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1998 Chevrolet Camaro

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Camaro years

Owner complaints for the 1998 Chevrolet Camaro are substantially higher than the model-year median of 32.

About this comparison →

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: 13 of 173 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.

  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 84 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 →
  • Electrical System. Review the 16 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

15 crash reports5 fire reports11 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

16 reports
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129,530 miles · Sep 13, 2004
Electrical System

CHEVROLET CAMARO 1998 3.8L V6.ATTERY RETENSION TRAY FAILED, CAUSING THE BATTERY TO BECOME LOOSE INSIDE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. PROBLEM WAS FOUND DURING OIL CHANGE. PLASTIC LIP, HOLDING BOTTOM OF THE BATTERY HAS BROKE OFF, LEAVING NO RETENSION FEATURE ON THE TRAY. NEW TRAY MUST BE PURCHASED TO FIX THE PROBLEM. I SUSPECT THERE IS…

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CHEVROLET CAMARO 1998 3.8L V6.ATTERY RETENSION TRAY FAILED, CAUSING THE BATTERY TO BECOME LOOSE INSIDE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. PROBLEM WAS FOUND DURING OIL CHANGE. PLASTIC LIP, HOLDING BOTTOM OF THE BATTERY HAS BROKE OFF, LEAVING NO RETENSION FEATURE ON THE TRAY. NEW TRAY MUST BE PURCHASED TO FIX THE PROBLEM. I SUSPECT THERE IS A POSSIBILITY OF BATTERY SHORT CIRCUIT AND POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD IF BATTERY TERMINAL CONTACT CAR BODY DURING VEHICLE OPERATION. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10090886

Mileage unknown · Feb 5, 2004
Electrical SystemFuel System, GasolineService Brakes, Hydraulic

1998 Z28: HAVE EXPERIENCED FUEL PUMP FAILURE (REPLACED BY DEALER CIRCA JUNE 99) ALSO, EXPERIENCING AN ERRATIC FUEL GAGE...READING FUEL FOR A LENGTHY PERIOD OF TIME, THEN SUDDENLY DROPS TO LESS THAN 2/3. INTERMITTENT HORN FUNCTION: COMPLETE HORN FAILURE; HOWEVER, IF YOU SHUT THE ENGINE OFF AND RESTART HORN WILL WORK. FRONT ROTO…

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1998 Z28: HAVE EXPERIENCED FUEL PUMP FAILURE (REPLACED BY DEALER CIRCA JUNE 99) ALSO, EXPERIENCING AN ERRATIC FUEL GAGE...READING FUEL FOR A LENGTHY PERIOD OF TIME, THEN SUDDENLY DROPS TO LESS THAN 2/3. INTERMITTENT HORN FUNCTION: COMPLETE HORN FAILURE; HOWEVER, IF YOU SHUT THE ENGINE OFF AND RESTART HORN WILL WORK. FRONT ROTOR WARPING REPEATEDLY. MANUFACTURE DENIES THERE IS A PROBLEM, SAYS DRIVER IS OVERHEATING BRAKES. I BELIEVE THE PROBLEM IS ROTORS ARE POORLY DESIGNED. ALSO FOUND IF YOU DON'T DRIVE THROUGH WATER WHEN ROTORS ARE HOT THAT THIS WILL HELP. SLOW ACCELERATION AFTER COLD STARTUP. HOWEVER, IF YOU SHUT ENGINE DOWN AND RESTART ACCELERATION WILL BE NORMAL. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10056578

10,000 miles · Oct 28, 2003
Electrical System

1998 CAMARO Z28 COV. WITH 12,000 MILES EM DELCO BATTERY LEAKED ACID FROM TERMINAL, DAMAGING PAINT INSIDE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND CAUSING RUST TO FRAME AND OTHER PARTS. DEALER SAID IT WAS NOT "UNCOMMON" FOR THESE BATTERIES TO LEAK FROM THE TERMINAL. DEALER REFUSED TO COVER DAMAGE ($890.00), EVEN THOU DAMAGE APPEAR TO HAVE OCCUR…

