1997 Chevrolet Camaro Owner Complaints

THIS CAR IS A 97 Z28 WITH THE 350CI MOTOR AND 4 SPEED AUTO TRANSMISSION. WHAT HAPPENS IS THAT WHEN THE FRONT WHEELS ARE NOT TURNING, THE REAR BRAKES DO NOT ENGAGE, NO MATTER HOW HARD YOU PUSH DOWN ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE ISSUE PRESENTS ITSELF UNDER ICY CONDITIONS. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED WAS WHEN I PULLED INTO A SPOT AT A FAST FOOD PLACE, THE PARKING SPOT WAS ICY WHILE THE REST OF THE LOT WAS ICE FREE. AS I PULLED INTO THE SPOT, I PUT ON MY BRAKES AND THE FRONT WHEELS STOPPED, BUT THE REAR DID NOT. THEY WERE ON THE CLEAR PART OF THE PARKING LOT AND THEY SHOULD HAVE STOPPED MY FORWARD MOTION, HOWEVER THEY DID NOT. SLID AHEAD UNTIL THE FRONT HIT THE SNOW BANK. THOUGHT THIS WAS UNUSUAL, BUT DIDN'T CONCERN MYSELF ABOUT IT ANY MORE. NEXT TIME I BECAME AWARE OF THE PROBLEM WAS WHEN I HAD THE REAR (BOTH) WHEELS OF THE CAR OFF THE GROUND AND I PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE AS I WANTED TO CHECK IF ONE OF THE REAR RIMS WAS BENT. WELL NO IT WASN'T BUT WHEN I GOT BACK IN THE CAR TO PUT IT IN PARK, I PRESSED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL TO STOP THE REAR WHEELS FROM TURNING, AND THEN WENT TO PUT THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER IN PARK. BIG GRINDING NOISE. SO I PRESSED HARDER ON THE BRAKE AND TRIED TO PUT IT IN PARK AGAIN, AGAIN BIG GRINDING NOISE. SO I LOOKED AT THE REAR WHEELS WHILE PRESSING THE BRAKE, AND WHAT TO MY SURPRISE, THE REAR WHEELS DO NOT STOP! THIS CAN'T BE A GOOD THING. TODAY AS I BACKED OUT OF THE GARAGE, THE DRIVEWAY WAS A LITTLE ICY. SO AS I BACKED UP, I PUT ON THE BRAKES, AND OF COURSE, ONLY THE FRONT WHEELS STOPPED AND THE REAR WHEELS KEPT PULLING THE CAR DOWN THE DRIVEWAY. NOT A GOOD THING IF A CAR IS PASSING BY ON THE STREET. SO WHAT'S UP WITH THIS. YES MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON, BUT I WAS TOLD BY THE CHEV DEALER THAT IT IS FROM THE TRANSMISSION BECAUSE SOMETIMES, WHEN IT IS HOT, IT WILL SHIFT HARD.

NHTSA ID

10816172

Incident

Dec 24, 2015

Mileage

152,690 mi

1997 THROUGH 2002 CAMARO'S EQUIPPED WITH DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS MAY EXPERIENCE FAILURES OF TURN SIGNALS. FAILURES INCLUDE FAILURE OF TURN SIGNALS TO ILLUMINATE OR FAILURE TO BLINK. FAILURES MAY ALSO INCLUDE PREMATURE BULB FAILURE TO HEADLIGHTS, TURN SIGNALS (FRONT AND REAR), AND PARKING LIGHTS. I HAVE ENCOUNTERED NUMEROUS VEHICLES WITH FRONT AND REAR TURN SIGNAL SOCKETS BURNED/ SHORTED. THE TURN SIGNALS OPERATE THROUGH THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHT MODULE AND MODULE IS PRONE TO FAILURE/ OVERHEAT/ SHORTING CAUSING FAILURE OF TURN SIGNALS. WIRING TO DTRL MODULE IN DASH BEHIND RADIO IS OFTEN OVERHEATED OR BURNED CAUSING INTERMITTENT OR COMPLETE LOSS OF FUNCTION TO TURN SIGNALS. LOSS OF TURN SIGNAL FUNCTION CAN CAUSE ACCIDENTS AND WIRING SHORTS FROM OVERHEAT CONDITIONS MAY LEAD TO IN DASH FIRES OR ISOLATED FIRES WITHIN EXTERIOR LAMPS.OVERHEATED IN DASH WIRING MAY CAUSE DAMAGE TO OTHER SYSTEMS OR COMPONENTS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10510671

