MYRModel Year Report

1997 Chevrolet Camaro

● Typical for this model
1997 Chevrolet Camaro
RENDERED 2026-11-01T14:47:45.894Z

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
69
Recalls
6

Campaigns on file for 1997

Investigations
2

Opened by NHTSA

Top problem
Engine and engine cooling

23% of complaints

Complaints per year

1981: 1 complaint 1981 1982: 3 complaints 1983: 16 complaints 1984: 40 complaints 1985: 48 complaints 1986: 33 complaints 1986 1987: 28 complaints 1988: 17 complaints 1989: 25 complaints 1990: 25 complaints 1991: 87 complaints 1991 1992: 88 complaints 1993: 32 complaints 1994: 158 complaints 1995: 217 complaints 1996: 116 complaints 1997: 69 complaints 1997 69 1998: 173 complaints 1999: 90 complaints 2000: 76 complaints 2001: 48 complaints 2002: 68 complaints 2010: 295 complaints 2011: 194 complaints 2012: 113 complaints 2013: 187 complaints 2013 2014: 188 complaints 2015: 206 complaints 2016: 141 complaints 2017: 190 complaints 2018: 80 complaints 2018 2019: 53 complaints 2020: 32 complaints 2021: 20 complaints 2022: 14 complaints 2023: 16 complaints 2023 2024: 4 complaints
1981: 1 complaint 1981 1982: 3 complaints 1983: 16 complaints 1984: 40 complaints 1984 1985: 48 complaints 1986: 33 complaints 1987: 28 complaints 1987 1988: 17 complaints 1989: 25 complaints 1990: 25 complaints 1990 1991: 87 complaints 1992: 88 complaints 1993: 32 complaints 1993 1994: 158 complaints 1995: 217 complaints 1996: 116 complaints 1997: 69 complaints 1997 69 1998: 173 complaints 1999: 90 complaints 2000: 76 complaints 2001: 48 complaints 2002: 68 complaints 2002 2010: 295 complaints 2011: 194 complaints 2012: 113 complaints 2012 2013: 187 complaints 2014: 188 complaints 2015: 206 complaints 2015 2016: 141 complaints 2017: 190 complaints 2018: 80 complaints 2018 2019: 53 complaints 2020: 32 complaints 2021: 20 complaints 2021 2022: 14 complaints 2023: 16 complaints 2024: 4 complaints 2024
1981: 1 complaint 1981 1982: 3 complaints 1983: 16 complaints 1983 1984: 40 complaints 1985: 48 complaints 1985 1986: 33 complaints 1987: 28 complaints 1987 1988: 17 complaints 1989: 25 complaints 1989 1990: 25 complaints 1991: 87 complaints 1991 1992: 88 complaints 1993: 32 complaints 1993 1994: 158 complaints 1995: 217 complaints 1995 1996: 116 complaints 1997: 69 complaints 1997 69 1998: 173 complaints 1999: 90 complaints 1999 2000: 76 complaints 2001: 48 complaints 2001 2002: 68 complaints 2010: 295 complaints 2010 2011: 194 complaints 2012: 113 complaints 2012 2013: 187 complaints 2014: 188 complaints 2014 2015: 206 complaints 2016: 141 complaints 2016 2017: 190 complaints 2018: 80 complaints 2018 2019: 53 complaints 2020: 32 complaints 2020 2021: 20 complaints 2022: 14 complaints 2022 2023: 16 complaints 2024: 4 complaints 2024

1997: 69 complaints

View as data table
YearComplaints
19800
19811
19823
198316
198440
198548
198633
198728
198817
198925
199025
199187
199288
199332
1994158
1995217
1996116
199769
1998173
199990
200076
200148
200268
2010295
2011194
2012113
2013187
2014188
2015206
2016141
2017190
201880
201953
202032
202120
202214
202316
20244

Known problem areas

Percentages can add to more than 100% — a complaint can name more than one system.

Engine and engine cooling

23% · 16 reports

Most commonly citing engine and gasoline.

INJURY

Service brakes

13% · 9 reports

Most commonly citing hydraulic.

CRASHINJURY
Show complaint excerpts

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.

NHTSA ODI report, 2015-12-24

Air bags

12% · 8 reports

Most commonly citing frontal.

CRASHFIREINJURY
Show complaint excerpts

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.

NHTSA ODI report, 2003-06-13

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.

NHTSA ODI report, 1997-04-29

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.

NHTSA ODI report, 1996-12-18

Power train

12% · 8 reports

Most commonly citing driveshaft and axle assembly.

CRASHINJURY

Exterior lighting

12% · 8 reports

Most commonly citing turn signal and switch.

CRASH
Show complaint excerpts

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.

NHTSA ODI report, 2002-11-01

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.

NHTSA ODI report, 2013-05-05

Safety timeline

6 recalls · 2 investigations · oldest first

To check one car, enter its VIN on the NHTSA recall page. Check a VIN →

  1. R
    1996-11-20Seat belts96V219000 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…

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect the seat belts for proper front seat belt retractor position. Retractors found to be improperly positioned will be reinstalled correctly.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  2. I
    1997-07-24Preliminary evaluationClosed 1997-11-13 Fuel tub retaining clip failure
  3. I
    1997-11-13Engineering analysisClosed 1998-09-29 Fuel tube retaining clip failure
  4. R
    2006-04-03Exterior lighting06E026000 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…

    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.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  5. R
    2006-07-31Exterior lighting06E065000 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…

    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.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  6. R
    2007-11-08Equipment07E088000 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.…

    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.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  7. R
    2009-05-11Exterior lighting09E012000 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…

    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.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  8. R
    2009-07-28Exterior lighting09E025000 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…

    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.

    Check if this car was fixed →

Buy-smart checklist

1997 Chevrolet Camaro — pre-purchase inspection

Inspect

  • Engine and engine cooling: 16 reports on file for this year.
  • Service brakes: 9 reports on file for this year.
  • Air bags: 8 reports on file for this year.

Verify these recalls were completed

  • Recall 96V219000 · Seat belts
  • Recall 06E026000 · Exterior lighting
  • Recall 06E065000 · Exterior lighting
  • Recall 07E088000 · Equipment
  • Recall 09E012000 · Exterior lighting
  • Recall 09E025000 · Exterior lighting
Inspected by ______________ Date ______________

Other years of this model

See all years ranked →

Best years3 years

Worst years3 years

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, accounting for 23% of complaints on file.
How many recalls does the 1997 Chevrolet Camaro have?
6 recalls on file for this model year.

Data updated 2026-11-01 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.