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2012 Chevrolet Camaro

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Camaro years

Owner complaints for the 2012 Chevrolet Camaro are substantially higher than the model-year median of 32.

About this comparison →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected 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

84 reports with mileage · 29 unknown

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.

  • Electrical System. Review the 27 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 26 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 22 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

10 crash reports4 fire reports6 injury reports

What owners actually said

113 reports
Mileage unknown · Apr 26, 2020
Visibility/wiper

THE BLEND DOOR IS BROKEN CAUSING THE CAR TO STAY BLOWING COLD AIR WHILE DRIVING AND SITTING STILL. I CAN NOT USE THE DEFROSTER WHICH FOGS THE WINDSHIELD AND I CAN NOT SEE OUT.

NHTSA ODI #11322280

112,000 miles · Mar 18, 2020
Engine

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.

NHTSA ODI #11318554

Mileage unknown · Jan 28, 2020
EngineExterior LightingStructure

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 I…

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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 INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI #11302549

70,000 miles · Jan 16, 2020
Visibility/wiper

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET CAMARO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BLEND DOOR IN THE HEATER AND AIR CONDITION UNIT FAILED TO OPERATE AS NEEDED. THIS FAILURE CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO NOT PROVIDE HOT AIR INSIDE THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE, AND ALSO AFFECTED THE OPERATION OF THE DEFROSTER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. NEITHER TH…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET CAMARO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BLEND DOOR IN THE HEATER AND AIR CONDITION UNIT FAILED TO OPERATE AS NEEDED. THIS FAILURE CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO NOT PROVIDE HOT AIR INSIDE THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE, AND ALSO AFFECTED THE OPERATION OF THE DEFROSTER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #11299917

640,000 miles · Jan 13, 2020
Unknown Or Other

WHEN IT RAINS AND/OR WASH THE VEHICLE THE BACK FLOOR BOARD FILLS UP WITH WATER. THIS HAPPENS WHEN THE VEHICLE IN IN MOTION AND/OR SITTING STILL.

NHTSA ODI #11299079

Mileage unknown · Nov 27, 2019
Unknown Or Other

CONVERTIBLE LEAKS AND TRUNK AND FLOORBOARD IS WET WHEN RAINS

NHTSA ODI #11282669

80,798 miles · Nov 11, 2019
Electrical System

COMMON PROBLEM REPORTED BY MANY ONLINE REGARDING HEATER CORE / TEMPERATURE BLEND DOOR BEING CRACKED. DASHBOARD AND WINDSHIELD NEEDS TO BE REPLACED TO FIX CRACK PLASTIC TRAY COSTING OVER $2000. EMITS FUMES AND CAUSES FOGGED WINDSHIELD PRODUCING LOW VISIBILITY. CAR IS FAIRLY GOOD CONDITION 2012 AND I USE BUS COMMUTE TO WORK, LOW M…

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COMMON PROBLEM REPORTED BY MANY ONLINE REGARDING HEATER CORE / TEMPERATURE BLEND DOOR BEING CRACKED. DASHBOARD AND WINDSHIELD NEEDS TO BE REPLACED TO FIX CRACK PLASTIC TRAY COSTING OVER $2000. EMITS FUMES AND CAUSES FOGGED WINDSHIELD PRODUCING LOW VISIBILITY. CAR IS FAIRLY GOOD CONDITION 2012 AND I USE BUS COMMUTE TO WORK, LOW MILEAGE.

NHTSA ODI #11279451

122,000 miles · Nov 6, 2019
Air BagsCrash

TL* THE CONTACT'S SON OWNED A 2012 CHEVROLET CAMARO. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE HYDROPLANED AND CRASHED INTO A WOODEN FENCE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES SUSTAINED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A COLLISION CENTER WHERE IT WAS CONSIDERED A TOTAL LOSS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN …

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TL* THE CONTACT'S SON OWNED A 2012 CHEVROLET CAMARO. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE HYDROPLANED AND CRASHED INTO A WOODEN FENCE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES SUSTAINED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A COLLISION CENTER WHERE IT WAS CONSIDERED A TOTAL LOSS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 122,000.