Incident

May 5, 2013

Mileage

39,000 mi

WINDOWS INTERMITTENTLY WORKED WHEN THE WANT TO. NOW DRIVERS WINDOW WILL NOT GO UP AND PASSENGERS SIDE STILL WORKS WHEN IT WANTS TO. THE CONSEQUENCES COULD BE DEVASTATING AS I LIVE IN A TOWN THAT HAS A HIGH CRIME RATE AS IN CARJACKING. I ALSO HAVE MY TODDLER IN HIS CARSEAT AND THE WIND HAS CAUSED HIM TO STOP BREATHING FOR A MOMENT AND SCARED ME TO NO END. THEN I CAN NOT CARRY A CHILD WITH ASTHMA BECAUSE OF THE WIND/AIR WILL CAUSE HIM TO HAVE AN ATTACK. I AM CURRENTLY TRYING TO RAISE THE MONEY TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM. I RESEARCHED THE PROBLEM ON-LINE AND DISCOVERED THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH THE CAMARO'S AND IT'S NOT A SMALL PROBLEM. NOW I AM FORCED TO HAVE MY CAR OPEN TO THEFT AS I CAN'T ROLL MY WINDOW UP AND I CAN NOT CARRY MY PRECIOUS CARGO AS IT IS UNSAFE TO THERE HEALTH. I CAN'T IMAGINE IF IT WERE TO RAIN I WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO DRIVE IT MYSELF..THE INJURIES WERE TO THE TODDLER WHOM STOPPED BREATHING DUE TO MUCH AIR FLOW IN HIS FACE BECAUSE I WAS UNABLE TO PUT THE WINDOW UP. *TR

NHTSA ID

10352906

Incident

Aug 29, 2010

Mileage

117,345 mi

LEFT BLINKER KEEPS BLOWING OUT. I'VE REPLACED IT 5 TIMES IN A WEEK AND A HALF. SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM MAJORLY.

NHTSA ID

10124635

Incident

May 28, 2005

Mileage

19,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS ALTERNATOR OVERHEATED, CAUSING A SMALL FIRE IN THE WIRING BEHIND THE ALTERNATOR CONSUMER EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE, AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED. CONSUMER DID NOT REPORT FIRE TO POLICE OR FIRE DEPARTMENT. ALSO, DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10103349

Incident

Nov 17, 2004

Mileage

90,000 mi

DRIVING DOWN ROAD WHEN STEERING ARM BROKE, RESULTING IN CAR GOING OFF THE ROAD THROUGH A DITCH LEADING TO SEVERE CRASH.NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO REMEDY THE FAILURE THE VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS.*AK

NHTSA ID

10098101

Incident

Oct 18, 2004

Mileage

94,000 mi

AIR BAGS ON 1997 CAMARO DID NOT DEPLOY ON COLLISION AND ROLL OVER.*AK

NHTSA ID

10068377

Incident

Apr 1, 2004

Mileage

110,000 mi

THE PASSENGER'S SIDE REAR WINDOW MOTOR FAILED WITHOUT ANY INDICATION THAT A PROBLEM WAS DEVELOPING. CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO RAISE THE WINDOW. *AK

NHTSA ID

10046540

WHILE DRIVING, THE POWER STEERING BROKE WHICH CAUSED FLUID TO SPILL OUT AND TOTAL FAILURE OF THE STEERING. *AK THE CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND THE SERPENTINE BELT WERE REPLACED. *SCC *JB

NHTSA ID

10040373

Incident

Sep 15, 2003

Mileage

20,600 mi

SINCE VEHICLE PURCHASE TURN SIGNAL AND PARKING "YELLOW" LIGHTS WERE CONSTANTLY ILLUMINATING. CONSUMER ASSUMED THAT VEHICLE WAS SUPPOSED TO OPERATE THAT WAY. WHEN THE RIGHT TURN SIGNAL LIGHT BLEW, CONSUMER TOOK CAR TO DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED AS A ELECTRICAL WIRING PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

10024317

Mileage

24,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING LOST CONTROL, ACCIDENT OCCURRED AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *MR THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WHEN HE HIT A TREE, BOUNCED FORWARD, AND SMASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. *SCC

NHTSA ID

10022307

WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH THE CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND AS A RESULT HIT ANOTHER DRIVER. NONE OF THE VEHICLES AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. *NLM

NHTSA ID

10009830

WITHIN 5 MONTHS OF PURCHASE (THE MILEAGE WAS 59585 WHEN ISSUES BEGAN) I BEGAN HAVING ISSUES WITH THE ENGINE, AND TOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP OVER 10 TIMES OVER THE NEXT YEAR, AND WAS CHARGED $500 EVERY TIME FOR THEM TO PUT NEW SPARK PLUGS AND WIRES AND SEND ME HOME ONLY TO COME BACK A MONTH LATER WITH THE SAME PROBLEM ONLY WORSE. THIS LASTED UNTIL MY WARRANTY EXPIRED AND THEN I WAS TOLD I NEEDED A NEW ENGINE. I FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE BBB (#CHV0230345) AND IT WAS ACCEPTED FOR ARBITRATION BUT THE MANUFACTURER NEVER CONTACTED ME AS THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO AND I CAN NOT GET A RESPONSE. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE MOTOR AND THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER TWICE AND NOW THE CAR WILL NOT EVEN START. I ALWAYS TOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP SO THAT IT WOULD BE PROPERLY SERVICED, AND I AM VERY UPSET AND AM PLANNING ON SEEKING REIMBURSEMENT, COMPENSATION AND A VEHICLE THAT WORKS. I SEE THAT THERE WERE MANY BULLETINS SENT OUT REGARDING THE SAME ISSUES AND HAVE SPOKEN TO OTHER 1997 CAMARO OWNERS WHO ARE ALSO VERY UPSET AND HAVE THE SAME ISSUES, AND WE ARE SEEKING TO FILE A CLASS ACTION SUIT. TS

