1998 CHEVROLET CAMARO Recalls, Complaints & Safety

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET CAMARO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILED CAUSING THE STEERING WHEEL TO SEIZE. THE CONTACT WAS NOT ABLE TO MANEUVER THE STEERING WHEEL DUE TO THE FAILURE AND ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A FRACTURED STERNUM AND REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED OF THE INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO A SALVAGE YARD. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000. UPDATED 8/11/14*CN

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET CAMARO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILED CAUSING THE STEERING WHEEL TO SEIZE. THE CONTACT WAS NOT ABLE TO MANEUVER THE STEERING WHEEL DUE TO THE FAILURE AND ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A FRACTURED STERNUM AND REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED OF THE INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO A SALVAGE YARD. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000. UPDATED 8/11/14*CN

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POTENTIAL ENGINE FAILURE -- PCV VALVE FAILED CAUSING ENGINE OIL TO FOAM DUE TO ENTRAPPED GASES. ONLY WARNING WAS "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" LIGHT. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET CAMARO Z28. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE HAD TO REPLACE THE FUEL PUMP FIVE TIMES WITHIN FOUR MONTHS. THE DEALER COULD NOT DETERMINE WHY THE FUEL PUMP CONTINUOUSLY FAILED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE COULD POTENTIALLY EXPERIENCE ELECTRICAL FAILURE, BUT THE DEALER VERIFIED THAT THIS DID NOT OCCUR. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 85,000.

CATALYTIC CONVERTER FAILURE -- NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. REPLACE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. *JB

ON JUNE 14, 2005, MY DAUGHTER HAD HER THIRD SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH THE COOPER COBRA RADIAL GT TIRES ON HER CAR. THEY ARE 235/55/16. WE PURCHASED THE CAR WITH THE TIRES. THE FIRST INCIDENT WAS DECEMBER, 2004 WHERE THE STEEL BELT SEPERATED ON THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE. A BLISTER FORMED ON THE OUTSIDE AND THERE WAS NOT A BLOWOUT . THEN ON MARCH 11, 2005 SHE HAD A BLOW OUT ON THE RIGHT REAR TIRE WHILE DRIVING ON I-10 OUTSIDE OF TALLAHASSEE. THEN ON JUNE 14, 2005 SHE WAS ON I-95 HEADING BACK TO TALLAHASSEE AND HAD ANOTHER BLOWOUT ON THE LEFT REAR TIRE. THE TIRE NUMBER IS DOT 3D 18C290201 A15L. THREE BAD TIRES IN A FEW SHORT MONTHS IS A SIGN OF SOMETHING WRONG WITH THESE TIRES. THE PRESSURE WAS CHECKED AND GOOD. THE FIRST DEALING WIITH COOPER I HAD TO ARGUE WITH THEM TO PRORATE THE TIRES. THE SECOND DEALER IN TALLAHASSEE WAS GREAT. I'M HOPING FOR GOOD RESULTS TOMORROW.

1998 CAMARO. REAR BRAKE LINES RUSTED,LEAKING AND REAR BRAKES DONT WORK. *AK

THE WINDSHIELD WIPER WOULD COME ON AND GO OFF WHILE DRIVING, IN INCLEMENT WEATHER. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE MECHANIC TO HAVE IT INSPECTED.THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT ON RECALL. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB

THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD COME ON AND GO OFF INTERMITTENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO DRIVE IT TO THE DEALER. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR NEEDED REPLACEMENT. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB

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. *AK

I OWN A 1998 CHEVROLET CAMERO WHICH I PURCHASED NEW. SINCE I HAVE OWNED THIS VEHICLE THE CABLING SYSTEM THAT MANUALLY CONTROLS THE DRIVER'S SIDE MIRROR HAS BROKEN 4 TIMES. THE PREVIOUS 3 TIMES IT WAS REPAIRED UNDER WARRENTY. FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE MIRROR EACH TIME. THE CABLE HAS BROKE AGAIN AND NOW IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRENTY. I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH OF A PROBLEM THIS HAS BEEN IN OTHER SIMILAR VEHICLES. WHEN THE CABLE BREAKS THE MIRROR MOVES INWARD OUT OF ADJSTMENT AND CANNOT BE SET BY ANY OTHER MEANS. NOT HAVING A FUNCTIONAL DRIVER'S SIDE MIRROR IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. *AK

