Recall 15V701 covers 1,003,556 1997-2004 Impala, Lumina, Regal, Monte Carlo, Grand Prix, and Intrigue vehicles for engine-oil fire risk. Free repair once available.
Chevrolet is recalling 1,003,556 1997-2004 Impala, Lumina, Regal, Monte Carlo, Grand Prix, and Intrigue vehicles because engine oil can drip onto the hot exhaust manifold after earlier recall repairs. Oil on that surface can start a fire, and the dealer repair will be free once Chevrolet makes it available.
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What's wrong?
On affected 1997-2004 Impala, Lumina, Regal, Monte Carlo, Grand Prix, and Intrigue vehicles, the valve cover and valve cover gasket sit at the top of the engine and help keep engine oil inside. The exhaust manifold sits nearby and carries hot exhaust gases away from the engine. That area runs hot, so leaking oil creates a fire risk when it reaches the manifold.
Aging and wear let oil seep from the valve cover area, especially during hard braking. The oil can drip onto the hot exhaust manifold and ignite. Once a flame starts, it can reach the plastic spark plug wire retainer or other combustible material near the engine. GM found that earlier repairs for this condition did not fully stop later engine compartment fires.
There is no warning sign before failure. An owner can see or smell smoke from the engine area only after oil has already reached a hot surface.
Who's affected?
Spans Impala, Lumina, Regal, Monte Carlo, Grand Prix, and Intrigue across 1997-2004, with engine and exhaust-system components listed for each included car line.
| 2000 Chevrolet Impala | Manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe |
|---|---|
| 2000 Chevrolet Impala | Engine |
| 1999 Chevrolet Lumina | Manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe |
| 1999 Chevrolet Lumina | Engine |
| 1998 Chevrolet Lumina | Manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe |
| 1998 Chevrolet Lumina | Engine |
| 2004 Buick Regal | Manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe |
| 2004 Buick Regal | Engine |
| 2000 Buick Regal | Manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe |
| 2000 Buick Regal | Engine |
| 1998 Buick Regal | Manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe |
| 1998 Buick Regal | Engine |
| 2004 Chevrolet Impala | Manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe |
| 2004 Chevrolet Impala | Engine |
| 2003 Chevrolet Impala | Manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe |
| 2003 Chevrolet Impala | Engine |
| 2002 Chevrolet Impala | Manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe |
| 2002 Chevrolet Impala | Engine |
| 2004 Chevrolet Monte Carlo | Manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe |
| 2004 Chevrolet Monte Carlo | Engine |
| 2003 Chevrolet Monte Carlo | Manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe |
| 2003 Chevrolet Monte Carlo | Engine |
| 2000 Chevrolet Monte Carlo | Manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe |
| 2000 Chevrolet Monte Carlo | Engine |
| 1998 Chevrolet Monte Carlo | Manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe |
| 1998 Chevrolet Monte Carlo | Engine |
| 2004 Pontiac Grand Prix | Manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe |
| 2004 Pontiac Grand Prix | Engine |
| 2001 Pontiac Grand Prix | Manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe |
| 2001 Pontiac Grand Prix | Engine |
| 2000 Pontiac Grand Prix | Manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe |
| 2000 Pontiac Grand Prix | Engine |
| 1999 Pontiac Grand Prix | Manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe |
| 1999 Pontiac Grand Prix | Engine |
| 2001 Buick Regal | Manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe |
| 2001 Buick Regal | Engine |
| 2001 Chevrolet Monte Carlo | Manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe |
| 2001 Chevrolet Monte Carlo | Engine |
| 2002 Chevrolet Monte Carlo | Manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe |
| 2002 Chevrolet Monte Carlo | Engine |
| 1998 Oldsmobile Intrigue | Manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe |
| 1998 Oldsmobile Intrigue | Engine |
| 1999 Oldsmobile Intrigue | Manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe |
| 1999 Oldsmobile Intrigue | Engine |
| 2001 Chevrolet Impala | Manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe |
| 2001 Chevrolet Impala | Engine |
| 1997 Buick Regal | Manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe |
| 1997 Buick Regal | Engine |
| 1999 Buick Regal | Manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe |
| 1999 Buick Regal | Engine |
| 2002 Buick Regal | Manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe |
| 2002 Buick Regal | Engine |
| 2003 Buick Regal | Manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe |
| 2003 Buick Regal | Engine |
| 1999 Chevrolet Monte Carlo | Manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe |
| 1999 Chevrolet Monte Carlo | Engine |
| 2003 Pontiac Grand Prix | Manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe |
| 2003 Pontiac Grand Prix | Engine |
| 2002 Pontiac Grand Prix | Manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe |
| 2002 Pontiac Grand Prix | Engine |
| 1998 Pontiac Grand Prix | Manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe |
| 1998 Pontiac Grand Prix | Engine |
| 1997 Pontiac Grand Prix | Manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe |
| 1997 Pontiac Grand Prix | Engine |
| Units affected | 1,003,556 |
A matching year and model does not guarantee inclusion. Check your VIN to confirm whether this recall applies to your specific car.
