The Chevrolet Camaro is one of the very few true muscle cars that America has ever seen. The word “muscle” not only describes its styling but also its build quality as the Camaro seems to be a solid compact coupe with very less complaints and issues, making it spend barely any time at the workshop. In 2020, Chevrolet managed to sell a total of 29,777 units of the Camaro range, and despite the sales graph being bearish over the years, Camaro maintains its reputation for being a reliable performance vehicle. With a total of just 2 recalls and 7 complaints, it might seem like the Camaro is a car that one could blindly go for but there have been constant reports about the car failing to respond when the throttle is applied as well as the interior lights not turning off. Complaints aren’t the only factor to consider as there are equally compelling rivals such as the Ford Mustang and the Dodge Challenger in the market.
Electrical Problems
- Cabin lights – Many users reported that no matter how hard they tried to turn off the cabin lights, they would remain on. This makes nighttime driving challenging since the glare from the lights causes the driver's vision to become impaired. The car was delivered to a dealer, who identified the problem as a frequent one that was allegedly brought on by a broken cabin cluster brightness knob. After repeatedly fiddling with the brightness knob, the lights would switch off. Technicians stated that the knob needed to be replaced.
- Windshield wipers – The contact state that while driving in the rain, the windshield wipers failed to operate, blinding the driver and making the situation unsafe. This was said to have happened due to a wiper motor damage and the dealers immediately made the necessary replacements.
- Throttle Position Sensor (TPS) – When the gas pedal was pressed, the car allegedly stopped reacting, almost as if the engine had died. The consumers observed a warning code that suggested a TPS malfunction. The diagnostics revealed that the TPS required replacement as an unexpected failure can result in the vehicle not moving as quickly or safely as intended, increasing the chance of an accident.
Mechanical Problems
- Suspension – The users claimed to hear a pop noise that was said to be coming from the front passenger-side wheel area. It was described to be similar to something breaking and when the dealers took a closer look at the issue, it was identified that one of the bolts on the front strut was damaged and has the possibility of cracking if further driven. The dealers inspected the suspension for any further damage and replaced the necessary bolts.
- Brakes – It was said that the Camaro ZL1's brake pedal occasionally felt slack and would travel all the way to the floor with zero tension on it. The dealers took fast action to resolve the situation because it was quite risky to drive a car with partially functioning brakes. It was claimed that the dead brake pedal was a sign that the brake booster was deteriorating and needed to be replaced.
Safety Problems
- Safety warning – Even if the seatbelts were fastened, the "safety restrain system" warning was always visible. The repeated warning sign was distracting while driving and this also causes the battery to drain out. The dealers discovered that the problem was caused by a damaged connector of the safety sensor under the seat. The complaint was notified to the Chevrolet HQ and the issue was resolved by replacing the necessary sensor.
2020 Chevrolet Camaro recalls
|
S. No. |
Date |
NHTSA ID |
Issues Noticed |
Additional Remarks |
Remedy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1. |
25th March 2021 |
21V211000 |
Steering Wheel Emblem May Separate |
The plastic "Camaro" sign that is fastened to the steering wheel airbag cover can separate during the frontal driver airbag's activation. Plastic emblem components could behave as darts when the driver airbag deploys, increasing the risk of harm. |
GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the frontal driver-side airbag module at no cost to the customer. |
|
2. |
21st November 2019 |
19V837000 |
Fuel Pump Missing Pressure Regulator |
It's possible that the fuel pump lacks a pressure regulator, which would result in an over-pressurized fuel system. Over-pressurization can break the fuel pump and cause leaks. In the presence of an ignition source, a leak can increase the risk of a fire. |
GM will notify the owners and will replace the fuel pump at no cost to the customer. The recall began on December 18, 2019. |
Should you buy the 2020 Chevrolet Camaro?
The 2020 Chevrolet Camaro isn’t like other performance-oriented vehicles that are generally considered to be a pain when it comes to maintaining them. With numerous authorized service stations and easily available parts, the Camaro is an ideal choice if you're looking for something reliable. According to J.D.Power, the car deserves 86 for its reliability, categorizing it as a great car and the fact is further justified as the known issues with the car have only affected a very limited set of users. That said, it does not mean that the potential flaws may be overlooked when looking for a used Camaro from 2020. We recommend driving the car to see if there are noises from the suspension and also ensure that the brake pedal feels right and not flimsy as there have been reports of users being able to floor the pedal. Though Ford and Dodge offer an equally strong service network, the Camaro seems to be the better choice due to its lower overall complaints.
