2000 Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS from North America - Comments

Check engine light came on at 600 miles.

Check engine light repeatedly comes on every 2000 miles.

Traction Control system warning light came on at 35000 miles.

Anti-Lock Brake system light came on at 36000 miles.

Traction Control stopped working at 40000 miles.

Anti-Lock Brake system stopped working at 43000 miles.

Replaced brake system twice in a 10000 mile period.

Traction Control system failure do to speed sensors in wheels $500 per sensor to replace.

Speed Sensors failed again at 50000 miles.

The car performs great.

Excellent gas mileage.

Cabin holds 5 people comfortably.

I have a 2001 Monte Carlo SS that I simply couldn't wait to have. At around 25,000 miles I noticed some little things going on with my transmission, such as a whining sound and then a slight slip, as it went into second gear after slowing and then accelerating again. I took it in for a few problems and mentioned to the service manager the transmission irregularities and he told me he didn't find anything wrong. Now at over 50,000 miles and no longer under warranty, the transmission is worse and whines even louder. I was told that GM is aware of some problems with the Monte Carlo, and have notified dealerships about it, but there is no recall or help at this time. I was wondering if anyone else has heard anything about this problem?

Actually they are not listed under the recalls, but under Technical Service Bulletins (http://www.edmunds.com/new/2003/chevrolet/montecarlo/100155756/maintenance.html?tid=edmunds.n.cto.leftsidenav..13.Chevrolet*).

I find it amazing how the dealers can't find these when the car is brought in. Dealers are worse than "used car salesmen" when it comes to servicing known issues. I have 33,000 miles and so far I have identified a couple of the items listed in the Service Bulletins as things I had mentioned to my car dealer (just ran out of warranty this month) and they couldn't find a thing, just lubricated something.

I have a 2000 Monte Carlo SS. I love the car--had to have one. I have a little over 55,000 miles and just had to replace the transmission. It was slipping 3rd and 4th gears. My local Chevy dealer told me they could not guarantee that they could fix it. They said they thought there was a crack, but they could not find it and suggested that I go with a "new" (rebuilt) one for $2800. I contacted GM Cares and specifically asked if there were any known problems with these transmissions and was told no. I see now (too late) that this was in error. A friend of mine bought a 2003 Monte Carlo SS and had trouble with the transmission right off the lot. Did the same exact thing. They replaced his, under his warranty. After this little go round with GM, I'm going to have to think long and hard before I go with another GM product. Sorry to know that such a great car has a known problem that GM is unwilling to acknowledge.

I own a 2000 Monte Carlo SS and my transmission also had to be overhauled and I know at least 2 other people who have had the same problem.

I own a 2001 Monte Carlo SS and I have just began to notice that my transmission will shift hard even if I am not going fast. It only does it a few times a week, but it is beginning to happen more often. I have noticed it makes a strange zinging sound when it is shifting hard. The car only has 50,000 miles on it.

About the transmission shifting hard. It's called a pressure control solenoid. It is pulse width modulated by the power-train control module. When the solenoid goes bad, it will create full line pressure, which causes a hard shift, and a whine noise. The solenoid is inside the trans, so it must be replaced by removing the side cover. This takes "about" 4 to 5 hours.

The solenoid itself is pretty cheap, but it's not something you could really do yourself as you must support the engine, and remove the lower support cradle. After the repairs, an Alignment is needed to re-center the steering wheel... Good news is after the solenoid is replaced, they seem to stay fixed ;-)

I have an automatic 2001 SS with 80,000 miles. I just took my car to the shop, due to the RPM's zinging away, but the car is only going 30mph. It is like the car is not shifting when it is suppose too. The shop is saying that it is not the transmission (hard for me to believe). That it is possible engine problems? So far they cannot tell me what is wrong. When I figure out what wrong and how much I will post an update. Thanks to everyone's comments it helps.

It's hard to say about the engine reving up and only going 30 mph. In some cases, the converter may be plugged, this will feel like the engine is not working, or you are towing a house... It will also cause misfires as the back pressure will un-seat the EGR valve and cause a lean condition. What kind of shop did you go to? Was it a dealer? The PCM will store any codes the trans or engine will have. If the trans is slipping, I would bet there's a code stored. The converter usually sets a p0300, p0420,p1404 etc... Most independent shops can read codes, but it depends on there scan tool on how detailed the info will be... Keep us posted.

I have a 2001 Monte Carlo SS with 52,000 miles and the transmission won't shift into 3rd gear. It happened a few days ago. I had no warning the transmission was going to tear up. There was no mechanical noises and the engine light came on when it tried to shift from second to third. First and second gears work fine. I drove the car home slowly and parked it. A local transmission repair shop thinks it is a bad solenoid, like mentioned in an above post. He quoted $300-400 for the repair.

The only other problems I have had with the car is the steering wheel popping from when it was new. It happens when the car is going over small bumps and changing surfaces. It never does it on a smooth road. One dealer said they found no problem with the steering, but they did not take the car for a test drive. Another local dealer said the steering shaft slips where it enters the power steering box. They said GM told them to put grease on the steering shaft to temporarily fix the problem. There was no permanent fix, it was designed incorrectly to begin with. The steering has remained tight and responsive even though it has over 50,000 miles on it. The only major problem I have with the poping is I know it will hurt the resale value when I trade or sell it.

I also have a 2001 monte carlo ss with a transmission problem. called the manufacturer and they say they are unaware of the problem. my car is shifting hard. I took it to a transmission shop. they knew what the problem was before they hooked it up to the computer. they told me GM knows this is a problem, but will not do anything about this. the cost to repair this is 2000.

I have a 2006 Monte Carlo with a remote start problem. I need too be within ten yards in order for it to work. That goes for the power door remote to. HELP.

I have a 2000 Monte Carlo SS, and it has been acting up extremely bad. I can't drive it over 35 mph before my check engine light starts to flash at me, and my car starts to shake uncontrollably. I have had a lot of work done to it already and it still has not fixed the problem. I've changed the fuel pressure regulator, fuel filter, spark plugs and lines, catalytic converter was checked, and mass air censer was replaced, and fuel pressure was also checked, and I yet have to find out what the problem is. If anyone has any ideas on what it could possibly be, please let me know.

I just bought a used car 2001 Monte Carlo. My traction control is automatically on when I turn on the car... or atleast I think it is. And when I go to turn sharp, it makes a noise then I press the traction off button and it turns off. But today the service traction light and ABS light turned on.

Also when you are idling at a stoplight, it is going about 700 rpm, but it shakes the car up a little sometimes and the rpm jumps up to 800. Could just be me being nervous, but if you could let me know that would be great.

~Lydia~

2001 Monte Carlo LS. About 9 months ago we had to replace the head gaskets at 55000 miles. The gaskets are plastic and my repair man said that they are likely to fail again. He said the Corvette has the same problem and he has had both Monte Carlos and Corvettes in his shop. After the repair we had to take it back twice to bleed air from the coolant system. This week we have the car in the shop again. The check engine light came on and my husband said the car seemed to jump. We are waiting to hear back from the repair shop. We'll never buy a GM again. Hello Honda.

I have owned a 2000 Monte Carlo SS since new. Its been trouble free motoring until today. I took it in and found out that the lower intake manifold gasket needs replacing and I've lost all my coolant. The car only has 135,000 Kms on it. I contacted GM Canada customer service as I have discovered this is a known issue. I was told that because my car is more than 5 years and 100,000 kms I was out of luck and GM would not assist in the repairs. There is currently a class action lawsuit against GM for these intake gaskets. Have yours checked regularly.