Research · Subcompact Cars

2000 Chevrolet CamaroRecalls, problems, MPG & safety

NHTSA lists 4 safety recalls and 87 owner complaints for the 2000 Chevrolet Camaro. Most complaints involve service brakes, hydraulic (16) and engine and engine cooling (15). The EPA rates it 18–21 mpg combined.

Combined MPG
18–21mpg
EPA · 4 versions
NHTSA overall
—
Not rated by NCAP
Safety recalls
4campaigns
Latest May 2009
Owner complaints
87
Top: service brakes, hydraulic
Fuel cost / yr
$2,950est.
EPA estimate, best version
01 —Recalls

Safety recalls

4 NHTSA campaigns · applies to some vehicles, check your VIN

Exterior lighting: headlights

Free remedy

DOPE, INC. IS RECALLING 42,540 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.

Exterior lightingReported May 11, 2009NHTSA 09E025000

Exterior lighting

Free remedy

SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.

Exterior lightingReported Apr 7, 2009NHTSA 09E012000

Exterior lighting

Free remedy

CERTAIN AJ MOTORSPORT COMBINATION LAMPS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED PASSENGER VEHICLES. COMBINATION LAMPS NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.

Exterior lightingReported Jul 17, 2006NHTSA 06E065000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 10, 2026 · All recall detailsNHTSA vehicle page
02 —Complaints

Owner complaints by component

87 complaints filed with NHTSA · Mar 2000 – Mar 2023
  1. Service brakes, hydraulic16
  2. Engine and engine cooling15
  3. Power train14
  4. Electrical system12
  5. Visibility8
  6. Exterior lighting7
  7. Suspension5
  8. Vehicle speed control5
  9. Tires4

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

By model year

Complaints for each Camaro model year we’ve synced.

View as table
Model yearNHTSA complaints
1996125
199775
1998191
199997
200087
200153
200281
2010295
2011194
2012113
2013187
2014188
2015206
2016141
2017191
201881
201953
202033
202120
202214
202316
20244
Crashes reported
7
Fires reported
2
Injuries reported
8
Deaths reported
3
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 10, 2026 · Full problem breakdownNHTSA vehicle page
03 —Common problems

What owners report most

Verbatim excerpts from NHTSA complaints, by component

Service brakes, hydraulic

16 reports1 crash1 fire
“DESIGN FLAW. E-BRAKE DRAGGING CONSTANTLY WHICH EVENTUALLY WARPS THE ROTOR AND IF LEFT ALONE MAKES A HORRIBLE CLUNKING NOISE THAT ALMOST SOUNDS LIKE YOUR DIFFERENTIAL SPIT A TOOTH. A LITTLE DIFFICULT TO EXPLAIN EXACTLY WHAT'S HAPPENING BUT FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE CHEVROLET HASN'T FIGURED IT OUT. YES, OF COURSE THEY HAVE! IT'S JUST THAT HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE HAVEN'T DIED. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 26, 2008Service brakes, hydraulicODI 10243586

Engine and engine cooling

15 reports1 fire
“THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER HAS FAILED ON THE VEHICLE. THE CAR FAILED EMISSIONS TESTING. FOUND OUT THE WARRANTY WAS 8 YEARS/80,000 MILES, SO TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER TO DIAGNOSIS. VEHICLE HAS 21,000 MILES ON IT AND GM REFUSED TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR BECAUSE THEY SAID THE CONVERTER WAS "RUSTED". VEHICLE IS 8 YEARS OLD AND ONLY DRIVEN LESS THAN 3,000 MILES ANNUALLY AND STORED FOR 6 MONTHS OUT OF THE YEAR. THE PROBLEM WITH THE CONVERTER HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH RUST, THE BAFFLES ARE BREAKING UP INSIDE. GM REFUSES TO OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. VERY COSTLY REPAIR, PART ALONE IS $750.00 AND THAT DOES INCLUDE ANY LABOR. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 5, 2008Engine and engine coolingODI 10237087

