EQUIPMENT
1989 Chevrolet Camaro
Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data
Data refreshed
Overview
Our database contains 25 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1989 Chevrolet Camaro, most frequently naming the seat belts, brakes and electrical categories. 6 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 1 manufacturer communication is on file.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Complaint activity over time
When owners filed reports about this model year
View as table
| Month | Complaints filed | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|
| Mar 1995 | 1 | 1 |
| Jun 1995 | 1 | 2 |
| Jul 1995 | 1 | 3 |
| Aug 1995 | 2 | 5 |
| Nov 1995 | 1 | 6 |
| Dec 1995 | 1 | 7 |
| Jan 1996 | 1 | 8 |
| Mar 1996 | 1 | 9 |
| Dec 1996 | 1 | 10 |
| Jan 1997 | 1 | 11 |
| May 1997 | 1 | 12 |
| Aug 1998 | 1 | 13 |
| Sep 1998 | 1 | 14 |
| Jun 1999 | 2 | 16 |
| Feb 2000 | 1 | 17 |
| Oct 2000 | 2 | 19 |
| Nov 2000 | 1 | 20 |
| Oct 2001 | 1 | 21 |
| Sep 2003 | 1 | 22 |
| Mar 2004 | 1 | 23 |
| Jan 2005 | 1 | 24 |
| Aug 2007 | 1 | 25 |
What owners report
Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded
- Seat belts623.1%
- Brakes519.2%
- Electrical415.4%
- Interior & seats27.7%
- Engine27.7%
- Fuel system27.7%
- Steering27.7%
- Tires & wheels13.8%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Safety recalls
6 campaigns cover this model year
Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.
Check a VIN on NHTSA.govFUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Recent owner complaints
Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words
1989 CHEVROLET CAMARO CAUGHT FIRE. CONSUMER PULLED OVER WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS NOT WORKING PROPERLY AND NOTICED IT WAS ON FIRE. *KB ACCORDING TO THE POLICE REPORT, THE FIRE WAS PRESENT A THE LEFT REAR QUARTER OF THE VEHICLE NEAR THE FUEL FILL OPENING. IT WAS UNCERTAIN AS TO ACTUAL CAUSE OF FIRE. OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT. *JB
- NHTSA ID
- 10201498
- Incident
- Jul 8, 2007
THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT WILL NOT RETRACT, PASSENGER CANNOT USE THE SEAT BELT. *AK
- NHTSA ID
- 10106673
- Incident
- Aug 10, 2004
- Mileage
- 119,000 mi
GMC REFUSES TO REPLACE MY FAULTY SEAT BELTS AND HAND BRAKE. *AK
- NHTSA ID
- 10062657
- Incident
- Mar 10, 2004
IGNITION/BAT/SECURITY SYSTEM/WIRING/ALTERNATOR/BATTERY THE SECURITY LIGHT COMES ON AND STAYS ON AND THE CAR WON'T START. SOMETIMES FOR HOURS. ONCE THE SECURITY SYSTEM RESETS IT WILL START. HAVE REPLACED THE IGNITION SEVERAL TIMES. ALTERNATOR AND BATTERY AT LEAST 2 TIMES A YEAR FOR THE PAST 3 YEARS. *JB
- NHTSA ID
- 10038815
- Incident
- Jan 8, 2001
CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AND NOTICED THAT DURING A COLLISION DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE WAS BROKEN, AND DID NOT PROTECT DRIVER. *AK
- NHTSA ID
- 898398
- Incident
- Sep 1, 2001
WHILE DRIVING, RIGHT REAR YOKOHAMA MOHAWK MONTEGA A/S TIRE EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION, RIGHT REAR QUARTER PANEL AND PASSENGER DOOR WERE DAMAGED DUE TO ACCIDENT, TIRE SIZE P215/65R15, DOT # CCIHFH1488. *SLC
- NHTSA ID
- 874948
- Incident
- Oct 17, 2000
CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 35MPH ON HIGHWAY, APPLIED BRAKES, AND FRONT END OF VEHICLE WAS VIBRATING, CONSUMER COULDN'T CONTROL VEHICLE. TIRE WAS SLIDDING FRONT TO BACK, TOUCHING THE INSIDE OF THE WHEEL WELL. FRONT CROSS MEMBER CONTROL ARM ATTACHMENT WAS BROKEN. THERE WERE NO INJURIES.*AK
- NHTSA ID
- 873321
- Incident
- Oct 2, 2000
REAR BRAKE CALIPERS INOPERATIVE. TOOK CAR IN FOR EMISSIONS TESTING AND REAR BRAKES WOULD NOT STOP CAR WHILE REAR WHEELS WERE ON ROLLERS. REAR BRAKES WILL NOT STOP WHEELS WHEN REAR OF VEHICLE IS RAISED AND VEHICLE PLACED IN DRIVE. HAVE NOT HAD TO CHANGE REAR BRAKE PADS SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR TWO YEARS AGO. PARKING BRAKE STICKS. HAVE TO MANUALLY RELEASE PARKING BRAKE MECHANISM. CAR SEEMS TO TAKE LONGER TO STOP THAN ANY REAR DRUM CAMARO I'VE EVER OWNED. HAVE ASKED AROUND ON VARIOUS CAMARO SPECIFIC WEB SITES AND HAVE FOUND THAT SEVERAL PEOPLE HAVE SAME PROBLEM. ONLY SOLUTION FOR MANY IS TO INSTALL AFTERMARKET SETUPS. FIND IT RIDICULOUS TO HAVE TO BUY AFTERMARKET IN ORDER TO STOP SAFELY. VARIOUS LOCAL DEALERS CONTACTED WITH NO HELP.
