1998 Chevrolet Camaro Problems
- Complaints
- 173filed with NHTSA
- Median mileage
- 43,000miles, 13 complaints with mileage
- Recalls
- 0campaigns on record
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
- NHTSA crash rating
- —overall rating starts with 2011 models
- EPA fuel economy
- 20 mpgcombined, 3.8L 6-cyl RWD · 17 city / 26 hwy
Sources: NHTSA records for the 1998 Chevrolet Camaro (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error
What owners report
Complaints for the 1998 Camaro are dominated by front brake rotor warping, which owners describe as recurring even after resurfacing or replacement, usually showing up as a vibration or shake through the steering wheel when braking from highway speeds. A smaller but consistent set of reports covers electrical problems (battery acid leakage, lights and wipers acting up), engine oil consumption, and driveline noise.
- Brakes
Front brake rotors warp repeatedly
- 53 complaints (31%)
- median 21,500 mi at 6.0 yrs old (2 state mileage, few)
- 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
- filed 1998–2004
Complaints describe the front rotors warping, producing a vibration or shake through the steering wheel and front end when braking, most noticeable at highway speeds. Many owners say the problem returned after the dealer resurfaced or replaced the rotors, in some cases every several thousand miles, and several report the dealer classified it as normal wear or a wear item rather than covering it. A few describe instances where the pedal felt soft or the vehicle pulled under hard braking. Reported from as little as a few thousand miles up to roughly 40,000 miles, repeatedly across multiple repair cycles.
What to check: Ask for brake service records and check whether the rotors are original or aftermarket; test-drive at highway speed and brake firmly to feel for steering-wheel shake.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“Front brake rotors warped on 1998 Chevrolet Camaro z28; I know of several people personally that have 1998 and up camaros/firebirds that had this issue. I have also heard many similar complaints from people in car clubs and internet message boards. People refer to the stock rotors as junk because they warp so often which leads me to the conclusion that the car manufacture did not put adequately designed rotors on the vehicles. …”
NHTSA complaint #10010864, filed 2003-03, 28,000 miles“Brake rotors warped at 10,000 miles, dealer claimed only warrantied for 7500. Car in for brake problems 3 times, and they refused to replace the rotors. Contacted Chevrolet, and they instructed dealer to replace rotors at no charge. Dealer was very difficult to deal with, did not want to replace until I took the issue to a higher level. Dealer claimed no knowledge of rotor problems with this car. I referred him to this website, and gave him a print out of the complaints on the 98 Camaro. …”
NHTSA complaint #713246, filed 1999-10 - Transmission and drivetrain
Driveline clunk and clutch concerns
Mentioned in 4 of 60 sampled complaints
Owners describe a clunk or popping noise from underneath when shifting into drive or reverse, on acceleration, or over gear changes, and some report repeated driveshaft replacement. Others describe the clutch pedal sticking down or the clutch not releasing properly, particularly in cold weather. Noise reports range from near-new mileage to repeated failures around every 10,000 miles; clutch complaints note cold-weather conditions.
What to check: On a test drive, shift through drive and reverse and listen for clunks; on manual cars, check that the clutch pedal returns fully and engages smoothly, especially when cold.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“My car has done a 'tink-tink' sound since I took it out of the dealer with only 8 miles on the odometer. Every time I put it in drive or reverse, it makes a double tink-pop from under. When you accelerate, it sounds again, and sometimes sounds as the trasmission changes gears (automatic) or you brake. I'm concerned that it could break while driving, and causing a potential hazard with a crash as it becomes undriveable.”
NHTSA complaint #704701, filed 1999-03“I have talked to quite a few people describing the same problem with there clutches not working properly in the cold, also many people have problems with there rotors warping.( DOT number: tire size: p275/40/17 )”
NHTSA complaint #712979, filed 1999-10
Buying note. A 1998 Camaro is an older vehicle, so condition and service history matter more than the model year itself. Have a shop inspect the brakes and rotors, check for battery acid damage and electrical faults, and confirm the clutch and driveline are sound before purchase.
Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 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.
NHTSA recorded 173 consumer complaints for the 1998 Chevrolet Camaro. 13 of the complaints include a mileage, and 54% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 43,000 miles. Of all complaints, 15 involved a crash, 5 a fire, 15 an injury, 1 a death, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 0 recall campaigns and 19 technical service bulletins for this model year.
Not compared (before 2008). Model years 2008–2023 of the same vehicle that have at least 25 complaints are compared, and a model needs at least 3 of them.
Which parts are reported most
Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.
