The 1997 Chevrolet Camaro has 1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting an estimated 1,573 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 88 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the engine and engine cooling. Last updated July 5, 2026.
Recall campaigns
SEAT BELTS96V2190001996-11-041,573 affected
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.
Complaints by component
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
6
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
5
4crashes1fires2injuries
AIR BAGS
3
2crashes2injuries
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
3
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
3
1injuries
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL
3
1crashes
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY
3
1crashes1injuries
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT
3
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC
3
1crashes1injuries
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
3
1injuries
Total complaints88
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“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”
“Driving down road when steering arm broke, resulting in car going off the road through a ditch leading to severe crash.nothing has been done to remedy the failure the vehicle was a total loss.*ak”
“Air bags on 1997 camaro did not deploy on collision and roll over.*ak”
“While driving, the power steering broke which caused fluid to spill out and total failure of the steering. *ak the consumer lost control of the vehicle. The power steering pump and the serpentine belt were replaced. *scc *jb”
Defect investigations
InvestigationEA97024 Opened 1997-11-13 · closed 1998-09-29
FUEL TUBE RETAINING CLIP FAILURE
MOST OF THE REPORTS REVIEWED IN THIS INVESTIGATION ARE FIRE INCIDENTS IN WHICH FUEL LEAKAGE HAS BEEN ALLEGED AS THE CAUSE OR THE AREA OF ORIGIN IS CONSISTENT WITH THE ALLEGED DEFECT.THERE IS NO EVIDENCE THAT THE SUBJECT CLIP WAS A FACTOR IN ANY OF THESE FIRE INCIDENTS AND NHTSA TESTING INDICATES THATBROKEN OR…
InvestigationPE97036 Opened 1997-07-24 · closed 1997-11-13
FUEL TUB RETAINING CLIP FAILURE
OWNERS HAVE REPORTED FAILURES OF THE FUEL TUBE RETENTION CLIP THAT ATTACHES TO THE PLASTIC THROTTLE LINKAGE COVER.ACCORDING TO GM, THE SUBJECT RETENTION CLIP (P/N 12048089) WAS IMPLEMENTED IN PRODUCTION ON OCTOBER 12, 1993, TO ADDRESS A CONCERN WITH INCORRECT ASSEMBLY PLANT FUEL LINE ROUTING.MIS-ROUTED FUEL TUBES MAY…
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1997 Chevrolet Camaro as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
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