2012 Chevrolet CAMARO problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
113 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
34,471 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2012 model year. Data snapshot: . 84 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 26 of 113 complaints (23.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 16 | 14.2% |
| Engine operation | 11 | 9.7% |
| Transmission and shifting | 10 | 8.8% |
| Braking behavior | 10 | 8.8% |
| Steering behavior | 10 | 8.8% |
| Fuel system concerns | 3 | 2.7% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Engine | 26 |
| Electrical System | 25 |
| Air Bags | 22 |
| Power Train | 13 |
| Steering | 8 |
| Structure:Body | 8 |
| Service Brakes | 7 |
| Unknown Or Other | 7 |
Engine: 26; Electrical System: 25; Air Bags: 22; Power Train: 13; Steering: 8; Structure:Body: 8; Service Brakes: 7; Unknown Or Other: 7
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 36 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 15 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 14 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 11 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 5 |
| 150,000 and above | 3 |
Under 25,000: 36; 25,000 to 49,999: 15; 50,000 to 74,999: 14; 75,000 to 99,999: 11; 100,000 to 149,999: 5; 150,000 and above: 3
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (36). 29 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 15 |
| 2013 | 13 |
| 2014 | 17 |
| 2015 | 9 |
| 2016 | 8 |
| 2017 | 4 |
| 2018 | 12 |
| 2019 | 10 |
| 2020 | 6 |
| 2021 | 3 |
| 2022 | 3 |
| 2023 | 4 |
| 2024 | 3 |
| 2025 | 1 |
| 2026 | 5 |
2012: 15; 2013: 13; 2014: 17; 2015: 9; 2016: 8; 2017: 4; 2018: 12; 2019: 10; 2020: 6; 2021: 3; 2022: 3; 2023: 4; 2024: 3; 2025: 1; 2026: 5
Pattern summary
Engine leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 16 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 11 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 10 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10514527 · 2013-05-31 (May 31, 2013)
I PURCHASED MY 2012 CAMARO IN AUGUST OF 2012. IT WAS BRAND NEW, 0 MILEAGE WHEN I BOUGHT IT. SINCE I HAVE HAD IT, THERE HAVE BEEN NO ISSUES...UNTIL TODAY. I WOKE UP TO DISCOVER THAT MY ENTIRE CAR WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES, ALSO SPREADING THE FIRE TO ANOTHER VEHICLE. BOTH VEHICLES ARE NOW TOTALED. THE FIRE DAMAGE WAS SO EXTENSIVE THE CAMARO IS BASICALLY A BURNED FRAME. ALL OF THE GLASS AND BODY MELTED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT DEEMED THERE WAS NO FOUL PLAY, AND IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL FIRE. I HAVE BEEN LOOKING ONLINE TO SEE IF THERE WERE ANY OTHER SIMILAR I…
Owner-reported narrative. 10,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10514527 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10523902 · 2013-07-09 (July 9, 2013)
I WAS DRIVING THE CAR TO THE GAS STATION TO GET A DRINK. WHEN I PULLED IN I SHUT THE CAR OFF REMOVED THE KEY AND LOCKED THE DOORS. WHEN I CAME BACK OUT MY CAR WAS ON FIRE. FIRE DEPARTMENT HAD TO BE CALLED TO PUT OUT THE FIRE. FIRE DEPARTMENT DEEMED THE FIRE TO BE CAUSED BY THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 30,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10523902 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10476685 · 2012-09-21 (September 21, 2012)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET CAMARO LS . THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE IN REVERSE, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AFTER THE FAILURE AND WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TWICE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 7,794. ...UPDATED 10/17/12 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE PULLING OUT INTO TRAFFIC. UPDATED 10/17/12
Owner-reported narrative. 1,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10476685 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10479422 · 2012-10-09 (October 9, 2012)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET CAMARO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A LOCAL DEALER. THE DEALER RESET THE COMPUTER BUT THE REPAIR DID NOT REMEDY THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE THE DEALER RESET THE COMPUTER A SECOND TIME. THE DEALER ALSO DROVE THE VEHICLE FOR ONE HUNDRED MILES AND COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE STALLING ISSUE. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO STALL…
Owner-reported narrative. 4,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10479422 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10478850 · 2012-10-06 (October 6, 2012)
AT RPM'S APPROXIMATELY 1200-2000 CAR STUTTERS, LIKE IT NEEDS TO DOWNSHIFT. HAPPENS AT VARIOUS SPEEDS WHEN APPLYING GRADUAL ACCELERATION. DEALER SERVICE SAYS NO ERROR CODES FOUND, THAT THIS IS "NORMAL" ON THE 6 SPEED TRANSMISSION & THAT BECAUSE OF ALL OF THE COMPUTER COMPONENTS, THE TRANSMISSION NATURALLY LAGS. SEEMS TO BE PROBLEM IN THE TORQUE CONVERTER? *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 6,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10478850 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10480927 · 2012-10-17 (October 17, 2012)