- Brakes92 53%
- Engine cooling17 9.8%
- Electrical system16 9.3%
- Transmission and drivetrain15 8.7%
- Fuel system10 5.8%
- Steering8 4.6%
- Air bags7 4.0%
- Vehicle speed control7 4.0%
- Tires6 3.5%
Also reported: Exterior lighting (4), Equipment (3), Suspension (3), Other or unknown (2), Seats (2), Body and structure (2), Latches, locks and linkages (1), Seat belts (1).
Example complaints
Brakes: “While driving 70 MPH the brake caliper bolt separated from underneath the vehicle. When the brakes were applied, the driver began to hear a rumbling sound. The vehicle then surged back and forth violently. As a result, the driver sustained severe neck injuries.”
NHTSA complaint #10044349, filed 2003-12, 43,000 milesEngine cooling: “I have had an excessive number of problems with this vehicle. The latest problem is the radiator hose blew off the the water pump causing the engine to overheat and seize. I was already in the process of documenting an oil consumption problem. The extended factory warranty company (gmpp) has changed their mind 4 times about why it's not covered under warranty. I paid $23,000 for this car and now I have to rebuild the motor too! …”
NHTSA complaint #722572, filed 2000-05Electrical system: “Chevrolet Camaro 1998 3.8l v6.attery retension tray failed, causing the battery to become loose inside engine compartment. Problem was found during oil change. Plastic lip, holding bottom of the battery has broke off, leaving no retension feature on the tray. New tray must be purchased to fix the problem. I suspect there is a possibility of battery short circuit and potential fire hazard if battery terminal contact car body during vehicle operation.”
NHTSA complaint #10090886, filed 2004-09, 129,530 milesTransmission and drivetrain: “Car has been in repair 5 times for the brakes. 2 times for a caliper bolt that fell out, and the wheel locked. Both times I could have been killed in an accident if my wheel would have locked up on the interstate. They never do anything at the dealership but turn/clean roters which become faulty again. I'm looking into sueing Chevrolet if they don't fix this defect. It is way too dangerous for something of this nature to keep occuring over and over again. Next time I might not be so lucky.”
NHTSA complaint #713531, filed 1999-10Mileage when problems were reported
54% of the 13 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 28,000 and 120,000 miles.
Complaints by year filed
Trend: stable. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
Crash test ratings
NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 1998 Chevrolet Camaro. Frontal results are shown driver / passenger; rollover shows the star rating and NHTSA's estimated risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.
| Version | Overall | Frontal | Side | Side pole | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Camaro · coupe | not rated | 4 / 5 | — | — | — |
Ratings before the 2011 model year come from an older, less demanding test and are not comparable with ratings for 2011 and later.
Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), nhtsa.gov/ratings.
Fuel economy and running cost
EPA ratings for each 1998 Chevrolet Camaro version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).
| Version | Engine | Transmission | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Camaro RWD | 3.8L 6-cyl | 5-speed manual | 17 | 28 | 21 | $3,200 |
| Camaro RWD | 3.8L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 17 | 26 | 20 | $3,350 |
| Camaro RWD | 5.7L 8-cyl | 6-speed manual | 16 | 25 | 19 | $4,350 |
| Camaro RWD | 5.7L 8-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 15 | 23 | 18 | $4,550 |
Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.
Recalls and investigations
NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for the 1998 Chevrolet Camaro in the data used here. A recall can apply to some vehicles of a model year and not others, so check a specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Technical service bulletins
TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 19 on record; the latest 10 are shown.
- 10232287Feb 21, 2023Equipment. This warranty administration bulletin provides information regarding the field action courtesy transportation policy.
