1997 Chevrolet Camaro Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Camaro years
- Fewer complaints than other years 15th of 23 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 1 recall: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 69 complaints with NHTSA about the 1997 Chevrolet Camaro. That ranks 15th out of 23 Camaro model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is engine and engine cooling (13 complaints, 19%), typically at around 59,585 miles. Complaints mention 12 crashes, 3 fires, 9 injuries. There is 1 safety recall covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 2 defect investigations involving it.
- 69owner complaints
- 1safety recalls
- 2NHTSA investigations
- 12complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 1997 Chevrolet Camaro problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 13 | 19% | 59,585 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 8 | 12% | 110,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 8 | 12% | — | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 7 | 10% | 24,000 | — | — |
| Power Train | 7 | 10% | — | — | — |
| Electrical System | 6 | 9% | 57,000 | — | — |
| Steering | 5 | 7% | 57,300 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 4 | 6% | — | — | — |
| Structure | 4 | 6% | — | — | — |
| Suspension | 4 | 6% | — | — | — |
| Visibility | 4 | 6% | 117,345 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 2 | 3% | — | — | — |
| Seats | 2 | 3% | — | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 2 | 3% | — | — | — |
| Parking Brake | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 1 | 1% | 152,690 | — | — |
| Tires | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
1997 Chevrolet Camaro recalls (1)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Seat belts:front:retractor
Problem: 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."
Risk: In the event of a vehicle collision, unbelted occupants are more at risk of injury than those using seat belts.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the seat belts for proper front seat belt retractor position. Retractors found to be improperly positioned will be reinstalled correctly.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
NHTSA defect investigations
- Fuel tube retaining clip failure (EA97024) — opened Nov 13, 1997, closed Sep 29, 1998.
- Fuel tub retaining clip failure (PE97036) — opened Jul 24, 1997, closed Nov 13, 1997.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
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. The issue presents itself under icy conditions. The first time it happened was…
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. Failures may also include premature bulb failure to headlights, turn signals (front and rear), and parking lights. I…
Windows intermittently worked when the want to. Now drivers window will not go up and passengers side still works when it wants to. The consequences could be devastating as i live in a town that has a high crime rate as in carjacking. I also have my toddler in his carseat and the wind has caused…
Left blinker keeps blowing out. I've replaced it 5 times in a week and a half. Something is wrong with the electrical system majorly.
While driving at various speeds alternator overheated, causing a small fire in the wiring behind the alternator consumer extinguished the fire, and had the vehicle towed. Consumer did not report fire to police or fire department. Also, dealer was not notified. *ak
Other Chevrolet Camaro years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 Camaro | 4 | 0 |
| 2023 Camaro | 15 | 0 |
| 2022 Camaro | 14 | 1 |
| 2021 Camaro | 20 | 4 |
| 2020 Camaro | 31 | 3 |
| 2019 Camaro | 53 | 1 |
| 2018 Camaro | 81 | 2 |
| 2017 Camaro | 189 | 3 |
| 2016 Camaro | 141 | 1 |
| 2015 Camaro | 206 | 1 |
| 2014 Camaro | 188 | 3 |
| 2013 Camaro | 187 | 3 |
| 2012 Camaro | 113 | 4 |
| 2011 Camaro | 194 | 2 |
| 2010 Camaro | 295 | 2 |
| 2002 Camaro | 68 | 1 |
| 2001 Camaro | 48 | 0 |
| 2000 Camaro | 76 | 0 |
| 1999 Camaro | 90 | 1 |
| 1998 Camaro | 173 | 0 |
| 1997 | 69 | 1 |
| 1996 Camaro | 116 | 0 |
| 1995 Camaro | 216 | 1 |
See all Chevrolet Camaro problems by year, every Chevrolet model, or the Chevrolet VIN decoder.
Similar Chevrolet models
Embed this 1997 Chevrolet Camaro badge on your site
Copy this code into your blog or forum post. It shows live complaint and recall counts and links back here.
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 1997 Chevrolet Camaro?
Owners most often report engine and engine cooling, air bags, service brakes, hydraulic problems. The top one, engine and engine cooling, accounts for 13 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 1997 Chevrolet Camaro?
Yes, 1 safety recall. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 1997 Chevrolet Camaro a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Camaro model years, the 1997 has fewer complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.