Comments: 1-15, 16-22
Problem 1: At about 28,000 miles, what initially sounded like "road noise" slowly turned into a low grinding/groaning sound, that is most noticeable when slowing. The dealer advised me the problem was the "cheap" tires Chevy used on it's new cars (there was obvious wear on the front tires at that time, although I'd had them rotated twice). So, I bought four new high quality Goodyear tires... and got an alignment - but guess what? The noise was still there - perhaps even louder, with a mild shudder in the steering wheel. The dealer replaced the tires, rotated the tires, checked the alignment - and are puzzled now after three attempts to fix this. Their explanation now: Road noise... it's normal. Chevrolet has yet to respond to my inquiries.
Problem 2: The climate control fan switch broke at 5,000 miles.
Problem 3: The drivers side power window control broke at 20,000.
Problem 4: Twice, the black finish on the middle console between the front seats has come off apparently from just contact with my arm.
The car is of a beautiful eye catching design.
I loved the way it handled (before Problem 1).
It's roomier than any most four-door vehicles out there.
I'm disappointed at the run around I'm getting from the dealer... and now from Chevrolet.
We bought a 2000 Monte Carlo in 2001. It had 4000 miles on it and had an excellent price, so we had Car-fax ran and spoke with the previous owner who had no complaints with the car... just needed a truck. Immediately we felt a vibration in the vehicle and the dealer agreed to switch tires from the 1999 Monte Carlo we traded in, and we thought this would take care of the problem... Well, at 35,560 mile now we're still trying to "solve" this problem. We've had this car to tire stores, 3 different dealers, and have still not solved this. We've changed tires 4,yes, four times, and just recently a dealer replaced the front wheel-bearings and the knuckle for the steering. It still has the vibration. Just 1 day ago, I took it back to the same dealer, and he told me it was "road noise" and he couldn't fix my problem. Also had to have the driver side window motor replaced at about 20,000 miles, and the material is coming off the console between the front seats from contact with my arm, and we treat the car with care, so it's not as if we're rough on this vehicle.The Monte Carlo is a very sharp car, and we would be absolutely thrilled with it if this vibration problem could be solved.
I had road noise using the Goodyear Eagles which began after about half tread. After wearing the tread down enough to justify a new set of tires, I bought some cheaper Cooper touring tires. I was very surprised that the Cooper tires handled so well and the road noise disappeared. I use to hear a rotation sound which sounded like road noise, very irritating. I was glad to get buy so cheap, $320 for the set (total including balance, installed and taxes). I can only conclude that the pricier tires with the aggressive tread just don't agree with my Monte Carlo. Kinda reminds me of my ole dog. He wouldn't eat the Science Diet stuff, but he'd put away the cheap Ole Roy dog food.
I purchased a 2000 Monte Carlo SS. I really like the looks of the car. But the problems seem to be "never ending". The service that I get is unacceptable. When I Purchased the vehicle, I wanted to get rid of my used car and used car headaches. But in return I got a new car with a large payment and a lot of headaches.
It started with the radio. The radio would not operate at all, so I had it replaced under warranty. About a year went by and the radio was not working again, so I had it replaced a second time.
The next problem started when I was driving down the road at about 45 miles an hour, and the car would start to chug or act like it was "missing".
The next problem was my drivers side seat belt was broken, had to replace entire drivers side belt.
The next problem was when I tried to turn my radio down using the steering wheel controls, the controls would not work. The dealer found short in steering wheel and fixed this problem.
The next problem is at night when driving and step on the brake, headlights flicker for a second. Have mentioned this problem to the dealer several times, still have not gotten this problem fixed.
My middle console is also looking warn, due to just resting my arm.
Last, but not least, I now have a clunking sound in the front end while traveling at low or high speeds. I am in the process of trying to get this fixed, and was told this could be my intermediate steering shaft or rear/front cradle mounts.