NHTSA ODI #11278391

59,000 miles · Oct 6, 2019
Air Bags

DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG -WARNING LIGHT STATES "SERVICE AIR BAG" THIS IS NOT IN THE VIN RANGE FOR THE AIRBAG RECALL

NHTSA ODI #11266607

22,540 miles · Aug 23, 2019
Fuel/propulsion SystemCrash

THE VEHICLE HAS A SURGE IN THROTTLE WHILE IN GEAR AT A COMPLETE STOP. THIS FORCED THE VEHICLE AGAINST THE POWER OF THE BREAKS INTO A FENCE AND A WOODEN PARKING STOP CAUSING SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY OVERPOWERING A NORMAL PRESSURE ON THE BREAKS WHILE IN GEAR.THIS HAS HAPP…

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THE VEHICLE HAS A SURGE IN THROTTLE WHILE IN GEAR AT A COMPLETE STOP. THIS FORCED THE VEHICLE AGAINST THE POWER OF THE BREAKS INTO A FENCE AND A WOODEN PARKING STOP CAUSING SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY OVERPOWERING A NORMAL PRESSURE ON THE BREAKS WHILE IN GEAR.THIS HAS HAPPENED A TOTAL OF AT LEAST 10 TIMES. LAST OCCURRING THE LAST DAY I DROVE THE VEHICLE. I PLACED THE VEHICLE IN STORAGE AFTERWARDS.

NHTSA ODI #11246077

Official recalls

4

14V447000 · Seats:front Assembly:power Adjust

Jul 23, 2014

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 Buick LaCrosse, Regal and Chevrolet Camaro, as well as certain 2010-2012 Cadillac SRX, Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain vehicles, equipped with power height adjustable driver and passenger seats. In the affected vehicles, the bolt that secures the driver's and passenger's power front seat height adjuster may fall out causing the seat to drop suddenly to the lowest vertical position.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the driver's seat unexpectedly drops, the distraction and altered seat position may affect the drivers' control of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the height adjuster shoulder bolts, free of charge. The manufacturer distributed interim letters to owners on September 11, 2014. The recall began on December 26, 2014. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-800-521-7300 (Buick), 1-800-458-8006 (Cadillac), 1-800-222-1020 (Chevrolet), or 1-800-462-8782 (GMC). GM's number for this recall is 14271.

14V346000 · Electrical System:ignition

Jun 20, 2014

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling all 2010-2014 Chevrolet Camaro vehicles manufactured December 3, 2008 to May 23, 2014. In the affected vehicles, the driver may accidentally hit the ignition key with their knee, unintentionally knocking the key out of the run position, turning off the engine.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the key is not in the run position, the air bags may not deploy if the vehicle is involved in a crash, increasing the risk of injury. Additionally, a key knocked out of the run position could cause loss of engine power, power steering, and power braking, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will remove the key blade from the original flip key/RKE transmitter assemblies, and provide two new keys and two key rings per key. The recall began August 25, 2014. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 14294. Note: Until the recall has been performed, it is very important that drivers adjust their seat and steering column to allow clearance between their knee and the ignition key.

14V300000 · Air Bags

Jun 6, 2014

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2012 Buick Verano vehicles manufactured December 2, 2011 to July, 16, 2012, Chevrolet Cruze vehicles manufactured December 7, 2011 to July 25, 2012, Chevrolet Sonic vehicles manufactured December 5, 2011 to August 2, 2012, and Chevrolet Camaro vehicles manufactured December 1, 2011 to June 11, 2012. The driver side frontal air bag has a shorting bar which may intermittently contact the air bag terminals.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the bar and terminals are contacting each other at the time of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, that air bag will not deploy, increasing the driver's risk of injury.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the steering wheel air bag coil, free of charge. The recall began on July 25, 2014. Chevrolet owners may contact GM at 1-800-222-1020. Buick owners may contact GM at 1-800-521-7300. Note: This is an expansion of recalls 12V-522 and 13V-023.

13V023000 · Air Bags

Jan 24, 2013

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2012 Chevrolet Camaro, Cruze and Sonic, and model year 2012 Buick Verano vehicles. The driver side frontal air bag has a shorting bar which may intermittently contact the air bag terminals.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the bar and terminals are contacting each other at the time of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, that air bag will not deploy, increasing the driver's risk of injury.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the steering wheel air bag coil, free of charge. The safety recall began on February 13, 2013. Owners may contact General Motors at 1-800-521-7300.

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

1

RQ13002 · Air Bag Non-deployment

Opened May 31, 2013 · Closed Jul 9, 2014

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags; Air Bags:frontal; Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module

General Motors (GM) has initiated a safety recall of 31,520 model year (MY) 2012 Buick Verano and Chevrolet Camaro, Cruze and Sonic vehicles to address a defect condition that could result in the primary or secondary stage air bag not deploying.These vehicles are a small percentage of all MY 2012 vehicles and were built on several specific production dates broadly ranging from December 1, 2011 to August 2, 2012 (see NHTSA recall 14V-300 for more information).Also, see attached additional report for more information.This investigation was opened to evaluate the scope of two uninfluenced safety recalls (NHTSA recalls 12V-522 and 13V-023) of certain MY 2012 Verano, Camaro, Cruze and Sonic vehicles.These recalls involved the same defect issue as the new recall mentioned above.Accordingly, this investigation is closed based on the recall actions GM is undertaking.