WHEN PRESSING ON THE BRAKES CONSUMER HEARD A NOISE COMING FROM THE BRAKES. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC, WHO DETERMINED THAT THE ROTORS WORE OUT PREMATURELY. *AK

ROTORS AND PADS WERE REPLACED EVERY 15,000 MILES. CONSUMER STATED ROTORS AND PADS WERE REPLACED THREE TIMES. *AK

1998 Z28: HAVE EXPERIENCED FUEL PUMP FAILURE (REPLACED BY DEALER CIRCA JUNE 99) ALSO, EXPERIENCING AN ERRATIC FUEL GAGE...READING FUEL FOR A LENGTHY PERIOD OF TIME, THEN SUDDENLY DROPS TO LESS THAN 2/3. INTERMITTENT HORN FUNCTION: COMPLETE HORN FAILURE; HOWEVER, IF YOU SHUT THE ENGINE OFF AND RESTART HORN WILL WORK. FRONT ROTOR WARPING REPEATEDLY. MANUFACTURE DENIES THERE IS A PROBLEM, SAYS DRIVER IS OVERHEATING BRAKES. I BELIEVE THE PROBLEM IS ROTORS ARE POORLY DESIGNED. ALSO FOUND IF YOU DON'T DRIVE THROUGH WATER WHEN ROTORS ARE HOT THAT THIS WILL HELP. SLOW ACCELERATION AFTER COLD STARTUP. HOWEVER, IF YOU SHUT ENGINE DOWN AND RESTART ACCELERATION WILL BE NORMAL. *JB

THE OWNER'S MANUAL STATED THAT THE REAR SEAT BELTS DID NOT HAVE ANCHORS BUT COULD BE INSTALLED AT THE OWNER'S REQUEST. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER TO INSTALL THE ANCHORS. DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT ANCHORS COULD NOT BE INSTALLED. ALSO, CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, WHO SAID THE SAME THING. *AK

1998 CAMARO Z28 COV. WITH 12,000 MILES EM DELCO BATTERY LEAKED ACID FROM TERMINAL, DAMAGING PAINT INSIDE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND CAUSING RUST TO FRAME AND OTHER PARTS. DEALER SAID IT WAS NOT "UNCOMMON" FOR THESE BATTERIES TO LEAK FROM THE TERMINAL. DEALER REFUSED TO COVER DAMAGE ($890.00), EVEN THOU DAMAGE APPEAR TO HAVE OCCURED DURING WARRANTY PERIOD. PLEASE INVESTIGATE BATTERY LEAKAGE PROBLEM!! SEVERAL INDIVIDUAL CASES CITIED ON INTERNET CAR HOBBY SITES FOR CAMARO AND CORVETTES. PLEASE HELP!! *AK

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. *AK *SCC *JB

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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. *AK *SCC *JB

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98 CHEVY CAMARO: RUNNING LIGHTS MELT AND CAUSE BULB TO FUSE WITH FIXTURE. THIS HAS ALREADY HAPPENED ON THIS CAR THREE TIMES. I THINK THAT THIS PROBLEM REALLY NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED FOR RECALL REPLACEMENT AT CHEVY'S COST. THEY KNOW THIS PART MELTS. THEY KNOW IT HAS A HISTORY. THE PART SEEMS TO HAVE A LIFESPAN OF 2 1/2 YEARS. I AM EXPECTING THE OTHER ONE TO MELT SOON AS THEY DID THE LAST TIME WITHIN A MONTH OR SO OF EACH OTHER. IT SEEMS THAT CHEVY WOULD RATHER BE FORCED TO REPLACE A PART, THEN SIMPLY PROTECTING IT'S DRIVERS. THIS IS MY LAST HOPE TO GET THE RUNNING LIGHTS REPLACED SINCE THE PART IS DEFECTIVE. OTHER DEFECTIVE PARTS, MOODY IGNITION, DRIVER SIDE MIRROR, AND WINDSHIELD WIPERS.*JB

ALTERNATOR DIED, HAD TO REPLACE ON 8/8/03. HEARD SOUND IN THE REAR, CHANGED SHOCK ABSORBERS, NOISE IS STILL THERE, GOING TO CHANGE SPRINGS NEXT 8/20/03 . *AK

