1998 Chevrolet Camaro

Fatalities reported

Owners filed 173 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the service brakes, hydraulic › foundation components › disc › rotor. It has been recalled 4 times.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Disc › Rotor25
000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Disc22
000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip20
402
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components7
200
Service Brakes, Air › Disc › Rotor5
000
Power Train › Automatic Transmission5
000
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline5
000
Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery4
020
Air Bags › Frontal4
304
Vehicle Speed Control3
101

4 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Exterior Lighting › Headlights09E025000
Filed May 11, 200942,540 vehiclesDope, Inc.

Defect. 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.

Risk. DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy. DOPE, INC. WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 28, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOPE, INC. AT 1-626-272-1798.

Exterior Lighting09E012000
Filed Apr 7, 200916,270 vehiclesSabersport

Defect. 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.

Risk. DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy. SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.

Exterior Lighting06E065000
Filed Jul 17, 20063,593 vehiclesAj Motorsport

Defect. 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.

Risk. LACK OF AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS IN THE LAMPS WILL DECREASE LIGHTING VISIBILITY TO OTHER DRIVERS AND MAY POSSIBLY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy. AJ MOTORSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 31, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT AJ MOTORSPORT AT 626-618-2026.

Exterior Lighting06E026000
Filed Mar 23, 200661,944 vehiclesPro-A Motors, Inc.

Defect. CERTAIN PRO-A MOTORS CORNER LAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.

Risk. WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

Remedy. PRO-A MOTORS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PRO-A MOTORS AT 323-838-2988.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Air BagsCrash1 injured
Filed May 23, 2014120,000 milesFL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET CAMARO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILED CAUSING THE STEERING WHEEL TO SEIZE. THE CONTACT WAS NOT ABLE TO MANEUVER THE STEERING WHEEL DUE TO THE FAILURE AND ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A FRACTURED STERNUM AND REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED OF THE INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO A SALVAGE YARD. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000. UPDATED 8/11/14*CN

Engine and Engine Cooling › Exhaust System
Filed Mar 11, 2010183,926 milesAL

POTENTIAL ENGINE FAILURE -- PCV VALVE FAILED CAUSING ENGINE OIL TO FOAM DUE TO ENTRAPPED GASES. ONLY WARNING WAS "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" LIGHT. *TR

Fuel System, Gasoline
Filed Feb 25, 200985,000 milesTX

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET CAMARO Z28. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE HAD TO REPLACE THE FUEL PUMP FIVE TIMES WITHIN FOUR MONTHS. THE DEALER COULD NOT DETERMINE WHY THE FUEL PUMP CONTINUOUSLY FAILED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE COULD POTENTIALLY EXPERIENCE ELECTRICAL FAILURE, BUT THE DEALER VERIFIED THAT THIS DID NOT OCCUR. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 85,000.

Engine and Engine Cooling › Exhaust System › Emission Control › Catalytic Convertor
Filed Dec 14, 2006124,600 milesVA

CATALYTIC CONVERTER FAILURE -- NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. REPLACE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. *JB

Tires › Tread/Belt
Filed Jun 14, 2005FL

ON JUNE 14, 2005, MY DAUGHTER HAD HER THIRD SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH THE COOPER COBRA RADIAL GT TIRES ON HER CAR. THEY ARE 235/55/16. WE PURCHASED THE CAR WITH THE TIRES. THE FIRST INCIDENT WAS DECEMBER, 2004 WHERE THE STEEL BELT SEPERATED ON THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE. A BLISTER FORMED ON THE OUTSIDE AND THERE WAS NOT A BLOWOUT . THEN ON MARCH 11, 2005 SHE HAD A BLOW OUT ON THE RIGHT REAR TIRE WHILE DRIVING ON I-10 OUTSIDE OF TALLAHASSEE. THEN ON JUNE 14, 2005 SHE WAS ON I-95 HEADING BACK TO TALLAHASSEE AND HAD ANOTHER BLOWOUT ON THE LEFT REAR TIRE. THE TIRE NUMBER IS DOT 3D 18C290201 A15L. THREE BAD TIRES IN A FEW SHORT MONTHS IS A SIGN OF SOMETHING WRONG WITH THESE TIRES. THE PRESSURE WAS CHECKED AND GOOD. THE FIRST DEALING WIITH COOPER I HAD TO ARGUE WITH THEM TO PRORATE THE TIRES. THE SECOND DEALER IN TALLAHASSEE WAS GREAT. I'M HOPING FOR GOOD RESULTS TOMORROW.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings
Filed Dec 4, 200483,000 milesTN

1998 CAMARO. REAR BRAKE LINES RUSTED,LEAKING AND REAR BRAKES DONT WORK. *AK

Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer › Motor
Filed Nov 2, 2004ME

THE WINDSHIELD WIPER WOULD COME ON AND GO OFF WHILE DRIVING, IN INCLEMENT WEATHER. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE MECHANIC TO HAVE IT INSPECTED.THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT ON RECALL. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB

Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer › Motor
Filed Oct 29, 2004CA

THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD COME ON AND GO OFF INTERMITTENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO DRIVE IT TO THE DEALER. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR NEEDED REPLACEMENT. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB

Electrical System
Filed Sep 13, 2004129,530 milesMI

CHEVROLET CAMARO 1998 3.8L V6.ATTERY RETENSION TRAY FAILED, CAUSING THE BATTERY TO BECOME LOOSE INSIDE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. PROBLEM WAS FOUND DURING OIL CHANGE. PLASTIC LIP, HOLDING BOTTOM OF THE BATTERY HAS BROKE OFF, LEAVING NO RETENSION FEATURE ON THE TRAY. NEW TRAY MUST BE PURCHASED TO FIX THE PROBLEM. I SUSPECT THERE IS A POSSIBILITY OF BATTERY SHORT CIRCUIT AND POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD IF BATTERY TERMINAL CONTACT CAR BODY DURING VEHICLE OPERATION. *AK

Visibility › Rearview Mirrors/Devices › Exterior
Filed Aug 13, 2004CA

I OWN A 1998 CHEVROLET CAMERO WHICH I PURCHASED NEW. SINCE I HAVE OWNED THIS VEHICLE THE CABLING SYSTEM THAT MANUALLY CONTROLS THE DRIVER'S SIDE MIRROR HAS BROKEN 4 TIMES. THE PREVIOUS 3 TIMES IT WAS REPAIRED UNDER WARRENTY. FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE MIRROR EACH TIME. THE CABLE HAS BROKE AGAIN AND NOW IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRENTY. I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH OF A PROBLEM THIS HAS BEEN IN OTHER SIMILAR VEHICLES. WHEN THE CABLE BREAKS THE MIRROR MOVES INWARD OUT OF ADJSTMENT AND CANNOT BE SET BY ANY OTHER MEANS. NOT HAVING A FUNCTIONAL DRIVER'S SIDE MIRROR IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. *AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Disc › Rotor
Filed Jun 25, 2004CA

WHEN PRESSING ON THE BRAKES CONSUMER HEARD A NOISE COMING FROM THE BRAKES. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC, WHO DETERMINED THAT THE ROTORS WORE OUT PREMATURELY. *AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Disc › Pads
Filed Apr 26, 200415,000 milesMD

ROTORS AND PADS WERE REPLACED EVERY 15,000 MILES. CONSUMER STATED ROTORS AND PADS WERE REPLACED THREE TIMES. *AK

Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery › Fuel Pump
Filed Feb 5, 2004FL

1998 Z28: HAVE EXPERIENCED FUEL PUMP FAILURE (REPLACED BY DEALER CIRCA JUNE 99) ALSO, EXPERIENCING AN ERRATIC FUEL GAGE...READING FUEL FOR A LENGTHY PERIOD OF TIME, THEN SUDDENLY DROPS TO LESS THAN 2/3. INTERMITTENT HORN FUNCTION: COMPLETE HORN FAILURE; HOWEVER, IF YOU SHUT THE ENGINE OFF AND RESTART HORN WILL WORK. FRONT ROTOR WARPING REPEATEDLY. MANUFACTURE DENIES THERE IS A PROBLEM, SAYS DRIVER IS OVERHEATING BRAKES. I BELIEVE THE PROBLEM IS ROTORS ARE POORLY DESIGNED. ALSO FOUND IF YOU DON'T DRIVE THROUGH WATER WHEN ROTORS ARE HOT THAT THIS WILL HELP. SLOW ACCELERATION AFTER COLD STARTUP. HOWEVER, IF YOU SHUT ENGINE DOWN AND RESTART ACCELERATION WILL BE NORMAL. *JB

Seat Belts › Rear/Other
Filed Jan 9, 2004CA

THE OWNER'S MANUAL STATED THAT THE REAR SEAT BELTS DID NOT HAVE ANCHORS BUT COULD BE INSTALLED AT THE OWNER'S REQUEST. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER TO INSTALL THE ANCHORS. DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT ANCHORS COULD NOT BE INSTALLED. ALSO, CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, WHO SAID THE SAME THING. *AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Disc › Caliper1 injured
Filed Dec 3, 200343,000 milesFL

WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH THE BRAKE CALIPER BOLT SEPARATED FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED, THE DRIVER BEGAN TO HEAR A RUMBLING SOUND. THE VEHICLE THEN SURGED BACK AND FORTH VIOLENTLY. AS A RESULT, THE DRIVER SUSTAINED SEVERE NECK INJURIES. *AK *SCC *JB

Electrical System › 12v/24v/48v Battery
Filed Oct 28, 200310,000 milesIL

1998 CAMARO Z28 COV. WITH 12,000 MILES EM DELCO BATTERY LEAKED ACID FROM TERMINAL, DAMAGING PAINT INSIDE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND CAUSING RUST TO FRAME AND OTHER PARTS. DEALER SAID IT WAS NOT "UNCOMMON" FOR THESE BATTERIES TO LEAK FROM THE TERMINAL. DEALER REFUSED TO COVER DAMAGE ($890.00), EVEN THOU DAMAGE APPEAR TO HAVE OCCURED DURING WARRANTY PERIOD. PLEASE INVESTIGATE BATTERY LEAKAGE PROBLEM!! SEVERAL INDIVIDUAL CASES CITIED ON INTERNET CAR HOBBY SITES FOR CAMARO AND CORVETTES. PLEASE HELP!! *AK

