MYRModel Year Report

2003 Chevrolet Monte Carlo

● Typical for this model
2003 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
RENDERED 2026-11-01T12:56:23.765Z

This year's complaint volume is within 30% of this model's typical year.

This verdict reflects complaint volume compared to this model's typical year. Recalls and safety issues below apply regardless of the verdict — always check them.

How is this computed?

Complaints
158
Recalls
9

Campaigns on file for 2003

Investigations
0

None on file

Top problem
Electrical system

31% of complaints

Complaints per year

1981: 2 complaints 1981 1982: 2 complaints 1983: 1 complaint 1984: 3 complaints 1985: 4 complaints 1985 1986: 6 complaints 1987: 5 complaints 1988: 3 complaints 1989: 0 complaints 1989 1990: 0 complaints 1991: 1 complaint 1995: 170 complaints 1996: 155 complaints 1996 1997: 164 complaints 1998: 100 complaints 1999: 125 complaints 2000: 233 complaints 2000 2001: 276 complaints 2002: 230 complaints 2003: 158 complaints 2003 158 2004: 230 complaints 2005: 120 complaints 2006: 113 complaints 2007: 42 complaints 2008: 2 complaints 2008 2010: 2 complaints
1981: 2 complaints 1981 1982: 2 complaints 1983: 1 complaint 1983 1984: 3 complaints 1985: 4 complaints 1985 1986: 6 complaints 1987: 5 complaints 1987 1988: 3 complaints 1989: 0 complaints 1989 1990: 0 complaints 1991: 1 complaint 1991 1995: 170 complaints 1996: 155 complaints 1996 1997: 164 complaints 1998: 100 complaints 1998 1999: 125 complaints 2000: 233 complaints 2000 2001: 276 complaints 2002: 230 complaints 2003: 158 complaints 2003 158 2004: 230 complaints 2005: 120 complaints 2006: 113 complaints 2006 2007: 42 complaints 2008: 2 complaints 2008 2010: 2 complaints
1981: 2 complaints 1981 1982: 2 complaints 1983: 1 complaint 1983 1984: 3 complaints 1985: 4 complaints 1985 1986: 6 complaints 1987: 5 complaints 1987 1988: 3 complaints 1989: 0 complaints 1989 1990: 0 complaints 1991: 1 complaint 1991 1995: 170 complaints 1996: 155 complaints 1996 1997: 164 complaints 1998: 100 complaints 1998 1999: 125 complaints 2000: 233 complaints 2000 2001: 276 complaints 2002: 230 complaints 2002 2003: 158 complaints 2003 158 2004: 230 complaints 2004 2005: 120 complaints 2006: 113 complaints 2006 2007: 42 complaints 2008: 2 complaints 2008 2010: 2 complaints

2003: 158 complaints

View as data table
YearComplaints
19800
19812
19822
19831
19843
19854
19866
19875
19883
19890
19900
19911
1995170
1996155
1997164
1998100
1999125
2000233
2001276
2002230
2003158
2004230
2005120
2006113
200742
20082
20102

Known problem areas

Percentages can add to more than 100% — a complaint can name more than one system.

Electrical system

31% · 49 reports

Most commonly citing horn and rear compartment/trunk.

CRASHFIREINJURY
Show complaint excerpts

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 Chevrolet Monte Carlo. After the vehicle received an oil change, oil was seen leaking from the engine. In addition, the vehicle overheated, the check engine warning indicator illuminated, and smoke emerged from the hood.

NHTSA ODI report, 2018-06-26

Also filed under Engine and tires

I was driving home from work when a woman using her cell phone changed lanes into my lane without looking. Causing me to have to jam on my brakes and swerve to miss her. Upon doing this action my vehicle shut off and I rear ended her.

NHTSA ODI report, 2014-08-20

Also filed under Air bags

1. Unable to activate horn due to poor placement on airbag assembly. Result: accident due to inability to honk horn to alert other driver, 2ND incident no accident, near miss. 2.

NHTSA ODI report, 2004-09-23

Engine

20% · 32 reports
FIRE
Show complaint excerpts

The service manager told me the Engine cover will be removed and NOT replaced. This downgrades the vehicle as the engine cover is part of the appearance element and gives a certain amount of protection to some components and wiring harnesses.

NHTSA ODI report, 2023-12-10

Engine and engine cooling

16% · 25 reports

Most commonly citing engine and cooling system.

FIREINJURY

Service brakes

15% · 24 reports

Most commonly citing hydraulic.

CRASHFIREINJURY

Power train

8% · 13 reports

Most commonly citing automatic transmission and driveline.

