2013 Chevrolet Camaro Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2013 Camaro most often describe electrical problems centered on the radio and center display, which commonly take turn signals, chimes, the defroster and air conditioning down with them. A second cluster of complaints concerns a sudden loss of power steering assist, often at low speed or in parking maneuvers. Reports span a wide mileage range, from a few thousand miles to well past 100,000.

1. 1
   Electrical system

   Radio and center display cut out, taking other electrical

   • 50 complaints (27%)
   • median 60,000 mi at 7.0 yrs old (39 state mileage)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2014–2024

   Complaints describe the radio or entertainment screen popping, crackling, flickering or going dark, often intermittently and sometimes while driving. When it happens, owners report that the turn signal chime, seat belt and door chimes, defroster, blower and air conditioning can stop working too. Dealers in the complaints replaced the radio unit in some cases, sometimes more than once, and the problem came back; other owners were told a diagnostic fee applied or that nothing further could be done. Reported from as little as a few thousand miles up to roughly 150,000 miles, with many reports in the 50,000-100,000 mile range.

   3 related service bulletins

   What to check: With the car running, cycle the radio, air conditioning, defroster and turn signals and listen for the chimes; ask whether the radio module or instrument cluster has ever been replaced and whether the fault returned. A scan tool check for stored body codes is also reasonable before buying.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I'm having electrical issues causing my radio, AC, and turn signals to malfunction. In addition it's making loud and distracting popping and squealing noises, and sounds that may be electrical sparking noises. Gm told me it's out of warranty so they don't care. It happens whenever the ignition is on (all types of streets & freeway), but not in accessory.”

   NHTSA complaint #11321462, filed 2020-04, 1 miles

   “So my AC and stereo was working good but suddenly it started turning off itself. Then whenever I turn on my car it starts working. But after 1-2 months it stopped working at all. This is same issue as other people who owns Camaro have it. I tried to took to mechanic nobody understands what's going on. Now it's not working at all. Stereo is not coming up at all. Ac and heater doesn't work.”

   NHTSA complaint #11339256, filed 2020-07, 70,000 miles
2. 2
   Steering

   Loss of power steering assist (Service Power Steering

   • 19 complaints (10%)
   • median 16,000 mi at 4.6 yrs old (15 state mileage)
   • 6 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2014–2026

   Owners describe the steering suddenly becoming very heavy, with a 'Service Power Steering' message appearing, typically at low speed such as turning into a parking lot or pulling away from a stop. Some report the assist returning after the car is shut off and restarted, while others say it recurred. In some complaints the same event also reset the radio and air conditioning and brought up stability control or window messages; dealers quoted replacement of the steering assembly, with owners disputing who should pay. Reported from around 11,000 miles up to about 77,000 miles, often during low-speed turns or parking maneuvers.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Ask whether the steering assist has ever cut out or a power steering message appeared, and whether any related repair was done. During a test drive, make several slow full-lock turns in a parking lot and watch the dash for warning messages.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My zl1 Camaro has had a electronic steering (eps) failure while I was driving on the road. Apparently, failure of eps is common with the Camaro and GM/Chevrolet has a TSB issued to help deal with this issue. Tsb document is pic5643e. I have attached it here. This can has 40,070 miles on it and is in immaculate condition. The Chevrolet dealer just diagnosed this issue, and tried to charge me $2600 for replacing this part. This is a safety item, and it is not possible to drive this car without this steering working. This is also a $60,000 car. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11337714, filed 2020-07, 40,070 miles

   “When turning into a parking lot, my power steering went out and the service power steering message appeared. It has happened multiple times since then. It only happens at low speed maneuvering (<12mph). The following happens once the problem is created: power flickers on the car; the AC resets, radio resets, power steering goes out, and the following messages display: service power steering service stability control and open and close passenger window . …”

   NHTSA complaint #11014216, filed 2017-08, 30,100 miles
3. 3
   Electrical system

   Key knocked out of run position by the driver's knee

   • 17 complaints (9%)
   • median 81,150 mi at 6.3 yrs old (8 state mileage, few)
   • 4 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2014–2024

   Complaints describe the ignition key being struck by the driver's knee and moving out of the run position, shutting the engine off while the car is moving. One owner reported a crash after the engine cut out. Others describe difficulty getting the recall remedy performed at a dealer, and one reported the key becoming stuck in the ignition switch. Reported from roughly 11,000 miles upward, at normal driving speeds and also when turning the car off.

