1997 Chevrolet Camaro

● Typical for this model

1997 Chevrolet Camaro
RENDERED 2026-08-02T12:53:50.702Z

This year's complaint volume is within 30% of 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

1997: 69 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

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 9%

9% of complaints: engine and engine cooling — 6 distinct reports on file.

AIR BAGS 7%

7% of complaints: air bags — 5 distinct reports on file.

CRASH FIRE INJURY

Show complaint excerpts

WHEN VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A SINGLE CAR CRASH, HITTING A DITCH EMBANKMENT, DESTROYING FRONT END, THERE WAS NO DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAGS AND DRIVER SUFFERED FACIAL INJURIES. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TOTALLED. *AK

NHTSA ODI report, 19970429

AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AT A SPEED OF APPROXIAMTELY 40MPH. DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER AND ICY ROADS, THE CAR SLID ON ICE AND SLAMMED INTO A TREE, BUT NEITHER AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. *AK

NHTSA ODI report, 19961218

VISIBILITY 4%

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

INJURY

POWER TRAIN 4%

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

POWER TRAIN 4%

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

CRASH INJURY

SAFETY TIMELINE

R 19961120 — seat belts

THESE VEHICLES WERE MANUFACTURED WITH SEAT BELT RETRACTORS OUT OF DESIGN POSITION WHICH CAN CAUSE THE RETRACTOR TO LOCK-UP ON SLOPES LESS SEVERE THAN THE FMVSS REQUIREMENT. THIS DOES NOT COMPLY WITH

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE SEAT BELTS FOR PROPER FRONT SEAT BELT RETRACTOR POSITION. RETRACTORS FOUND TO BE IMPROPERLY POSITIONED WILL BE REINSTALLED CORRECTLY.

Campaign 96V219000 — check if this car was fixed

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

1997 Chevrolet Camaro — pre-purchase inspection

Test/inspect for engine and engine cooling issues (6 reports on file for this year).
Test/inspect for air bags issues (5 reports on file for this year).
Test/inspect for visibility issues (3 reports on file for this year).
Verify recall 96V219000 (seat belts) has been completed.
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 1997 Chevrolet Camaro reliable?

Based on NHTSA complaint volume compared to this model's typical year, the 1997 Chevrolet Camaro is rated "typical".

What are the most common problems with the 1997 Chevrolet Camaro?

The most-reported component is engine and engine cooling:engine, accounting for 9% of complaints on file.

How many recalls does the 1997 Chevrolet Camaro have?

6 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.