1991 Chevrolet Camaro Problems

What owners report

Complaints on this model year centre heavily on fuel smells and leaks around the rear of the car, most often traced to the filler neck and the top of the tank. A second cluster involves the airbag system, with owners reporting non-deployment in frontal impacts and, in a few cases, deployment or warning-light faults with no crash. Most reports arrive on cars with well over 90,000 miles, and many fuel-system complaints mention that a recall covering the filler-neck joint either was never completed on their car or did not stop the smell.

1. 1
   Fuel system

   Fuel smell and leak at filler neck or tank

   • 22 complaints (26%)
   • median 93,000 mi at 18.7 yrs old (5 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1995–2010

   Owners describe a strong gasoline smell around the rear of the car, inside a garage, or while driving, often accompanied by visible fuel running down the side of the tank. Several say fuel pours out underneath once the tank is near full, and one found a short crack at the tank near the filler neck. Complaints mention solder-joint cracks and pin holes at the filler-neck-to-tank joint; some owners report that a dealer inspection under a recall found nothing wrong, or that the repair was later repeated when the leak returned. Some were told their vehicle identification number was not included in the recall and were offered no further help. Mileage in the sample ranges from about 56,000 to 189,000 miles, with many reports on cars driven for well over a decade.

   Recall 94V077000

   What to check: Smell around the rear wheel and filler area after topping off the tank, and look for wet fuel or staining along the filler neck and tank seam. Ask whether recall 94V077000 was completed and whether any follow-up repair was done.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “There is a strong odor of gas coming from my 1991 Camaro. After doing research into the problem, I became aware of a recall (#92c36) for this vehicle covering the fuel filler neck/tank soldier joint(may 24, 1994). I went to palm Chevrolet and called Chevrolet customer service, only to be told that no vehicle identification number or associated open campaign information matching my VIN was found. I asked if the work was done to this car and they said they could not tell me since they only keep records for 10 years. The # is . …”

   NHTSA complaint #10254356, filed 2009-01, 75,000 miles

   “Hello, my Camaro has had a gas leak from the gas tank/filler neck for several years now. About three years ago, I went to the Chevrolet dealer and they recognized that it had a problem, but couldn't figure out how to fix it under the old recall that 'appears' to have expired. However, this is a safety issue. The Camaro has been sitting in a garage for the last several years due to safety concerns. I was speaking to martin wheeler at GM customer service center who said he could not find a manager to speak with me (they were all occupied). …”

   NHTSA complaint #10275350, filed 2009-06, 93,000 miles
2. 2
   Air bags

   Airbag did not deploy in a frontal crash

   • 18 complaints (21%)
   • typically at 5.6 yrs old
   • 10 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1995–2001

   Owners describe frontal collisions at speeds from roughly 35 to 60 mph in which the driver or passenger airbag did not inflate. One report describes a passenger belt pulling loose from the seat in a rear-end hit. Others describe the airbag light staying on, warning codes that indicated a deployment that had not happened, and sensors or the control module being replaced. Reports in the sample do not include mileage; they span cars involved in collisions and cars showing warning-light faults.

   What to check: Check that the airbag warning light comes on at key-on and goes out, and ask whether the system has been scanned for stored codes. A history of collision repair near the steering wheel or dashboard is worth asking about.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I was hit in the rear by a car going appox. 20-25 MPH the pass. Seat belt not only did not hold but it broke out of the seat my belt retractor on the driver side didnt stop me from hitting the steering wheel my husband was in the passenger. Seat his did not stop him and completely pulled loose from seat he has neck injuries.”

   NHTSA complaint #751339, filed 2001-08

   “Due to damage to the interior around the steering wheel, driver's air bag is coming out around the steering column. Consumer states the steering wheel cover has split around the corners of the air bag allowing the air bag to protrude through opening, the cover is not secure over the airbag.”

   NHTSA complaint #805874, filed 1996-12
3. 3
   Engine cooling

   Stalling, rough or erratic idle

   • 6 complaints (7%)
   • median 106,250 mi at 17.0 yrs old (2 state mileage, few)
   • filed 1995–2012

   Owners report the engine cutting out when slowing for a light or stop, and idle that is fine in park but unsteady in gear, stalling within seconds. One owner traced the stalling to rust on the distributor rotor vanes under the cap, and another had plugs, filters and the idle air control replaced before the computer module was found to be the cause. A related complaint describes stalling with the alternator not recharging the battery. Mileage in the sample falls between roughly 90,000 and 122,500 miles for these reports.

   What to check: Ask whether the ignition components, idle air control and computer module have been replaced, and have a shop check for stored codes. Confirm the charging system holds voltage at idle.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “5.0liter tbi vehicle stalled in traffic at idle only. I restarted and was able to exit freeway. Idle is good in park or neutral gear, idle is unsteady while in gear and stall occurs within seconds. Hi speed operation was good.after investigating possible causes, I determined main cause to be a rusted distributor magnetic rotor assy. Its spinning vanes had rusted,throwing off big rusty chunks of metal under dist. Cap. In that condition, computer could not keep accurate sense of crankshaft position. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10454560, filed 2012-04, 122,500 miles

   “1991 Chevrolet Camaro rs 5 v8 305 speed,90k miles will not hold idle, stalls, runs rough. Replaced plugs, filters. Replaced iac motor. Mechanic unhooked ECM computer and car runs good. Will replace ECM.”

   NHTSA complaint #10014311, filed 2003-04, 90,000 miles

Buying note. On a car this old, the fuel filler neck and tank are the first thing to inspect, since that is where most complaints sit and where a recall may or may not have been carried out; have the airbag system scanned as well, and budget for sorting out idle and stalling faults on a high-mileage example.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 54 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.