2010 Chevrolet Camaro Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often write about a recurring service-airbag warning tied to the passenger seat sensor, and about V6 timing chain problems that show up as a check engine light and rough running, frequently from the 60,000-mile range upward. Reports also describe headlight output that dims over time, transmission or clutch complaints at very low mileage, and occasional electrical and stalling events.

1. 1
   Air bags

   Service airbag light / passenger seat sensor

   • 66 complaints (22%)
   • median 54,000 mi at 5.7 yrs old (58 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $800 (median of 16 quotes)
   • filed 2010–2024

   Complaints describe a "Service Airbag" message and warning light appearing intermittently at first and later staying on, sometimes only when a passenger is seated. Several owners say a dealer diagnosed the passenger seat weight sensor and quoted a repair, and some had the passenger airbag circuit deactivated instead. Others report the light followed a crack in the dashboard near the passenger airbag housing. Reported across a wide mileage range, from roughly 16,000 to about 100,000 miles, and often described as starting intermittently before becoming constant.

   What to check: Start the car and watch the airbag teller: it should come on briefly and go out, with the passenger status lamp reading correctly whether or not someone is seated. Ask whether the seat sensor has been replaced and whether a dashboard crack near the airbag housing exists.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “A 'service airbag' notification has been turning on sporadically while driving my 2010 Camaro (regardless of speed and/or if a passenger is in the car). When I told my local dealership's service department while I was there getting an oil change, the employee told me it would cost $120 for the vehicle diagnostic and that if I get into a car accident my airbag wouldn't deploy. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11362478, filed 2020-10, 46,643 miles

   “Air bag service option keep coming up on my screen while on the expressway and city streets I turned off onto after being frightened by the message. Barely had the car 5 months and it started. It would chime them disappear. This is very scary and makes me view my car as a ticking death trap. I dont feel I need to pay for this out of pocket for this. As it deals with the safety of the car from a company I trust.”

   NHTSA complaint #11360075, filed 2020-09, 92,000 miles
2. 2
   Engine

   Timing chain wear (check engine, codes P0008/P0017)

   • 47 complaints (16%)
   • median 75,500 mi at 7.1 yrs old (40 state mileage)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $2,000 (median of 11 quotes)
   • filed 2015–2024

   Owners describe the check engine light coming on with timing-chain-related codes, followed by rough idle, shaking, and loss of power; some report the engine seizing while driving. Complaints say dealers confirmed the chain needed replacement, with quotes commonly in the range of about $800 to $2,000, and several note that other vehicles using the same engine were recalled for a similar problem while this model year was not. Mostly reported between about 50,000 and 130,000 miles, though a few complaints describe much earlier occurrences.

   4 related service bulletins

   What to check: Scan for stored codes before purchase and listen for a rattle or whine on cold start; ask for service records showing oil changes and whether the timing chain has been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I have had check engine light on in the vehicle several times, codes p0008 and p0017 timing chain. The vehicle was taken to several chevy dealerships for diagnosis per GM and chevy, both times they stated the timing chain should be replaced. The first time the Camaro was still under warranty the carmaro lost power and began to shake, I pulled over put the car in park and noticed a weird idle and shake. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10939451, filed 2017-01, 58,000 miles

   “I have three issues for my Camaro 2010. First and most important is the the timing chain, the chain moved and activated the cam sensors. The cost to change it is princely. Second , the air bag light on the passenger is on. Took it to the dealer and paid and still they couldn't find the issue so they wanted more money. Third, three of the tire sensors when on and dealer wants more money. The car runs with poor performance so I stop using it.”

   NHTSA complaint #10862002, filed 2016-04, 80 miles
3. 3
   Electrical system

   Stalling, no-start, and electrical shutdown

   • 28 complaints (9%)
   • median 29,066 mi at 2.5 yrs old (24 state mileage)
   • 6 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2010–2025

   Complaints describe sudden loss of power and electrical shutdown while driving, intermittent no-start conditions with a flashing check engine light, and repeated control module failures. One owner reports the key breaking off in the ignition after being struck by the driver's knee, and another describes charging system or battery cable concerns. Several say dealers could not reproduce the fault or found nothing stored in the vehicle's computer. Scattered across the range, from a few thousand miles to over 110,000 miles.

   Recall 14V346000Recall 09V1550002 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether the ignition key recall (14V346000) and the battery cable recall (09V155000) were completed, and have the battery and charging system tested; check that the key sits firmly and nothing hangs from the key ring.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Traveling westbound on interstate 80 from reno to san francisco 55-65 MPH, without warning my 2010 Camaro had 100 % loss of all power and operating functions; out of control down the mountain during heavy traffic I was able to stop the vehicle by jamming into the guardrail, trapping myself in car. Nothing worked...no onstar...I called my daughter in reno and told her to send help..I was in shock. I had no clue what happened or why..but after the traffic slowed down I exited the vehicle, still no help or response. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10301668, filed 2010-01, 3,675 miles

   “While driving my 2010 chevy Camaro ss on the interstate home from work all of a sudden I lost power all my interior lights and dashboard warning lights started to flash on and off car would surge then lose power than surge lose power steering was very difficult had no brakes merged over to the shoulder to try to get into a safe position and was calling nine-one-one when I noticed smoke coming out of the left front compartment of the Camaro under the hood and then the smoke turn to a rust burnt looking color and then noticed that the hood was …”

   NHTSA complaint #11127898, filed 2018-09, 31,132 miles

Buying note. Ask for service records covering oil changes and any timing chain, seat sensor, or headlight work, and confirm both open recalls were completed. A pre-purchase scan for stored engine codes and a nighttime headlight check cover most of what owners of this model year describe.

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.