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2005 Chevrolet Monte Carlo

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

94 reports with mileage · 26 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Electrical System. Review the 87 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Exterior Lighting. Review the 17 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

1 crash reports3 fire reports0 injury reports

Exterior Lighting complaints

17 reports
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Mileage unknown · Dec 9, 2017
Exterior Lighting

THE MULTI FUNCTION SWITCH IS FAULTY. MY BLINKERS NEVER WORK RIGHT. SOMETIMES I HAVE RIGHT AND NO LEFT TURN SIGNAL AND MANY TIMES THE HAZARD LIGHTS TURN ON WHEN I USE TURN SIGNAL. THE TURN SIGNAL SOUND OF CLICKING NEVER STOPS, CONSTANT CLICKING THAT OFTEN STARTS BUZZING. QUITE OFTEN MY TURN SIGNALS DO NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY AN…

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THE MULTI FUNCTION SWITCH IS FAULTY. MY BLINKERS NEVER WORK RIGHT. SOMETIMES I HAVE RIGHT AND NO LEFT TURN SIGNAL AND MANY TIMES THE HAZARD LIGHTS TURN ON WHEN I USE TURN SIGNAL. THE TURN SIGNAL SOUND OF CLICKING NEVER STOPS, CONSTANT CLICKING THAT OFTEN STARTS BUZZING. QUITE OFTEN MY TURN SIGNALS DO NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY AND I HAVE NO WAY TO ALERT OTHER DRIVERS THAT I AM SWITCHING LANES. IT SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH CHEVROLET AND GMC AND EXPENSIVE TO CORRECT.

NHTSA ODI #11053609

65,000 miles · Apr 18, 2016
Electrical SystemExterior LightingFuel/propulsion System

I BEGAN HAVING TROUBLE WITH THIS CAR A FEW MONTHS AFTER I PURCHASED IT. I CAN'T DRIVE THE CAR AT NIGHT WITH THE LIGHTS ON BRIGHT, BECAUSE WHEN I DO THE LIGHTS SHUT COMPLETELY OFF AND THE ONLY WAY TO GET THEM TO COME BACK ON IS TO FLIP THE DIMMER SWITCH. I HAVE BEEN ON THE INTERSTATE AND HIGHWAY BOTH, DRIVING THE POSTED SPEED LIM…

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I BEGAN HAVING TROUBLE WITH THIS CAR A FEW MONTHS AFTER I PURCHASED IT. I CAN'T DRIVE THE CAR AT NIGHT WITH THE LIGHTS ON BRIGHT, BECAUSE WHEN I DO THE LIGHTS SHUT COMPLETELY OFF AND THE ONLY WAY TO GET THEM TO COME BACK ON IS TO FLIP THE DIMMER SWITCH. I HAVE BEEN ON THE INTERSTATE AND HIGHWAY BOTH, DRIVING THE POSTED SPEED LIMIT WHEN THIS HAS HAPPENED. THIS PROBLEM, IN MY OPINION IS A BIG HAZARD AND VERY UNSAFE. I HAD TO HAVE THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH REPLACED, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL REPLACED, BECAUSE IT FAILED COMPLETELY WHILE I WAS GOING ON VACATION, I HAD NO IDEA HOW MUCH GAS WAS IN MY CAR OR WHAT SPEED I WAS GOING ALL GAUGES WERE OUT OF WHACK. THE CAR SMELLS LIKE GASOLINE, I'VE TAKEN THIS TO THE DEALER AUTO REPAIR SHOP, THEY CLAIM THEY CAN'T FIND THE PROBLEM, EVEN THOUGH THEY COULD SMELL THE GAS BOTH ON THE OUTSIDE AND INSIDE OF CAR. THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE KEY, I TOOK INTO DEALER AND THEY PUT A COVER OVER THE OLD KEY, I PERSONALLY DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO TAKE CARE OF WHATEVER THE PROBLEM WAS. I HAVE NOTICED THAT OTHERS ON HERE HAVE LISTED SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS CAR. WHAT I'D LIKE TO KNOW IS, IF THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE HAVING THE EXACT SAME PROBLEMS WITH THESE CARS, WHY HASN'T THERE BEEN A RECALL ISSUED? I CAN'T SPEAK FOR ANYONE ELSE, BUT I PAID HARD EARNED MONEY FOR THIS CAR AND I'M SICK AND TIRED OF HAVING TO CONSTANTLY REPAIR STUFF, WHICH SEEMS TO BE A BIG PROBLEM ON THIS MAKE AND MODEL. I THINK SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE BEFORE SOMEONE GETS SERIOUSLY INJURED OR WORSE. AND IT SHOULDN'T TAKE SOMEONE'S LIFE BEFORE SOMETHING IS DONE ABOUT THIS.

