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1988 Chevrolet Camaro

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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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: 3 of 17 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.

  • Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Seat Belts. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Steering. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

1 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports

What owners actually said

17 reports
215,392 miles · Oct 28, 2012
Service BrakesCrash

WHILE DRIVING IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC I WAS MOVING AT A SPEED BETWEEN 25 AND 30 MPH WITH A 3 TO 4 CAR GAP BETWEEN ME AND THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME WHEN THE LINE OF CARS IN FRONT OF ME SUDDENLY STOPPED QUICKLY. I SLAMMED ON MY BRAKES AS HARD AS I COULD AND IT FAILED TO STOP, IMPACTING THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME AT ABOUT 5 TO 10 MPH. T…

Read full complaint

WHILE DRIVING IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC I WAS MOVING AT A SPEED BETWEEN 25 AND 30 MPH WITH A 3 TO 4 CAR GAP BETWEEN ME AND THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME WHEN THE LINE OF CARS IN FRONT OF ME SUDDENLY STOPPED QUICKLY. I SLAMMED ON MY BRAKES AS HARD AS I COULD AND IT FAILED TO STOP, IMPACTING THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME AT ABOUT 5 TO 10 MPH. THE PEDAL FINE AND NONE OF THE BRAKES/WHEELS LOCKED OR SKIDDED (THIS CAR DOESN'T HAVE ANTI-LOCKS). EVEN MY FULL SIZED PICK-UP TRUCK WOULD HAVE STOPPED SAFELY IN THIS SITUATION AND DISTANCE, YET YOU COULD FEEL THAT THIS CAMARO SHOULD HAVE STOPPED AND COULDN'T. THE BRAKES WORK FINE IN ALL CONDITIONS EXCEPT PANIC STOPS WHEN IT COUNTS. I'VE READ A LOT OF FORUMS AND POSTS ON THIRDGEN.COM AND IT SEEMS LIKE THESE 4-WHEEL DISC BRAKE CARS OF THAT ERROR... ALL HAVE HAD THE PROBLEM. I KNOW THAT EVEN WHEN NEW, THE REAR DISC BRAKES WILL BARELY STOP THE WHEELS WHEN THE CAR IS IDLING IN DRIVE AND ON JACK STANDS. IT SEEMS TO BE A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH ALL THE CAR ENTHUSIASTS AND YET NHTSA DIDN'T RECALL THEM EVEN BACK WHEN THEY WERE NEWER. IT'S CLEAR TO ME THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE REAR CALIPER AND PARKING BRAKE DESIGN AND FUNCTION AND PERHAPS AGGRAVATED BY A AN PROBLEM WITH THE PROPORTIONING/COMBINATION VALVE. I WOULD AT LEAST LIKE TO KNOW IF NHTSA HAS EVER RECEIVED ANY OTHER COMPLAINTS ON THE BRAKING SYSTEM THE 1986-1992 FOUR WHEEL DISC BRAKE CAMARO'S. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10482468

27,500 miles · Nov 29, 2007
Fuel System, Gasoline

FUEL FILL LINE LOOSE AT GAS TANK FUEL LEAKS OUT WHEN FULL AND UNDER CORNERING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10210323

76,000 miles · Aug 11, 2007
Fuel System, Gasoline

CRACK AT FUEL FILL IN 1988 CAMARO, RECALL FOR 1989 BUT WHY NOT 1988 IT IS THE SAME PROBLEM. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10199300

Mileage unknown · Dec 5, 2003
Seat Belts

CONSUMER STATED DRIVER'S FRONT SEAT BELTS DIDN'T HOLD THE PASSENGER IN THE SEAT. NHTSA RECALL 90V105000 CONCERNING SEAT BELT FAILURE WAS ISSUED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10050133

Mileage unknown · Jan 11, 2002
Fuel System, Gasoline

WHILE DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY CAR STUTTERED AS THOUGH BAD FUEL/CLOGGED EFI SYSTEM WAS TO BLAME,UPON DEPRESSING GAS PEDAL TO COUNTERACT THIS STUTTER, GASOLINE SPRAYED OUT OF THE A/C VENTS AND INTO THE CAB/INTERIOR OF VEHICLE AND ONTO THE DRIVER. *AK

NHTSA ODI #756728

Mileage unknown · Jan 10, 2002
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

THE CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING AT 34 MPH AND APPLIED BRAKES TO AVOID STRIKING ANOTHER VEHICLE, BUT THE BRAKES FAILED AND THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE WENT OUT OF CONTROL AND CRUSHED. THE CONSUMER SUFFERED MINOR INJURIES. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT 10-91-608) *YH

NHTSA ODI #563971

Mileage unknown · Dec 2, 1999
Fuel System, Gasoline

THERE IS A CONSISTANT FUEL ODOR COMING FROM THE FUE TANK. IT SEEMS THERE ARE 2 LEAKS, ONE AT THE FILLER NECK ON THE FUEL TANK SIDE AND ANOTHER ON TOP SIDE OF THE FUEL TANK WHERE THE FUEL PUMP RESIDES. THE ODOR IS CONSISTANT AND VERY STRONG.

NHTSA ODI #715550

Mileage unknown · Aug 28, 1998
Seat Belts

90V105000; SEAT BELT BUCKLES; VEHICLE TAKEN TO DEALER (ANTHONY ABRAHAM, 305-443-9000) FOR REPAIRS, THE DEALER REPPLACED RED BUTTONS, BUT DRIVERS SIDE POPS OUT WITH NO LATCHING, DEALER CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ODI #827361

Mileage unknown · Jul 1, 1998
Seat Belts

SEAT BELT RETRACTOR FAILED.

NHTSA ODI #537291

Mileage unknown · Jan 14, 1998
Latches/locks/linkages

WHEN DRIVING, DUE TO A FAULTY HOOD LATCH SPRIING, THE HOOD WILL OPEN. *AK

NHTSA ODI #820628

Official recalls

2

90V115000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings

Jun 12, 1990

FUEL FEED HOSES MAY PULL OUT OF THE CRIMPED COUPLING AT THE ENGINE END OF THE HOSE ASSEMBLY.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THIS COUPLING SEPARATED, ALLOWING GASOLINE TO LEAK,AND AN IGNITION SOURCE IS PRESENT, AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE COULD OCCUR.

Remedy: INSTALL A REDESIGNED FUEL FEED HOSE.

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

4

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

PE89164 · Rear Axle Shaft Failures

Opened Sep 13, 1989 · Closed Feb 28, 1990

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

===

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.