As I stated at the beginning of this letter, I wanted a new car so I would not have as many headaches as owning a used vehicle. With all the problems I've had with this new car on top of making quite a large monthly payment, I often wander what I was thinking. I really like how the Monte Carlo looks, but with all the problems I've had and am still having, looks aren't everything.
I almost forgot about my most recent problem, my driver side power window is not operating.
I think I will think twice about purchasing another new vehicle in the future. Sometimes I feel like I bought a lemon.
Sincerely,
Shelly Morrison
SMORRISON4@NEO.RR.COM.
Have a 2000 MC LS bought new in 3/00. Just got it out of the dealership for the SIXTH time for steering problems - the same clunking noise many of you wrote about. Twice they lubed the steering, twice they replaced the intermediate steering shaft twice they "fixed it" some other way. It never lasts. Twice they've replaced the steering wheel, twice the rear light assembly due to moisture (problem still there, fyi), once replaced the console for the wearing problem, twice they've worked on the a/c - new blower motor x2, incl one just 2 wks ago that now only works on speed 5 (1,2,3,4 out!). Yes, back to the dealer today, but argued over the ext warranty deductible since I just paid it 2 wks ago, and pressed til they caved in on a free loaner. Oh, and the brakes. Rotors at under 10k miles were turned, then later resurfaced, then later dealer replaced. Shudder stop showed up again bigtime at 48k miles, had local trusted mech turn 'em, symptom gone. GM is well aware of the steering problem history. No recalls. If I didn't have ext warranty, this beautiful medium regal blue baby with a mere 50k miles would probably be gone! Can't afford another car right now, so playing my hand out to the end. Otherwise, she's classy, hot and comfy. C'mon GM. If you read these posts you KNOW your rep is on the line. The posts explaining "road noise" as the reason scare me to death. It's NOT in most cases, it's the known, recurring steering system problem. Do something!
I HAVE RECENTLY PURCHASED A 2000 MC-LS AND ALMOST IMMEDIATLY I HEARD A THUMPING SOUND FROM A WHEEL OR TIRE.. I TOOK IT IN TO GET NEW TIRES AND WAS TOLD BY THE THE TIRE COMPANY THAT THEY COULDN,T DO A FRONT END ALIGNMENT DUE TO THE (CAM BOLT),,THE TIRE COMPANY SAID THAT gm Didn't PUT AN ADJUSTER BOLT ON THE STOCK PART,, SO THEREFORE IT IS AN AFTERMARKET FIX...Shouldn't GM TAKE CARE OF THIS, AND IF SO,HOW AND WHO DO I CONTACT..
THANKS DAVE W,,,, IN OHIO.
I saw your complaintes about the Monte on carsurvey. I havea 2000ss and have the same clunking that you can hear and feel while drive coming thru the steering wheel. A friend of mine also has the same car and had the same problem, I'm in the process of getting his repair bill to find out what they replaced. Have you been able to solve this condition in your car? Drop me a line if you get the chance.
Paul.
P61m@optonline.net.
I bought a 2000 Monte Carlo LS in 2001 as a "program car" with 30k miles on it. Immediately I heard a knocking sound in the front end while going over rough terrain at low speeds. I took the vehicle to the dealer 6 times and they kept it a total of 10 days and found "nothing". They claimed to have replaced the steering mid-shaft, Lower control arm bushings, and numerous other parts. The sound never went away. At about 41,000 miles, I removed the front wheels to check the brake pads only to find that the outer Tie Rod Ends were completely worn out. How could the dealer have missed something so obvious? After much time spent on the phone with GM Customer Care, I finally convinced them to cover it under the warranty.
I also have the same problems with the center console coating flaking off from nothing more than my arm resting on it.
At 60,000 miles, I noticed a water leak on the engine and found that the water pump had worn out. When I opened the radiator cap, I found something that looked like greasy mud in my radiator. I changed the water pump and 4 days later, the intake manifold gasket started leaking water. When doing research, I found that the orange Dex Cool coolant tends to break down and becomes very corrosive when it does so. It will destroy water pumps, manifold gaskets, radiators, and heater cores. The intake gasket repair cost me about $1000 and GM would not cover even part of the repair, even though it's a known problem.
