Most common 1997 Chevrolet Camaro problems
Share of the 69 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Chevrolet Camaro complaints by model year
Best Camaro years: 2021, 2022, 2023. Years to avoid: 2010, 2015, 1995. Compare all years →
1997 Chevrolet Camaro recalls (1)
Seat belts › Front › Retractor
These vehicles were manufactured with seat belt retractors out of design position which can cause the retractor to lock-up on slopes less severe than the FMVSS requirement. This does not comply with FMVSS no. 209, "seat belt assemblies."
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the seat belts for proper front seat belt retractor position. Retractors found to be improperly positioned will be reinstalled correctly.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 2 possible defects involving the 1997 Chevrolet Camaro:
Fuel tub retaining clip failure
Owners have reported failures of the fuel tube retention clip that attaches to the plastic throttle linkage cover.according to GM, the subject retention clip (p/n 12048089) was implemented in production on October 12, 1993, to address a concern with incorrect assembly plant fuel line routing.mis-routed fuel tubes May fail from contact with a hot air check valve, creating a fire hazard in the engine compartment.GM…
Fuel tube retaining clip failure
Most of the reports reviewed in this investigation are fire incidents in which fuel leakage has been alleged as the cause or the area of origin is consistent with the alleged defect.there is no evidence that the subject clip was a factor in any of these fire incidents and NHTSA testing indicates thatbroken or dislodged retention clip does not result in significant movement of the fuel line bundle toward the left…
What 1997 Chevrolet Camaro owners say
Engine & cooling
Within 5 months of purchase (the mileage was 59585 when issues began) I began having issues with the engine, and took my car to the dealership over 10 times over the next year, and was charged $500 every time for them to put new spark plugs and wires and send me home only to come back a month later with the same problem only worse. This lasted until my warranty expired and then I was told I needed a new engine. I filed a complaint with the bbb (#chv0230345) and it was accepted for arbitration but the manufacturer never contacted me as they were supposed to and I can not get a response. I have had to replace the motor and the catalytic converter twice and now the car will not even start. I always took my car to the dealership so that it would be properly serviced, and I am very upset and am planning on seeking reimbursement, compensation and a vehicle that works. …
Dealer has been jerking me around. Replaced the intake manifold gasket once. Year went by, got another oil leak and the water pump went up. Took to the dealership, they replaced water pump, but didn't fill the coolant back up. They alleged to have fixed the intake manifold gasket again. Still getting an oil leak. Checked the problem myslef and found oil coming from pinion seal. Dealership said that it wasn't leaking when I just had the water pump fixed. They charged me to replace the pinion seal, even after talking to the service manager, Chevrolet and gmpp, the extended warrenty provider. After the seal was replaced I notice a hum at 35mph+. Dealer says it's normal, even though I've never had it before. I checked the fluid level in the rear, and it was a quart low on oil. Noone seems to want to do anything to help me.
Brakes
This car is a 97 z28 with the 350ci motor and 4 speed auto transmission. What happens is that when the front wheels are not turning, the rear brakes do not engage, no matter how hard you push down on the brake pedal. The issue presents itself under icy conditions. The first time it happened was when I pulled into a spot at a fast food place, the parking spot was icy while the rest of the lot was ice free. As I pulled into the spot, I put on my brakes and the front wheels stopped, but the rear did not. They were on the clear part of the parking lot and they should have stopped my forward motion, however they did not. Slid ahead until the front hit the snow bank. Thought this was unusual, but didn't concern myself about it any more. …
Electrical - driver side parking light out & blinker, tail light dull. Bulb replacement does not fix problem which has been this way for 2.5 years. Disc hardware sticking, calipers binding, not releasing when brakes released causing an effect as if riding brakes causing premature weae and loss of brakes. Rear rotor cracked in 3 places.
Air bags
1997 Camaro-the rear wheel axle spindle broke causing the rear wheel to break off while traveling at 45mph. Vehicle caused driver to loose control hit head on in a ditch embankment, then rolling over and sliding about 15 ft. Thus causing whiplash to the driver and complete total of vehicle
While driving 20-25 MPH had a direct frontal impact, and driver's/passenger's airbags did not deploy, which did not protect the occupant in this crash. Also the seatbelt system malfunctioned, causing the occupant to hit the front windshield. Please provide further information.
1997 Chevrolet Camaro engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.8L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 17 / 26 / 20 |
| 3.8L 6-cyl | 5-speed manual | RWD | 17 / 28 / 20 |
| 5.7L 8-cyl | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 15 / 23 / 18 |
| 5.7L 8-cyl | 6-speed manual | RWD | 15 / 24 / 18 |
EPA ratings. Class: Subcompact car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1997 Chevrolet Camaro a good car?
Based on 69 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1997 Camaro rates better than average: 60% fewer complaints than a typical year of the Camaro at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 1997 Chevrolet Camaro?
The engine & cooling — 13 complaints, 19% of all complaints for this model year, most often about engine. Next are the brakes (10) and air bags (8).
How many recalls does the 1997 Chevrolet Camaro have?
There is 1 recall for the 1997 Chevrolet Camaro, the most recent from November 4, 1996 (retractor). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Chevrolet Camaro?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2021, 2022 and 2023. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2010, 2015 and 1995. See the full Chevrolet Camaro years comparison.
At what mileage do 1997 Chevrolet Camaro problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 67,000 miles; 33% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.