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Chevrolet Camaro: Years to Avoid and Best Years (Engine & Transmission)
Chevrolet Camaro problems by model year, from 1,727 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. For each year: the share of complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system, how many there were, and the recalls.
Worst years to avoid: 2010 (62%, 125 drivetrain complaints), 2020 (52%, 14 drivetrain complaints) and 2019 (51%, 26 drivetrain complaints). 8 of the 11 Chevrolet Camaro years we score have an elevated engine, transmission or fuel-system complaint share; 1 of them is at the very high level (60% or more), where every model year we track has a documented failure behind it.
Best years on this measure: 2013 (18%), 2014 (22%) and 2015 (24%). A low share means owners complained about other things more than the drivetrain, not that nothing ever fails.
The sharpest change between consecutive years is from 2012 (44%) to 2013 (18%), down 26 points. The complaint pattern shifts at that year, so check which year the car in front of you is.
By raw volume, the 2010 drew the most drivetrain complaints (125 of 531 across the scored years). Volume also tracks how many were sold and how long they have been on the road, which is why the share, not the count, sets the verdict.
2021, 2022 and 2023 have fewer than 25 complaints on record so far, too few to score. Newer cars have had less time to collect complaints.
Engine and transmission complaint share, 2010–2023
Share of relevant owner complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system. 33% is elevated, 40% high, 60% very high. A dash means too few complaints to score.
Every Chevrolet Camaro year
| Model year | Signal | Drivetrain share | Drivetrain complaints | All complaints | Rank (1 = worst) | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 Camaro | very high | 62% | 125 | 295 | 1/11 | 3 |
| 2011 Camaro | elevated | 40% | 49 | 194 | 8/11 | 3 |
| 2012 Camaro | high | 44% | 40 | 113 | 5/11 | 5 |
| 2013 Camaro | no elevated signal | 18% | 29 | 187 | 11/11 | 4 |
| 2014 Camaro | no elevated signal | 22% | 35 | 188 | 10/11 | 4 |
| 2015 Camaro | no elevated signal | 24% | 46 | 206 | 9/11 | 2 |
| 2016 Camaro | high | 48% | 64 | 141 | 4/11 | 1 |
| 2017 Camaro | high | 40% | 70 | 189 | 7/11 | 3 |
| 2018 Camaro | high | 43% | 33 | 81 | 6/11 | 2 |
| 2019 Camaro | high | 51% | 26 | 53 | 3/11 | 1 |
| 2020 Camaro | high | 52% | 14 | 31 | 2/11 | 3 |
| 2021 Camaro | too few to score | – | 13 | 20 | – | 4 |
| 2022 Camaro | too few to score | – | 7 | 14 | – | 1 |
| 2023 Camaro | too few to score | – | 10 | 15 | – | 0 |
What owners complain about most, all years
Categories as NHTSA files them, summed across the Chevrolet Camaro years with data. A complaint can name more than one component, so the shares overlap. Red is engine, transmission or fuel.
Chevrolet Camaro transmission recalls: timeline
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns on the Chevrolet Camaro involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 16 across the years we track. Each model-year page has the details. Whether a particular car still has a recall open depends on its VIN.
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 2019 | 19V837000 | fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump | 2020 |
| Mar 2025 | 25V148000 | power train: automatic transmission | 2020 |
14 other recalls (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2009 | 09V155000 | electrical system: 12v/24v/48v battery: cables | 2010 |
| Jan 2013 | 13V023000 | air bags | 2012 |
| Sep 2013 | 13V463000 | equipment: other: labels | 2013–2014 |
| Jun 2014 | 14V300000 | air bags | 2012 |
| Jun 2014 | 14V346000 | electrical system: ignition | 2010–2014 |
| Jul 2014 | 14V409000 | steering | 2014 |
| Jul 2014 | 14V447000 | seats: front assembly: power adjust | 2011–2012 |
| Oct 2015 | 15V666000 | air bags: side/window | 2015 |
| Feb 2016 | 16V084000 | electrical system: software | 2016 |
| Feb 2019 | 19V086000 | steering: electric power assist system | 2017 |
| Sep 2019 | 19E064000 | electrical system: ignition | 2010–2015 |
| Mar 2021 | 21V211000 | air bags: frontal | 2017–2020 |
| Jul 2023 | 23V516000 | air bags: frontal: driver side: inflator module | 2013 |
| Mar 2025 | 25V175000 | steering: electric power assist system | 2017–2018 |
What the free pages leave out on the Chevrolet Camaro
- The mileage where it happens, for the model year you are looking at.
- What the repair costs, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives: similar cars with a better record.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive.
- Open recalls on the actual car, by VIN.
Questions people ask about the Chevrolet Camaro
What are the worst years for the Chevrolet Camaro?
On engine and transmission complaints, the worst Chevrolet Camaro years are the 2010 (62% of relevant complaints, very high), the 2020 (52% of relevant complaints, high) and the 2019 (51% of relevant complaints, high). 8 of 11 scored years are elevated in all.
What are the best years for the Chevrolet Camaro?
On engine and transmission complaints, the best Chevrolet Camaro years are the 2013 (18%), the 2014 (22%) and the 2015 (24%). That describes the model year; any one car still needs an inspection.
Does the Chevrolet Camaro have transmission problems?
In some years. Across the 11 scored years, 531 of 1,405 relevant NHTSA complaints (38%) concern the engine, transmission or fuel system; the largest drivetrain category is power train. The years with an elevated share are 2010, 2011, 2012, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020.
Is the Chevrolet Camaro reliable?
On the engine and transmission it depends on the year: 8 of 11 Chevrolet Camaro years we score have an elevated complaint share and 3 do not. Pooled across those years, 38% of relevant complaints are about the drivetrain, against a 33% line for an elevated signal. Complaint data does not measure overall reliability, so pick the year first, then inspect the car.
Are there transmission or engine recalls on the Chevrolet Camaro?
Yes. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns involving the engine, transmission or fuel system across the Chevrolet Camaro years we track, out of 16 in total: 19V837000 (Nov 2019, 2020), 25V148000 (Mar 2025, 2020). Whether a car still has one open depends on its VIN.
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Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across model years, not the condition of any individual vehicle. Model years with fewer than 25 complaints are not scored.