← New search

1987 Chevrolet Camaro

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1987 Chevrolet Camaro do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 32.

About this comparison →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected 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: 4 of 28 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.

  • Seat Belts. Review the 13 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Steering. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

2 crash reports2 fire reports2 injury reports

What owners actually said

28 reports
Mileage unknown · Jan 14, 2023
Seat Belts

During a New York state auto inspection, this recall, #N00043, was brought to my attention by the paperwork and the technician. I've been trying to get this issue resolved for years with no luck from various auto dealers.

NHTSA ODI #11501778

49,858 miles · Aug 13, 2020
Seat Belts

TL* THE CONTACT'S GIRLFRIEND OWNS A 1987 CHEVROLET CAMARO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT HAD BECOME DEFECTIVE. UPON RESEARCH, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL THAT HAD BEEN PLACED ON THE VEHICLE FOR THE SEAT BELTS HOWEVER, THE RECALL NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO PLATINUM…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT'S GIRLFRIEND OWNS A 1987 CHEVROLET CAMARO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT HAD BECOME DEFECTIVE. UPON RESEARCH, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL THAT HAD BEEN PLACED ON THE VEHICLE FOR THE SEAT BELTS HOWEVER, THE RECALL NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO PLATINUM CHEVROLET (3001 CORBY AVE, SANTA ROSA, CA 95407) WHERE HE INFORMED THE DEALER OF THE SEAT BELT RECALL. THE CONTACT WAS THEN INFORMED THAT THEY COULD NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE DUE TO THE DATABASE NOT HAVING INFORMATION ON A VEHICLE OF THAT AGE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS THEN NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE AND A CASE WAS FILED. THE MANUFACTURER THEN NOTIFIED THE CONTACT THAT DUE TO THE AGE OF THE VEHICLE AND THE INABILITY TO LOCATE THE RECALL, THEY DENIED HIS RECALL CLAIM. THE VEHICLE HAD YET TO BE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE 49,858.

NHTSA ODI #11349097

Mileage unknown · May 5, 2004
Vehicle Speed Control

I WAS AT THE ENTRANCE GATE TO THE PARKING LOT WHERE I WAS WORKING, AT THE TIME, ABOUT TO PUT MY CARD IN THE CARD READER, TO OPEN THE GATE. THE CAR WAS IN DRIVE AND MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE. THE ENGINE STARTED TO RACE WITHOUT WARNING AND I HAD TO STAND ON THE BRAKE PEDAL WITH BOTH FEET BEFORE I FINALLY GOT THE IGNITION KEY TURNED OFF…

Read full complaint

I WAS AT THE ENTRANCE GATE TO THE PARKING LOT WHERE I WAS WORKING, AT THE TIME, ABOUT TO PUT MY CARD IN THE CARD READER, TO OPEN THE GATE. THE CAR WAS IN DRIVE AND MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE. THE ENGINE STARTED TO RACE WITHOUT WARNING AND I HAD TO STAND ON THE BRAKE PEDAL WITH BOTH FEET BEFORE I FINALLY GOT THE IGNITION KEY TURNED OFF. I RESTARTED THE ENGINE, IN PARK, AND THE ENGINE TOOK OFF AGAIN. I SHUT IT OFF, PLAYED AROUND WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL BUTTONS (WHICH WERE IN THE OFF POSITION) AND RESTARTED THE CAR. THIS TIME IT WAS FINE. THE CAR NEVER DID IT AGAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS A 1987 CHEVY CAMARO LS.

