2002 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO Steering Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME LOOSE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL STARTED TO FUNCTION ABNORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 08E063000 (STEERING) AND 09E005000 (STEERING). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 106,000.

Mileage: 106,000

I WAS DRIVING (WITH MY CHILDREN IN CAR) AND THE CAR JUST SHUT OFF. I HAD NO POWER BRAKES OR POWER STEERING. LUCKILY, ONE CHILD WAS IN DRIVERS ED & KNEW TO PUT CAR IN NEUTRAL & WE COASTED TO A STOP. ONCE I CALMED DOWN, I DROVE MY MONTE SS TO THE DEALER AND DESCRIBED WHAT HAPPENED. THE KEPT CAR FOR A WEEK AND INSISTED THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG! I DRIVE 1-3 HRS FOR WORK DAILY AND I DIDN'T TRUST THE VEHICLE ON INTERSTATE. I PURCHASED ANOTHER VEHICLE 6 DAYS LATER BUT GAVE THIS CAR TO MY CHILD FOR IN TOWN DRIVING. I WAS NEVER THE WISER UNTIL I HEARD ABOUT THE RECALL YESTERDAY & IT'S DESCRIPTION. THE MONTE SHOULD BE INVOLVED IN RECALL TOO. I WAS PREPARING TO PURCHASE A NEW IMPALA BUT NOW I BELIEVE GM IS STILL NOT BEING HONEST ABOUT ALL THE MAKES & MODELS INVOLVED WITH IGNITION PROBLEMS. *TR

Mileage: 100,000

I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN MAY AND SINCE THEN I BEEN HEARING THIS CLUNKING NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. I CALLED GM AND THEY TOLD ME THAT IT WAS THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT THAT NEED TO B REPLACED BECAUSE THEY GOT OUT A LOT ON THE VEHICLES. I TOLD THEM OF THEY KNOW THAT Y DIDN'T THEY RECALL THEM AND THE GUY TOLD ME BECAUSE THE SAFETY COMMISSION NEVER TOLD THEM TO. IM VERY UPSET AND FEEL THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE! I REPLACED THIS PIECE NUMEROUS TIME AND IT KEEPS MAKING THIS NOISE AGAIN! I DON'T HAVE MONEY LIKE THAT TO KEEP REPLACING THIS PART. PLEASE HELP ME BY RECALLING THIS PART BECAUSE MY KIDS ARE A FACTOR HERE AND THIS CAN BE A MAJOR ACCIDENT. *TR

Mileage: 104,231

ON MY WAY TO WORK ON MY NORMAL ROUTE BEFORE DAWN, DRIVING DOWN A NARROW CURVY RURAL ROAD RIFE WITH DEER, I FLICKED ON MY HIGH BEAMS AS USUAL. ABOUT 5 SECONDS LATER I LOST ALL MY HEADLIGHTS. SOMEHOW SAFELY PULLED OFF ROAD WITHOUT FALLING INTO THE DITCH AND TURNED OFF VEHICLE. AFTER SEVERAL MINUTES OF TURNING LIGHTS ON AND OFF THE FOG LAMPS CAME ON AND I WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT BACK HOME VERY SLOWLY. SPENT $1000 GETTING A CONTROL MODULE REPLACED. HAD TROUBLE WITH TURN SIGNALS QUITTING RANDOMLY FOR 3 YEARS, HAVE TO TURN ON EMERGENCY FLASHERS IN ORDER TO GET THEM TO WORK. ANOTHER $500 WILL FIX THE PROBLEM BUT SINCE THE CAR IS ONLY WORTH $1500 IT DOESN'T SEEM WORTH IT. THIS CAR IS A PIECE OF JUNK - 2 TRANSMISSIONS, NUMEROUS ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, 5 STEERING SHAFT REPLACEMENTS... *TR

Mileage: 180,000

NOTICED A KNOCKING SOUND IN THE STEERING COLUMN AT A VERY LOW MILEAGE (25000?) AND INQUIRED OF THE DEALER. TOLD THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG.. HAD IT CHECKED BY AN AFTERMARKET REPAIR SHOP AT ABOUT 40,000 AND WAS TOLD THEY COULDN'T FIND THE PROBLEM BUT THAT CHEVY'S WERE HAVING A REAL BAD PROBLEM WITH THEIR STEERING COLUMNS.. VEHICLE NOW HAS 56,000 AND AM NOW TOLD BY CHEVY DEALER I NEED TO REPLACE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN AND RACK AND PINION AT MY EXPENSE. DEALER MENTIONED THIS IS VERY COMMON PROBLEM BUT DIDN'T KNOW OF ANY RECALLS YET. COST ESTIMATE IS $1000.00. *TR