I HAVE A 1998 CHEVY CAMARO WHERE THE LOWER RACK AND PINION STEERING HAD TO BE FIXED AND WAS LOOKING AT A RECALL FOR 97-98 RECALLS AND FOUND THE SAME PROBLEM WITH SIMILAR CARS FROM CHEVY, I THINK THEY OVERLOOKED THE CAMARO'S I CALLED CHEVY AND PUT IN A COMPLAINT WITH THEM BIT DON'T THINK ANYTHING WILL COME FROM IT, I THINK IT'S MORE THAN CONCIDENCE THAT MY CAR HAS THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM AS THE OTHER SIMILAR CHEVROLETS WHAT CAN BE DONE?*AK

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. PEOPLE WITH THIS ISSUE SAY TO BUY NON-OEM ROTORS BECAUSE THEY WILL WARP AGAIN AND SIMPLY HAVING THE ROTORS TURNED DOES NOT HELP AS THEY WARP AGAIN. I HAVE ACTUALLY HAD MY ROTORS TURNED AND NEW BRAKES (INSTALLED BY DEALERSHIP WITH OEM PARTS) PUT ON THE CAR AND I HAVE THE WARPING ISSUE. MECHANICS THAT I KNOW ALSO AGREE THAT THE BRAKES/ROTORS ARE NOT ADEQUATELY DESIGNED FOR THESE VEHICLES. *NLM

DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AT NIGHT IN A POURING RAIN, WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED WORKING. SINCE THEN SOMETIMES THEY WORK AND SOMETIMES THEY DON'T, ALL ON THE SAME TRIP. CAR HAS BEEN TO DEALER TWICE AND THEY CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM.

GOODYEAR GS-A P245/50-ZR16 (W-12,000 MI) BLEW-OUT FOR NO REASON. PH

NO SUMMARY. DT

Fire

CHEVROLET REFUSED TO REPAIR TRANSMISSION FAILURE. LOST SECOND AND FOURTH GEAR AS WELL AS REVERSE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT HIGH SPEEDS CONSUMER WAS TRYING TO SLOWDOWN BRAKES LOCKED UP, AND VEHICLE SPUN AROUND. CONTACTED DEALER. *AK

Crash

CAR HAD LITTLE TO NO POWER UPON TAKE OFF. WENT STRAIGHT TO DEALERSHIP AND THEY STATED THEY HAD TO PULL ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION AND REPLACE WIRING HARNESS

UPON TAKE OFF, TRANSMISSION STARTED MAKING NOISE AND DID NOT WANT TO GO INTO SECOND GEAR. TRIED BACKING UP AND REVERSE WAS GONE. CAR WILL SHIFT INTO SECOND GEAR WITH HELP. CAR HAS ALWAYS BEEN MAINTAINED PROPERLY AND TRANSMISSION SERVICED AT REQUIRED TIME. PRESENTLY AWAITING WORD FROM CHEVY TO SEE IF THEY WILL REPLACE TRANSMISSION AT NO COST OR LITTLE COST AS MILEAGE IS LOW AND CAR HAS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED.*AK

AFTER HITTING RESUME ON THE CRUISE, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATOR JUST KEPT ON SPEEDING UP WAY PAST WHERE IT WAS SET, TRIED TO BRAKE AND USE THE OFF SWITCH, TO NO AVAIL, PUT IT IN NEUTRAL TO GET OFF THE ROAD AND THEN WAS ABLE TO SHUT THE CAR OFF. DISCONNECT THE BATTERY AND THEN RECONNECT.

WHILE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM ENGINE, AND WHEN CHECKING VEHICLE THEY NOTICED THAT TENSIONER BELT PULLEY SYSTEM HAD SOME SCREWS THAT WERE CRACKING AND COMING LOOSE. CONTACTED DEALER, *AK

NYLON LINE WAS PINCHED WHEN CAR WAS ASSEMBLED RESULTING IN A FUEL LEAK WHICH PROGRESSED OVER MONTHS UNTIL FUEL WAS DRIPPING ONTO PAVEMENT. LEAK WAS SUFFICIENT TO CAUSE FIRE AND A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF POLLUTION. MANUFACTURER HAD NO TSB NOR WARRANTY COVERAGE. THIS WAS A DANGEROUS FAILURE WHICH WAS DIFFICULT TO "CATCH."*AK

Fire

STEERING IS MAKING A NOISE, AND WAS TOLD IT IS CAUSED BY DEFECTIVE RACK OPINION. ALSO, TOLD IT IS NOT REPAIRABLE. CONSUMER MIGHT BE RIDING DOWN THE ROAD AND LOSE COMPLETE CONTROL. *AK

