IllustrationENGINE TROUBLE (IN MOTION). SEAT ADJUSTMENT (BOTH STATIONERY AND IN MOTION)
2012 Chevrolet Camaro
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Camaro years
Owner complaints for the 2012 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
360–25K
1525–50K
1450–75K
1175–100K
5100–150K
3150K+
84 reports with mileage · 29 unknown
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.
- Electrical System. Review the 27 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine. Review the 26 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Air Bags. Review the 22 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
10 crash reports4 fire reports6 injury reports
What owners actually said
113 reportsTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET CAMARO. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IDLING, THE MOTOR SUDDENLY BEGAN TO MISFIRE AND SEVERAL WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED, INCLUDING THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR. AFTERWARDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S HOME BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE PISTON H…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET CAMARO. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IDLING, THE MOTOR SUDDENLY BEGAN TO MISFIRE AND SEVERAL WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED, INCLUDING THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR. AFTERWARDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S HOME BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE PISTON HEAD VALVE SPRING IN THE ENGINE HAD FRACTURED IN HALF. THE MANUFACTURER AND LOCAL DEALER (BERGLUND CHEVROLET BUICK, 1824 WILLIAMSON RD, ROANOKE, VA) WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 76,000.
DEFROST NOT WORKING DUE TO HEATER NOT PUTTING OUT CORRECT TEMP FROM FAULTY BLEND DOOR FAILING HIGH COST IN LABOR NOT REPAIRED DUE TO NEED OF DASH REMOVAL AFTER 11 OLD RECENT REPAIR. WINDOW STAYS FOGGY CAUSING BLINDING ON HIGHWAY MOVEMENT. ALONG WITH REVIEW MIRROR CONSTANTLY DROPPING AFTER REPEAT TIGHTENING. PART IN DASH IS POOR …
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DEFROST NOT WORKING DUE TO HEATER NOT PUTTING OUT CORRECT TEMP FROM FAULTY BLEND DOOR FAILING HIGH COST IN LABOR NOT REPAIRED DUE TO NEED OF DASH REMOVAL AFTER 11 OLD RECENT REPAIR. WINDOW STAYS FOGGY CAUSING BLINDING ON HIGHWAY MOVEMENT. ALONG WITH REVIEW MIRROR CONSTANTLY DROPPING AFTER REPEAT TIGHTENING. PART IN DASH IS POOR DESIGN OF CHEAP PLASTIC PART WITH A HUGE LABOR PRICE. NEED RECALL ON PART MARKET IS FLOODED WITH THIS FAILURE ALL YEAR MODELS. NEED HELP 4000 IN 11 MONTHS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE FOR 49$ PART.
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CONTINUOUSLY COMES ON. IT HAS BEEN CHECKED SEVERAL TIMES AND WE HAVE BEEN TOLD IT IS A FAULTY SENSOR DEALING WITH THE GAS CAP. WE WERE TOLD THE SENSOR WAS RECALLED SEVERAL YEARS AGO BUT I DIDN'T SEE ANY RECALLS ON MY VEHICLE. MECHANIC SAYS THAT BECAUSE OF WHERE THE SENSOR IS THE ENTIRE GAS TANK, ETC HAS BE…
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CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CONTINUOUSLY COMES ON. IT HAS BEEN CHECKED SEVERAL TIMES AND WE HAVE BEEN TOLD IT IS A FAULTY SENSOR DEALING WITH THE GAS CAP. WE WERE TOLD THE SENSOR WAS RECALLED SEVERAL YEARS AGO BUT I DIDN'T SEE ANY RECALLS ON MY VEHICLE. MECHANIC SAYS THAT BECAUSE OF WHERE THE SENSOR IS THE ENTIRE GAS TANK, ETC HAS BE A DROPPED AND IS A MAJOR JOB/COST TO REPAIR. MY AUTO START WILL NOT WORK BECAUSE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WILL NOT SHUT OFF.