CRASHFIRE
Show complaint excerpts

Very common problem with transmissions in the 2000-2005 Impala and Monte Carlo models. Transmission makes going in motion from a stop delayed. Transmission has been serviced on/replaced twice.

NHTSA ODI report, 2014-04-09

Safety timeline

9 recalls · 0 investigations · oldest first

To check one car, enter its VIN on the NHTSA recall page. Check a VIN →

  1. R
    2002-08-15Air bags02V222000 Certain passenger, mini vans, and sport utility vehicles have an air bag inflator on the driver's side that could fracture at a weld during a deployment.

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect, and replace, if necessary, the air bag module assembly on the driver's side. Owner notification began August 15, 2002. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer…

    Check if this car was fixed →

  2. R
    2003-03-11Air bags03V051000 On certain mini vans, passenger and sport utility vehicles, some of these vehicles have a driver's side air bag that may not deploy as designed. In addition, the air bag inflator could rupture.

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect, and if necessary, install a new driver's air bag. Owner notification began on March 11, 2003. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon…

    Check if this car was fixed →

  3. R
    2003-08-20Equipment03V250000 Certain minivans, passenger and sport utility vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 225, "Child restraint anchorage system." The owner's manual…

    Remedy: Owners will be provided with a supplement for their owner's manual. This supplement describes and shows the location symbols for the child restraint anchors that are located in the vehicle and on…

    Check if this car was fixed →

  4. R
    2007-04-27Fuel system, other07E021000 Certain delphi fuel pressure regulators, p/nos. Fp10020-11B1, FP10026-11B1, and FP10027-11B1, sold after January 9, 2007, as aftermarket equipment for various passenger vehicles listed above. The…

    Remedy: Delphi will notify owners and replace the upr free of charge. The recall began on April 23, 2007. Owners can contact delphi at 877-411-8770.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  5. R
    2008-10-16Steering08E063000 Dorman products is recalling 3,900 intermediate steering shafts dorman part nos. 425-151, 425-152, and 425-153, (Sold under dorman's "Oe solutions" Brand name), balkamp #'s 7-3057, 7-3058, 7-3059…

    Remedy: Dorman will notify owners and replace the steering shafts free of charge. The recall began on October 16, 2008. Owners may contact dorman toll free at 1-800-523-2492.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  6. R
    2009-02-23Steering09E005000 Dorman is recalling 979 steering knuckles, dorman p/nos. 697-902 and 697-903, sold under dorman's "Oe solutions<sup>tm</sup>" Brand name, and napa p/nos. 7-8502 and 7-8503 which were sold for…

    Remedy: Dorman will notify owners and replace the defective steering knuckles free of charge and reimburse the repair facility or owner for labor. The recall began on February 23, 2009. Owners may contact…

    Check if this car was fixed →

  7. R
    2009-04-09Engine and engine cooling09V116000 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…

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the engineâ’s front valve cover and front-valve-cover gasket with new parts of an improved design and remove the engineâ’s plastic cover and plastic oil-fill-tube extension…

    Check if this car was fixed →

  8. R
    2014-09-08Electrical system14V400000 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.

    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.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  9. R
    2016-02-19Engine and engine cooling15V701000 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.

    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 engine’s front valve cover and gasket.

    Check if this car was fixed →

Buy-smart checklist

2003 Chevrolet Monte Carlo — pre-purchase inspection

Inspect

  • Electrical system: 49 reports on file for this year.
  • Engine: 32 reports on file for this year.
  • Engine and engine cooling: 25 reports on file for this year.

Verify these recalls were completed

  • Recall 02V222000 · Air bags
  • Recall 03V051000 · Air bags
  • Recall 03V250000 · Equipment
  • Recall 07E021000 · Fuel system, other
  • Recall 08E063000 · Steering
  • Recall 09E005000 · Steering
  • Recall 09V116000 · Engine and engine cooling
  • Recall 14V400000 · Electrical system
  • Recall 15V701000 · Engine and engine cooling
Inspected by ______________ Date ______________

Other years of this model

See all years ranked →

Best years2 years

Worst years3 years

FAQ

Is the 2003 Chevrolet Monte Carlo reliable?
Based on NHTSA complaint volume compared to this model's typical year, the 2003 Chevrolet Monte Carlo is rated "typical".
What are the most common problems with the 2003 Chevrolet Monte Carlo?
The most-reported component is electrical system, accounting for 31% of complaints on file.
How many recalls does the 2003 Chevrolet Monte Carlo have?
9 recalls on file for this model year.

Data updated 2026-11-01 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.