The Lemon Index2012 Chevrolet Camaro.
The 2012 Chevrolet Camaro is better than average by owner complaints: 54 complaints in its first 3 years and a Lemon Index of 56, where 100 is the average car. Owners complain most about electrical, it has 5 recalls, and it gets 14 to 22 mpg combined. The best Chevrolet Camaro year is 2021.
Before you buy. What matters most for this car.
How serious. Out of 113 owner complaints, owners reported:
Every Chevrolet Camaro year. 2012 is highlighted. Lower is better.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 8K to 72K miles on the car (83 complaints listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
- electrical complaints mostly came at 20K–76K miles
- engine complaints mostly came at 28K–86K miles
- airbags complaints mostly came at 20K–72K miles
Recalls 5
- electrical 2019
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.
- seats 2014
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.
- electrical 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.
Show all 5 recalls
- airbags 2014
The driver side frontal air bag has a shorting bar which may intermittently contact the air bag terminals.
- airbags 2013
The driver side frontal air bag has a shorting bar which may intermittently contact the air bag terminals.
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Problems Chevy told dealers about
Chevy sent dealers 1893 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- When making low speed turns there may be a chatter noise from the rear of the vehicle
- The transmission is slipping or has no forward/reverse movement
- In various high speed lan modules, communication warning indicators are intermittently…
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Government investigations
- ClosedAir bag non-deployment2013–2014
NHTSA looks into a problem when enough owners report it. Many end in a recall.
Safety
Crash test details
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chevrolet Camaro C RWD | not rated | not rated | not rated | ★★★★★ |
| Chevrolet Camaro 2 DR RWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ |
Fuel cost and engines
About $2900–4600 a year in fuel (EPA estimate). Engines: 3.6L 6-cyl, 6.2L 8-cyl.
In owners' words
2012 Chevrolet Camaro. Consumer has attempted numerous to get ignition recall fixed, but was unsuccessful.
2012 Chevrolet Camaro owner · NHTSA complaint 10662827
More owner reports
2021 Chevrolet Camaro. Consumer would like to receive a copy of a consumer complaint form and any information regarding the ignition recall.
NHTSA complaint 10638953
Quick answers
Is the 2012 Chevrolet Camaro reliable?
Yes, better than average by government complaints. It drew 1.8× fewer complaints than average filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 56; 100 is average, lower is better). The best Chevrolet Camaro year by this measure is 2021.
What are the most common 2012 Chevrolet Camaro problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are electrical (26%), transmission & drivetrain (22%) and airbags (20%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2012 Chevrolet Camaro have?
5 safety recalls (latest: electrical). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2012 Chevrolet Camaro get?
14 to 22 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
Is the 2012 Chevrolet Camaro safe?
NHTSA gave it 5 out of 5 stars overall in its best tested version. Ratings differ by body style, and the full table is on the advanced page.
At what mileage do 2012 Chevrolet Camaro problems start?
Half of the owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 8,000 and 72,000 miles. The middle report was at 34,000 miles, from 83 complaints.
Does the 2012 Chevrolet Camaro have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues make up 22% of its owner complaints.
How much does the 2012 Chevrolet Camaro cost in fuel a year?
About $2900 to $4600 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2012 Chevrolet Camaro have?
3.6L 6-cyl, 6.2L 8-cyl.
What Chevrolet Camaro year is better than the 2012?
By owner complaints per car sold, the best recent years are 2021, 2022 and 2019.
Lemon Index = safety complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model year. 100 is average; lower is better. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works