DRIVING INTO WORK AND THE ENGINE STARTS SUCKING AIR THROUGH THE INNER CABIN, ALL OF A SUDDEN THE ENGINE JUST DIES COMPLETELY HOWEVER THE ELECTRONICS STAYED ON. I TRIED TO START THE CAR AFTER LETTING IT COOL FOR 2 HRS AND THE ENGINE STARTED SHAKING RAPIDLY, THERE ARE NO ENGINE LIGHTS OR ALARMS ON THE DASH. I GET THE CAR TOWED HOM…
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DRIVING INTO WORK AND THE ENGINE STARTS SUCKING AIR THROUGH THE INNER CABIN, ALL OF A SUDDEN THE ENGINE JUST DIES COMPLETELY HOWEVER THE ELECTRONICS STAYED ON. I TRIED TO START THE CAR AFTER LETTING IT COOL FOR 2 HRS AND THE ENGINE STARTED SHAKING RAPIDLY, THERE ARE NO ENGINE LIGHTS OR ALARMS ON THE DASH. I GET THE CAR TOWED HOME, I TEST THE BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR AND THEY BOTH CHECK OUT. I HAD A FULL TUNE UP AND TRIED TO FIRE IT UP AGAIN AND THE CRANK WOULDN'T TURN AND NOTICED THE STARTER WAS ENGAGED. I REPLACED THE STARTER AND THE CAR CRANK WITH NO PROBLEM HOWEVER THE ENGINE KNOCKED UNCONTROLLABLY. THIS CAR FAILED ON ME AND CUT OFF COMPLETELY WITH NO CONTROLS , HAD I BEEN ON THE HIGHWAY I COULD HAVE LOST MY LIFE.
HAVING PROBLEMS WITH TORQUE CONVERTER WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE
THE AIR CONDITIONING DOES NOT WORK OR THE HEATER AND WHEN YOU DRIVE MORE THAN 70 SPEED THE STEERING WHEEL CAN'T BE CONTROLLED GOOD
(STATIONARY) I HAD PROBLEMS RECENTLY WITH THE STABILITITRAK, I STOPPED AT THE RED LIGHT AND THE CAR STARTED TO SHAKE TOO MUCH AND IT WENT OUT, THE LIGHT OF STABILITI TRAK WARNING WENT ON !! IT HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES. (IN MOTION) THE OTHER PROBLEM I HAD WAS THE POWER STEERING, EVERY TIME I TURNED THE WHEEL OF THE CAR, IT SOUNDED L…
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(STATIONARY) I HAD PROBLEMS RECENTLY WITH THE STABILITITRAK, I STOPPED AT THE RED LIGHT AND THE CAR STARTED TO SHAKE TOO MUCH AND IT WENT OUT, THE LIGHT OF STABILITI TRAK WARNING WENT ON !! IT HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES. (IN MOTION) THE OTHER PROBLEM I HAD WAS THE POWER STEERING, EVERY TIME I TURNED THE WHEEL OF THE CAR, IT SOUNDED LIKE OPENING AN OLD DOOR. I HAD TO GO TO THE DEALER AND HAVE IT REPAIRED. (IN MOTION) ANOTHER PROBLEM THAT I HAVE IS IN THE WHEELS, THEY HAVE A SOUND LIKE THEY HAVE A PINK CAN. BUT IT IS ONLY HEARD SOMETIMES NOT ALWAYS. I WENT TO THE DEALER TO SOLVE THAT PROBLEM BUT THE SOUND LEFT.