NHTSA ODI #10860219

95,400 miles · Nov 30, 2015
Exterior Lighting

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE HEADLIGHTS CUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS FLASHED OFF AND ON INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER TO BE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,400. UPDATED 02/23…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE HEADLIGHTS CUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS FLASHED OFF AND ON INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER TO BE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,400. UPDATED 02/23/16*LJ UPDATED 4/30/18*JB *JS

NHTSA ODI #10807474

184,000 miles · May 16, 2015
Exterior Lighting

I WAS DRIVING AT NIGHT AND BOTH HEADLIGHTS (LOW BEAMS) STARTED FLASHING OFF AND ON THEN WENT COMPLETELY OUT, I HIT THE DIMMER SWITCH AND TURNED THE HI BEAMS ON AND THEY WORKED FINE. WHEN I SHUT MY HIGH BEAMS OFF MY LOW BEAMS CAME BACK ON AND STAYED ON FOR THE REST OF MY 120 MILE TRIP. FOUR DAYS LATER ON MY WAY TO WORK IN THE DA…

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I WAS DRIVING AT NIGHT AND BOTH HEADLIGHTS (LOW BEAMS) STARTED FLASHING OFF AND ON THEN WENT COMPLETELY OUT, I HIT THE DIMMER SWITCH AND TURNED THE HI BEAMS ON AND THEY WORKED FINE. WHEN I SHUT MY HIGH BEAMS OFF MY LOW BEAMS CAME BACK ON AND STAYED ON FOR THE REST OF MY 120 MILE TRIP. FOUR DAYS LATER ON MY WAY TO WORK IN THE DARK THE SAME THING HAPPENED, THE FOLLOWING DAY MY LOW BEAMS WOULD NOT TURN ON AND I HAVE TO HOLD THE DIMMER SWITCH TO KEEP MY HIGH BEAMS ON OR I WILL HAVE NO HEADLIGHTS. ( ONE HAND ON THE DIMMER SWITCH ONE HAND ON THE STEERING WHEEL). I SUSPECT IT IS THE MULTI FUNCTION SWITCH IN THE STEERING COLUMN WHICH IS A $300 PART. BUT HAVE NOT HAD IT PROFESSIONALLY DIAGNOSED. THIS IS A REAL SAFETY ISSUE THAT GM NEEDS TO ADDRESS!

NHTSA ODI #10716834

92,000 miles · Dec 23, 2014
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT, THE HEADLIGHTS AND INSTRUMENT PANEL FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 92,000.

NHTSA ODI #10667902

104,921 miles · Nov 11, 2014
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

1.)CANNOT DRIVE WITH THE BRIGHTS ON BECAUSE IT WILL UNEXPECTEDLY TRIGGER ALL LIGHTS TO FAIL AND YOU WILL BE DRIVING BLIND IN THE COMPLETE PITCH BLACK NIGHT. 2.)THE SPEEDOMETER, GAS GAUGE, AND TEMP GAUGE HAVEN'T WORKED SINCE ABOUT 75,000 MILES. I PURCHASED THIS CAR BRAND NEW AND HAVE HAD IT SERVICED AS NEEDED. THIS IS A FACT…

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1.)CANNOT DRIVE WITH THE BRIGHTS ON BECAUSE IT WILL UNEXPECTEDLY TRIGGER ALL LIGHTS TO FAIL AND YOU WILL BE DRIVING BLIND IN THE COMPLETE PITCH BLACK NIGHT. 2.)THE SPEEDOMETER, GAS GAUGE, AND TEMP GAUGE HAVEN'T WORKED SINCE ABOUT 75,000 MILES. I PURCHASED THIS CAR BRAND NEW AND HAVE HAD IT SERVICED AS NEEDED. THIS IS A FACTORY DEFECT, NOT SOMETHING THAT WAS CAUSED SOMEHOW BY ME. I THINK THAT IT IS RIDICULOUS THAT I HAVE TO DEAL WITH THESE DEFECTS WITH MY OWN MONEY WHEN I SPECIFICALLY PURCHASED A BRAND NEW CAR SO I DIDN'T HAVE TO DEAL WITH PROBLEMS OF THE VEHICLE THAT ONE WOULD ASSOCIATE WITH A USED VEHICLE. THE BRIGHTS ISSUE COULD LITERALLY KILL PEOPLE, I'M SURE IT PROBABLY HAS.