- NHTSA ID
- 733798
Manufacturer communications
A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.
EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL
NO SERIAL DATA COMMUNICATIONS USING THE TECH 1 WITH A 1986 OR NEWER CAMARO, FIREBIRD OR CORVETTE WITH A 5.0 OR 5.7 LITRE ENGINE. SIT BULLETIN 1450640. *TT
Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.
Compare model years
Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model
| Year | Complaints | Recalls | Investigations | Issue Index |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2023 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 46.6 |
| 2022 | 13 | 1 | 0 | 52.2 |
| 2021 | 16 | 4 | 0 | 65.9 |
| 2020 | 31 | 3 | 0 | 62.0 |
| 2019 | 52 | 1 | 0 | 51.6 |
| 2018 | 78 | 2 | 0 | 55.5 |
| 2017 | 184 | 3 | 0 | 56.1 |
| 2016 | 139 | 1 | 0 | 43.2 |
| 2015 | 206 | 2 | 0 | 50.6 |
| 2014 | 187 | 4 | 0 | 50.7 |
| 2013 | 187 | 4 | 0 | 54.0 |
| 2012 | 113 | 5 | 1 | 63.7 |
| 2011 | 194 | 3 | 0 | 52.0 |
| 2010 | 295 | 3 | 0 | 50.3 |
| 2002 | 68 | 5 | 0 | 51.1 |
| 2001 | 48 | 4 | 0 | 50.7 |
| 2000 | 76 | 4 | 0 | 52.9 |
| 1999 | 90 | 5 | 0 | 48.5 |
| 1998 | 173 | 4 | 0 | 54.8 |
| 1997 | 69 | 6 | 2 | 63.7 |
| 1996 | 116 | 5 | 2 | 64.5 |
| 1995 | 216 | 6 | 2 | 66.5 |
| 1994 | 144 | 6 | 2 | 65.9 |
| 1993 | 32 | 6 | 0 | 55.6 |
| 1992 | 88 | 5 | 1 | 62.0 |
| 1991 | 86 | 7 | 4 | 64.7 |
| 1990 | 25 | 5 | 1 | 64.4 |
| 1989Viewing | 25 | 6 | 0 | 57.9 |
| 1988 | 17 | 5 | 4 | 56.8 |
| 1987 | 28 | 4 | 6 | 65.3 |
| 1986 | 32 | 7 | 7 | 61.2 |
| 1985 | 46 | 6 | 10 | 64.1 |
| 1984 | 39 | 7 | 10 | 65.9 |
| 1983 | 16 | 4 | 5 | 59.5 |
| 1982 | 3 | 4 | 5 | — |
| 1981 | 1 | 2 | 1 | — |
| 1980 | 0 | 3 | 1 | — |
| 1979 | 6 | 3 | 1 | — |
| 1978 | 0 | 1 | 1 | — |
| 1977 | 0 | 3 | 1 | — |
| 1976 | 0 | 3 | 1 | — |
| 1975 | 0 | 3 | 1 | — |
| 1974 | 0 | 4 | 0 | — |
| 1973 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 1971 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 1969 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 1968 | 2 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 1967 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
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. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.