DRIVING EXPIERENCE. IF NOT TRAINED AND TESTED AT HIGH SPEED MANUVERS DRIVER AND PASSENGER SAFETY IS REDUCED , DRAMATICALLY !
NHTSA ODI #10322248
75,000 miles · Mar 11, 2010
Electrical System
MY 2004 MONTE CARLO SS IS HAVING SEVERE SAFETY ISSUES DUE TO FAULTY INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. SPEEDOMETER READS 110MPH EVEN WHEN SHUT OFF. COOLANT TEMP GAUGE DOESN'T WORK. SO GOING DOWN THE HIGHWAY I HAVE NO CLUE HOW FAST I AM GOING OR IF THE MOTOR IS GOING TO BLOW UP DUE TO OVERHEATING. TURNS OUT GM RECALLED SEVERAL 2004-2006 VEHICLE…
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MY 2004 MONTE CARLO SS IS HAVING SEVERE SAFETY ISSUES DUE TO FAULTY INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. SPEEDOMETER READS 110MPH EVEN WHEN SHUT OFF. COOLANT TEMP GAUGE DOESN'T WORK. SO GOING DOWN THE HIGHWAY I HAVE NO CLUE HOW FAST I AM GOING OR IF THE MOTOR IS GOING TO BLOW UP DUE TO OVERHEATING. TURNS OUT GM RECALLED SEVERAL 2004-2006 VEHICLES FOR THE SAME ISSUE. 2005 MONTE CARLO HAS THE SAME ISSUE. I HAVE SPOKE TO GM ABOUT ISSUE AND THEY SAID THEY WILL NOT RECALL THE CARS OR COVER ANY OF THE REPAIRS. THIS WEBSITE HERE HAS 47 COMPLAINTS SO FAR FOR THE SAME ISSUE. WHY WILL THEY NOT RECALL THE CAR AND FIX THIS ISSUE? WILL IT TAKE SOMEONE GETTING KILLED FOR THEM TO ACTUALLY DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS WELL KNOWN PROBLEM? GM IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM WITH THE MONTE CARLO'S. THEY JUST CHOOSE TO NOT FIX IT AND SOAK THE CUSTOMER FOR $500 PLUS TO FIX THE ISSUE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10319036
36,500 miles · Mar 3, 2010
Electrical System
DANGEROUS GM SPEEDOMETER DEFECT THE ELECTRONIC SPEEDOMETER ON 2004 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO PERIODICALLY BEGINS TO DISPLAY INCORRECT INFORMATION. THIS CAN BE EITHER REFLECTING A LOWER THAN ACTUAL SPEED OR A HIGHER THAN ACTUAL SPEED. THIS RESULTS IN EITHER DRIVING AT AN UNSAFE SPEED FOR THE ROAD AND/OR CONDITIONS OR THE PRESENTIN…
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DANGEROUS GM SPEEDOMETER DEFECT THE ELECTRONIC SPEEDOMETER ON 2004 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO PERIODICALLY BEGINS TO DISPLAY INCORRECT INFORMATION. THIS CAN BE EITHER REFLECTING A LOWER THAN ACTUAL SPEED OR A HIGHER THAN ACTUAL SPEED. THIS RESULTS IN EITHER DRIVING AT AN UNSAFE SPEED FOR THE ROAD AND/OR CONDITIONS OR THE PRESENTING AN OBSTACLE TO OTHER DRIVERS BY MAINTAINGA LOWER SPEED THAN THE GENERAL TRAFFIC. ALTHOUGH THIS HAS NOT RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT ON OUR VEHICLE, I HAVE NOTED MANY OTHER OWNERS IDENTIFYING THIS ISSUE ON VARIOUS CHAT ROOMS AND CUSTOMER FORUMS ON THE INTERNET. FROM WHAT I HAVE SEEN ON THE INTERNET THIS ISSUE IS NOT LIMITED TO THE 2004 CHEVY MONTE CARLO, OTHER MAKES OF GM VEHICLES (CARS AND TRUCKS) MANUFACTURED BEFORE AND AFTER THIS YEAR HAVE SHOWN THE SAME DEFECT WE HAVE CONTACTED THE GM DEALER AND WERE TOLD THEY ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR CORRECTING THIS PROBLEM AND WE WOULD HAVE TO PAY TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE DASHBOARD TO CORRECT THE ISSUE. WE PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE NEW AND THE PROBLEM SURFACED SHORTLY AFTER REACHING 36000 MILES (WARRANTY PERIOD). GIVEN THE RECENT PUBLICITY REGARDING TOYOTA'S PROBLEMS I THINK IT WOULD BE WELL SERVED TO IDENTIFY AND CORRECT THIS ISSUE BEFORE IT BECOMES AS SERIOUS. THIS ERROR OCCURS ALMOST DAILY WITHOUT WARNING. WHILE YOU ARE DRIVING THE SPEEDOMETER APPEARS TO WORK NORMALLY AND AT SOME POINT IT WILL STOP WORKING, THE ONLY WAY TO DETECT IS TO ACCELERATE SHARPLY OR APPLY THE BRAKES SHARPLY WHILE NOTING IF THE SPEEDOMETER REFLECTS THE CHANGE IN SPEED. THIS APPROACH MAY WORK WELL FOR AN EXPERIENCED DRIVER BUT A VERY YOUNG DRIVER OR AN ELDERLY DRIVER MAY NOTE REALIZE THE SPEEDOMETER IS NOT ACCURATE AND RESULT IN A ACCIDENT. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10316097
45,000 miles · Mar 2, 2010
Electrical System
AT APPROXIMATELY 45,000 MILES THE SPEEDOMETER QUIT READING CORRECTLY. NEXT THE TACHOMETER WENT HAYWIRE. NOW THE TEMP GAUGE HAS QUIT. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10315746
70,000 miles · Feb 19, 2010
Electrical System
INSTRUMENT CLUSTER STOPPED WORKING ON MY 2004 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO SS. TEMP GAUGE AND SPEEDOMETER HAVE BOTH STOPPED WORKING. SPEEDOMETER SAYS I'M DOING 110 MPH ALL THE TIME, EVEN WITH CAR SHUT OFF. MY FRIEND HAD THE SAME THING HAPPEN TO HER 2005 MONTE CARLO AND HAD IT REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. MY CAR STARTED AS SOON AS THE WARRA…
