1988 Chevrolet Camaro Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1988 Chevrolet Camaro, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Fuel system529.4%
- Seat belts529.4%
- Brakes211.8%
- Steering211.8%
- Engine15.9%
- Interior & seats15.9%
- Electrical15.9%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
FUEL FILL LINE LOOSE AT GAS TANK FUEL LEAKS OUT WHEN FULL AND UNDER CORNERING. *TR
CRACK AT FUEL FILL IN 1988 CAMARO, RECALL FOR 1989 BUT WHY NOT 1988 IT IS THE SAME PROBLEM. *JB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
LOOSE STEERING COLUMN. *SKD
TILT STEERING WHEEL LOOSE, CAUSING DIFFICULTLY IN CONTROLING STEERING. TT
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
COOLANT LEAK RESULTED IN ENGINE CRACKING. *AW
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHEN DRIVING, DUE TO A FAULTY HOOD LATCH SPRIING, THE HOOD WILL OPEN. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
VEHICLE IS SUBJECT TO STALLING W/NO WARNING AT ANYTIME DUE TO (ECM) COMPUTER CONSTANTLY FAILING. THE MODULE HAS BEEN REPLACED FIVE TIMES SINCE OWNING VEHICLE AND CONTINUES TO FAIL. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .