Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 40 complaints with NHTSA about the 1984 Chevrolet Camaro, and it carries 7 recalls. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Seat belts | 28 | 70% |
| Structure | 4 | 10% |
| Fuel system | 1 | 3% |
| Equipment | 1 | 3% |
| Electrical system | 1 | 3% |
| Steering | 1 | 3% |
| Tires | 1 | 3% |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 1 | 3% |
| Parking brake | 1 | 3% |
| Vehicle speed control | 1 | 3% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1984 CHEVROLET CAMARO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT SHOULDER BELT FAILED TO RETRACT INTO PLACE AND THE CONTACT CONSTANTLY HAD TO ADJUST THE SHOULDER BELT TO ENSURE IT WAS SECUR
NHTSA complaint: Seat belts
MY 17 YEAR OLD SON [XXX], HAS A 1984 CHEVROLET CAMARO, AND TWICE THIS YEAR, HE AND I TOOK IT IN TO LARAMIE GM AUTO CENTER HERE IN LARAMIE, WYOMING AND ASKED THEM TO REPAIR THE SEAT BELTS ON RECALL # 85V169000. THE SERVIC
NHTSA complaint: Seat belts
SEAT BELT BUCKLE BROKE, WILL NOT ALLOW ME TO FASTEN BELT. THE RED BUTTON IS BROKEN. *TR
NHTSA complaint: Seat belts
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1984 CHEVROLET CAMARO. WHILE TRYING TO FASTEN THE SEAT BELT, THE BUCKLE BROKE. THE FRONT PASSENGER AND DRIVER SEAT BELTS ARE PINK. RECALL#90V105000 WAS RELATED TO THE PLASTIC COMPONENTS OF THE BELT
NHTSA complaint: Seat belts
DRIVER'S RESTRAINT DOES NOT LOCK INTO BUCKLE HARNESS. VEHICLE IS INCLUDED UNDER RECALL 84 V 0111000; HOWERVER, DEALER AND MAUFACTURER WILL NOT REPAIR VEHICLE UNDER THE RECALL.*AK
NHTSA complaint: Seat belts
DRIVER'S RESTRAINT WILL NOT LOCK INTO THE BUCKLE HARNESS. VEHICLE IS INCLUDED IN A MANUFACTURER RECALL; HOWEVER, DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WILL NOT REPAIR THE VEHICLE UNDER THE RECALL.*AK *YD
NHTSA complaint: Seat belts
THE LEFT FRONT FRAME RAIL HAS THREE MAJOR CRACKS BETWEEN THE STEERING GEAR BOX AND CROSS MEMBER(UNIBODY), CONSUMER NOTICED THIS WHEN TURNING THE WHEEL TO THE LEFT AND HEARING CLICKING AND POPPING NOISES. *SLC
NHTSA complaint: Structure
DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE RED RELEASE BUTTON IS BROKEN, PREVENTING THE SEAT BELT FROM LOCKING IN THE BUCKLE HOSUING MECHANISM. ALSO, RECALL 90V105000 INVOLVED THE SAME TYPE OF PROBLEM. BUT, MANUFACUTRER REFUSED
NHTSA complaint: Seat belts
NHTSA lists 7 recall campaigns for the 1984 Chevrolet Camaro. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.
CERTAIN HONEYWELL FRAM RACING BRAND HP4 AND HP8 OIL FILTERS THAT WERE MANUFACTURED FROM MAY 25, 2006, THROUGH SEPTEMBER 14, 2007, AND SOLD FOR USE AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR VEHICLES LIST ABOVE. THE AFFECTED FILTERS ARE MARKED WITH A DATE CODE A61451 THROUGH A72571 SEQUENTIALLY. THE DATE CODE AN
Risk: THIS CONDITION MAY CAUSE INADEQUATE SEALING AND LOSS OF ENGINE OIL, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A FIRE.
Fix: HONEYWELL WILL REPLACE THE AFFECTED OIL FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN DURING NOVEMBER 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT FRAM CUSTOMER SERVICE TOLL-FREE AT 1-800-890-2075.
CERTAIN REPLACEMENT FUEL FILTERS, FRAM BRAND NAME P/N G3727, WITH DATE CODES X52911 THROUGH X60801 SEQUENTIALLY OR X600141 AND A MEXICO COUNTRY OR ORIGIN MARKING ON THE FUEL FILTER HOUSING MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 18, 2005, THROUGH MARCH 21, 2006, SOLD FOR USE ON THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE AND ON CE
Risk: THIS CONDITION MAY CAUSE AN INADEQUATE SEAL AT THE CONNECTION, POTENTIALLY LEADING TO A FUEL LEAK. IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, A FIRE COULD OCCUR.
Fix: HONEYWELL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE FUEL FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 18, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FRAM CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-890-2075 (OPTION 1).
PARKING BRAKE ADJUSTER FAILS TO OPERATE AND DO NOT WORK AFTER BRAKE PAD WEAR.
Risk: PARKING BRAKES WILL NOT COMPLETELY HOLD A PARKED VEHICLEWHEN PARKED ON A SLOPE, CAUSING UNINTENDED VEHICLE ROLLAWAY WHICH COULD RESULTIN A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
Fix: REPLACE NONFUNCTIONING PARKING BRAKE ADJUSTERS.
PLASTIC COMPONENTS OF SEAT BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLIES DO NOT CONTAIN AN ULTRA VIOLET STABILIZER, AND EXPOSURE TO DIRECT SUNLIGHT AND ELEVATED INTERIOR TEMPERATURES COULD WEAKEN THE PLASTIC COMPONENTS.
Risk: THIS COULD RESULT IN BREAKAGE OF PLASTIC COMPONENTS WHICHCOULD PREVENT BUCKLE FROM LATCHING AND PROTECTING OCCUPANT IN A SUDDEN STOP ORACCIDENT.
Fix: REPLACE OR REPAIR SEAT BELT BUCKLE.
| Reliability raw | 87 | excellent |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 80 | excellent |
| Maintenance | 75 | good |
| Depreciation | 66 | good |
| Performance | 71 | good |
| Efficiency | 33 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other compact cars in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 40 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and seat belts is the most reported area with 28 of them (70%). There are 7 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 87/100 (excellent) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.
AVOIR scores its longevity 80/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 1984 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: worth a look, because a solid ownership case with specific caveats below. Its overall ownership score is 73/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.