STEERING COMPONENTS IN STEERING WHEEL CAME APART, CONTACTED DEALER AND DEALER STATED DEFECT COULD BE A MAJOR PROBLEM WHEN DRIVING VEHICLE. *AK CONSUMER STATED THE PROBLEM WAS FIRST DIAGNOSED AS A LOSS OF HIGH BEAM SWITCH FUNCTION ON THE STEERING COLUMN.*SLC

WHILE DRIVING AIR BAG COMPUTER DEPLOYED, BUT AIR BAGS DID NOT COME OUT. AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER STATED NOTHING THEY COULD DO. HAD TO REPLACE COMPUTER MODULE. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THAT GM DENIED TO REPLACE THE AIR BAG MODULE. *YH

VEHICLE INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION WITH A TREE, AVOIDED HITTING A DEER. UPON IMPACT, FRONTAL AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

Crash

AFTER I WAS HIT DASH CAUGHT FIRE, AND THE FAN WAS STILL RUNNING WHEN THE FIRE WAS PUT OUT IN THE CAR.*AK

Crash Fire 3 injured 1 deaths

TRANSMISSION & TORQUE CONVERTER HAD TO BE REPLACED AT 54,000 MILES. EASY, HIGHWAY MILEAGE ONLY ON VEHICLE. I HAVE ALL RECEIPTS FOR MAINTENANCE OF VEHICLE SINCE DAY PURCHASED. VEHICLE MAINTAINED IN STRICT ADHERENCE TO OWNER'S MANUAL LONG TRIP/HIGHWAY MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE. *AK

SEVERAL MINUTES AFTER EXITING THE I10 FREEWAY WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN TO A RESIDENTIAL AREA THE TIRE HAD A SIDEWALL BLOWOUT. *AK (DOT NUMBER: 4B18FJDR TIRESIZE: 235/55R/16)

FACTORY BATTERY HAD A CRACK, POST CORRODED OFF, AND WAS LEAKING ACID, DEALER SAID POSSIBLY DUE TO OVERTIGHTENING WHEN INSTALLED. NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. *AK

CLUCH STUCK WHILE DEPRESSED AND ENGINE WAS ENGAGED. GEAR SHIFT WAS STUCK IN REVERSE. CAR WAS MOVING BY ITSELF AND WOULD NOT STOP WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED. COULD NOT FORCE IT OUT OF GEAR OR GET CLUTCH TO RELEASE. HAD TO PULL EMERGENCY BRAKE TO GET CAR TO STOP AND ENGINE TO KILL. AFTER CAR DIED TRIED TO TURN THE KEY TO SEE IF CLUTCH WOULD COME UP WHEN KEY WAS TURNED TO THE ON POSITION AND CAR STARTED AGAIN AND BEGAN TO MOVE ON IT'S OWN. AGAIN, I KILLED ENGINE BY PULLING EMERGENCY BRAKE. EVENTUALLY WAS ABLE TO FORCE CAR OUT OF GEAR WHILE IT WAS OFF AND THEN HAD TO FORCE CLUTCH UP AND WORK IT BACK AND FORTH UNTIL IT LOOSED UP AND CAR COULD BE MOVED FORWARD, BACK INTO OUR DRIVEWAY.

FRONT BRAKES ON BOTH SIDES MAKE THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKE REALLY BAD USUALLY DURING WET WEATHER,BUT IT DOES IT ALL THE TIME, THE PROBLEM EXISTED AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE, HOWEVER HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED. *JB

TWICE UNDER WARRANTY WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED TO COME ON AND THE DEALER (DIFFERENT FROM WHERE I BOUGHT THE CAR) REPLACED THE WIPER MOTOR. THE REPAIR LASTED APPROX. 1 YEAR BEFORE THE NEXT FAILURE. NOW THAT THE WARRANTY IS OVER ALL OF A SUDDEN IT'S THE SWITCH AND WILL COST ME $275.00. THE SAME SYMPTOMS EACH TIME- WIPERS WOULD NOT OPERATE UNTIL PUT ON FULL OR BY PUSHING THE MIST CONTROL FIRST.*AK

ROTORS WERE TURNED AROUND IN APRIL 1999, AND WERE WARPED AT THIS TIME. WHEN APPLYING BRAKES STEERING WHEEL SHAKES. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER 3 TIMES FOR ROTOR PROBLEMS. *AK