NHTSA ODI #10068318

Mileage unknown · Dec 22, 2003
Engine And Engine CoolingFire

1987 CHEVROLET CAMERO CAUGHT ON FIRE. *MR *SC *JB

NHTSA ODI #10052197

75,000 miles · Nov 25, 2003
Steering

(TILT STEERING) STEERING WHEEL VERY LOOSE. HARD TO STEER IN CURVES AND ON TURNS. STEERING WHEEL MOVE ABOUT A INCH OR 2 WHEN TRYING TO STEER. FEELS LIKE THE STEERING IS GOING TO FALL OFF, HAVE HAD IT CHECKED AND THE MECHANIC SAID THAT THE BOLTS ON THE TILT ARE FALLING OUT. THAT THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM. *LA

NHTSA ODI #10047588

75,000 miles · Nov 25, 2003
Seat Belts

NEITHER SEAT BELT WILL LOCK. PASSENGERS USE TO LOCK BUT COULD NOT GET OUT OF THE SEAT BELT AND PULLED ON IT AND IT FELL APART. IF I WAS IN A ACCIDENT I WOULD NOT BE PROTECTED. *LA

NHTSA ODI #10047584

150,000 miles · Oct 24, 2003
Seat Belts

THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME DEFECT AS STATED IN RECALL 90 V 105 000 HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10044707

Mileage unknown · Jul 19, 2001
Seat Belts

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #748765

Mileage unknown · Feb 22, 2001
Seat Belts

CONSUMER RECEIVED TWO RECALL LETTERS FOR SEATBELTS. RED PLASTIC BUTTONS WERE BRITTLE AND DISCOLORED. CONSUMER FELT THAT BUCKLE MAY NOT LATCH IN AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF CONDITION OF LATCHES. *AK

NHTSA ODI #881100

Mileage unknown · Feb 16, 2001
Electrical SystemFire

CAR WAS SITTING STILL RUNNING IN NETURAL WHEN IT EXPLODED IN TO FLAMES WITH" NO WARNING SIGNS" TOTALLY DESTROYED CAR PASSANGER SIDE IS BURNED THE MOST! [PASSENGERS "MOTHER AND SON " MANAGED TO EXCAPE THE BURNING CAR INFERNO } THIS 1987 Z-28 CAMARO INFERNO TOOK PLACE IN WAL-MART PARKING LOT. *AK

NHTSA ODI #741042

Official recalls

1

90V105000 · Seat Belts:front:buckle Assembly

May 14, 1990

PLASTIC COMPONENTS OF SEAT BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLIES DO NOT CONTAIN AN ULTRA VIOLET STABILIZER, AND EXPOSURE TO DIRECT SUNLIGHT AND ELEVATED INTERIOR TEMPERATURES COULD WEAKEN THE PLASTIC COMPONENTS.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS COULD RESULT IN BREAKAGE OF PLASTIC COMPONENTS WHICHCOULD PREVENT BUCKLE FROM LATCHING AND PROTECTING OCCUPANT IN A SUDDEN STOP ORACCIDENT.

Remedy: REPLACE OR REPAIR SEAT BELT BUCKLE.

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

6

EA92005 · Throttle Sticking

Opened Jan 30, 1992 · Closed Jan 29, 1993

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages

There is no summary currently available

EA90012 · Rear Axle Shaft Failure

Opened Feb 28, 1990 · Closed Apr 24, 1991

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Power Train

There is no summary currently available

EA90001 · Safety Buckle Breakage

Opened Oct 3, 1989 · Closed Jul 10, 1990

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts:front:buckle Assembly

There is no summary currently available

EA89009 · Power Steering Bracket

Opened Jan 5, 1989 · Closed Jan 22, 1990

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering

There is no summary currently available

PE89002 · P/s Bracket Failure

Opened Oct 7, 1988 · Closed Jan 5, 1989

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering

There is no summary currently available

EA88036 · Rear Disc Brakes

Opened Jul 22, 1988 · Closed Aug 30, 1991

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic

SUMMARY: CORROSION IN THE REAR BRAKE CALIPER PREVENTS AUTOMATIC ADJUSTMENT FOR PAD WEAR. THIS MAY EVENTUALLY CAUSE LOSS OF REAR SERVICE BRAKE AND PARKING BRAKE. GM HAS ADDED CORROSION PROTECTION AND CHANGED SPRING RATE TO CORRECT PROBLEM. SAME BASIC DESIGN USED ON ALL MODELS IDENTIFIED.