1989 Chevrolet Camaro: common problems

Owners of the 1989 Chevrolet Camaro filed 25 complaints with NHTSA, most often about seat belts and electrical system. Details by component below, with sources.

Key figures

Owner complaints: 25
involving a crash: 3

What fails most often

1 Seat belts 24% of all complaints
2 Electrical system 16% of all complaints
3 Service brakes 16% of all complaints
4 Engine and cooling 8% of all complaints
5 Fuel system 8% of all complaints
6 Steering 8% of all complaints
7 Latches, locks, linkages 4% of all complaints
8 Parking brake 4% of all complaints

Circle size and colour show each component’s share of NHTSA complaints. Schematic only, not a drawing of the exact model.

Seat belts: 6 complaints (24% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
Electrical system: 4 complaints (16% of all).
Service brakes: 4 complaints (16% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
Engine and cooling: 2 complaints (8% of all).
Fuel system: 2 complaints (8% of all).

Engines and transmissions

US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.

2.8 L · petrol · 6 cyl
5 L · petrol · 8 cyl
5.7 L · petrol · 8 cyl
automatic, 4-speed
manual, 5-speed

Drive: RWD

Symptoms owners describe

How many of the 25 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).

seat belts6 · 24%
smoke, burning smell, fire3 · 12%
jerking, harsh shifts1 · 4%
won't start1 · 4%
rollaway, parking brake1 · 4%
rust, corrosion1 · 4%
stalls while driving1 · 4%
vibration1 · 4%
warning lights, check engine1 · 4%

Components owners complain about

Component	Owner complaints	involving a crash
Seat belts	6	1
Electrical system	4	0
Service brakes	4	1
Engine and cooling	2	0
Fuel system	2	0
Steering	2	0
Latches, locks, linkages	1	0
Parking brake	1	0
Seats	1	0
Suspension	1	0
Tires	1	1
Vehicle speed control	1	1
Other	1	0

What owners report

Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.

Consumer was traveling on the highway and noticed that during a collision driver's side seat belt buckle was broken, and did not protect driver.
Seat belts · crash · 2001-10-29 · NHTSA complaint #898398
While driving, right rear yokohama mohawk montega a/s tire experienced tread separation, right rear quarter panel and passenger door were damaged due to accident, tire size p215/65r15, dot # ccihfh1488.
Tires · crash · 2000-11-14 · NHTSA complaint #874948
While driving, accelerator went to floor without foot on pedal; lurched forward with brakes applied; went into fishtail; hit tree; no warning. Tt
Service brakes · crash · 1995-07-19 · NHTSA complaint #969064
The passenger side seat belt will not retract, passenger cannot use the seat belt.
Seat belts · 2005-01-03 · NHTSA complaint #10106673
Gmc refuses to replace my faulty seat belts and hand brake.
Seat belts · 2004-03-19 · NHTSA complaint #10062657
Ignition/bat/security system/wiring/alternator/battery the security light comes on and stays on and the car won't start. Sometimes for hours. Once the security system resets it will start. Have replaced the ignition several times. Alternator and battery at least 2 times a year for the past 3 years.
Electrical system · 2003-09-13 · NHTSA complaint #10038815
Parking brake sticks. Have to manually release parking brake mechanism. Car seems to take longer to stop than any rear drum camaro I've ever owned. Have asked around on various camaro specific web sites and have found that several people have same problem. Only solution for many is to install aftermarket setups.
Service brakes · 2000-10-23 · NHTSA complaint #733798
Consumer was traveling about 35mph on highway, applied brakes, and front end of vehicle was vibrating, consumer couldn't control vehicle. Tire was slidding front to back, touching the inside of the wheel well. Front cross member control arm attachment was broken. There were no injuries.
Suspension · 2000-10-18 · NHTSA complaint #873321

When owners complained

NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.

19956
19964
19972
19981
19993
20004
20011
20031
20041
20051
20071

Comparison

By complaint count this model year ranks 7,448 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 20% most complained about).

On average one model year of the Camaro has 78 complaints (41 years in the data). This year has 25, below average.

What to check before buying

Seat belts. Belt pretensioners after airbag deployment, SRS codes.
Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.

Questions and answers

What are the most common problems with the 1989 Chevrolet Camaro?

Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: seat belts, electrical system, service brakes. Total complaints: 25. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: seat belts (24%), smoke, burning smell, fire (12%), jerking, harsh shifts (4%).

How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 1989 Chevrolet Camaro?

NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.

Should I buy a 1989 Chevrolet Camaro from a US auction?

Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.

Other 1989 models

Read also

Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.