My latest issues at 75,000 miles are:
Clunking sounds in the steering wheel when turning.
A loud popping sound when accelerating or stopping quickly.
A worn out rear wheel bearing.
A driver's side window switch that will roll the window down fine, but won't roll it back up without playing with it.
A power mirror switch that doesn't work.
All of the coating is coming off the steering wheel.
I'm now looking at a 5 year old car with 80,000 miles and needing another $1000 in repairs.
The car is beautiful and is a very comfortable car, but too many mechanical and functional problems.
I bought this Monte Carlo to hopefully get away from problems I had with an 89 Grand Prix, but I'm having almost as many problems with the Monte Carlo. I will never own another GM product again.
Maybe someone can find this information useful.
RN in Louisiana
nwlaguy@yahoo.com.
I have a 2000 Monte Carlo ls and have the clunking noise in front end and paid 180.00 to get it fixed and now a year later it is back.
I have the same clunking problem in my 2001 Monte Carlo SS. I would like to know if there is a fix. From reading the previous comments, it doesn't look good.
I have a Monte Carlo LS 2000 and I never had any problems until recently. The car has 85,000 miles on it and it has been maintained perfectly. At 84,000 miles I had to have the transmission completely rebuilt! I NEVER go to the Chevy dealer, they just rip you off! Also, every time that I had my oil changed I was complaining about the "popping noise" when steering and all they would do was lube it up which would last for about 100 miles! Until today I thought that it was just because the car had 80K+ miles on it until my mechanic told me that I had to replace the intermediate steering shaft and that it is a very common problem with many Chevy models, including the 00 Monte Carlo. Unfortunately, Chevy only put out a Service Bulletin, but not a recall, therefor, they are not paying for it. The estimate I got was for just under $300.00. I've been told that it's not a safety issue, just more of an annoyance. I will be getting this replaced ASAP! I have also read from other postings on another site that it they've had the steering box bearing replaced as well.
I own a 2000 monte Carlo, and the clunking noise which you should also feel thru the steering column is just that.
There is a defective linkage part in the steering column that GM had to go back and remanufacture, or retool and they will replace it for you, but its not covered except under the original warranty or extended warranty you purchase.
I had this done in April of this year and the noise and vibration has thru steering column has gone away.
Hope this helps all of you.
Daniel J.
I have a 2001 Monte Carlo SS.
Front rotors we replaced at 14,000 miles. Warranty.
Transmission replaces at 20,000 miles as well as the steering column (clunking problem). My cost. I Should have had the Steering wheel looked at when it was under Warranty.
Now I have a passenger side window that won't work as others have stated.
I just bought a brand new 2005 Monte Carlo LS and it has 4,000 miles on it now. Already it is in the shop with troubles with the torque converter (tansmition). I have already had to have a new dash mat put in. The doors leaked air, and there
was a rattling in the roof. It also has trouble with the ignition, it will keep cranking after letting go of the key, it also delays starting. Just wanted people to know in case they are having similar troubles.
To anyone that is having so called road noise, have your mechanic, NOT THE DEALER check your wheel bearings, after talking with many mechanics they all said this is a very common problem with all of the 2000-2005 Montes and Impalas.
I recently purchased a 2000 Monte Carlo S/S with 63k miles. The car is in showroom condition, but has a slight vibration when accelerating hard going straight and is worse while accelerating with the wheel turned (like on entrance/exit parkway ramps). I have had it back to the dealer I bought it from twice so far and they have sent it to a Chevy dealer for repair. The mechanics at Chevy where saying the tires needed to be rotated, but that has not solved the problem. At present it is still at Chevy. Has anyone out there had this problem? If so was it repaired? What was the cause?