1992 Chevrolet Camaro Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often write about fuel smells and leaks traced to the fuel filler neck and its solder joint, and about airbags that either failed to deploy in a collision or deployed unexpectedly. Complaints are spread across widely different mileages, from cars with only a few thousand miles to odometer readings well past 150,000, so the reported problems are not tied to one stage of ownership.

1. 1
   Fuel system

   Fuel smell or leak at the filler neck joint

   • 19 complaints (22%)
   • median 106,084 mi at 14.5 yrs old (10 state mileage)
   • filed 1995–2010

   Owners describe a strong gasoline odor inside or outside the car, sometimes with visible leakage where the filler neck meets the fuel tank. Several say a dealer or mechanic confirmed cracks or pin holes at that joint and quoted a replacement. Many report being told their vehicle identification number fell outside recall 94V077000, or that the campaign would no longer be honored because of the vehicle's age, so the repair stayed with the owner. Reported from about 15,000 to 182,000 miles, including several cars with well over 100,000 miles and some that sat unused for long periods.

   Recall 94V077000

   What to check: Smell around the rear wheel and under the filler door after fueling, and look for staining or wet residue at the neck-to-tank joint. Ask whether recall 94V077000 was ever performed on this car and keep the paperwork.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I have a 1992 Camaro rs, 5.0 liter engine, there is a safety recall on the filler tube for the gas tank , loose solder joints etc. I took it to a local chevy dealer here in tallahassee, dropped it off the night before they looked at it. I got a call at 8:12 the next morning, which was only 12 minutes after they had started work saying they could not get the parts to fix it, because their service manager said the car was to old and they would have to call the manufacturer. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10169674, filed 2006-10, 138,000 miles

   “This was done on invoice 171017, but due to the complexity of this inspection I fail to see how this can be accomplished in the 18 minutes annotated on the invoice. The fuel tank filler is literally buried above the tank in the rear above the axle. This tank leaks now and has been since about two months after I bought the car. It has had a strong fuel odor since I bought the car. The service writer said that was normal on efi cars. I don't think so.”

   NHTSA complaint #759505, filed 2002-03
2. 2
   Air bags

   Airbag did not deploy or deployed unexpectedly

   • 18 complaints (20%)
   • median 123,000 mi at 12.4 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
   • 12 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1995–2015

   Complaints describe frontal collisions at moderate speed in which the airbag did not inflate, and other cases where it deployed over bumps or during ordinary driving. A few report the deploying bag itself causing facial or knee injuries, including in a rollover. Owners typically say they contacted the manufacturer or dealer and got no repair offer. Mostly reported on cars with no mileage given; where recorded, one failure came at about 123,000 miles.

   What to check: Check that the airbag warning lamp comes on at startup and goes out, and ask whether the steering-wheel bag or its wiring has ever been serviced or replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “1992 Chevrolet Camaro. Consumer states her grandson was in accident. Her grandson hit another vehicle and then flipped over. The air bags deployed. However, the force from the air bags caused injuries to his face. A child in the car, suffered minor injuries.”

   NHTSA complaint #10662774, filed 2014-12

   “Airbag failure: involved in 43mph accident--airbag failed--had to be replaced for a problem. Exterior paint: paint is peeling off car. Got an estimate for over $1200!! Tech serv bulletin posted for defected paint. Gm said wouldn't help.”

   NHTSA complaint #718340, filed 2000-02
3. 3
   Body and structure

   Subframe cracks and body weld failures

   Mentioned in 5 of 50 sampled complaints

   Owners describe popping noises while driving and cracks found in the subframe near the pedal area, a cracked rear saddle spring mount that let the rear end drop, and a frame-to-gearbox mounting point that could no longer be bolted down. Some say a shop attributed the problem to a weak factory weld rather than damage, and that the manufacturer declined to cover it. Reported across a range of ages with mileage usually not stated; one car had only about 15,000 miles recorded on a separate fuel complaint.

   What to check: Inspect the underbody on a lift, especially the subframe around the pedal box, the rear spring mounts and the gearbox crossmember, looking for cracks, rust and previous weld repairs.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Frame attached to gear box has crashed, and was unable to bolt down gear box onto frame. Manufacturer notified, and informed consumer that it was not covered under a recall. Feel free to provide any further details on this matter.”

   NHTSA complaint #886757, filed 2001-04

   “Consumer recently discovered a fuel leak when he returned from work, however the gas meter was still reading full, consumer was made aware that there was a recall on this said componet, however when consumer contacted Chevrolet, they stated nothing was showing in their database, consumer then discovered a receipt from other work previously done on the vehicle and the receipt clearly stated there was a recall however there was no problem detected, consumer is requesting reimbursement because the manufacturer knew there was a recall for …”

   NHTSA complaint #568084, filed 2002-10
4. 4
   Vehicle speed control

   Unexpected acceleration or stuck throttle

   Mentioned in 4 of 50 sampled complaints

   Owners describe the engine going to open throttle without input, with the pedal pulled down or the cable hanging up, sometimes after the car stalled and then surged. In these accounts the brakes did not bring the car down, and drivers stopped it by shifting to neutral and shutting off the ignition. No consistent dealer diagnosis appears in the complaints. Reported at low speeds, around 20 to 45 mph, with mileage rarely stated.

   What to check: With the engine off, work the throttle linkage by hand and look for fraying, binding or a cable that does not return freely; ask whether the accelerator cable has been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Vehicle was traveling about 20mph when the accelerator was stuck in open throttle, brakes didn't work. Had to pull in parking lot, put gear in neutral and had to take the key out of the ignition before vehicle would stop.”

   NHTSA complaint #820929, filed 1998-01

   “Driving vehicle at speed 20mph, vehicle went into open throttle position, accelerator cable pulled the pedal to floor, to stop vehicle put gear into netural, applied the brakes and shut the ignition off.”

   NHTSA complaint #804935, filed 1996-11

Buying note. On this model year, prioritize a car with documented completion of the fuel filler neck recall and a close look at the underbody for cracks and prior welding. Given the age, budget for repairs to fuel-system and safety items that complaints suggest may not be covered, and verify each recall by vehicle identification number before purchase.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 50 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.