RoadVitals

1998 Chevrolet Camaro Electrical Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the electrical system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Electrical reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
14
Latest Sep 13, 2004
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
8%
of 173 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1998 Chevrolet Camaro submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 14 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming electrical

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Electrical
Filed Sep 13, 2004

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 ID
10090886
Incident
Sep 1, 2004
Mileage
129,530 mi
BrakesElectricalFuel system
Filed Feb 5, 2004

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 ID
10056578
Incident
Feb 5, 2004
Electrical
Filed Oct 28, 2003

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 ID
10043750
Incident
Jan 2, 2003
Mileage
10,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Sep 21, 2003

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 ID
10039242
Incident
Sep 21, 2003
ElectricalSuspension
Filed Aug 20, 2003

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 ID
10033214
Incident
Aug 8, 2003
Mileage
43,000 mi
ElectricalEngine
Filed Apr 19, 2002

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 ID
760912
Incident
Jan 1, 1999
BrakesHeating & air conditioningElectrical+3 more
Filed Aug 31, 2001

WHILE DRIVING, TIRE EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION, CAUSING DAMAGE TO VEHICLE, FIRESTONE AFFINITY, P195/65R15, CLAIM 35-W494-385. *SLC

NHTSA ID
6900316
Incident
Aug 16, 2000
Electrical
Filed Jun 8, 2001

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 ID
746597
Incident
Apr 1, 2001
BrakesElectricalEngine+2 more
Filed Feb 11, 2000

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 ID
856765
BrakesHeating & air conditioningElectrical+1 more
Filed May 13, 1999

BRAKES REPAIRED 10/98 @14000 MI. BRAKES REPLACED 12/98 @ 20,700 MI. BRAKES REPAIRED 5/99 @ 25,035 MI. ALSO - STARTER MOTOR @ 7700 MI., WATER PUMP @ 20,00 MI., AND NOW THE A/C COMPRESSOR AND BLOWERR MOTOR ARE ON ORDER BECAUSE THE A/C IS NOT COLD. WHAT'S NEXT?*AK

NHTSA ID
706461
Incident
May 10, 1999
Electrical
Filed Mar 5, 1999

WHEN HOOD IS CLOSED, FUEL LINE IS BEING PUNCTURED BY UPPER IGNITION COIL BOLT ON DRIVER'S SIDE FRON TOF VALVE COVER. THIS COULD EVENTUALLY CAUSE A FIRE. *AK

NHTSA ID
834617
Incident
Feb 7, 1999
Electrical
Filed Feb 1, 1999

SPARK PLUG WIRE FAILED. *YC

NHTSA ID
608046
Incident
Sep 1, 1998
BrakesElectrical
Filed Feb 1, 1999

VEHICLE HORN DOES NOT WORK CONSISTANTLY. *YC

NHTSA ID
607755
Electrical
Filed Feb 1, 1999

ALTERNATOR FAILED. *YC

NHTSA ID
607071
Incident
Nov 16, 1998

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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .