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1998 Chevrolet Camaro

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Camaro years

Owner complaints for the 1998 Chevrolet Camaro are substantially higher than the model-year median of 32.

About this comparison →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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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: 13 of 173 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.

  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 84 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 →
  • Electrical System. Review the 16 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

15 crash reports5 fire reports11 injury reports

What owners actually said

173 reports
Mileage unknown · Jun 25, 2004
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

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

NHTSA ODI #10079958

15,000 miles · Apr 26, 2004
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

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

NHTSA ODI #10071514

Mileage unknown · Feb 5, 2004
Electrical SystemFuel System, GasolineService Brakes, Hydraulic

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 ROTO…

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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

NHTSA ODI #10056578

Mileage unknown · Jan 9, 2004
Seat Belts

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

NHTSA ODI #10053742

43,000 miles · Dec 3, 2003
Service Brakes, HydraulicVehicle Speed ControlInjury

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

NHTSA ODI #10044349

10,000 miles · Oct 28, 2003
Electrical System

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 OCCUR…

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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

NHTSA ODI #10043750

Mileage unknown · Sep 21, 2003
Electrical System

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 …

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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

NHTSA ODI #10039242

43,000 miles · Aug 20, 2003
Electrical SystemSuspension

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

NHTSA ODI #10033214

Mileage unknown · Jul 9, 2003
Steering

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'…

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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

NHTSA ODI #10025715

28,000 miles · Mar 21, 2003
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

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…

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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

NHTSA ODI #10010864

Official recalls

0

No 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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.