IN 6/2018, I DISCOVERED THAT MY CAR WAS BEGINNING TO CORRODE ABOVE THE WHEEL WELL ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE (MY CAR WAS STILL 5 YEARS OLD AT THE TIME OF THE DISCOVERY, BUT OVER 100K MILES). WITHIN ONE WEEK, I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER--AT WHICH I PURCHASED IT NEW IN 2012--WHO CONFIRMED THAT IT WAS INDEED CORROSION AND INDICATED ON THE W…
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IN 6/2018, I DISCOVERED THAT MY CAR WAS BEGINNING TO CORRODE ABOVE THE WHEEL WELL ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE (MY CAR WAS STILL 5 YEARS OLD AT THE TIME OF THE DISCOVERY, BUT OVER 100K MILES). WITHIN ONE WEEK, I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER--AT WHICH I PURCHASED IT NEW IN 2012--WHO CONFIRMED THAT IT WAS INDEED CORROSION AND INDICATED ON THE WRITTEN ESTIMATE THAT THE "HEM FLANGE WAS NOT PROPERLY SEALED FROM FACTORY CAUSING CONTAMINANTS TO ENTER AND START CORROSION ON THE LEFT QUARTER PANEL." THE DEALER QUOTED ME $3,000 TO REPAIR THE QUARTER PANEL. IN 6/2018, I CALLED GM CUSTOMER SERVICE. I WAS DENIED ASSISTANCE FOR THE COST OF THE REPAIR FROM THE CUSTOMER SERVICE MANAGERIAL LEVEL. IN ABOUT 7/2018, I CONTACTED GM EXECUTIVES, WHICH RESULTED IN A DENIAL OF ASSISTANCE FROM THE CHEVROLET EXECUTIVE RESOLUTIONS TEAM. IN 8/2018, I MADE A BBB COMPLAINT AND AS A RESULT RECEIVED CONTACT FROM GM'S BUSINESS DIVISION, WHO ALSO ULTIMATELY DENIED ME ASSISTANCE. MOREOVER, THE BBB HAS INDICATED THAT MY CAR IS NOT ELIGIBLE FOR THE AUTO LINE PROGRAM DUE TO # OF YEARS OLD. I ALSO RECENTLY MADE A STATE OF MI ATTORNEY GENERAL REFERRAL. I WILL UPLOAD THE PACKET THAT I SENT TO THE BBB WHICH CONTAINS MOST, IF NOT ALL, OF THE DOCUMENTATION I HAVE TO DATE (NOT INCLUDING THE BBB DENIAL).
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET CAMARO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE BACK SECTION OF THE DRIVER'S SEAT ERRONEOUSLY ACTIVATED, PUSHING THE DRIVER FORWARD TOWARDS THE STEERING WHEEL. ONE MONTH LATER, WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE BACK SECTION OF THE DRIVER'S SEAT ERRONEOUSLY POWERED BACKWARDS AND MADE CO…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET CAMARO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE BACK SECTION OF THE DRIVER'S SEAT ERRONEOUSLY ACTIVATED, PUSHING THE DRIVER FORWARD TOWARDS THE STEERING WHEEL. ONE MONTH LATER, WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE BACK SECTION OF THE DRIVER'S SEAT ERRONEOUSLY POWERED BACKWARDS AND MADE CONTACT WITH THE REAR SEAT. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURES WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER AND LOCAL DEALER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 97,700.
Official recalls
414V447000 · Seats:front Assembly:power Adjust
Jul 23, 2014
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 Buick LaCrosse, Regal and Chevrolet Camaro, as well as certain 2010-2012 Cadillac SRX, Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain vehicles, equipped with power height adjustable driver and passenger seats. In the affected vehicles, the bolt that secures the driver's and passenger's power front seat height adjuster may fall out causing the seat to drop suddenly to the lowest vertical position.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the driver's seat unexpectedly drops, the distraction and altered seat position may affect the drivers' control of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the height adjuster shoulder bolts, free of charge. The manufacturer distributed interim letters to owners on September 11, 2014. The recall began on December 26, 2014. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-800-521-7300 (Buick), 1-800-458-8006 (Cadillac), 1-800-222-1020 (Chevrolet), or 1-800-462-8782 (GMC). GM's number for this recall is 14271.