NHTSA ODI #10654393

Mileage unknown · Sep 17, 2014
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

I CANNOT USE THE HIGH BEAMS ON THE CAR. WHEN I DO THE DASHBOARD ELECTRIC AND HEADLIGHTS ALL TURN OFF. SWITCHING IT BACK TO LOW BEAMS THEY WILL COME BACK ON. CANNOT USE WHEN DRIVING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10637052

135,000 miles · Jul 29, 2014
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

WHILE DRIVING HOME CAR'S HEADLIGHTS BECAME STUCK ON HIGH BEAM AND STAYED STUCK FOR SEVERAL DAYS THEN FUNCTIONED AS NORMAL. A FEW WEEKS LATER WHILE DRIVING HOME AT NIGHT HEADLIGHTS FAILED TO FUNCTION AT ALL. SIGNAL LIGHTS AND FOG LIGHTS WERE ALL THAT ILLUMINATED THE ROADS. VISIBILITY WAS ONLY A COUPLE OF FEET. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE…

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WHILE DRIVING HOME CAR'S HEADLIGHTS BECAME STUCK ON HIGH BEAM AND STAYED STUCK FOR SEVERAL DAYS THEN FUNCTIONED AS NORMAL. A FEW WEEKS LATER WHILE DRIVING HOME AT NIGHT HEADLIGHTS FAILED TO FUNCTION AT ALL. SIGNAL LIGHTS AND FOG LIGHTS WERE ALL THAT ILLUMINATED THE ROADS. VISIBILITY WAS ONLY A COUPLE OF FEET. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF ISSUE AND HAS ISSUED SEVERAL TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS FOR IT NOT ONLY THIS MODEL YEAR, BUT OTHERS. THEY WILL NOT FIX OR EVEN REDUCE COSTS TO FIX BECAUSE THEY CLAIM THIS IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE. NOT HAVING ANY HEADLIGHTS AT ALL IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE IN POOR WEATHER, BUT ESPECIALLY AT NIGHT! UPON INSPECTING MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH IN STEERING COLUMN AND FLIPPING EXTERNAL SWITCH FOR HIGH BEAMS/WIPERS/SIGNALS TO SEE IF THERE IS ANY FUNCTION AFTER A MONTH OF CAR SITTING IN DRIVE, SMOKE BEGAN TO STEADILY COME OUT OF STEERING COLUMN AT SWITCH. BATTERY WAS DICONNECTED WHICH STOPPED THE SMOKE. *JS

NHTSA ODI #10617232

70,000 miles · Jun 21, 2012
Electrical SystemExterior LightingFuel System, Gasoline

A YR. AFT. I BOUGHT MY 2005 MONTE CARLO, THINGS BEGAN GOING WRONG WITH IT. FIRST 2 THINGS TO GO:THE CRUISE CONTROL & RE-WINDOW DEFROSTER. THE NEXT YR, WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT ON THE INTERSTATE, I SWITCHED MY LIGHTS TO BRIGHTS & WITHIN SECONDS I HAD NO LIGHTS AT ALL! THIS COULD OF CAUSED A VERY BAD ACCIDENT, I WAS ABLE TO QUICKLY …

