1996 Chevrolet Camaro

◆ Worse than typical

1996 Chevrolet Camaro
RENDERED 2026-08-02T12:53:49.747Z

This year had 30% to 100% more complaints than this model's typical year.

This verdict reflects complaint volume compared to this model's typical year. Recalls and safety issues below apply regardless of the verdict — always check them.

How is this computed?

COMPLAINTS PER YEAR

1996: 116 complaints

View as data table

Year	Complaints
1980	0
1981	1
1982	3
1983	16
1984	39
1985	46
1986	32
1987	28
1988	17
1989	25
1990	25
1991	86
1992	88
1993	32
1994	144
1995	216
1996	116
1997	69
1998	173
1999	90
2000	76
2001	48
2002	68
2010	295
2011	194
2012	110
2013	187
2014	187
2015	205
2016	138
2017	183
2018	78
2019	51
2020	31
2021	16
2022	13
2023	15
2024	4

KNOWN PROBLEM AREAS

AIR BAGS 12%

12% of complaints: air bags — 14 distinct reports on file.

CRASH INJURY

Show complaint excerpts

WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH DURING A SNOW STORM VEHICLE VEERED AND BUMPED INTO A CONCRETE MEDIAN. VEHICLE ONLY HAD SCRATCHES ON THE BUMPER, BUT THE FRONT AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. WHEN THE FRONT AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, THE WINDSHIELD BROKE.

NHTSA ODI report, 20031215

ANOTHER CAR HIT HEAD ON, NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. *AK

NHTSA ODI report, 19960604

UPON IMPACT, DURING FRONTAL CRASH, AT APPROX. 45MPH, 9:00 ON FRONT BUMPER, BOTH DRIVER/PASS. AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY WHEN HIT A TREE. *AK

NHTSA ODI report, 19960405

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 9%

9% of complaints: service brakes, hydraulic — 11 distinct reports on file.

CRASH INJURY

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 8%

8% of complaints: engine and engine cooling — 9 distinct reports on file.

POWER TRAIN 7%

7% of complaints: power train — 8 distinct reports on file.

VISIBILITY 3%

3% of complaints: visibility — 4 distinct reports on file.

SAFETY TIMELINE

▮ 1996 — complaint volume: 116

I 19970724 — PE (closed 19971113)

FUEL TUB RETAINING CLIP FAILURE

I 19971113 — EA (closed 19980929)

FUEL TUBE RETAINING CLIP FAILURE

R 20060403 — exterior lighting

CERTAIN PRO-A MOTORS CORNER LAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER S

Remedy: PRO-A MOTORS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PRO-A MOTORS AT 323-838-2988.

Campaign 06E026000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20060731 — exterior lighting

CERTAIN AJ MOTORSPORT COMBINATION LAMPS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED PASSENGER VEHICLES. COMBINATION LAMPS NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM WITH THE RE

Remedy: AJ MOTORSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 31, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT AJ MOTORSPORT AT 626-618-2026.

Campaign 06E065000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20071108 — equipment

CERTAIN HONEYWELL FRAM RACING BRAND HP4 AND HP8 OIL FILTERS THAT WERE MANUFACTURED FROM MAY 25, 2006, THROUGH SEPTEMBER 14, 2007, AND SOLD FOR USE AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR VEHICLES LIST ABOVE. TH

Remedy: HONEYWELL WILL REPLACE THE AFFECTED OIL FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN DURING NOVEMBER 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT FRAM CUSTOMER SERVICE TOLL-FREE AT 1-800-890-2075.

Campaign 07E088000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20090511 — exterior lighting

SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONF

Remedy: SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.

Campaign 09E012000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20090728 — exterior lighting

DOPE, INC. IS RECALLING 42,540 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONF

Remedy: DOPE, INC. WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 28, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOPE, INC. AT 1-626-272-1798.

Campaign 09E025000 — check if this car was fixed

BUY-SMART CHECKLIST

1996 Chevrolet Camaro — pre-purchase inspection

Test/inspect for air bags issues (14 reports on file for this year).
Test/inspect for service brakes, hydraulic issues (11 reports on file for this year).
Test/inspect for engine and engine cooling issues (9 reports on file for this year).
Verify recall 06E026000 (exterior lighting) has been completed.
Verify recall 06E065000 (exterior lighting) has been completed.
Verify recall 07E088000 (equipment) has been completed.
Verify recall 09E012000 (exterior lighting) has been completed.
Verify recall 09E025000 (exterior lighting) has been completed.

OTHER YEARS OF THIS MODEL

BEST YEARS

▲ 2020 ▲ 1986 ▲ 1993

WORST YEARS

■ 2010 ■ 1995 ■ 2015

See all years ranked →

FAQ

Is the 1996 Chevrolet Camaro reliable?

Based on NHTSA complaint volume compared to this model's typical year, the 1996 Chevrolet Camaro is rated "worse than typical".

What are the most common problems with the 1996 Chevrolet Camaro?

The most-reported component is air bags:frontal, accounting for 12% of complaints on file.

How many recalls does the 1996 Chevrolet Camaro have?

5 recalls on file for this model year.

Data updated 2026-07-11 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.