Mileage: 25,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO. THE CONTACT HEARD A KNOCKING NOISE IN THE STEERING COLUMN EVERYTIME HE TURNED THE WHEEL. THE DEALER WAS ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE, BUT COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ONLY WAY IT COULD BE REPAIRED WAS BY TAKING THE STEERING COLUMN APART FOR INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY; THEREFORE, THE REPAIRS MAY HAVE TO BE MADE AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. HE RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR THE SPARK PLUGS AND NOW AN OIL LEAK IS PRESENT. THE CONTACT WILL HAVE THE RECALL REPAIR PERFORMED. THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 74,000. UPDATED 07/10/09. *LJ UPDATED 07/10/09.*JB

Mileage: 40,000

I OWN A LEMON OF A 2002 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO SS. NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS SINCE I BOUGHT IT LAST YEAR. STEERING COLUMN PROBLEMS, COST $200.00 TO FIX, CATALYTIC CONVERTER REPLACED, COVERED BY WARRANTY THANK GOD. TODAY IT IS IN THE SHOP AGAIN FOR LEAKY GASKET AND WHEEL BEARING/ HUB REPLACEMENT WHICH IS COSTING ANOTHER $500.00. THIS WAS BAD BECAUSE THE ABS BREAKS DIDN'T ALWAYS WORK WHICH WAS SCARY SINCE I WONDERED WHEN THEY WERE GOING TO GIVE OUT TOTALLY AND I WOULD BE IN AN ACCIDENT. THE TRANSMISSION SOLENOID ALSO NEEDED TO BE REPLACED WHICH COST US ANOTHER $700.00. IS THERE ANY HELP FOR US? I WONDER WHAT WILL BE NEXT WITH THIS CAR, IT IS A NICE LOOKING CAR, BUT IT SUCKS MECHANICALLY!! PLEASE HELP! ANY SUGGESTIONS? *TR

Mileage: 70,000

MY 2002 CHEVY MONTE CARLO SS HAS A CLUNKING SOUND COMING FROM THE STEERING, I HAD THIS FIXED 2 1/2 YEARS AGO AND IT HAS BEEN HAPPENING AGAIN NOW FOR ABOUT 8 MONTHS. I WAS WAITING FOR A RECALL BUT HAVE HEARD NOTHING YET. *TR

Mileage: 33,000

ABS AND TAC OFF LIGHT COME ON STAY ON AND SERVICE TRACTION SYSTEM LIGHT COMES ON TOOK TO SHOP IF DIDN'T FIX (MEANING I HAVE NO ANTILOCK BRAKES AND THEY THING ITS THE ABS MOTOR PUMP THINK) I WONT BE ABLE TO GET A INSPECTION STICKER AND THEY SAID IT WILL COST 1600 TO FIX AND WENT ON WEB AND SEEN MANY HUNDREDS OF 2002 MONTE OWNERS ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR

Mileage: 51,000

I OWN A 2002 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO 53,000 MILES ON IT WITH INTERMEDIATE SHAFT PROBLEMS AND INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET PROBLEMS. BOTH ARE APPARENTLY COMMON ON THIS MAKE AND MODEL. CHEVROLET SHOULD MAKE THESE REPAIRS. THE STEERING CAN BE AFFECTED, WHICH IS A HAZARD AND THE GASKET COULD CAUSE ENGINE FREEZE UP WHILE DRIVING, ALSO A HAZARD. *JB

Mileage: 53,000

2002 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO WITH ABS AND SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT PROBLEMS AND CONCERNS**CC THE TRACTION LIGHT ILLUMINATED AS WELL. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED 2 MONTHS AFTER THE CONSUMER PURCHASED THE VEHICLE, BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WOULDN'T GO INTO 3RD GEAR. THE STEERING SHAFT WAS LUBRICATED. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THE EBCM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND WITHOUT THE REPLACEMENT, THE ABS WOULD NOT WORK SO THE TRACTION CONTROL AND ABS LIGHT WOULD REMAIN ON. THE WATER PUMP AND INTAKE GASKET WAS REPLACED DUE THEM LEAKING. THE FUEL INJECTOR WAS REPLACED DUE TO IT BEING STUCK OPEN. THE TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING LIGHT ILLUMINATED, THE DEALER SEALED THE REAR WHEELS. *JB

2002 CHEV MONTE CARLO SS EXPERIENCED "POPPING" IN STEERING WHEEL AT 21,862 MILES AND AGAIN AT 45,299 MILES. BOTH TIMES DEALER INVOICE INSINUATED THAT STEERING SHAFT WAS REPLACED. AT 84,000 MILES THIS HAPPENED AGAIN. TOOK BACK TO DEALER WHO TOLD ME THAT IN FACT THEY FOLLOWED THE GM SERVICE BULLETINS AT THE TIME AND ONLY LUBED THE STEERING SHAFT. A SERVICE BULLETIN FROM 8/1/04 SAID TO REPLACE, BUT THIS WAS AFTER THE SECOND INCIDENT AND NO ONE CALLED TO LET ME KNOW (AND OF COURSE I WAS UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT THE REPLACEMENT HAD ALREADY OCCURRED.) THE STEERING WHEEL FELT VERY LOOSE AND UNSTABLE AND I FEEL IF LEFT UNCHECKED COULD HAVE RESULTED IN FAILURE AND ACCIDENT. *NM