- 10208027Jan 14, 2022Fuel system, Brakes. This Preliminary Information communicates to the dealer the process for downloading or updating operating software for the Tire Pressure Monitor, Active Fuel Injector tester, multi media tester…
- 10171318Jan 31, 2020Electrical system. This Preliminary Information communicates to the dealer the process for downloading or updating operating software for the Tire Pressure Monitor, Active Fuel Injector tester, multi media tester…
- 10168979Nov 22, 2019Equipment. This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician on how to unlock radios that are Delco TheftLock. Technician will use the radio to get the scrambled code…
- 10165876Sep 5, 2019Equipment. This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician on how to unlock radios that are Delco TheftLock. Technician will use the radio to get the scrambled code…
- 10141381May 31, 2018Equipment. This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician on how to unlock radios that are Delco Theft Lock. Technician will use the radio to get the scrambled code…
- 10157018Sep 20, 2017Fuel system, Equipment, Tires, Electrical system. This Preliminary Information communicates to the dealer the process for downloading or updating operating software for the Tire Pressure Monitor, Active Fuel Injector tester, multi media tester…
- 10113443Feb 22, 2017Electrical system. This Preliminary Information communicates to the dealer the process for downloading or updating operating software for the Tire Pressure Monitor, Active Fuel Injector tester, multi media tester…
- 10114876Oct 9, 2015Engine. This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician vehicles with a slight rough idle. Technician should compare the concern with a like vehicle. If the concern is…
- 10248444Jun 30, 2014Equipment. Vehicle Recalls
Other model years of the Chevrolet Camaro
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | Crash ★ | MPG | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 16 | — | 0 | 5 | 20 | — | Too new |
| 2022 | 14 | 23,000 | 1 | 5 | 20 | — | Not enough data |
| 2021 | 20 | 49,330 | 4 | 5 | 20 | — | Stable |
| 2020 | 32 | 21,000 | 3 | 5 | 20 | 8 · Fewer | Rising |
| 2019 | 53 | 12,475 | 1 | 5 | 20 | 0 · Fewer | Rising |
| 2018 | 81 | 21,000 | 2 | 5 | 20 | 25 · Fewer | Rising |
| 2017 | 190 | 21,655 | 3 | 5 | 20 | 66 · More | Stable |
| 2016 | 141 | 20,315 | 1 | — | 22 | 37 · Typical | Stable |
| 2015 | 206 | 38,000 | 1 | 5 | 19 | 29 · Fewer | Falling |
| 2014 | 188 | 37,400 | 3 | 5 | 19 | 52 · Typical | Falling |
| 2013 | 187 | 40,000 | 3 | 5 | 19 | 50 · Typical | Falling |
| 2012 | 113 | 34,000 | 4 | 5 | 19 | 55 · Typical | Falling |
| 2011 | 194 | 40,000 | 2 | — | 20 | 50 · Typical | Stable |
| 2010 | 295 | 48,000 | 2 | — | 21 | 66 · More | Falling |
| 2002 | 68 | 20,000 | 1 | — | 21 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2001 | 48 | 43,000 | 0 | — | 21 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 2000 | 76 | 52,000 | 0 | — | 20 | Not compared (before 2008) | Rising |
| 1999 | 90 | 57,000 | 1 | — | 20 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1998 | 173 | 43,000 | 0 | — | 20 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1997 | 69 | 63,492 | 1 | — | 20 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1996 | 116 | 58,075 | 0 | — | 20 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1995 | 216 | 104,042 | 1 | — | 20 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1994 | 144 | 130,500 | 1 | — | 20 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1993 | 32 | 97,000 | 0 | — | 20 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1992 | 88 | 96,084 | 2 | — | 18 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 1991 | 86 | 94,250 | 4 | — | 18 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 1990 | 25 | 160,000 | 2 | — | 18 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1989 | 25 | 119,000 | 3 | — | 18 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1988 | 17 | 76,000 | 2 | — | 18 | — | Stable |
| 1987 | 28 | 75,000 | 1 | — | 18 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1986 | 32 | 99,960 | 4 | — | 18 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1985 | 46 | 50,000 | 3 | — | 18 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1984 | 39 | 99,000 | 5 | — | 19 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1983 | 16 | 172,500 | 3 | — | — | — | Stable |
| 1979 | 6 | 245,136 | 2 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
All Chevrolet Camaro model years · Best and worst years by complaints
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 1998 Chevrolet Camaro?
Complaints for the 1998 Camaro are dominated by front brake rotor warping, which owners describe as recurring even after resurfacing or replacement, usually showing up as a vibration or shake through the steering wheel when braking from highway speeds. The issues reported most often: Front brake rotors warp repeatedly; Driveline clunk and clutch concerns.
How many NHTSA complaints does the 1998 Chevrolet Camaro have?
NHTSA recorded 173 consumer complaints for the 1998 Chevrolet Camaro as of Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
What part of the 1998 Chevrolet Camaro is reported most often?
Brakes is named most often, in 92 complaints (53% of the total), followed by engine cooling with 17.
Has the 1998 Chevrolet Camaro been recalled?
NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for this model year in the data used here. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 1998 Chevrolet Camaro get?
The EPA rates the 1998 Chevrolet Camaro (Camaro, 3.8L 6-cyl) at 20 mpg combined, 17 city and 26 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,350 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.
At what mileage are problems with the 1998 Chevrolet Camaro reported?
Among the 13 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 43,000 miles and the middle half falls between 28,000 and 120,000 miles; 54% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Crash ratings are from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).
Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.