What's the safety risk?
Engine oil dripping onto the hot exhaust manifold can start a fire. The filing says the fire risk exists even when the vehicle is unattended, so keep the vehicle away from structures until the improved remedy is complete. Repair will be free at any franchised Chevrolet dealer once available.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm whether your 1997-2004 Impala, Lumina, Regal, Monte Carlo, Grand Prix, or Intrigue is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Chevrolet dealer and ask whether the improved front valve cover and gasket repair has opened for your VIN.
- Park the vehicle outside and away from structures until the improved remedy is complete, since the fire risk exists even when the vehicle is unattended.
- Reference recall number 15V701 when you call the dealer, and bring the recall notice if Chevrolet mailed one.
- Avoid parking in a garage or near other vehicles until the dealer replaces the front valve cover and gasket that stop oil from dripping onto the hot exhaust manifold.
What happens at the repair
Until the improved remedy is applied, park the vehicle outside because the fire risk exists even when it is unattended. Once the final dealer repair opens, a Chevrolet technician will replace the engine's front valve cover and gasket to reduce the oil leak fire risk addressed by the recall. The dealer repair will be free once available. If you paid out of pocket for this valve cover or gasket repair before the recall notice, use Chevrolet's standard reimbursement plan and bring documentation when you contact customer service or the service desk.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| October 26, 2015 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| February 19, 2016 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 15V701?
Recall 15V701 covers 1,003,556 1997-2004 Chevrolet Impala, Lumina, Regal, Monte Carlo, Grand Prix, and Intrigue vehicles that received an earlier engine-oil fire-risk remedy. Oil dripping onto the hot exhaust manifold can result in a fire. Dealers replace the front valve cover and gasket for free.
What should I do if my 1997-2004 Chevrolet Impala, Lumina, Regal, Monte Carlo, Grand Prix, or Intrigue is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific vehicle is included in recall 15V701. If it is, call a franchised Chevrolet dealer and reference recall number 15V701 or Chevrolet recall number 15757. Until the improved remedy is complete, park outside because the fire risk exists even when the vehicle is unattended.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair the defect at no cost. For recall 15V701, the dealer replaces the engine front valve cover and gasket free of charge, including parts and labor.
What is the safety risk?
The safety risk is fire. Recall 15V701 involves engine oil that can drip onto the hot exhaust manifold. NHTSA campaign 15V701 states that this can result in a fire, and the recall remedy is a front valve cover and gasket replacement.
What if I bought this vehicle used?
The free recall repair still applies. Recalls follow the VIN, not the original owner. Check your VIN to see whether your specific vehicle is included, then call a franchised Chevrolet dealer with recall number 15V701 or Chevrolet recall number 15757.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/15V701000 |
|---|---|
| Chevrolet customer service | 1-800-222-1020 |
| NHTSA recall # | 15V701 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 15V701000 |
Source documents
-
Download Misc. Document (PDF) - Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF)
- Download Owner Notice (PDF)
- Download Recall Report (PDF)
- Download Quarterly Report (PDF)
- Download Recall Acknowledgement (PDF)
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on May 31, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →