2013 Chevrolet Camaro: common problems

Owners of the 2013 Chevrolet Camaro filed 187 complaints with NHTSA, most often about electrical system and steering. Details by component below, with sources.

Key figures

Owner complaints: 187
involving a crash: 20

What fails most often

1 Electrical system 43% of all complaints
2 Steering 12% of all complaints
3 Powertrain 9% of all complaints
4 Engine 8% of all complaints
5 Air bags 7% of all complaints
6 Electronic stability control 6% of all complaints
7 Service brakes 6% of all complaints
8 Visibility 6% of all complaints

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

Electrical system: 81 complaints (43% of all), 6 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
Steering: 23 complaints (12% of all), 6 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
Powertrain: 16 complaints (9% of all).
Engine: 15 complaints (8% of all).
Air bags: 13 complaints (7% of all), 5 of them with a crash reported by the owner.

Engines and transmissions

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

3.6 L · petrol · 6 cylnamed in 1 complaints
6.2 L · petrol · 8 cyl
6.2 L · petrol · turbo · 8 cyl
automatic, 6-speed
manual, 6-speednamed in 7 complaints

Drive: RWD

Symptoms owners describe

How many of the 187 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).

infotainment or screen glitches54 · 29%
A/C or heater36 · 19%
warning lights, check engine19 · 10%
stalls while driving16 · 9%
steering or power steering problems14 · 7%
seat belts10 · 5%
airbag warning light6 · 3%
knocking, grinding or other noise6 · 3%
windows, sunroof6 · 3%
smoke, burning smell, fire5 · 3%

Components owners complain about

Component	Owner complaints	involving a crash
Electrical system	81	6
Steering	23	6
Powertrain	16	0
Engine	15	0
Air bags	13	5
Electronic stability control	12	0
Service brakes	12	4
Visibility	11	0
Exterior lighting	7	0
Vehicle speed control	6	3
Wheels	6	1
Seat belts	5	1
Fuel/propulsion system	4	0
Equipment	3	0

What owners report

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

Description of the Incident and Safety Risk: While driving down the street and coming around a curve, another vehicle experienced a tire blowout and lost control. The driver attempted to correct the vehicle but crossed into my lane.
Air bags · crash · 2026-03-04 · NHTSA complaint #11722066
Radio/HVAC/Audible Chimes (available for inspection). My and others safety are at risk every day when driving this car. First the radio does not work at all the HVAC controls are tied into the radio and they work intermittent (windows fog) the whole center dash shuts off and on around every 3 seconds.
Electrical system · crash · 2024-11-26 · NHTSA complaint #11627489
During the crash, the contact sustained a fractured right ankle and concussion and was transported to the local hospital. A police report was taken at the scene. The vehicle was destroyed and towed away.
Vehicle speed control · crash · 2023-06-02 · NHTSA complaint #11525042
I was pulling out of a parking spot when my engine started riving and jerking and I accelerated while in reverse and hit a concrete post behind me. I applied the brake and placed the car in drive. My car took off with a high speed of acceleration with my brakes still applied, and accelerated out of control.
Electrical system · crash · 2022-07-24 · NHTSA complaint #11475530
The vehicles air bags failed to deploy. The police department was present and a police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was not available.
Air bags · crash · 2021-05-12 · NHTSA complaint #11416290
The contact stated that while driving at 40 mph, her knee unintentionally knocked the key out of the run position, turning off the engine. The vehicle crashed into a light pole. The air bags deployed and the contact sustained minor injuries to the face. Medical attention was sought. There was no police report filed.
Electrical system · crash · 2019-07-22 · NHTSA complaint #11233777
I could not brake, my seat belt locked on me hurting my collar bone, then my wheel was so hard to turn I was using both hands aggressively to turn as hard as I can just so I wouldn't hit a building or cause damage to others and as I was sterling I would keep pressing the brakes and they were just locked.
Air bags · crash · 2019-05-15 · NHTSA complaint #11207701
While driving down a local roadway making a left turn the tilt steering wheel locking lever fell out of position and hit my leg while I was attempting to shift gears.
Steering · crash · 2016-07-08 · NHTSA complaint #10883488

When owners complained

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

20121
201315
201428
201512
20169
201715
201817
201930
202020
202114
20229
20235
20249
20251
20262

Comparison

By complaint count this model year ranks 2,177 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 6% most complained about).

On average one model year of the Camaro has 78 complaints (41 years in the data). This year has 187, above average.

What to check before buying

Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
Steering. Steering play, power assist, rack and tie rods after a wheel impact.
Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.

Questions and answers

What are the most common problems with the 2013 Chevrolet Camaro?

Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: electrical system, steering, powertrain. Total complaints: 187. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: infotainment or screen glitches (29%), A/C or heater (19%), warning lights, check engine (10%).

How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2013 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 2013 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 2013 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.