10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 0 / 3
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 2 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 86,958 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.
Cecking the fuses, none of them were blown. Gauge would be reading hot temperature, would check the hoses and radiator nothing. Fuel system is down now.
- Orange Cove, CA, USA
Engine backfired and exploded upon ignition after sitting for a week. Engine was cold and in cold weather. 3 foot flames, minor burns and injuries sustained er visit for smoke inhalation while extinguishing fire. Vehicle was parked on private property. A neighbor's car the same make and model similar year did the same thing a few weeks ago.
- Medical Lake, WA, USA
After charging the battery L then started the car an had a back fire. When the car back fired it blew out the intake manifold an there was a lot of smoke. Was wondering if ther was a recall on the fuel pump pressure regulater. Which could be the cause of it.
- Seekonk, MA, USA
Problem 1: driving near my home and vehicle quit on me. Gas gauge showed full but come to find out, I was out of gas. Good thing I wasn't traveling at a high rate of speed, like interstate driving. Problem 2: vehicle wouldn't start, I'm being told it is the passlock system. Security light has only come on 1 time. I never know when its going to start. Very worried when I travel by myself. These have happened at different times.
- Jemison, AL, USA
I was driving at highway speeds and the temp gauge droppef to zero, air conditioning stopped working, and car began to struggle. I pulled the car off the highway to see if was dumping coolant put. Took the vehicle to the shop and he new what was wrong because a lot of these cars come in with the problem. I had to have the timing cover replaced and the ect sensor. The mechanic said this happens often as GM cars have these issues. Was also told it looked as if the car overheated and was lucky it didn't blow up on the highway and cause an accident.
- Kentwood, MI, USA
The contact owns a 2001 Chevrolet Monte Carlo. While attempting to start the vehicle, the contact heard an exploding noise coming from the engine compartment. Upon further inspection, the contact noticed smoke and realized that the intake manifold had exploded. There were no injuries and a police report was not filed. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the intake manifold and fuel pressure regulator needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 98,000.
- Nanticoke, PA, USA
The contact owns a 2001 Chevrolet Monte Carlo. The contact stated that there were strong fumes of fuel and oil outside and inside the vehicle. The contact later received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 15V701000 (engine and engine cooling) and the dealer was unable to determine when the parts and permanent remedy would become available to repair the vehicle within a reasonable time frame. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and was unable to determine a specific date that the vehicle would receive the part to the dealer. The failure mileage was not available. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
- San Antonio, TX, USA
I got into the vehicle to go to church Sunday with my mother-in-law. I turned the key in the ignition and there was an explosion from under the hood that made the hood jump and some smoke came out of the sides. It scared my mother-in-law half to death. Our company mechanic checked the engine and determined the intake had exploded. He checked on-line as to a probable cause and discovered there was a recall on various Pontiac, Buick and Chevy vehicles with 3.8L engines due to intake explosions due to faulty fuel pressure regulators. In some cases it seems to have bent a fuel rail and pulled an injector out of the head, which it looks to have done to mine also. He towed the vehicle to the dealership and they told him there were 3 recalls listed for this car and that was not one of them. One of the listed recalls was for the ignition which we took it in for and it still sticks. Our mechanic checked your web-site and did find recalls for this explosion problem. Some of the statements people posted about this happening resulted in fires as well as the explosion so this seems to be a significant hazard. Why is our car not listed with the dealer for this recall ? though it is titled as a 2001 it was manufactured in 09/00 so seems it should be included in the recall, especially since it did the exact same thing as the others. They want over $700 to fix the intake, regulator and gasket and I should not be liable for what is apparently a manufacturers defect, and that's if it didn't cause more damage when it exploded.
- Youngstown, FL, USA
- N. Highlands, CA, USA