VehicleVerdict

1997 Chevrolet Camaro problems

Verdict · NHTSA data

One of the years to avoid

With 88 complaints filed to NHTSA — about 2.2 times the median Camaro year — the 1997 model ranks #19 of 49 Camaro years for complaint volume. It lands on the years-to-avoid list. Complainants reported 13 injuries in total across these filings.

No single system dominates the record — complaints spread across engine (16), brakes (11), and airbags (8), which usually points to general build quality rather than one defect.

88

NHTSA complaints

6

Recalls

2

Investigations

16

Crash-involved

3

Fires reported

13

Injuries

0

Deaths

—

NCAP overall

How does 1997 compare to other Camaro years?

Camaro NHTSA complaints by model year, 1997 highlighted394 complaints1967: 0 complaints1968: 3 complaints1969: 1 complaints1971: 0 complaints1973: 0 complaints1974: 0 complaints1975: 0 complaints1976: 0 complaints1977: 0 complaints1978: 0 complaints1979: 6 complaints1980: 0 complaints1981: 1 complaints1982: 5 complaints1983: 25 complaints1984: 40 complaints1985: 64 complaints1986: 38 complaints1987: 29 complaints1988: 20 complaints1989: 34 complaints1990: 32 complaints1991: 110 complaints1992: 104 complaints1993: 45 complaints1994: 182 complaints1995: 305 complaints1996: 159 complaints1997: 88 complaints1998: 224 complaints1999: 133 complaints2000: 119 complaints2001: 60 complaints2002: 100 complaints2010: 394 complaints2011: 259 complaints2012: 156 complaints2013: 251 complaints2014: 287 complaints2015: 305 complaints2016: 196 complaints2017: 256 complaints2018: 110 complaints2019: 69 complaints2020: 46 complaints2021: 21 complaints2022: 16 complaints2023: 24 complaints2024: 4 complaints
Camaro NHTSA complaints by model year, 1997 highlighted. Red bars are years to avoid.

See all Camaro years to avoid →

What are the most common 1997 Chevrolet Camaro problems?

ComponentComplaintsShare
Engine1618%
Brakes1113%
Transmission89%
Airbags89%
Lighting89%
Electrical System67%
Visibility & Wipers56%
Steering56%
Body & Structure56%
Suspension45%
Fuel System45%
Seats22%
Seat Belts22%
Other22%
Speed Control11%
Tires & Wheels11%

Does the 1997 Chevrolet Camaro have recalls?

6 NHTSA recall campaigns on file. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.

09E025000LightingMay 11, 2009 · 42,540 units

Defect

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 CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.

Consequence

DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

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.

09E012000LightingApril 7, 2009 · 16,270 units

Defect

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 CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.

Consequence

DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

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.

07E088000OtherOctober 24, 2007 · 121,680 units

Defect

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. THE AFFECTED FILTERS ARE MARKED WITH A DATE CODE A61451 THROUGH A72571 SEQUENTIALLY. THE DATE CODE AND PART NUMBER APPEAR ON THE FILTER HOUSING. FRAM RACING HP4 AND HP8 OIL FILTERS NOT BEARING A DATE CODE IN THIS RANGE ARE NOT AFFECTED BY THIS RECALL. THE GASKET OF THE OIL FILTER BECOMES MORE PLIABLE UNDER HIGH TEMPERATURES AND PRESSURES.

Consequence

THIS CONDITION MAY CAUSE INADEQUATE SEALING AND LOSS OF ENGINE OIL, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A FIRE.

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.

06E065000LightingJuly 17, 2006 · 3,593 units

Defect

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 REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.

Consequence

LACK OF AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS IN THE LAMPS WILL DECREASE LIGHTING VISIBILITY TO OTHER DRIVERS AND MAY POSSIBLY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

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.

06E026000LightingMarch 23, 2006 · 61,944 units

Defect

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 SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.

Consequence

WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

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.

96V219000Seat BeltsNovember 4, 1996 · 1,573 units

Defect

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 FMVSS NO. 209, "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES."

Consequence

IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE COLLISION, UNBELTED OCCUPANTS ARE MORE AT RISK OF INJURY THAN THOSE USING SEAT BELTS.

Remedy

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

Consumer complaints filed with NHTSA

Representative excerpts, cleaned of personal information. These are consumer statements, not verified defects.

“ENGINE CUTS OUT WHEN HOOD GETS WET, WHETHER BY RAIN OR BY WASHING THE CAR. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE SYSTEM WORKED AS DESIGNED. THEY SAID, "IT IS TYPICAL FOR THIS TYPE VEHICLE TO MISS AND RUN ROUGH IF WATER GETS ONTO DISTRIBUTOR ASM UNDER FRONT OF VEHICLE." THERE IS NO FIX…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Engine · October 30, 1999

“ELECTRICAL - DRIVER SIDE PARKING LIGHT OUT & BLINKER, TAIL LIGHT DULL. BULB REPLACEMENT DOES NOT FIX PROBLEM WHICH HAS BEEN THIS WAY FOR 2.5 YEARS. DISC HARDWARE STICKING, CALIPERS BINDING, NOT RELEASING WHEN BRAKES RELEASED CAUSING AN EFFECT AS IF RIDING BRAKES CAUSING PREMATURE WEAE AND LOSS OF…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Brakes · January 28, 2000 · crash

“1997 CAMARO-THE REAR WHEEL AXLE SPINDLE BROKE CAUSING THE REAR WHEEL TO BREAK OFF WHILE TRAVELING AT 45MPH. VEHICLE CAUSED DRIVER TO LOOSE CONTROL HIT HEAD ON IN A DITCH EMBANKMENT, THEN ROLLING OVER AND SLIDING ABOUT 15 FT. THUS CAUSING WHIPLASH TO THE DRIVER AND COMPLETE TOTAL OF VEHICLE”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Transmission · September 11, 2000 · crash

“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…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Lighting · crash

“1997 CAMARO-THE REAR WHEEL AXLE SPINDLE BROKE CAUSING THE REAR WHEEL TO BREAK OFF WHILE TRAVELING AT 45MPH. VEHICLE CAUSED DRIVER TO LOOSE CONTROL HIT HEAD ON IN A DITCH EMBANKMENT, THEN ROLLING OVER AND SLIDING ABOUT 15 FT. THUS CAUSING WHIPLASH TO THE DRIVER AND COMPLETE TOTAL OF VEHICLE”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Airbags · September 11, 2000 · crash

1997 Chevrolet Camaro — common questions

Is the 1997 Chevrolet Camaro reliable?

NHTSA data argues against it: 88 complaints put the 1997 model at #19 of 49 Camaro years. It is one of the Camaro years to avoid.

What are the most common 1997 Camaro problems?

According to NHTSA complaint data, the leading problem areas are engine (16 complaints), brakes (11 complaints), airbags (8 complaints).

Does the 1997 Chevrolet Camaro have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns affecting the 1997 Chevrolet Camaro. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers; check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm the work was done.

Is the 1997 Chevrolet Camaro under NHTSA investigation?

NHTSA opened 2 investigations into this model year; all are now closed.

Which Chevrolet Camaro years should you avoid?

Based on complaint rates and open investigations, the Camaro years to avoid are 2010, 2015, 1995, 2014, 2011, 2017, 2013, 1998, 2016, 1994, 1996, 2012, 1999, 2000, 1991, 2018, 1992, 2002, 1997, 2019, 1985, 2001. The cleanest record among Camaro years belongs to 1980.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.