NHTSA ID

10005061

Incident

Jan 8, 2001

Mileage

59,585 mi

LEAK IN REAR MAIN SEAL

NHTSA ID

10002949

Incident

Dec 18, 2002

Mileage

67,400 mi

THE CAMARO, FIREBIRD, CORVETTE, AND SOME GM MINIVANS USE THE FRONT TURN SIGNAL LAMPS FOR DAYTIME RUNNING LAMPS. WHEN ONE OF THESE FAILS, THE OTHER BULB IS CONTINUOUSLY ILLUMINATED, WHICH CAN BE MISCONTRUED AS A FAULTY TURN SIGNAL. SUCH CONFUSION ON THE PART OF OTHER MOTORISTS OR PEDESTRIANS CAN EASILY LEAD TO A CRASH. SUGGESTED COURSE OF ACTION: RECALL ALL SUCH 1997-2003 VEHICLES AND DISCONNECT DRLS OR REWIRE DRLS SUCH THAT A SINGLE BULB OUTAGE WILL EXTINGUISH BOTH LAMPS. THE SAME APPLIES TO THE GM FULL SIZE TRUCKS, BUT TO A LESSER EXTENT BECAUSE THEY USE DEDICATED FUNCTION WHITE LAMPS FOR DRLS INSTEAD OF THE AMBER TURN SIGNALS. DT

NHTSA ID

768697

#5 FUEL INJECTOR FAILED FOR THE 3RD TIME WHILE DRIVING, CAUSING VEHICLE TO SLOW DOWN CONSIDERABLY, ALMOST HAVING A COLLISION. CONSUMER THIS WAS3RD FAILED FUEL INJECTOR IN 5 YEARS.

NHTSA ID

8018528

Incident

Sep 1, 2002

DURING REPAIRS TECHNICIAN INFORMED CONSUMER OF A MELTED FURL PUMP WIRE WITHIN TFUEL TANK WHICH COULD CAUSE A POSSIBLE FIRE. DEALER AND MANUFACTUERE WERE NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID

8012907

Incident

Jun 28, 2002

ENGINE STALLED INTERMITTENTLY. VEHICLE TAKEN TO THE REPAIR SHOP, AND CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT PROBLEM WAS A MALFUNCTIONING FUEL PUMP. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID

8012903

Incident

Jun 28, 2002

SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR NEW, IT HAS GONE THROUGH 4 SETS OF REAR DISC PADS. THE PADS HAVE UNEVEN WEAR FROM TOP TO BOTTOM WHICH MAKE THE CAR HAVE A "NOT SMOOTH" STOPPING FEEL. THE MOST RECENT INCIDENT ON 6/2002 WAS THE REAR BRAKES MAKING A LOUD SQUEELING NOISE WHEN STOPPING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT. THE REAR WHEELS ARE MORE DIRTY THAN THE FRONT WHEELS. NORMALLY, THE FRONTS WOULD BE MORE DIRTY THAN THE REARS. THIS LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THE REAR BRAKES ARE "HANGING UP" ON THE ROTOR (NOT RELEASING). THE DEALER INSISTS THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE REAR BRAKES.*AK

NHTSA ID

763058

CENTER BEARING BROKEN INSIDE MOTOR. *AK *TS *NLM *DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIST*762837

NHTSA ID

10009368

Incident

Nov 1, 1999

Mileage

59,000 mi

VEHICLE WAS LEAKING COOLANT. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER AND DEALER INDICATED ENGINE COOLANT WAS BREAKING DOWN AND MALFUNCTIONING DIFFERENT PARTS IN ENGINE.*AK

NHTSA ID

8003454

Incident

Dec 12, 2001

GMC PAPER WORK ADMITS A DESIGN DEFECT, LOOKING FOR OTHER POWER TRANSMISSION FAILURES. *AK

NHTSA ID

750877

Incident

Sep 4, 1996

EXCESSIVE RUST IN THE COOLING SYSTEM POSSIBLY DUE TO DEXCOOL COOLANT. CAUSING OVERHEATING, FALSE INSTRUMENT READINGS, AND GUMMING UP THE THERMOSTAT CAUSING IT TO STICK.

NHTSA ID

746942

Incident

Feb 15, 2001

DRIVESHAFT FAILED IMMEDIATELY AFTER PURCHASE, POSSIBLY RELATED TO THE INSTALLATION OF UNBALANCED DRIVESHAFT. *YH

NHTSA ID

785019

VEHICLE HAS EXTREME VIBRATION WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH DUE TO DRIVESHAFT WEARING OUT. *AK

NHTSA ID

882010

Incident

Jan 1, 1997