IllustrationAT LOW SPEEDS CAR HAS A CLUNKING SOUND THAT COMES FROM REAR END. DEALER STATES THAT THE FUID NEEDED TO BE CHANGED. THE FLUID WAS CHANGED AND THE CAR STILL MAKES THIS NOISE. HAVE NOT RETURNED TO DEALER YET.
1996 Chevrolet Camaro
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Camaro years
Owner complaints for the 1996 Chevrolet Camaro are substantially higher than the model-year median of 32.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model 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: 8 of 116 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.
- Power Train. Review the 19 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Air Bags. Review the 18 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 →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
23 crash reports5 fire reports17 injury reports
Power Train complaints
19 reportsMY CAMARO HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP PRESENTING THE P1870 TRANSMISSION CODE APPROXIMATELY 10 TIMES. THE DEALER HAS PERFORMED OVER 2000 WARRANTIED MAJOR WORK ON THE TRANSMISSION PRIOR TO 36000 MILES. I AM STILL HAVING REPEATED PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION AND HAVE LOOKED UP THE TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS ONLY TO FIND THAT THERE AR…
Read full complaint
MY CAMARO HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP PRESENTING THE P1870 TRANSMISSION CODE APPROXIMATELY 10 TIMES. THE DEALER HAS PERFORMED OVER 2000 WARRANTIED MAJOR WORK ON THE TRANSMISSION PRIOR TO 36000 MILES. I AM STILL HAVING REPEATED PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION AND HAVE LOOKED UP THE TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS ONLY TO FIND THAT THERE ARE MANY REGARDING THE TRANSMISSION-AUTOMATIC AND THE COMPUTER PRESENTING THE P1870 CODE. I AM REPEATEDLY TOLD THAT NOTHING IS WRONG WITH THE CAR AND THAT THEY CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. HOWEVER THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT IS STILL COMING ON INDICATING TRANSMISSION SLIPPAGE. I HAVE CONTACT GM WITH NO REPLY. YOU WOULD THINK AFTER PERFORMING $2500 WORTH OF USELESS REPAIR WORK THAT THEY WOULD HAVE PUT IN A REBUILT TRANSMISSION OR OFFERED HELP TO ME IN ANOTHER WAY. IT IS SLOWLY BECOMING A SAFETY AND PUNITIVE MATTER TO ME.*AK
AT ABOUT 28,000 MILES, PINION SEAL WAS LEAKING, DEALER SERVICE DEPT FIXED. AT ABOUT 35,000 MILES, PINION BEARINGS AND OTHER BEARINGS WENT BAD, PRIVATE SHOP FIXED. AT ABOUT 50,000 MILES, BEARING IN REAR END WENT BAD AGAIN, PRIVATE SHOP FIXED. NOW, BEARING IN MIDDLE OF DRIVESHAFT IS BAD (NO REPAIR AS OF YET). *AK
AUTO TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 18000 MILES. REPLACED N/C. FAILED AGAIN AT 40000 MILES. REPLACED AT N/C. FAILED FOR THIRD TIME AT 76800 MILES. DEALER OFFERS NO ASSISTANCE. CHEVROLET COTACTED. CSR OFFERS NO ASSISTANCE AND IS UNWILLING TO ADMIT THAT THIS IS A MANUFACTURES DEFECT. CURRENTLY SEEKING FURTHER ASSISTANCE. DEALER ST…
Read full complaint
AUTO TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 18000 MILES. REPLACED N/C. FAILED AGAIN AT 40000 MILES. REPLACED AT N/C. FAILED FOR THIRD TIME AT 76800 MILES. DEALER OFFERS NO ASSISTANCE. CHEVROLET COTACTED. CSR OFFERS NO ASSISTANCE AND IS UNWILLING TO ADMIT THAT THIS IS A MANUFACTURES DEFECT. CURRENTLY SEEKING FURTHER ASSISTANCE. DEALER STATES THAT WARRANTY ON REPLACEMENT TRANS. IS 3/50000 IF CUSTOMER PAYS FOR REPAIR BUT ONLY 3/36000 IF DEALER REPLACES UNDER WARRANTY. *AK
CAR WILL NOT START IN THE COLD THERE IS A CLICKING SOUND AND LIGHTS FLICKER FOR A WHILE BEFORE THE ENGINE TURNS OVER. MULTIPLE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHTS SEEMS TO BE CONSISTENTLY HAPPPENINGS WITH MULTIPLE PROBLEMS OF ALL KINDS.
WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THE VEHICLE IS SHIFTING HARD AND THERE IS A CLUCKING NOISE COMING FROMT THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE. *AK
TRANSMISSION SLIPPING WHEN GOING UP HILLS OR ANY SIMILAR TERRAIN. NLM
I WAS NOTIFIED ALSO THAT THERE ARE OTHER CHEVROLETS HAVE THIS EXACT SAME DEFECT AND IT NEEDS TO BE BROUGHT TO THE ATTENTION OF THE MANUFACTURER. NO SAFETY DEFECT MENTIONE DIN SUMMARY. *AK
CONSUMER HAS NOTICED A LOUD NOISE IN THE REAR WHEEL BEARINGS THAT MAY CAUSE THE REAR WHEEL TO BREAK OFF. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
THE PROBLEM IS THE TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING BEWTEEN GEARS BETWEEN 50-55 AND 60-65. TRANSMISSION REPLACED ONCE IN DECEMBER. BROUGHT IT IN AGAIN IN JANUARY DUE TO THE SAME PROBLEM, AND DEALER SAID IT WAS NORMAL FOR A GRADUAL ACCELERATION, I MUST ACCELERATE FAST TO NOT SLIP. WANTED TO REPORT THIS TO DETERMINE IF THIS IS NORMAL O…
Read full complaint
THE PROBLEM IS THE TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING BEWTEEN GEARS BETWEEN 50-55 AND 60-65. TRANSMISSION REPLACED ONCE IN DECEMBER. BROUGHT IT IN AGAIN IN JANUARY DUE TO THE SAME PROBLEM, AND DEALER SAID IT WAS NORMAL FOR A GRADUAL ACCELERATION, I MUST ACCELERATE FAST TO NOT SLIP. WANTED TO REPORT THIS TO DETERMINE IF THIS IS NORMAL OR IF THERE IS A PROBLEM. DEALER STATED IT SHOULD SMOOTH OUT. *AK
Official recalls
0No 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
2EA97024 · Fuel Tube Retaining Clip Failure
Opened Nov 13, 1997 · Closed Sep 29, 1998
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
MOST OF THE REPORTS REVIEWED IN THIS INVESTIGATION ARE FIRE INCIDENTS IN WHICH FUEL LEAKAGE HAS BEEN ALLEGED AS THE CAUSE OR THE AREA OF ORIGIN IS CONSISTENT WITH THE ALLEGED DEFECT.THERE IS NO EVIDENCE THAT THE SUBJECT CLIP WAS A FACTOR IN ANY OF THESE FIRE INCIDENTS AND NHTSA TESTING INDICATES THATBROKEN OR DISLODGED RETENTION CLIP DOES NOT RESULT IN SIGNIFICANT MOVEMENT OF THE FUEL LINE BUNDLE TOWARD THE LEFT SECONDARY AIR INJECTION CHECK VALVE.FAILURE OF THE CLIP PLACES THE FUEL LINE BUNDLE ASSEMBLY IN THE SAME CONFIGURATION AS THE 1993 MODEL YEAR LTI VEHICLES.A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT TREND HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME AND FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.
PE97036 · Fuel Tub Retaining Clip Failure
Opened Jul 24, 1997 · Closed Nov 13, 1997
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
OWNERS HAVE REPORTED FAILURES OF THE FUEL TUBE RETENTION CLIP THAT ATTACHES TO THE PLASTIC THROTTLE LINKAGE COVER.ACCORDING TO GM, THE SUBJECT RETENTION CLIP (P/N 12048089) WAS IMPLEMENTED IN PRODUCTION ON OCTOBER 12, 1993, TO ADDRESS A CONCERN WITH INCORRECT ASSEMBLY PLANT FUEL LINE ROUTING.MIS-ROUTED FUEL TUBES MAY FAIL FROM CONTACT WITH A HOT AIR CHECK VALVE, CREATING A FIRE HAZARD IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT.GM MAINTAINS THAT NO PROBLEMS SHOULD OCCUR IF THE CLIP IS PROPERLY INSTALLED AND ISN'T MISHANDLED DURING SUBSEQUENT SERVICE OPERATIONS.SOME OWNERS HAVE ALLEGED TO ODI THAT THE SUBJECT CLIP BECOMES BRITTLE OVER TIME AND MAY ALSO PULL FREE OF THE THROTTLE LINKAGE COVER ATTACHMENT HOLE.