Mileage: 84,000

THE TIE RODS WORE OUT PREMATURELY, CAUSING THE FRONT END TO SHIMMY. STEERING SHAFT CONNECTED TO THE STEERING RACK AND PINION HAD A LOT OF PLAY. THIS PROBLEM HAPPENED WHEN DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. IT CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO BE UNCONTROLLABLE ,AND WORE OUT THE TIRES.*AK

Mileage: 46,000

THE TIE RODS WORE OUT PREMATURELY, CAUSING THE FRONT END TO SHIMMY. STEERING SHAFT CONNECTED TO THE STEERING RACK AND PINION HAD A LOT OF PLAY. THIS PROBLEM HAPPENED WHEN DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. IT CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO BE UNCONTROLLABLE ,AND WORE OUT THE TIRES.*AK

Mileage: 46,000

POP IN STEERING AND CLUNK WHEN TURNING AT LOW SPEED. DEALERSHIP HAS REPLACED STEERING COLUMN, STEERING BOX, FRONT END AND ROTORS. HAVE SOLD THE VEHICLE TO INSURE THE SAFETY OF OUR FAMILY. *AK

Mileage: 1,000

2002 MONTE CARLO SS WITH STEERING SAFETY PROBLEMS STEERING COLUMN REPLACED FRONT END REPLACED STILL UNSAFE AND IN SHOP. RECALL CENTER SHOWS NO RECALLS FOR STEERING COLUMN DEALER SAYS THERE IS AND THERE HAVE BEEN REPORTS OF CRACKED FRAMES BUT THESE ARE JUST WHAT THEY CALLED "TECH BULLETINS FROM OTHER DEALER" THERE WAS ALSO A RECALL ON A COOLANT PROBLEM NOT LISTED. 1-160465811 CHEVY COMPLAINT NUMBER. *NLM

Mileage: 30,192

2002 MONTE CARLO : AT 29,000 MILES NEEDS ALL FRONT AND REAR BRAKE ROTORS RESURFACED DUE TO WARPING AND NEW BRAKE PADS. THIS WAS DESCRIBED TO US AS NORMAL AND NOT COVERED UNDER ANY WARRANTIES. VEHICLE IS DRIVEN MAJORITY OF TIME ON THE INTERSTATE HIGHWAY WHERE BRAKES ARE NOT NEEDED MUCH. IN ADDITION, WHEN TURNING A NOISE WAS HEARD/FELT IN STEERING WHEEL. G.M. DEALER SERVICE CENTER HAD TO REPLACE INNER STEERING SHAFT IN STEERING COLUMN? (THEIR DESCRIPTION) THIS WAS REPAIR UNDER WARRANTY. *LA

Mileage: 29,000

I DROVE A NEW MONTE CARLO AND IT IS APPARENT THE STEERING EFFORT IS EXTREMELY HARD AND WILL RESULT IN DRIVERS FINGERS BECOMING BENT AND TWISTED. DT

AT DRIVING THE SPEED OF 30 MILES PER HOUR, GOING AROUND A BEND, THERE WAS A POPPING NOISE, I THEN LOST CONTROL OF THE STEERING AND HAD NO BRAKES. TRYING TO STEER THE CAR LEFT AROUND THE BEND THE CAR PROCEEDED TO GO STRAIGHT. CAUSING THE CAR TO GO UP THE DRIVEWAY APRON THROUGH A YARD LODGING THE CAR INTO A SHRUB ,STOPPING 5 INCHES FROM GOING INTO A GARGE. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO METRO CHEVROLET, WAS CONTACTED BY DEALER SAYING IT SOUNDED LIKE A MECHANICAL ERROR. AGAIN CONTACTED BY THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT, THE NEXT DAY SAYING THE CAR WAS DRIVEN OVER A CURB, OR HIT SOMETHING. I EXPLAINED THE CAR WENT THROUGH THE DRIVEWAY APRON, DID NOT HIT CURB, AND RESTING ON A SHRUB WILL NOT CAUSE THE DAMAGE THAT IT SUBSTAINED. DEALER REFUSED TO TAKE RESPONIBILITY. I PROCEEDED TO TAKE PITCURES OF THE SCEEN OF THE ACCIDENT, SHOWING THE PATH OF THE CAR. THE DRIVER SIDE WENT OVER THE CURB, THE PASSENGER SIDE WENT OVER THE APRON OF THE DRIVE. ALL THE DAMAGE WAS DONE TO THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CAR. I TRY TO EXPLAIN TO THEM THAT SOMETHING BROKE BEFORE CONTACT WAS MADE WITH THE CURB. I AM REPORTING THIS PROBLEM FOR THE SAFETY OF MY FAMILY, AND ANYONE ELSE WHO MAY HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM BEFORE IT GETS TO THE POINT OF AN ACCIDENT FOR SOMEONE ELSE. AT THIS TIME MY INSURANCE IS PAYING FOR THE REPAIRS, I AM TRYING TO GET THE DEALERSHIP TO HONOR THE CLAIM FOR THE MALFUNCTION. *AK