   Recall 14V346000

   What to check: Ask whether the ignition switch/key recall work (campaign 14V346000) has been completed and whether the car has the modified key; confirm with a dealer using the VIN.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I received a safety recall notice regarding my car's ignition key switch on tuesday september 2. I tried contacting the henna dealership in austin, texas the next day to schedule an appointment to have this issue taken care of. The service department put me off. I then called again and left a message for a scheduling person. I did not hear back. I called the individual again the next day. She told me the dealership was dealing with 80 recalls so she could not figure out what my recall was about. She was argumentative and not helpful at all. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10631880, filed 2014-09, 11,000 miles

   “The contact owns a 2013 Chevrolet Camaro. The contact stated that water was leaking into the trunk of the vehicle during inclement weather. The contact stated that the failure had been recurring for 4 years. Additionally, the contact stated that a message regarding theft was displayed while in the process of turning off the vehicle. The contact stated that upon attempting to release the ignition key from the ignition switch after turning off the vehicle, the ignition key was stuck. The contact was unable to release the key. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11531794, filed 2023-07, 123,000 miles
4. 4
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Manual transmission hard to shift into gear

   • 13 complaints (7%)
   • median 10,000 mi at 1.6 yrs old (11 state mileage)
   • filed 2012–2024

   Complaints from manual-transmission owners describe difficulty engaging first or second gear, sometimes requiring heavy force or refusing to go in at all, while other times the car shifts normally. Some say the problem became more frequent over time and that the dealer told them the behavior was normal for the car. Others report the shifter seizing or a clutch pedal that went to the floor. Mostly reported at low mileage, many under 15,000 miles, on manual-transmission cars.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: On a manual car, test cold starts and repeatedly shift between first and second, and ask whether the clutch or hydraulic system has been serviced. Note any stiffness or grinding before purchase.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Intermitantly the car will not shift into gear. You have to force the shift into 1st gear then into second, and I am talking really forcing shifter into gear.... At times the shifter will not shift into any gear... Then other times it runs just perfectly... It is happening much more frequently and is dangerous. Below it is asking when did this happen - this a frequently occuring problem, and I see online may owners are having the same problems with dealers offering no help. Or paying for a repair and problem persists.”

   NHTSA complaint #11413874, filed 2021-04, 10,000 miles

   “My car is from 2013, it has barely 68 thousand miles, it does not have much mileage which I only use to transport myself to work and home, I have been and asking in the trailer about this problem that I have, I even took it to the trailer before the factory warranty will be terminated and they never wanted to help me, the car is manual transmission and has problems making the change from first speed to second speed, the second does not enter, it is only the problem when changing to the second speed in the rest I have no problem so if I need …”

   NHTSA complaint #11326699, filed 2020-05, 32,000 miles
5. 5
   Other or unknown

   Front seat belt buckles not latching or staying latched

   • 13 complaints (7%)
   • median 46,000 mi at 5.8 yrs old (11 state mileage)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2013–2024

   Owners report front seat belt buckles that would not lock or would not stay clicked, in some cases noticed on the driver side while trying to buckle up. Complaints describe the problem as something other Camaro owners have also mentioned. In other reports the seat belt warning chime failed to sound when belts were unfastened. Reported across a broad mileage range, from around 100,000 to 145,000 miles in the sampled complaints.

   What to check: Buckle and unbuckle each front belt several times and tug firmly on the belt to confirm it locks; check that the seat belt warning chime sounds when a belt is unfastened.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The seat belts in my vehicle will not stay clicked. At first I though this was something that was wrong with my vehicle however after speaking with other Chevrolet Camaro owners, this is something that a lot of drivers are experiencing.”

   NHTSA complaint #11268424, filed 2019-10, 145,000 miles

   “The contact owns a 2013 Chevrolet Camaro. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to chime when both front seat belts were not fastened. Also, the turn signal chime and defroster were not operable. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 100,000.”

   NHTSA complaint #11195828, filed 2019-04, 100,000 miles

Buying note. Check the electrical behavior carefully on a test drive, since radio and display faults are the most frequently reported problem and are often intermittent. Also confirm that the ignition switch recall has been completed and ask about power steering assist history before buying.

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.