Additional source detail variants (6)

Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module

General Motors (GM) has initiated a safety recall of 31,520 model year (MY) 2012 Buick Verano and Chevrolet Camaro, Cruze and Sonic vehicles to address a defect condition that could result in the primary or secondary stage air bag not deploying.These vehicles are a small percentage of all MY 2012 vehicles and were built on several specific production dates broadly ranging from December 1, 2011 to August 2, 2012 (see NHTSA recall 14V-300 for more information).Also, see attached additional report for more information.This investigation was opened to evaluate the scope of two uninfluenced safety recalls (NHTSA recalls 12V-522 and 13V-023) of certain MY 2012 Verano, Camaro, Cruze and Sonic vehicles.These recalls involved the same defect issue as the new recall mentioned above.Accordingly, this investigation is closed based on the recall actions GM is undertaking.

Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module

General Motors (GM) has initiated a safety recall of 31,520 model year (MY) 2012 Buick Verano and Chevrolet Camaro, Cruze and Sonic vehicles to address a defect condition that could result in the primary or secondary stage air bag not deploying.These vehicles are a small percentage of all MY 2012 vehicles and were built on several specific production dates broadly ranging from December 1, 2011 to August 2, 2012 (see NHTSA recall 14V-300 for more information).Also, see attached additional report for more information.This investigation was opened to evaluate the scope of two uninfluenced safety recalls (NHTSA recalls 12V-522 and 13V-023) of certain MY 2012 Verano, Camaro, Cruze and Sonic vehicles.These recalls involved the same defect issue as the new recall mentioned above.Accordingly, this investigation is closed based on the recall actions GM is undertaking.

Air Bags:frontal

General Motors (GM) has initiated a safety recall of 31,520 model year (MY) 2012 Buick Verano and Chevrolet Camaro, Cruze and Sonic vehicles to address a defect condition that could result in the primary or secondary stage air bag not deploying.These vehicles are a small percentage of all MY 2012 vehicles and were built on several specific production dates broadly ranging from December 1, 2011 to August 2, 2012 (see NHTSA recall 14V-300 for more information).Also, see attached additional report for more information.This investigation was opened to evaluate the scope of two uninfluenced safety recalls (NHTSA recalls 12V-522 and 13V-023) of certain MY 2012 Verano, Camaro, Cruze and Sonic vehicles.These recalls involved the same defect issue as the new recall mentioned above.Accordingly, this investigation is closed based on the recall actions GM is undertaking.

Air Bags:frontal

General Motors (GM) has initiated a safety recall of 31,520 model year (MY) 2012 Buick Verano and Chevrolet Camaro, Cruze and Sonic vehicles to address a defect condition that could result in the primary or secondary stage air bag not deploying.These vehicles are a small percentage of all MY 2012 vehicles and were built on several specific production dates broadly ranging from December 1, 2011 to August 2, 2012 (see NHTSA recall 14V-300 for more information).Also, see attached additional report for more information.This investigation was opened to evaluate the scope of two uninfluenced safety recalls (NHTSA recalls 12V-522 and 13V-023) of certain MY 2012 Verano, Camaro, Cruze and Sonic vehicles.These recalls involved the same defect issue as the new recall mentioned above.Accordingly, this investigation is closed based on the recall actions GM is undertaking.

Air Bags

General Motors (GM) has initiated a safety recall of 31,520 model year (MY) 2012 Buick Verano and Chevrolet Camaro, Cruze and Sonic vehicles to address a defect condition that could result in the primary or secondary stage air bag not deploying.These vehicles are a small percentage of all MY 2012 vehicles and were built on several specific production dates broadly ranging from December 1, 2011 to August 2, 2012 (see NHTSA recall 14V-300 for more information).Also, see attached additional report for more information.This investigation was opened to evaluate the scope of two uninfluenced safety recalls (NHTSA recalls 12V-522 and 13V-023) of certain MY 2012 Verano, Camaro, Cruze and Sonic vehicles.These recalls involved the same defect issue as the new recall mentioned above.Accordingly, this investigation is closed based on the recall actions GM is undertaking.

Air Bags

General Motors (GM) has initiated a safety recall of 31,520 model year (MY) 2012 Buick Verano and Chevrolet Camaro, Cruze and Sonic vehicles to address a defect condition that could result in the primary or secondary stage air bag not deploying.These vehicles are a small percentage of all MY 2012 vehicles and were built on several specific production dates broadly ranging from December 1, 2011 to August 2, 2012 (see NHTSA recall 14V-300 for more information).Also, see attached additional report for more information.This investigation was opened to evaluate the scope of two uninfluenced safety recalls (NHTSA recalls 12V-522 and 13V-023) of certain MY 2012 Verano, Camaro, Cruze and Sonic vehicles.These recalls involved the same defect issue as the new recall mentioned above.Accordingly, this investigation is closed based on the recall actions GM is undertaking.