IllustrationAMPLIFIER IN REAR OF CAR BURST INTO FLAMES DURING NORMAL OPERATION WHILE DRIVING CAR. IF AMP WAS INCASED IN METAL ISTEAD OF PLASTIC FIRE WOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED. FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED. WIRING FOR REAR LIGHTING WAS DESTROYED BY FIRE. *AK
1996 Chevrolet Camaro
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Camaro years
Owner complaints for the 1996 Chevrolet Camaro are substantially higher than the model-year median of 32.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Camaro years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 8 of 116 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Power Train. Review the 19 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Air Bags. Review the 18 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 17 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
23 crash reports5 fire reports17 injury reports
What owners actually said
116 reportsWHILE MAKING A TURN STEERING WHEEL WILL LOCK FOR A FEW SECONDS UNTIL IT POPS.ALSO, POWER STEERING WILL NOT WORK. THEN, WHILE DRIVING STRAIGHT IT WILL BE FINE. *AK
POSSIBLE FUEL LEAK CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO CATCH ON FIRE WHILE DRIVING. NLM
AUTO TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 18000 MILES. REPLACED N/C. FAILED AGAIN AT 40000 MILES. REPLACED AT N/C. FAILED FOR THIRD TIME AT 76800 MILES. DEALER OFFERS NO ASSISTANCE. CHEVROLET COTACTED. CSR OFFERS NO ASSISTANCE AND IS UNWILLING TO ADMIT THAT THIS IS A MANUFACTURES DEFECT. CURRENTLY SEEKING FURTHER ASSISTANCE. DEALER ST…
Read full complaint
AUTO TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 18000 MILES. REPLACED N/C. FAILED AGAIN AT 40000 MILES. REPLACED AT N/C. FAILED FOR THIRD TIME AT 76800 MILES. DEALER OFFERS NO ASSISTANCE. CHEVROLET COTACTED. CSR OFFERS NO ASSISTANCE AND IS UNWILLING TO ADMIT THAT THIS IS A MANUFACTURES DEFECT. CURRENTLY SEEKING FURTHER ASSISTANCE. DEALER STATES THAT WARRANTY ON REPLACEMENT TRANS. IS 3/50000 IF CUSTOMER PAYS FOR REPAIR BUT ONLY 3/36000 IF DEALER REPLACES UNDER WARRANTY. *AK
CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A 50 MPH FRONTAL COLLISION IN WHICH DRIVER'S AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY, AND DRIVER'S SEAT BELT DID NOT LOCK UP, CAUSING THE DRIVER TO SUSTAIN INJURIES. *AK
WHILE SITTING AT A STOP SIGN VEHICLE JUST DIED. DRIVER HAD TO CLIMB OUT OF THE TOP BECAUSE THE DOORS WERE LOCKED AND WOULDN'T OPEN. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. DEALERSHIP STATED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS DUE THE AN ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE ALTERNATOR, WHICH CAUSED THE LOCKS TO FREEZE UP. *AK *ML
WHAT DO I DO ABOUT IT TO GET IT FIXED, I SAW A TSB ON IT.
THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK SPORATICALLY CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. *YC
CAR WILL NOT START IN THE COLD THERE IS A CLICKING SOUND AND LIGHTS FLICKER FOR A WHILE BEFORE THE ENGINE TURNS OVER. MULTIPLE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHTS SEEMS TO BE CONSISTENTLY HAPPPENINGS WITH MULTIPLE PROBLEMS OF ALL KINDS.
BOTH ORIGINAL SEAT BELT GUIDES HAVE FAILED. THE DRIVERS SIDE ONE WAS REPLACED ON 4/8/99 AND FAILED AGAIN ON 10/24/99. IF THE GUIDE BROKE DURING A CRASH, THE SEAT BELT COULD WRAP AROUND THE DRIVERS NECK CAUSING SERIOUS HARM. CAN WE GET GM TO FIX THIS BAD PLASTIC PIECE FOR GOOD?
Official recalls
0No recalls in this snapshot.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
2EA97024 · Fuel Tube Retaining Clip Failure
Opened Nov 13, 1997 · Closed Sep 29, 1998
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
MOST OF THE REPORTS REVIEWED IN THIS INVESTIGATION ARE FIRE INCIDENTS IN WHICH FUEL LEAKAGE HAS BEEN ALLEGED AS THE CAUSE OR THE AREA OF ORIGIN IS CONSISTENT WITH THE ALLEGED DEFECT.THERE IS NO EVIDENCE THAT THE SUBJECT CLIP WAS A FACTOR IN ANY OF THESE FIRE INCIDENTS AND NHTSA TESTING INDICATES THATBROKEN OR DISLODGED RETENTION CLIP DOES NOT RESULT IN SIGNIFICANT MOVEMENT OF THE FUEL LINE BUNDLE TOWARD THE LEFT SECONDARY AIR INJECTION CHECK VALVE.FAILURE OF THE CLIP PLACES THE FUEL LINE BUNDLE ASSEMBLY IN THE SAME CONFIGURATION AS THE 1993 MODEL YEAR LTI VEHICLES.A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT TREND HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME AND FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.
PE97036 · Fuel Tub Retaining Clip Failure
Opened Jul 24, 1997 · Closed Nov 13, 1997
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
OWNERS HAVE REPORTED FAILURES OF THE FUEL TUBE RETENTION CLIP THAT ATTACHES TO THE PLASTIC THROTTLE LINKAGE COVER.ACCORDING TO GM, THE SUBJECT RETENTION CLIP (P/N 12048089) WAS IMPLEMENTED IN PRODUCTION ON OCTOBER 12, 1993, TO ADDRESS A CONCERN WITH INCORRECT ASSEMBLY PLANT FUEL LINE ROUTING.MIS-ROUTED FUEL TUBES MAY FAIL FROM CONTACT WITH A HOT AIR CHECK VALVE, CREATING A FIRE HAZARD IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT.GM MAINTAINS THAT NO PROBLEMS SHOULD OCCUR IF THE CLIP IS PROPERLY INSTALLED AND ISN'T MISHANDLED DURING SUBSEQUENT SERVICE OPERATIONS.SOME OWNERS HAVE ALLEGED TO ODI THAT THE SUBJECT CLIP BECOMES BRITTLE OVER TIME AND MAY ALSO PULL FREE OF THE THROTTLE LINKAGE COVER ATTACHMENT HOLE.