WHILE THE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN, AND DURING GRADUAL ACCELERATION, THE VEHICLE HESITATES AND BEGINS TO SHUDDER WHEN IT ATTEMPTS TO SHIFT INTO THE NEXT GEAR. THIS SHUDDER OCCURS AT MULTIPLE SPEEDS, USUALLY AROUND 31MPH, 42MPH AND 53MPH. THE SHUDDERING ONLY SEEMS TO OCCUR DURING GRADUAL INCREASES IN SPEED, AND IS NOT NOTICED WHEN ACCELERATING AT A MORE RAPID PACE, SUCH AS WHEN ENTERING ONTO A HIGHWAY ON-RAMP. THE SHUDDERING FLUCTUATES BETWEEN MILD TO SEVERE AND IS ALSO NOTICED SOMEWHAT WHEN THE VEHICLE IS DOWNSHIFTING TO A LOWER GEAR AS WELL.…
Owner-reported narrative. 8,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10480927 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10466896 · 2012-07-21 (July 21, 2012)
BRAKE FLUID RESERVOIR CAP LEAKS BRAKE FLUID. WE HAVE HAD 4 CAMAROS AND THE TWO WE HAVE NOW AND OUR PREVIOUS TWO ALL LEAKED WITH THOUSANDS OF OTHERS ON THE ROAD. GM TSB SAYS REPLACE THE CAP.THEY KEEP USING SAME CAPS AND THEY STILL LEAK!MY DEALER ELKINS CHEVROLET IN NEW JERSEY ,THEY EVEN CANCELLED AN APPOINTMENT I MADE,THEY COULD CARE LESS AND GAVE ME TROUBLE ORDERING A NEW ONE! *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 1,456 miles reported. Look up ODI 10466896 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10545558 · 2013-09-26 (September 26, 2013)
MY 2012 CAMARO HAD A LEAK AT THE MASTER CYLINDER RESERVOIR! ONE DEALER WHERE I BOUGHT IT CANCELLED MY APPOINTMENT AND SAID THEY WOULD MAIL ME A CAP! I REFUSED AS THIS WOULD VOID THE WARRANTY!TOOK TO ANOTHER DEALER AND THEY CONFIRMED AND REPLACED CAP! ABOUT 10K LATER THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND LOST MY BRAKES!DEALER ORDERED A NEW RESERVOIR AND REPLACED IT! I TOOK THE CAR HOME AND FOOT KEPT GOING TO THE FLOOR! BROUGHT CAR BACK AND DEALER SAID IT WAS FINE.THEY REFUSED TO LET ME SPEAK TO A TECH OR SERVICE MANAGER!BROUGHT TO ANOTHER DEALER…
Owner-reported narrative. 2,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10545558 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10460445 · 2012-06-04 (June 4, 2012)
I CONSTANTLY GET A VERY ANNOYING CLUNKING SOUND FROM BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE FRONT STRUT OR SHOCK AREA WHEN DRIVING OVER UNEVEN PAVEMENT OR HITTING BUMPS WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEEDS, THE SOUND HAS BEGUN TO GET LOUDER, THE STEERING GIVES WAY TO ANY IMPERFECTIONS ON ROADS OR HIGHWAYS REGARDLESS OF SPEEDS WHICH HAS NOW GIVING ME THE CONCERN OF SAFETY,GENERAL MOTORS FOR SOME REASONS HAS DENIED THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM,STATING THAT THIS IS A CHARACTERISTIC OF THIS VEHICLE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 40 miles reported. Look up ODI 10460445 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10488859 · 2012-12-15 (December 15, 2012)
I HAVE BEEN HAVING A LOT OF PROBLEMS WITH MY STEERING ON THIS VEHICLE. I WAS DRIVING MY CAR AND WAS IN A TURN WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL KICKED BACK THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION I WAS TURNING AND I NEARLY WENT OFF THE ROAD. THE FORCE WAS SO GREAT THAT IT ACTUALLY INJURED MY SHOULDER WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL KICKED BACK. THE STEERING IN THE CAR HAS SINCE BEEN SO SLOPPY THAT I AM SCARED TO DRIVE IT, THE CAR IS ALL OVER THE ROAD. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THE VEHICLE NEEDED TO BE ALIGNED. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO MY LOCAL TIRE STORE AND THEY CH…
Owner-reported narrative. 14,164 miles reported. Look up ODI 10488859 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10632441 · 2014-09-11 (September 11, 2014)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET CAMARO. WHILE DRIVING 3 MPH AND MAKING A RIGHT TURN INTO A FUEL STATION, THE ENGINE STALLED. THE VEHICLE ROLLED INTO A FUEL PUMP ISLAND BUFFER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V346000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 38,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 38,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10632441 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11030805 · 2017-10-02 (October 2, 2017)
I TOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALER WITH A FLUID LEAK AT TH PASSENGER REAR SIDE OF THE CAR.. IT WAS VERY MINOR, PRODUCING ONLY A SMALL "BASEBALL" SIZED STAIN IN MY DRIVEWAY OVER A 3 MONTH PERIOD. FLUID WAS GREASY AND STICKY. THE DEALER REPORTED THAT THE CLAMP FOR THE FILLER TUB WAS NOT PROPERLY INSTALLED BUT RHE FACTORY. THEY SAID THEY REPAIRED IT BY REMOVING AND RECLAMPING IT ON. ONCE I RETURNED HOME WITH THE CAR, I HAD A WHOLE NEW PROBLEM. GAS NOW LEAKS OUT ON MY DRIVEWAY ANYTIME THE TANK IS ABOVE ONE-FOURTH FULL. THE FLUID ON THE DRIVEWAY IS DISTI…
Owner-reported narrative. 23,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 11030805 at NHTSA ↗