Problems · by component

2016 Chevrolet Camaro electrical system problems

31 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2016 Chevrolet Camaro cite electrical system, 22% of all 141 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 1 recall on this component.

Complaints
31
22% of all complaints
Crashes
1
Reported by owners
Fires
2
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the electrical system

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“I am filing an official safety complaint regarding a severe unaddressed factory design defect on my 2016 Chevrolet Camaro. The vehicle suffers from catastrophic water intrusion into the primary electrical system hub in the trunk during normal, everyday rain conditions. Due to a manufacturing or design failure in the rear trunk decklid seals and wiring harnesses, ordinary rainfall flows directly into the trunk floorboard. This standing water submerges the vehicle's primary battery, rear fuse block, and factory audio amplifier. This has disabled my infotainment/central command screen, causing a total electrical no-start condition. Most critically, this ongoing flooding creates a severe safety and crash hazard that compromises the vehicle's steering infrastructure. The previous Geneal Motor's safety recall regarding the electronic power steering (EPS) gear assembly losing connectivity when exposed to water was addressed, the unresolved trunk defect actively defeats that safety remedy. By allowing routine rainwater to freely pool over the main fuse block and electrical distribution network, the vehicle remains highly vulnerable to sudden, unpredictable power…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 26, 2026Electrical system, Air bags, EngineODI 11759706
“Oh wow I don't even know where to start. The second I came home with the car for $32,995 off the used dealership it was a horrific disaster. I have replaced the rear fuse panel 2x already(water damage). The amp was fried from water damanage. The ambient lights and screen along with the gear lights only sometimes work. My morimoto aftermarket headlights wiring all have completely melted and needed to be replaced and that is just the small things. The car has always had severe driving malfunctions. These include: Jerking when putting into gear (any gear), shudders, it will rev up when i am braking, usuallu after a small hill or bump it will get really loud like it is in a much higher gear, it looses power and goes into random limp mode, the car has recently died in mid drive just completely lost acceleration power until it died. It will start right back up, but then same thing. Now when driving it will slightly jerk and steer to the side ever 3 seconds. Enough for me to hold the steering wheel tight. These are a few of the codes it reads, although some codes come and go, but these remain on: P12E7, P12EC, P12F4, P12F9, P0121, P0171, P0161, P0131, P069E, B097B,…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 6, 2026Power train, Electrical system, Fuel/propulsion systemCrash reportedODI 11755165
“The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Camaro. The contact stated that while driving over the train tracks at an undisclosed speed, the contact noticed that there was smoke and a burning odor coming through the vents. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact pulled over to the side of the road. The contact opened the hood and inspected the engine compartment, but the contact could not find the origin of the burning odor. The vehicle was towed to the residence, where the contact discovered that the smoke and the burning odor were coming from the starter that was 3 inches away from the exhaust manifold, by design. The contact purchased the starter from the dealer, and the contact replaced the starter; however, the failure persisted. The contact then noticed that the wires and the wiring harness of the starter were severely burned. The contact purchased the wires and the wiring harness from the dealer. The contact replaced the starter, the wires, and the wiring harness, and installed a custom-made heat shield between the starter and the exhaust manifold. Additionally, the contact stated that the steering wheel had failed to lock after turning off the…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 21, 2025Steering, Electrical systemODI 11700843
“The blind spot warning system stopped working, and yes it is available for inspection upon request. I have heard this leads to further electrical problems and am worried this may compromise my safety if not dealt with. The problem has not been confirmed by a dealer. The component has not been inspected. There was a warning that popped up stating “service side detection system” that appeared randomly on my drive home the other day. I had not hit anything or done anything to the car that might have caused this. After a couple of rain storms, it appears that this is directly related to water intrusion.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 17, 2025Electrical system, Lane departureODI 11667504
“The transmission temperature sensor has gone bad in my 2016 Camaro ss with 6.2L engine, GM has recalled thousands of 2016 vehicles with this very issue, these transmissions have enough issues as it is, and GM knows it’s an issue or they wouldn’t have already recalled all those other 2016 vehicles. It can cause damage to the already fragile/finicky transmission in the 2016 models and other years, causing overheating of the transmission and causing the car to go into limp mode, and in my case it didn’t even throw a check engine light, I took my car to a mechanic about a different concern and he told me and showed me the code, he cleared it out and It immediately came back and still no check engine light.it’s a P0711 code, faulty/dead transmission temperature sensor. My car isn’t acting right shifting and I’ve noticed other issues, but is it that sensor or is it one of the many other issues with the 8L45 and 8L90 transmissions? So if that sensor is an issue in many other 8L90 transmissions why do they think it’s not an issue in the Camaro? You can go on any GM related forum and read all the complaints for this issue, and there are recalls about it for other GM…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 3, 2025Electrical systemODI 11658677
“Before purchasing a 2016 camaro last year I took it to a Chevrolet dealership for a safety inspection with no safety concerns found and after purchasing it around 57,000 miles went to another Chevrolet dealership to diagnose any electrical concerns occurring with the car that I noticed. There was nothing found but I still noticed humming sound and let them know and they found no concerns whatsoever. The battery was replaced twice as over the course of the year the electricals decreased in power. I then notified my insurance there was an issue with the car drawing power and it would not start. Upon checking the trunk noticed water had gotten into and possibly damaged the trunk/rear fuse block. I went through my insurance to fix any body damage but no electricals were fixed based on the insurance representative declining to accept liability for the damage and upon return of my vehicle, the repair facility started the car against my wishes and the rear fuse block in the trunk sparked and caused a fire to start in the trunk that continued for about a minute or two. Upon taking it to Chevrolet this year again after this, I was charged $800 for them to not diagnose…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 26, 2024Electrical system, StructureFire reportedODI 11610777

Showing 6 of 31 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

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

1 recall on this component

Electrical system: software

Free remedy

Genera Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016 Chevrolet Camaro, Malibu, Silverado and GMC Sierra vehicles. The radio may intermittently fail to provide an audio warning when the key has been left in the ignition and the door is opened or when the driver does not fasten their seat belt. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) number 114, "Theft Protection", and/or 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."

Electrical systemReported Feb 11, 2016NHTSA 16V084000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 10, 2026

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

Other 2016 Camaro problem areas