14V346000 · Electrical System:ignition
Jun 20, 2014
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling all 2010-2014 Chevrolet Camaro vehicles manufactured December 3, 2008 to May 23, 2014. In the affected vehicles, the driver may accidentally hit the ignition key with their knee, unintentionally knocking the key out of the run position, turning off the engine.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the key is not in the run position, the air bags may not deploy if the vehicle is involved in a crash, increasing the risk of injury. Additionally, a key knocked out of the run position could cause loss of engine power, power steering, and power braking, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will remove the key blade from the original flip key/RKE transmitter assemblies, and provide two new keys and two key rings per key. The recall began August 25, 2014. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 14294. Note: Until the recall has been performed, it is very important that drivers adjust their seat and steering column to allow clearance between their knee and the ignition key.
14V300000 · Air Bags
Jun 6, 2014
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2012 Buick Verano vehicles manufactured December 2, 2011 to July, 16, 2012, Chevrolet Cruze vehicles manufactured December 7, 2011 to July 25, 2012, Chevrolet Sonic vehicles manufactured December 5, 2011 to August 2, 2012, and Chevrolet Camaro vehicles manufactured December 1, 2011 to June 11, 2012. The driver side frontal air bag has a shorting bar which may intermittently contact the air bag terminals.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the bar and terminals are contacting each other at the time of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, that air bag will not deploy, increasing the driver's risk of injury.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the steering wheel air bag coil, free of charge. The recall began on July 25, 2014. Chevrolet owners may contact GM at 1-800-222-1020. Buick owners may contact GM at 1-800-521-7300. Note: This is an expansion of recalls 12V-522 and 13V-023.
13V023000 · Air Bags
Jan 24, 2013
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2012 Chevrolet Camaro, Cruze and Sonic, and model year 2012 Buick Verano vehicles. The driver side frontal air bag has a shorting bar which may intermittently contact the air bag terminals.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the bar and terminals are contacting each other at the time of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, that air bag will not deploy, increasing the driver's risk of injury.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the steering wheel air bag coil, free of charge. The safety recall began on February 13, 2013. Owners may contact General Motors at 1-800-521-7300.
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
1RQ13002 · Air Bag Non-deployment
Opened May 31, 2013 · Closed Jul 9, 2014
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags; Air Bags:frontal; Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module
General Motors (GM) has initiated a safety recall of 31,520 model year (MY) 2012 Buick Verano and Chevrolet Camaro, Cruze and Sonic vehicles to address a defect condition that could result in the primary or secondary stage air bag not deploying.These vehicles are a small percentage of all MY 2012 vehicles and were built on several specific production dates broadly ranging from December 1, 2011 to August 2, 2012 (see NHTSA recall 14V-300 for more information).Also, see attached additional report for more information.This investigation was opened to evaluate the scope of two uninfluenced safety recalls (NHTSA recalls 12V-522 and 13V-023) of certain MY 2012 Verano, Camaro, Cruze and Sonic vehicles.These recalls involved the same defect issue as the new recall mentioned above.Accordingly, this investigation is closed based on the recall actions GM is undertaking.
Additional source detail variants (6)
Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module
General Motors (GM) has initiated a safety recall of 31,520 model year (MY) 2012 Buick Verano and Chevrolet Camaro, Cruze and Sonic vehicles to address a defect condition that could result in the primary or secondary stage air bag not deploying.These vehicles are a small percentage of all MY 2012 vehicles and were built on several specific production dates broadly ranging from December 1, 2011 to August 2, 2012 (see NHTSA recall 14V-300 for more information).Also, see attached additional report for more information.This investigation was opened to evaluate the scope of two uninfluenced safety recalls (NHTSA recalls 12V-522 and 13V-023) of certain MY 2012 Verano, Camaro, Cruze and Sonic vehicles.These recalls involved the same defect issue as the new recall mentioned above.Accordingly, this investigation is closed based on the recall actions GM is undertaking.
Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module
General Motors (GM) has initiated a safety recall of 31,520 model year (MY) 2012 Buick Verano and Chevrolet Camaro, Cruze and Sonic vehicles to address a defect condition that could result in the primary or secondary stage air bag not deploying.These vehicles are a small percentage of all MY 2012 vehicles and were built on several specific production dates broadly ranging from December 1, 2011 to August 2, 2012 (see NHTSA recall 14V-300 for more information).Also, see attached additional report for more information.This investigation was opened to evaluate the scope of two uninfluenced safety recalls (NHTSA recalls 12V-522 and 13V-023) of certain MY 2012 Verano, Camaro, Cruze and Sonic vehicles.These recalls involved the same defect issue as the new recall mentioned above.Accordingly, this investigation is closed based on the recall actions GM is undertaking.
Air Bags:frontal
General Motors (GM) has initiated a safety recall of 31,520 model year (MY) 2012 Buick Verano and Chevrolet Camaro, Cruze and Sonic vehicles to address a defect condition that could result in the primary or secondary stage air bag not deploying.These vehicles are a small percentage of all MY 2012 vehicles and were built on several specific production dates broadly ranging from December 1, 2011 to August 2, 2012 (see NHTSA recall 14V-300 for more information).Also, see attached additional report for more information.This investigation was opened to evaluate the scope of two uninfluenced safety recalls (NHTSA recalls 12V-522 and 13V-023) of certain MY 2012 Verano, Camaro, Cruze and Sonic vehicles.These recalls involved the same defect issue as the new recall mentioned above.Accordingly, this investigation is closed based on the recall actions GM is undertaking.
Air Bags:frontal
General Motors (GM) has initiated a safety recall of 31,520 model year (MY) 2012 Buick Verano and Chevrolet Camaro, Cruze and Sonic vehicles to address a defect condition that could result in the primary or secondary stage air bag not deploying.These vehicles are a small percentage of all MY 2012 vehicles and were built on several specific production dates broadly ranging from December 1, 2011 to August 2, 2012 (see NHTSA recall 14V-300 for more information).Also, see attached additional report for more information.This investigation was opened to evaluate the scope of two uninfluenced safety recalls (NHTSA recalls 12V-522 and 13V-023) of certain MY 2012 Verano, Camaro, Cruze and Sonic vehicles.These recalls involved the same defect issue as the new recall mentioned above.Accordingly, this investigation is closed based on the recall actions GM is undertaking.
Air Bags
General Motors (GM) has initiated a safety recall of 31,520 model year (MY) 2012 Buick Verano and Chevrolet Camaro, Cruze and Sonic vehicles to address a defect condition that could result in the primary or secondary stage air bag not deploying.These vehicles are a small percentage of all MY 2012 vehicles and were built on several specific production dates broadly ranging from December 1, 2011 to August 2, 2012 (see NHTSA recall 14V-300 for more information).Also, see attached additional report for more information.This investigation was opened to evaluate the scope of two uninfluenced safety recalls (NHTSA recalls 12V-522 and 13V-023) of certain MY 2012 Verano, Camaro, Cruze and Sonic vehicles.These recalls involved the same defect issue as the new recall mentioned above.Accordingly, this investigation is closed based on the recall actions GM is undertaking.
Air Bags
General Motors (GM) has initiated a safety recall of 31,520 model year (MY) 2012 Buick Verano and Chevrolet Camaro, Cruze and Sonic vehicles to address a defect condition that could result in the primary or secondary stage air bag not deploying.These vehicles are a small percentage of all MY 2012 vehicles and were built on several specific production dates broadly ranging from December 1, 2011 to August 2, 2012 (see NHTSA recall 14V-300 for more information).Also, see attached additional report for more information.This investigation was opened to evaluate the scope of two uninfluenced safety recalls (NHTSA recalls 12V-522 and 13V-023) of certain MY 2012 Verano, Camaro, Cruze and Sonic vehicles.These recalls involved the same defect issue as the new recall mentioned above.Accordingly, this investigation is closed based on the recall actions GM is undertaking.