Power train

14 reports1 crash
“THE CLUTCH PEDAL RETURN SPRING ON MY 2000 CAMARO SS BROKE TWO YEARS AGO. I PURCHASED ANOTHER ONE FROM A LOCAL GM DEALER. I COULD NOT BELIEVE THE SPRING WAS SO EXPENSIVE. ($70.00). I INSTALLED THE SPRING MY SELF IN 2006 AND TWO YEARS LATER 2008 THE SPRING BROKE AGAIN. I ONLY DRIVE THE CAR IN THE SUMMER MONTHS. (26,000 KILOMETERS). I DO NOT ABUSE THE CAR IN ANY WAY. I BELIEVE THIS IS A DESIGN DEFECT. I THINK THAT A CLUTCH PEDAL RETURN SPRING SHOULD LAST LONGER THAN TWO YEARS AT $70 A POP. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 14, 2008Power trainODI 10242154
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026
04 —Key specs

Engines, transmissions & drive

4 versions rated by the EPA
EPA class
Subcompact Cars
Engines
3.8L 6-cyl · 5.7L 8-cyl
Transmissions
Manual 5-spd · Automatic 4-spd · Manual 6-spd
Drive
Rear-Wheel Drive
Fuel
Regular Gasoline · Premium Gasoline

Towing, payload and dimensions aren’t in the EPA or NHTSA data, so we don’t list them.

Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Nov 10, 2026EPA listing
05 —Fuel economy

EPA fuel economy by version

City / highway / combined, annual fuel cost and CO₂
EPA
VersionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yrCO₂ g/mi
Camaro
Man 5-spd, 6 cyl, 3.8 L · Rear-Wheel Drive
172821$2,950423
Camaro
Auto 4-spd, 6 cyl, 3.8 L · Rear-Wheel Drive
172620$3,100444
Camaro
Man 6-spd, 8 cyl, 5.7 L · Rear-Wheel Drive
162519$4,050468
Camaro
Auto 4-spd, 8 cyl, 5.7 L · Rear-Wheel Drive
152318$4,300494
  • Camaro
    Man 5-spd, 6 cyl, 3.8 L
    17 city · 28 hwy · $2,950/yr
    21
    mpg comb.
  • Camaro
    Auto 4-spd, 6 cyl, 3.8 L
    17 city · 26 hwy · $3,100/yr
    20
    mpg comb.
  • Camaro
    Man 6-spd, 8 cyl, 5.7 L
    16 city · 25 hwy · $4,050/yr
    19
    mpg comb.
  • Camaro
    Auto 4-spd, 8 cyl, 5.7 L
    15 city · 23 hwy · $4,300/yr
    18
    mpg comb.
Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Nov 10, 2026 · Fuel cost is EPA’s annual estimate (15,000 mi, 55% city)
06 —Safety

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings

1 tested variant
NHTSA has not published 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2000 Chevrolet Camaro as of Nov 10, 2026.
Data from NHTSA NCAP Safety Ratings API · synced Nov 10, 2026Vehicle 4058
07 —Maintenance

Maintenance basics

General guidance, not the OEM schedule. Check your owner’s manual.
General guidance
ItemMilesTimeNote
Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi6–12 monthsFollow the oil-life monitor if fitted
Tire rotation5,000–7,500 miEvery oil changeCheck pressure monthly
Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi1–2 yearsSooner in dusty areas
Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi1–2 years
Brake fluid—2–3 yearsAbsorbs moisture over time
Coolant60,000–100,000 mi5–10 yearsLong-life coolants last longer
Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi—Iridium/platinum plugs at the long end
12V battery—3–5 yearsHeat shortens battery life
  • Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi
    6–12 months
  • Tire rotation5,000–7,500 mi
    Every oil change
  • Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Brake fluid—
    2–3 years
  • Coolant60,000–100,000 mi
    5–10 years
  • Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi
    —
  • 12V battery—
    3–5 years
Typical intervals for modern cars. Severe service (towing, short trips, extreme heat or cold) shortens them.
09 —FAQ

2000 Camaro questions

How many recalls does the 2000 Chevrolet Camaro have?

4 safety recalls as of Nov 10, 2026, according to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check your VIN to see whether your car is included and whether the repair was done.

What are the most common 2000 Chevrolet Camaro problems?

Owners filed 87 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are service brakes, hydraulic (16), engine and engine cooling (15), power train (14). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.

What MPG does the 2000 Chevrolet Camaro get?

The EPA rates the 2000 Chevrolet Camaro at 18–21 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (4 versions rated).

Data from NHTSA & EPA · synced Nov 10, 2026