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INSTRUMENT CLUSTER STOPPED WORKING ON MY 2004 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO SS. TEMP GAUGE AND SPEEDOMETER HAVE BOTH STOPPED WORKING. SPEEDOMETER SAYS I'M DOING 110 MPH ALL THE TIME, EVEN WITH CAR SHUT OFF. MY FRIEND HAD THE SAME THING HAPPEN TO HER 2005 MONTE CARLO AND HAD IT REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. MY CAR STARTED AS SOON AS THE WARRANTY ENDED. I HAVE HEARD SEVERAL COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER 2004 AND 2005 MONTE CARLO OWNERS FOR THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM. I DID CONTACT CHEVROLET ABOUT MY ISSUE. THEY SAID I WILL HAVE TO PAY CLOSE TO $1000 TO HAVE THE CLUSTER REPLACED, WHICH I CAN'T AFFORD AS I AM A SINGLE MOTHER JUST BARELY GETTING BY. THEY ALSO SAID THAT THEY WILL NOT RECALL A VEHICLE UNLESS THEY HAVE A BUNCH OF COMPLAINTS FROM THE SAME AREA. I THINK THIS SHOULD BE A SAFETY RECALL BEINGS IT IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE DUE TO NOT KNOWING HOW FAST I AM GOING OR IF MY CAR IS READY TO OVERHEAT. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10311998
Official recalls
4Oct 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 6, 2015
General Motors LLC (GM) notified the agency on April 2, 2015, that they are is recalling certain model year 2004 Buick Regal vehicles manufactured April 9, 2003, to June 1, 2003, 2004 Chevrolet Impala vehicles manufactured April 8, 2003, to June 23, 2003, and 2004 Chevrolet Monte Carlo vehicles manufactured April 7, 2003, to June 23, 2003. On May 18, 2015, GM expanded the recall to cover an additional 49,751 2004 Pontiac Grand Prix vehicles manufactured January 6, 2003, to June 25, 2004. In the affected vehicles, the valve cover gasket may leak.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: The leaking engine oil can drip onto the hot surface of the exhaust manifold, increasing the risk of a fire.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will remove the plastic cover and plastic oil fill tube extension and replace the front valve cover and gasket. These repairs will be done free of charge. The recall began on April 24, 2015. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Pontiac customer service at 1-800-762-2737 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 14574.
Jul 3, 2014
This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. Until this recall is performed, customers should remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the ignition key. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring. General Motors LLC (GM) notified the agency on July 3, 2014, that they are recalling 5,877,718 model year 2000-2005 Chevrolet Impala and Monte Carlo, 1997-2003 Chevrolet Malibu, 2004-2005 Malibu Classic, 1999-2004 Oldsmobile Alero, 1998-2002 Oldsmobile Intrigue, 1999-2005 Pontiac Grand Am and 2004-2008 Pontiac Grand Prix vehicles. In these models, the weight on the key ring and/or road conditions or some other jarring event may cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position, turning off the engine.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the key is not in the run position, the air bags may not deploy if the vehicle is involved in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will install two key rings and an insert in the key slot or a cover over the key head on all ignition keys, free of charge. The recall began on September 9, 2014. GM's number for this recall is 14350.
Jun 23, 2004
CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES WERE PRODUCED WITH LOWER THAN SPECIFIED TORQUE ON BOTH FRONT BRAKE CALIPER TO STEERING KNUCKLE ATTACHMENT BOLTS. WITH IMPROPER TORQUE, THE CLAMP LOAD AT THE JOINT MAY NOT BE ADEQUATE TO PREVENT MOVEMENT BETWEEN THE CALIPER BRACKET AND KNUCKLE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: DEPENDING ON WHETHER ONE OR BOTH BOLTS BACKS OUT OR FRACTURES, THE RESULT CAN BE LOCKING OF THE AFFECTED WHEEL DURING BRAKING AND AN ABRUPT STEERING INPUT IN THE DIRECTION OF THE LOCKED WHEEL, REDUCED BRAKING AND NOISE FROM THE AFFECTED WHEEL, OR SEVERING OF A BRAKE HOSE, INCREASED BRAKE PEDAL TRAVEL, AND REDUCED STEERING CONTROL. REDUCED BRAKING OR STEERING CONTROL COULD CAUSE A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS ARE TO TIGHTEN BOTH BOLTS TO THE SPECIFIED TORQUE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON JUNE 28, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET 1-800-630-2438 OR PONTIAC 1-800-620-7668.
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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