Selling a junk or non-running Chevrolet Camaro

This page covers the 1984 through 2024 model years. There was no Camaro for 2003 to 2009, so the years jump from the fourth generation to the fifth.

Which Camaro is it?

1984-1992: belts, buckles and a parking brake

Belt complaints outnumber every other category on each of the 1984 to 1987 cars. On the 1984, 28 of 39 complaints concern belts; on the 1986, 23 of 32. Three recalls line up with them. Recall 85V169 (1984-1985) fixed shoulder belt retractors whose spring cover could slip so the belt would not retract. Recall 90V105 (1984-1990) replaced buckles made of plastic with no ultraviolet stabilizer, which sunlight and cabin heat could weaken until they broke. Recall 91V055 (1984-1986) replaced parking brake adjusters that quit working as the pads wore, so the brake might not hold the car on a slope.

The last two years of the generation brought fuel problems. The fuel system is the top category on the 1991 and the 1992, and recall 94V077 covered filler neck solder joints on those cars that could crack or leak, a fire risk near any ignition source. The 1992 had one more: an automatic transmission shift cable that could separate (92V154).

1993-2002: brakes

The fourth generation drew few recalls, five in ten years, and its complaints lean heavily on brakes. Hydraulic brakes are the top category on the 1995 (53 of 216) and the 1998 (79 of 173), and first or tied for first on every year from 1999 through 2002. Owners describe rotors and pads worn out early, rust, and ABS faults; 65 complaints on the 1998 alone mention rust, rotors, pads, calipers or ABS. We found no recall, bulletin or coverage program behind those reports.

GM's Dex-Cool class settlement listed the 3.8-liter V6 Camaro among the cars whose owners could claim back cooling-system repair bills. Its notice wanted claims "postmarked no later than October 27, 2008," so it is history now.

2010-2015: the knee and the key

The fifth generation launched from Oshawa, Ontario, and its first year, the 2010, has more complaints than any other Camaro: 295. The biggest recall for this generation came in 2014. Campaign 14V346 covers every 2010-2014 Camaro built from December 3, 2008 to May 23, 2014, which is 464,712 cars, all of them Camaros. A driver's knee can bump the flip key out of Run and shut the engine off, and with the key out of Run the air bags may not deploy. Dealers removed the blade from the flip key and handed over separate keys and key rings.

The complaints track it. On the 2014, 40 of 188 mention the key, fob or ignition. The 2015 sits outside the recall, yet 68 of its 206 complaints mention the key or ignition too, one owner writing that the key "becomes stuck and cannot be removed."

Air bags lead the complaints on the 2010 and 2011. Seventeen 2010 complaints and 22 on the 2011 describe the passenger air bag status reading OFF, or flicking on and off, with someone in the seat. On the 2012, recalls 13V023 and 14V300 replaced a driver air bag coil whose shorting bar could stop the bag from deploying; both also cover the Cruze, Sonic and Buick Verano. Recall 23V516 covers 767 vehicles from 2013, Camaros among them, whose driver air bag inflator may explode during deployment.

Special coverage 15030 dealt with license plate lamp housings on 2010-2013 Camaros without rear tow hooks. Retention features "could fracture off the housing," letting the bulb socket shift until a lit bulb touched and melted the housing and the rear bumper cover. GM honored it "for a period of 10 years or 120,000 miles" from first service, which nearly every such car has outlived. GM bulletin 12-09-41-001 also warned dealers about counterfeit air bag modules, naming the 2011-2012 Camaro; that matters on a car rebuilt after a crash.

2016-2024: steering and the 10-speed

The sixth generation was built in Lansing, Michigan, until December 14, 2023, and it has far fewer complaints: 548 across nine model years. Steering stands out on the 2017, where 57 of 189 complaints concern it, many describing a power steering warning on the dash and lost assist. Recalls 19V086 (2017) and 25V175 (2017-2018) cover electric power steering assist that may fail; both campaigns also include the Corvette and Cadillac ATS and CTS.

GM's special coverage N182201660, issued January 2020, covers about 179,242 2016-2018 Camaros. Sitting on the seat belt cable cover again and again while getting in can bend the driver's pretensioner cable until it separates, which GM says happens very rarely. The bulletin sets the term "for a period of 10 years or 120,000 miles (193,000 km) whichever occurs first, from the date the vehicle was originally placed in service, regardless of ownership," so some 2017 and 2018 cars are still inside it.

The 10-speed automatic is the late-model worry. Recall 25V148 covers 2020-2022 Camaros with that transmission, which "may become damaged internally and cause the wheels to lock-up." Dealers install monitoring software on the transmission control module, and owner letters went out on April 7, 2025. The campaign's 90,081 vehicles include Cadillac CT4, CT5 and CT6 models.

NHTSA complaints and recalls by year

We counted these from NHTSA's records on October 10, 2026, folding the thinnest early and late years together. Campaigns that reach into more than one row appear in each, which is why that column sums past 37.

Repair it, or let it go?

The comparison is yours to make: a written quote against what the car would bring once it runs and drives. Check these first.

• Recalls. Put the VIN through NHTSA's lookup. Dealers do open recall work free; on a 2010-2014, look for the key recall first.
• 2016-2018 seat belt warning or a loose pretensioner. Ask a dealer about special coverage N182201660 before paying for anything.
• A 2020-2022 10-speed that slips, bangs or locks up. Ask about 25V148 first, then see the bad transmission guide.
• A V8 or V6 that's done. The blown engine guide walks through rebuild, swap or sell.

Selling your Camaro

Send the VIN, the odometer reading and what has failed, online or by phone at (877) 421-6008.

Say where the Camaro lives, from a home garage to a body shop's back fence, and whether it will roll and steer onto a truck. Pickup is free anywhere in the US.

Leave it in one piece. Keep the wheels, seats, engine and catalytic converter on the car; a part that's already gone should be mentioned up front, since it changes the offer. When the truck arrives, have the title signed and your photo ID handy, and hand over every key. For plates and registration, see after you sell, and if the title is missing, start with selling without a title.

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