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1998 CAMARO Z28 COV. WITH 12,000 MILES EM DELCO BATTERY LEAKED ACID FROM TERMINAL, DAMAGING PAINT INSIDE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND CAUSING RUST TO FRAME AND OTHER PARTS. DEALER SAID IT WAS NOT "UNCOMMON" FOR THESE BATTERIES TO LEAK FROM THE TERMINAL. DEALER REFUSED TO COVER DAMAGE ($890.00), EVEN THOU DAMAGE APPEAR TO HAVE OCCURED DURING WARRANTY PERIOD. PLEASE INVESTIGATE BATTERY LEAKAGE PROBLEM!! SEVERAL INDIVIDUAL CASES CITIED ON INTERNET CAR HOBBY SITES FOR CAMARO AND CORVETTES. PLEASE HELP!! *AK

NHTSA ODI #10043750

Mileage unknown · Sep 21, 2003
Electrical System

98 CHEVY CAMARO: RUNNING LIGHTS MELT AND CAUSE BULB TO FUSE WITH FIXTURE. THIS HAS ALREADY HAPPENED ON THIS CAR THREE TIMES. I THINK THAT THIS PROBLEM REALLY NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED FOR RECALL REPLACEMENT AT CHEVY'S COST. THEY KNOW THIS PART MELTS. THEY KNOW IT HAS A HISTORY. THE PART SEEMS TO HAVE A LIFESPAN OF 2 1/2 YEARS. I …

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98 CHEVY CAMARO: RUNNING LIGHTS MELT AND CAUSE BULB TO FUSE WITH FIXTURE. THIS HAS ALREADY HAPPENED ON THIS CAR THREE TIMES. I THINK THAT THIS PROBLEM REALLY NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED FOR RECALL REPLACEMENT AT CHEVY'S COST. THEY KNOW THIS PART MELTS. THEY KNOW IT HAS A HISTORY. THE PART SEEMS TO HAVE A LIFESPAN OF 2 1/2 YEARS. I AM EXPECTING THE OTHER ONE TO MELT SOON AS THEY DID THE LAST TIME WITHIN A MONTH OR SO OF EACH OTHER. IT SEEMS THAT CHEVY WOULD RATHER BE FORCED TO REPLACE A PART, THEN SIMPLY PROTECTING IT'S DRIVERS. THIS IS MY LAST HOPE TO GET THE RUNNING LIGHTS REPLACED SINCE THE PART IS DEFECTIVE. OTHER DEFECTIVE PARTS, MOODY IGNITION, DRIVER SIDE MIRROR, AND WINDSHIELD WIPERS.*JB

NHTSA ODI #10039242

43,000 miles · Aug 20, 2003
Electrical SystemSuspension

ALTERNATOR DIED, HAD TO REPLACE ON 8/8/03. HEARD SOUND IN THE REAR, CHANGED SHOCK ABSORBERS, NOISE IS STILL THERE, GOING TO CHANGE SPRINGS NEXT 8/20/03 . *AK

NHTSA ODI #10033214

Mileage unknown · Dec 9, 2002
Electrical SystemFire

NO SUMMARY. DT

NHTSA ODI #770645

Mileage unknown · Apr 19, 2002
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling

CAR HAD LITTLE TO NO POWER UPON TAKE OFF. WENT STRAIGHT TO DEALERSHIP AND THEY STATED THEY HAD TO PULL ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION AND REPLACE WIRING HARNESS

NHTSA ODI #760912

Mileage unknown · Aug 30, 2001
Electrical SystemCrashFireInjury

AFTER I WAS HIT DASH CAUGHT FIRE, AND THE FAN WAS STILL RUNNING WHEN THE FIRE WAS PUT OUT IN THE CAR.*AK

NHTSA ODI #751379

Mileage unknown · Jun 8, 2001
Electrical System

FACTORY BATTERY HAD A CRACK, POST CORRODED OFF, AND WAS LEAKING ACID, DEALER SAID POSSIBLY DUE TO OVERTIGHTENING WHEN INSTALLED. NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. *AK

NHTSA ODI #746597

Mileage unknown · Feb 11, 2000
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingLatches/locks/linkages

EMERGENCY BRAKE FAILED TO WORK PROPERLY WHEN ENGAGED. VEHICLE WOULD BE MOVING. ALSO, FUSE WAS REPLACED TWICE/ AIR CAME THROUGH THE HATCHBACK & DOORS/ MUFFLER KEPT MAKING CLUNKING NOISE/BUMPER HAS BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES, AND TIRES WOULD LOSE TRACTION WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #856765

Official recalls

0

No 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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.