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A YR. AFT. I BOUGHT MY 2005 MONTE CARLO, THINGS BEGAN GOING WRONG WITH IT. FIRST 2 THINGS TO GO:THE CRUISE CONTROL & RE-WINDOW DEFROSTER. THE NEXT YR, WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT ON THE INTERSTATE, I SWITCHED MY LIGHTS TO BRIGHTS & WITHIN SECONDS I HAD NO LIGHTS AT ALL! THIS COULD OF CAUSED A VERY BAD ACCIDENT, I WAS ABLE TO QUICKLY SWITCH THE LIGHTS BACK TO DIM & LUCKILY THEY CAME BACK ON. SINCE THEN, I NO LONGER USE THE BRIGHT LIGHTS, FOR FEAR OF MY LIGHTS NOT COMING BACK ON. THEN IT SEEMED LIKE EVERYTHING WENT HAYWIRE AFTER THAT, ODOMETER SHOWED THAT I WAS GOING 110, GAS GAUGE QUIT & TEMP GAUGE REGISTERED PAST 260. NOT A FUN NIGHT TO BE DRIVING, NOT KNOWING MY CORRECT SPEED, HOW MUCH GAS I HAD, IF MY CAR WAS GOING TO OVERHEAT OR HAVE NO LIGHTS! SINCE 6/15/2012 THE TACH NOW REGISTERS BETWEEN 6000-7000 RPMS & NONE OF THE GAUGES ARE WORKING PROPERLY. MY CAR ALSO SMELLS LIKE IT HAS AN EXHAUST OR FUEL LEAK WHICH COMES THRU THE VENTS, IT MAKES ME SICK & GIVES ME HEADACHES. I TOOK IT TO A DEALER A YR. AGO, PAID $98.00 FOR THEM TO TELL ME THEY COULDN'T FIND A PROBLEM. TO THIS DAY, MY CAR STILL SMELLS LIKE GASOLINE, I PRAY IT DOESN'T CATCH ON FIRE. TONIGHT I'VE BEEN RESEARCHING THESE PROBLEMS & FOUND THAT THE FAULTY GAUGES IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE CARS & QUITE EXPENSIVE TO FIX. I FEEL CHEVY SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR REPAIRING THIS PROBLEM & ALL THE OTHERS, AFTER ALL THEY'RE THE ONES WHO BUILT A CAR WITH MANY SERIOUS PROBLEMS. THIS IS VERY UNFAIR FOR THE MANY CONSUMERS OUT THERE WHO HAVE SPENT THEIR HARD EARNED MONEY TO BUY THIS CAR. NOT EVERYONE CAN AFFORD TO GET THIS FIXED ALONG WITH PAYING THE CAR PAYMENT. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THEY CAN'T BE MADE TO TAKE CARE OF THIS. WHAT WOULD HAVE TO HAPPEN IN ORDER TO MAKE THEM PAY? WHAT'S LISTED ABOVE? A CRASH, FIRE, INJURY OR DEATH? SHOULDN'T HAVE TO BE THAT WAY, SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE BEFORE ANY OF THAT HAPPENS! *TT

NHTSA ODI #10462492

29,000 miles · Nov 3, 2010
Exterior Lighting

PERTAINING TO MY 2005 MONTE CARLO LT 3.8 V-6... WHILE DRIVING WITH HIGH BEAMS ON THE HEADLIGHTS WILL SHUT OFF... THIS HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST A DOZEN TIMES SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR USED WITH 23,000 MILES ON IT LAST AUGUST 2009... WHEN THEY SHOUT OFF I HAVE TO USE THE DASH SWITCH TO TURN THEM BACK ON... I DID END UP DRIVING OFF T…

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PERTAINING TO MY 2005 MONTE CARLO LT 3.8 V-6... WHILE DRIVING WITH HIGH BEAMS ON THE HEADLIGHTS WILL SHUT OFF... THIS HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST A DOZEN TIMES SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR USED WITH 23,000 MILES ON IT LAST AUGUST 2009... WHEN THEY SHOUT OFF I HAVE TO USE THE DASH SWITCH TO TURN THEM BACK ON... I DID END UP DRIVING OFF THE EDGE OF THE ROAD ONE EVENING WHEN THIS HAPPENED... NO MAJOR DAMAGE DONE TO MYSELF, THE VEHICLE OR PROPERTY WHERE THE INCIDENT OCCUR BUT SCARED ME REALLY BAD!!! I DID GO BACK AND RACK THE RUTS OUT OF THE EDGE OF THE LAWN WHERE IT HAPPENED... VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION... SHOULD BE AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BY GM... *TR

NHTSA ODI #10363852

Official recalls

1

14V400000 · Electrical System:ignition

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.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.