Started car and heard a loud boom and then smoke under the hood and intake cover and harness on fire

- Dayton, OH, USA

The car's fuel gage stopped working. The car wouldn't turn over when I started it so I got a new battery since it said my old one was bad, but it's still not working. The security light is on and I don't understand why and if this is affecting it from turning

- Ashtabula, OH, USA

2002 Chevrolet Monte Carlo. Consumer writes in regards to engine failure and requests reimbursement for engine repairs. The consumer stated the engine failed when oil got onto the engine and caught fire. The consumer had not received a recall until after the failure. The consumer had the engine replaced. The consumer would like to be reimbursed for the cost of the engine replacement.

- Port Orange, FL, USA

The contact owns a 2002 Chevrolet Monte Carlo. When the vehicle was started, the contact heard a loud popping sound. The contact stated that the vehicle caught on fire from the engine compartment. The fire department was notified and was able to extinguish the fire. There were no injuries and a fire report was not filed. The contact stated that the vehicle was previously repaired per NHTSA campaign number: 15V701000 (engine and engine cooling). The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 170,000.

- Long Beach, CA, USA

The contact owns a 2002 Chevrolet Monte Carlo. While the vehicle was undergoing a routine inspection, the technician noticed that the back cover gasket was leaking oil. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 21,571.

- Ernul, NC, USA

The contact owns a 2002 Chevrolet Monte Carlo. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, a strong burning fuel odor was present inside and outside of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the front valve cover gasket needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 15V701000 (engine and engine cooling). The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 193,000.

- Charlotte, NC, USA

The contact owns a 2002 Chevrolet Monte Carlo. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 15V701000 (engine and engine cooling) and stated that the part needed to perform the recall repair was unavailable. The manufacturer was notified of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

- Oceanside, CA, USA

The contact owned a 2002 Chevrolet Monte Carlo. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 45 mph, when the vehicle began to smoke both inside the vehicle and under the hood of the vehicle without warning. The contact merged to the shoulder of the road and exited the vehicle along with all the other occupants. A fire started under the hood of the vehicle. The contact attempted to put out the fire however, was unable to lift the hood of the vehicle. The fire department extinguished the fire. The vehicle was towed and deemed totaled. The two occupants received smoke inhalation and slight burns to their arms. No medical attention was needed. A police report was not filed. The vehicle was included in NHTSA campaign number: 15V701000 (engine and engine cooling). The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 90,000.

- Ruskin, FL, USA

The contact owns a 2002 Chevrolet Monte Carlo. Whenever the vehicle was started, a burning odor was noticed from the front end of the vehicle. The vehicle was included in NHTSA campaign number: 15V701000 (engine and engine cooling). The contact took the vehicle in for the recall repair and informed the dealer of the burning odor; however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 147,000. Parts distribution disconnect.

- Salem, OR, USA

The contact owns a 2002 Chevrolet Monte Carlo. The contact noticed that the engine was leaking oil. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the cause of the failure was undetermined. The motor was replaced; however, the failure persisted. The VIN was included in NHTSA campaign number: 15V701000 (engine and engine cooling). The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

- Grafton, WV, USA

The contact owns a 2002 Chevrolet Monte Carlo. The contact stated that the hood was constantly hot and there were strong fumes of fuel and burning oil. The contact later received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 15V701000 (engine and engine cooling). The dealer and manufacturer refused to remedy the vehicle because the title was for a salvaged vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was not available.

- Courtland, AL, USA

The contact owns a 2002 Chevrolet Monte Carlo. While adding engine oil to the vehicle, smoke fumes appeared before the engine suddenly caught fire. The contact extinguished the fire. There were no reports filed. The contact did not sustain any injuries. The VIN was included in NHTSA campaign number: 15V701000 (engine and engine cooling). The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 143,356.

- Louisville, KY, USA

The contact owns a 2002 Chevrolet Monte Carlo. The contact received a notification of NHTSA campaign number: 15V701000 (engine, engine cooling); however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

- Loch Sheldrake, NY, USA

The contact owns a 2002 Chevrolet Monte Carlo. While driving approximately 30 mph, the vehicle jerked and the computer turned on and off as smoke emitted under the hood. The contact extinguished the fire. A police and a fire report were not filed and there were no injuries. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The VIN was included in NHTSA campaign number: 15V701000 (engine and engine cooling); however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The failure mileage was approximately 119,000.

- Compton, CA, USA

The contact owns a 2002 Chevrolet Monte Carlo. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, fumes of smoke emitted from the hood before it caught on fire. The failure recurred intermittently. The contact extinguished the fire. No fire report was filed. The contact did not sustain any injuries. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where an offer to buy the vehicle was given but the contact declined. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact received a notification of NHTSA campaign number: 15V701000 (engine and engine cooling) however, the part for the recall was not available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 110,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

- Toronto, OH, USA

The contact owns a 2002 Chevrolet Monte Carlo. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 15V701000 (engine and engine cooling); however, the part needed to perform the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was notified of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

- Radcliff, KY, USA

The contact owned a 2002 Chevrolet Monte Carlo. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle began to smoke under the hood and stalled without warning. The contact stated that the engine caught fire. The fire department extinguished the fire and a police report was filed for the incident. The contact stated there were no injuries that required medical attention. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 15V701000 (engine and engine cooling) after the failure occurred. The vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 225,000. The VIN was not available.

- Redford Township, MI, USA

As the NHTSA is aware, GM has recently issued a third recall for leaking valve cover gaskets that have started fires in this same vehicle. By sheer coincidence on the same day that GM announced this third recall I paid my mechanic over $300 to replace these valve cover gaskets and I want GM to reimburse me for this. It was posing a fire hazard and we Transport our young grandchildren in this vehicle. I have repeatedly asked GM why I never received any recall notices relative to the leaking valve covers. They have not answered this question. I want GM to reimburse me for this repair.

- Methuen, MA, USA

Two issues: (1) the intake manifold on my 2002 Monte Carlo 3.8L V6 exploded when the ignition key was turned, and it exploded with such force that the oil cap (screwed in with thick threads) was blown off. Had my mechanic had his head under there when his counterpart turned the key it would have killed him as shrapnel flew everywhere. GM had a recall regarding the exploding of intake manifolds on this exact engine but it only went up to mdl yr 2000. The circumstances and effects are identical including the engine model. I have photographs of the carnage this explosion caused but would need your email address to send them to you. (2) as the NHTSA is aware, GM has recently issued a third recall for leaking valve cover gaskets that have started fires in this same vehicle. By sheer coincidence on the same day that GM announced this third recall I paid my mechanic over $300 to replace these valve cover gaskets and I want GM to reimburse me for this. It was posing a fire hazard and we Transport our young grandchildren in this vehicle. Although GM has admitted in writing that they have my correct address on file as registered with the Massachusetts department of motor vehicles they do not know why I was never notified about the oil leaks causing fires nor will they elaborate as to why or indicate that they will research why I was never notified. Their records will bear out that I was never informed of any such recall. I am getting nothing from GM but the standard party line and need them to look at and repair this intake manifold issue now. It is my only transportation and is dead. I have asked for them to provide a rental but they have not responded. Please, your assistance is desperately needed. My wife and I are raising our two young grandchildren and I need to be able to get to work. We can not afford a rental until such time as GM decides to address this issue.

- Methuen, MA, USA

The contact owns a 2002 Chevrolet Monte Carlo. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle began to smoke. The contact discovered oil on the motor and leaking onto the ground. The contact mentioned that there was oil leaking from the top and side of the motor. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 170,000.

- Kansas City, MO, USA