Problems · by component

2012 Chevrolet Camaro engine problems

26 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2012 Chevrolet Camaro cite engine, 23% of all 113 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
26
23% of all complaints
Crashes
1
Reported by owners
Fires
2
Reported by owners
Injuries
1
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the engine

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“The contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Camaro. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer and was diagnosed with a defective timing chain and gear. The contact was informed that the timing chain and gear needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and was provided a case number. After repeated calls to the manufacturer, the manufacturer helped with the repair. The vehicle had been repaired. The failure mileage was 75,559.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 5, 2023EngineODI 11558560
“Vehicle shakes badly when it wants to stalls without any symptoms. All of a sudden the car makes metal rod knocking and scraping sounds i checked oil and it was gone. No oil leaks fresh oil metallic color in engine oil. Just financed this vehicle 2011 chevy camaro with 50,000 miles and don’t have a warranty. A car engine should not seize out of the blue at low miles and no oil pressure light indicated low or no oil. Very dangerous i lost acceleration going up hill and totally stalled. This needs to be fixed and recalled especially oil pressure light should of illuminated”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 12, 2022Power train, EngineODI 11456452
“The contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Camaro. The contact stated that the check engine warning lights was illuminated. The vehicle was not yet diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 92,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 7, 2021EngineODI 11419931
“WHEN THE CAR IS IN MOTION, IT DOES NOT ACCELERATE AND MAKES A CLICKING NOISE WHEN STARTING THE ENGINE. WHEN DRIVEN, THE LIGHT COMES ON IN THE CAR STAYING LOW OIL PRESSURE, TURN ENGINE OFF NOW. ENGINE FAILURE. MECHANIC STATED IT IS THE TIMING CHAIN.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 18, 2020EngineODI 11318554
“COOLANT LEAKING FROM THE WATER PUMP AREA AND THE WATER PUMP AREA AND THE WATER OUTLET THAT SITS ABOVE THE WATER PUMP. TIMING COVER GASKET: THE FRONT COVER IS LEAKING OIL. MAJOR PROBLEM IS THE BACK SIGNAL LIGHTS. MAJOR PROBLEMS IS THE TRUNK LEAKING WATER AND BULB SOCKETS ARE GETTING CORRODED. BOTH THE REAR TAIL LAMPS HAVE WATER IN THEM AND HAVE DAMAGED THE SOCKETS FOR THE OUTER BULBS. NEEDS BOTH TAIL LAMPS AND HARNESSES REPLACED. THIS COULD CAUSE REAR END ACCIDENTS ON THE HWY. I HAVE DOCUMENTS FROM DAN VADEN CHEVROLET 912-925-9393 (MR[XXX]) AND GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATE OFFICE IN MICHIGAN, EXECUTIVE OFFICE (MR. [XXX]) 12/30/2019 CONCERNING THESE ISSUES. WATER TUNNELS IN THE TRUNK MANUFACTURE DESIGNED BY GENERAL MOTORS. VEHICLE ON CITY STREETS AND HIGHWAYS (THE PROBLEMS WITH WATER /TUNNELS/ SIGNAL LIGHTS SINCE 2012 MANUFACTURE DESIGNED.) *JS *JS *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 28, 2020Exterior lighting, Structure, EngineODI 11302549
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET CAMARO. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IDLING, THE MOTOR SUDDENLY BEGAN TO MISFIRE AND SEVERAL WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED, INCLUDING THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR. AFTERWARDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S HOME BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE PISTON HEAD VALVE SPRING IN THE ENGINE HAD FRACTURED IN HALF. THE MANUFACTURER AND LOCAL DEALER (BERGLUND CHEVROLET BUICK, 1824 WILLIAMSON RD, ROANOKE, VA) WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 76,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 7, 2019EngineODI 11218514

Showing 6 of 26 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page

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

Other 2012 Camaro problem areas