Problems · NHTSA complaints
1996 Chevrolet Camaro problems
Owners filed 125 complaints about the 1996 Chevrolet Camaro with NHTSA between Nov 1995 and Feb 2015. The most-cited component is power train (20).
Complaints
125
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
23
Reported by owners
Fires
5
Reported by owners
Injuries
24
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Power train20
- Air bags18
- Electrical system15
- Engine and engine cooling15
- Service brakes, hydraulic15
- Fuel system, gasoline12
- Visibility8
- Seat belts7
- Steering7
- Structure4
- Vehicle speed control3
- Exterior lighting3
- Suspension3
- Tires2
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
1
20
24
21
21
10
13
5
1
3
1
1
1
1
0
0
0
0
0
1
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 1 |
| 1996 | 20 |
| 1997 | 24 |
| 1998 | 21 |
| 1999 | 21 |
| 2000 | 10 |
| 2001 | 13 |
| 2002 | 5 |
| 2003 | 1 |
| 2004 | 3 |
| 2005 | 1 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2009 | 0 |
| 2010 | 0 |
| 2011 | 0 |
| 2012 | 0 |
| 2013 | 0 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2015 | 1 |
Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Power train
20 reports
“AT LOW SPEEDS CAR HAS A CLUNKING SOUND THAT COMES FROM REAR END. DEALER STATES THAT THE FUID NEEDED TO BE CHANGED. THE FLUID WAS CHANGED AND THE CAR STILL MAKES THIS NOISE. HAVE NOT RETURNED TO DEALER YET.”
Air bags
18 reports17 crashes
“I GOT IN A ACCIDENT MY CAR HIT ANOTHER CAR IN FRONT DRIVER FENDER AT 45 MILE PER HOUR DESTROYED MY CAR NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED I AM INJURED I BOUNCED OFF STEERING WHEEL WHEN WE HIT MY SEAT BELT UNLOCKED ABOUT BROKE MY WHOLE RIB CAGE. *JS”
Electrical system
15 reports
“PARKED CAR IN PUBLIC PARKING SPACE FOR APPROX. 20 MINUTES. TRIED TO START CAR WITH NO RESULTS. CHECKED BATTERY ETC. LEFT CAR OVER NIGHT AND HAD IT TOWED 20 MILES TO BOYD CHEVROLET IN HENDERSONVILLE, NC. BOYD REPLACED IGNITION SWITCH. TOTAL COST OVER $300. I DEMAND NEW IS WHICH DOES NOT FALL WITHIN THE IS RECALL TIMELINE. *TR”
Engine and engine cooling
15 reports
“I BELIEVE A PROBLEM "MAY" EXIST WITH CHEVROLET CARS EMPLOYING THE NEW FIVE YEAR OR 50K MILES ANTI-FREEZE. FROM PERSONAL EXPERIENCE AND THOSE OF RELATIVES IT APPEARS THE FLUSHING AND REPLACEMENT OF ANTI-FREEZE AT THE SUGGESTED FIVE YEAR OR 50K MILES POINT MAY LEAD TO WATER PUMP FAILURE WITHIN WEEKS EVEN THOUGH THE CAR HAS LESS THAN 50K MILES ON THE ODOMETER. *JB”
Service brakes, hydraulic
15 reports4 crashes
“THIS IS REFERENCE A SAFETY PROBLEM DURING A MOVING EMERGENCY STOP/BRAKING SITUATION ON THE 1996 CAMARO. NAMING THE PANEL OR COVER FOR THE BOTTOM OF THE DRIVERS SIDE DASH, JUST ABOVE THE BRAKE AND GAS PEDALS. *AK THE PANEL HAS A CUT OUT FOR THE DRIVERS FOOT JUST ABOVE THE GAS PEDDLE, BUT IT ALSO HAS A SLIGHT DROP DOWN ABOVE THE BRAKE PEDDLE. DURING AN EMERGENCY STOP SITUATION, THE DRIVER MOVES HIS FOOT FROM THE GAS PEDDLE TO THE BRAKE, BUT STRIKES THE DROP IN THE FOOT PANEL ABOVE AND DOES NOT ALLOW DRIVERS FOOT TO GET OVER THE BRAKE PEDDLE& THEN WHEN HE PUSHES DOWN, HE STEPS ON THE GAS PEDDLE CAUSING HIM TO RUN INTO WHAT HE STARTED TO BRAKE FOR, CAUSING AN ACCIDENT.”
Fuel system, gasoline
12 reports4 fires
“WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS VEHICLE WOULD DIE OUT FOR NO REASON. PROBLEM WAS INTERMITTENT. HAD TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP AT LEAST 3 TIMES. MECHANIC PLACED ON DIAGNOSTIC AND COMPUTER FAILED TO REGISTER ANY PROBLEM CODES. MECHANIC DID REPLACE FUEL PUMP AND CRANKSHAFT, BUT PROBLEM WAS NOT SOLVED.*AK”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.