Total Complaints
20 filings
CHEVROLET CAMARO · model year
1988 CHEVROLET CAMARO
20 NHTSA complaints, 1 crash report for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1988CHEVROLETCAMARO carries 20 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 1 crash, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1988 CAMARO is seat belts:front:retractor with 3 filings, followed by seat belts:front:buckle assembly (2) and service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components (2). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.
NHTSA currently has 57 investigation files overlapping the 1988 CAMARO, and 2 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
20
Complaints
1
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
1 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR | 3 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY | 2 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS | 2 |
| STEERING:COLUMN | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS | 1 |
| STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE | 1 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAP | 1 |
| LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH | 1 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY | 1 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM | 1 |
| SEAT BELTS | 1 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS | 1 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20121028CrashSERVICE BRAKES
WHILE DRIVING IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC I WAS MOVING AT A SPEED BETWEEN 25 AND 30 MPH WITH A 3 TO 4 CAR GAP BETWEEN ME AND THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME WHEN THE LINE OF CARS IN FRONT OF ME SUDDENLY STOPPED QUICKLY. I SLAMMED ON MY BRAKES AS HARD AS I COULD AND IT FAILED TO STOP, IMPACTING THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME AT ABOUT 5 TO 10 MPH. THE PEDAL FINE AND NONE OF THE BRAKES/WHEELS LOCKED OR SKIDDED (THIS CAR DOESN'T HAVE ANTI-LOCKS). EVEN MY FULL SIZED PICK-UP TRUCK WOULD HAVE STOPPED SAFELY IN THIS SITUATION AND DISTANCE, YET YOU COULD FEEL THAT THIS CAMARO SHOULD HAVE STOPPED AND COULDN'T. THE BRAKES WORK FINE IN ALL CONDITIONS EXCEPT PANIC STOPS WHEN IT COUNTS. I'VE READ A LOT OF FORUMS AND POSTS ON THIRDGEN.COM AND IT SEEMS LIKE THESE 4-WHEEL DISC BRAKE CARS OF THAT ERROR... ALL HAVE HAD THE PROBLEM. I KNOW THAT EVEN WHEN NEW, THE REAR DISC BRAKES WILL BARELY STOP THE WHEELS WHEN THE CAR IS IDLING IN DRIVE AND ON JACK STANDS. IT SEEMS TO BE A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH ALL THE CAR ENTHUSIASTS
Mileage: 215,392
20071129FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE
FUEL FILL LINE LOOSE AT GAS TANK FUEL LEAKS OUT WHEN FULL AND UNDER CORNERING. *TR
Mileage: 27,500
20070811FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
CRACK AT FUEL FILL IN 1988 CAMARO, RECALL FOR 1989 BUT WHY NOT 1988 IT IS THE SAME PROBLEM. *JB
Mileage: 76,000
20031205SEAT BELTS
CONSUMER STATED DRIVER'S FRONT SEAT BELTS DIDN'T HOLD THE PASSENGER IN THE SEAT. NHTSA RECALL 90V105000 CONCERNING SEAT BELT FAILURE WAS ISSUED. *AK
20020514SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
THE CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING AT 34 MPH AND APPLIED BRAKES TO AVOID STRIKING ANOTHER VEHICLE, BUT THE BRAKES FAILED AND THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE WENT OUT OF CONTROL AND CRUSHED. THE CONSUMER SUFFERED MINOR INJURIES. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT 10-91-608) *YH
20020125SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
THE CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING AT 34 MPH AND APPLIED BRAKES TO AVOID STRIKING ANOTHER VEHICLE, BUT THE BRAKES FAILED AND THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE WENT OUT OF CONTROL AND CRUSHED. THE CONSUMER SUFFERED MINOR INJURIES. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT 10-91-608) *YH
20020116FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM
WHILE DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY CAR STUTTERED AS THOUGH BAD FUEL/CLOGGED EFI SYSTEM WAS TO BLAME,UPON DEPRESSING GAS PEDAL TO COUNTERACT THIS STUTTER, GASOLINE SPRAYED OUT OF THE A/C VENTS AND INTO THE CAB/INTERIOR OF VEHICLE AND ONTO THE DRIVER. *AK
19991202FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
THERE IS A CONSISTANT FUEL ODOR COMING FROM THE FUE TANK. IT SEEMS THERE ARE 2 LEAKS, ONE AT THE FILLER NECK ON THE FUEL TANK SIDE AND ANOTHER ON TOP SIDE OF THE FUEL TANK WHERE THE FUEL PUMP RESIDES. THE ODOR IS CONSISTANT AND VERY STRONG.
19980828SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
90V105000; SEAT BELT BUCKLES; VEHICLE TAKEN TO DEALER (ANTHONY ABRAHAM, 305-443-9000) FOR REPAIRS, THE DEALER REPPLACED RED BUTTONS, BUT DRIVERS SIDE POPS OUT WITH NO LATCHING, DEALER CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK
19980805SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
SEAT BELT RETRACTOR FAILED.
19980114LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH
WHEN DRIVING, DUE TO A FAULTY HOOD LATCH SPRIING, THE HOOD WILL OPEN. *AK
19970305FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAP
CONSUMER STATES THE FUEL FILLER NECK IS LOOSE, IN ADDITION THERE IS A STRONG ODOR IN THE VEHICLE.*AK THE CONSUMER DO NOT OWN THIS KIND OF VEHICLE.
19961107ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
VEHICLE IS SUBJECT TO STALLING W/NO WARNING AT ANYTIME DUE TO (ECM) COMPUTER CONSTANTLY FAILING. THE MODULE HAS BEEN REPLACED FIVE TIMES SINCE OWNING VEHICLE AND CONTINUES TO FAIL. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK
19960425SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
SEAT BELT RETRACTOR INOPERATIVE. *SD
19951127SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
SEAT BELT WILL NOT RETRACT INTO COIL. BUCKLE WILL NOT STAY CLOSED. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT
19951127SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
SEAT BELT WILL NOT RETRACT INTO COIL. BUCKLE WILL NOT STAY CLOSED. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT
19951005STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
LOOSE STEERING COLUMN. *SKD
19950518ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
COOLANT LEAK RESULTED IN ENGINE CRACKING. *AW
19950518ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
SERPENTINE BELT REPLACED.
19950104STEERING:COLUMN
TILT STEERING WHEEL LOOSE, CAUSING DIFFICULTLY IN CONTROLING STEERING. TT
Compare 1988CHEVROLETCAMARO to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations 2 Open
EA25007Engineering AnalysisOpen
Loss of motive power due to engine failure
PE23022Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Loss of Motive Power due to the Battery Energy Control Module
PE20016Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Electric Vehicle Battery Fires
EA20002Engineering AnalysisClosed
Outboard Front Seat Belt Anchor Cable Failure
PE20011Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Fuel Line Leak
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1988 CHEVROLET CAMARO have?▼
The 1988 CHEVROLET CAMARO has 20 NHTSA complaints, 1 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1988 CHEVROLET CAMARO?▼
The most-complained component for the 1988 CHEVROLET CAMARO is SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR with 3 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY and SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS.
Is the 1988 CHEVROLET CAMARO safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Vehicle Safety Guides
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.