Electrical System
Filed Sep 21, 2003TN

98 CHEVY CAMARO: RUNNING LIGHTS MELT AND CAUSE BULB TO FUSE WITH FIXTURE. THIS HAS ALREADY HAPPENED ON THIS CAR THREE TIMES. I THINK THAT THIS PROBLEM REALLY NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED FOR RECALL REPLACEMENT AT CHEVY'S COST. THEY KNOW THIS PART MELTS. THEY KNOW IT HAS A HISTORY. THE PART SEEMS TO HAVE A LIFESPAN OF 2 1/2 YEARS. I AM EXPECTING THE OTHER ONE TO MELT SOON AS THEY DID THE LAST TIME WITHIN A MONTH OR SO OF EACH OTHER. IT SEEMS THAT CHEVY WOULD RATHER BE FORCED TO REPLACE A PART, THEN SIMPLY PROTECTING IT'S DRIVERS. THIS IS MY LAST HOPE TO GET THE RUNNING LIGHTS REPLACED SINCE THE PART IS DEFECTIVE. OTHER DEFECTIVE PARTS, MOODY IGNITION, DRIVER SIDE MIRROR, AND WINDSHIELD WIPERS.*JB

Electrical System › Alternator/Generator/Regulator
Filed Aug 20, 200343,000 milesNY

ALTERNATOR DIED, HAD TO REPLACE ON 8/8/03. HEARD SOUND IN THE REAR, CHANGED SHOCK ABSORBERS, NOISE IS STILL THERE, GOING TO CHANGE SPRINGS NEXT 8/20/03 . *AK

Steering › Rack and Pinion
Filed Jul 9, 2003WI

I HAVE A 1998 CHEVY CAMARO WHERE THE LOWER RACK AND PINION STEERING HAD TO BE FIXED AND WAS LOOKING AT A RECALL FOR 97-98 RECALLS AND FOUND THE SAME PROBLEM WITH SIMILAR CARS FROM CHEVY, I THINK THEY OVERLOOKED THE CAMARO'S I CALLED CHEVY AND PUT IN A COMPLAINT WITH THEM BIT DON'T THINK ANYTHING WILL COME FROM IT, I THINK IT'S MORE THAN CONCIDENCE THAT MY CAR HAS THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM AS THE OTHER SIMILAR CHEVROLETS WHAT CAN BE DONE?*AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Disc › Rotor
Filed Mar 21, 200328,000 milesTX

FRONT BRAKE ROTORS WARPED ON 1998 CHEVROLET CAMARO Z28; I KNOW OF SEVERAL PEOPLE PERSONALLY THAT HAVE 1998 AND UP CAMAROS/FIREBIRDS THAT HAD THIS ISSUE. I HAVE ALSO HEARD MANY SIMILAR COMPLAINTS FROM PEOPLE IN CAR CLUBS AND INTERNET MESSAGE BOARDS. PEOPLE REFER TO THE STOCK ROTORS AS JUNK BECAUSE THEY WARP SO OFTEN WHICH LEADS ME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT THE CAR MANUFACTURE DID NOT PUT ADEQUATELY DESIGNED ROTORS ON THE VEHICLES. PEOPLE WITH THIS ISSUE SAY TO BUY NON-OEM ROTORS BECAUSE THEY WILL WARP AGAIN AND SIMPLY HAVING THE ROTORS TURNED DOES NOT HELP AS THEY WARP AGAIN. I HAVE ACTUALLY HAD MY ROTORS TURNED AND NEW BRAKES (INSTALLED BY DEALERSHIP WITH OEM PARTS) PUT ON THE CAR AND I HAVE THE WARPING ISSUE. MECHANICS THAT I KNOW ALSO AGREE THAT THE BRAKES/ROTORS ARE NOT ADEQUATELY DESIGNED FOR THESE VEHICLES. *NLM

20 of 173 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2010
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20244000Routine
202315000Routine
202213100Routine
202118400Routine
202031300Routine
201952100Routine
201880240Routine
2017186310Routine
2016141140Routine
2015206211Fatalities reported
2014188440Routine
2013187401Fatalities reported
2012113543Fatalities reported
2011194320Routine
2010295331Fatalities reported
200268520Routine
200148400Routine
200076413Fatalities reported
199990500Routine
1998 — this page173451Fatalities reported
199769630Routine
1996116560Routine
19952166222Fatalities reported
19941446193Fatalities reported
199332600Routine
199288532Fatalities reported
199186710Routine
199025501Fatalities reported

Compare every Camaro year →

Reading this record

1 death reported in complaints filed with NHTSA.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: May 11, 2009. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.