2012 Chevrolet Camaro

Photo: Calreyn88 / CC BY-SA 4.0 / Wikimedia Commons

2012 Chevrolet Camaro: common problems and reliability

· 5th generation

An average Camaro year.

113 owner complaints, most about electrical system. 5 recalls.

Should I buy a 2012 Camaro?

The 2012 Chevrolet Camaro has 113 owner-filed NHTSA complaints and 5 recalls on record. The most-reported areas are electrical system and engine. Owners most often flag poor outward visibility.

Safety record for the 2012 model year

113
Owner complaints
5
Recalls
10
Crash reports
4
Fire reports

Source: NHTSA complaints and recalls filed for 2012 Chevrolet Camaro vehicles (US, public record).

The Year Score compares this year with other Camaro years only. How we score it

Is 2012 a good year for the Camaro?

Across the 21 Camaro model years we track, complaint volume runs from 54 (2001) to 523 (2017). With 113 complaints, the 2012 Camaro sits about the same as the model's median of 121.

These are raw NHTSA complaint totals, not adjusted for how many cars sold or how long each model year has been on the road. Older and higher-selling years accumulate more complaints.

Where owners report problems

electrical system
27
engine
26
air bags
22
power train
15
structure
11

Recalls affecting the 2012 Camaro

electrical system:ignition

Campaign 19E064000

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain replacement flip-key ignition transmitter assemblies sold as replacement equipment for 2010-2015 Chevrolet Camaro vehicles. GM dealers may have inadvertently sold these assemblies as replacement keys despite them having been recalled under NHTSA recall number 14V-346 (GM number 14294) when they were the original equipment assemblies. The driver may accidentally bump the ignition key with their knee, moving the ignition out of the run position and turning off the engine.

electrical system:ignition

Campaign 14V346000

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling all 2010-2014 Chevrolet Camaro vehicles manufactured December 3, 2008 to May 23, 2014. In the affected vehicles, the driver may accidentally hit the ignition key with their knee, unintentionally knocking the key out of the run position, turning off the engine.

seats:front assembly:power adjust

Campaign 14V447000

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 Buick LaCrosse, Regal and Chevrolet Camaro, as well as certain 2010-2012 Cadillac SRX, Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain vehicles, equipped with power height adjustable driver and passenger seats. In the affected vehicles, the bolt that secures the driver's and passenger's power front seat height adjuster may fall out causing the seat to drop suddenly to the lowest vertical position.

air bags

Campaign 14V300000

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2012 Buick Verano vehicles manufactured December 2, 2011 to July, 16, 2012, Chevrolet Cruze vehicles manufactured December 7, 2011 to July 25, 2012, Chevrolet Sonic vehicles manufactured December 5, 2011 to August 2, 2012, and Chevrolet Camaro vehicles manufactured December 1, 2011 to June 11, 2012. The driver side frontal air bag has a shorting bar which may intermittently contact the air bag terminals.

Show 1 more recall

air bags

Campaign 13V023000

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2012 Chevrolet Camaro, Cruze and Sonic, and model year 2012 Buick Verano vehicles. The driver side frontal air bag has a shorting bar which may intermittently contact the air bag terminals.

What owners report on the 5th generation Camaro

Owners regard the 5th generation Camaro as a fun, reliable car when properly maintained, with the V8 models earning the strongest praise and the V6 models drawing more mixed opinions.

  • Very frequentPoor outward visibility
  • RecurrentAFM/DOD cylinder deactivation causing lifter failure on automatic V8s
  • RecurrentDated interior
  • IsolatedEarly V6 timing chain issues
  • IsolatedConvertible top issues on 2011-2012 droptops (class action mentioned)

Owner insights for the 5th generation Camaro. Read the full 5th generation owner report.

Typical used price

Used Camaro listings typically run $15,475–$25,095 across 1987 to 2024 model years.

Other Camaro model years

Compare every Camaro year side by side to see how 2012 ranks against the rest.

Compare the Camaro against its rivals

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