Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 110 complaints with NHTSA about the 1991 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel system | 34 | 31% |
| Air bags | 20 | 18% |
| Electrical system | 12 | 11% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 7 | 6% |
| Structure | 7 | 6% |
| Vehicle speed control | 5 | 5% |
| Service brakes | 5 | 5% |
| Unknown or other | 3 | 3% |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 2 | 2% |
| Power train | 2 | 2% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
FUEL LEAKING ONTO GROUND WHEN FILLING TANK AT A GAS STATION. FOUND INFORMATION ABOUT SAFETY RECALL FROM 1994. OWNED THE CAR SINCE 1996.
NHTSA complaint: Fuel/propulsion system
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 CHEVROLET CAMARO. THE CONTACT NOTICED AN ONE INCH CRACK ON THE FUEL TANK NEAR THE FILLER NECK. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE
NHTSA complaint: Fuel/propulsion system
5.0LITER TBI VEHICLE STALLED IN TRAFFIC AT IDLE ONLY. I RESTARTED AND WAS ABLE TO EXIT FREEWAY. IDLE IS GOOD IN PARK OR NEUTRAL GEAR, IDLE IS UNSTEADY WHILE IN GEAR AND STALL OCCURS WITHIN SECONDS. HI SPEED OPERATION WAS
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 CHEVROLET CAMARO. WHENEVER FUEL WAS ADDED TO THE VEHICLE THERE WAS A LEAK COMING FROM THE FUEL TANK. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TOO OLD FOR THEM TO LOOKUP THE VIN. THE MANUFACTURER
NHTSA complaint: Fuel system
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 CHEVROLET CAMARO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TURNING ON THE IGNITION, HE SMELLED VAPORS AND FUMES EMITTING FROM THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT FOUND RECALL 94V077000 (FUEL SYSTEM,
NHTSA complaint: Fuel system
TL*- THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 CHEVROLET CAMARO. THE CONTACT OBSERVED FUEL LEAKAGE DURING FUELING THE GAS TANK .GASOLINE VAPORS AND FUEL LEAKS CAN RESULT IN A FIRE IF EXPOSED TO A SOURCE OF IGNITION. HE CONTACTED THE MANUF
NHTSA complaint: Fuel system
HELLO, MY CAMARO HAS HAD A GAS LEAK FROM THE GAS TANK/FILLER NECK FOR SEVERAL YEARS NOW. ABOUT THREE YEARS AGO, I WENT TO THE CHEVROLET DEALER AND THEY RECOGNIZED THAT IT HAD A PROBLEM, BUT COULDN'T FIGURE OUT HOW TO
NHTSA complaint: Fuel system
THERE IS A STRONG ODOR OF GAS COMING FROM MY 1991 CAMARO. AFTER DOING RESEARCH INTO THE PROBLEM, I BECAME AWARE OF A RECALL (#92C36) FOR THIS VEHICLE COVERING THE FUEL FILLER NECK/TANK SOLDIER JOINT(MAY 24, 1994). I WE
NHTSA complaint: Fuel system
NHTSA lists 7 recall campaigns for the 1991 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 PRO-A MOTORS CORNER LAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE D
Risk: WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
Fix: PRO-A MOTORS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PRO-A MOTORS AT 323-838-2988.
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).
POOR BOND ADHESION BETWEEN THE WINDSHIELD GLASS AND THE MOUNTING, WHICH COULD ALLOW THE WINDSHIELD TO SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE DURING A COLLISION. THIS FAILS TO CONFORM WITH FMVSS 212.
Risk: IF WINDSHIELD SEPARATION OCCURS IN A COLLISION, ANUNBELTED OCCUPANT COULD BE EJECTED FROM THE VEHICLE, AND PERSONAL INJURY COULDOCCUR.
Fix: REMOVE ALL SEALER FROM WINDSHIELD AND MOUNTING; APPLY NEW BONDING AND SEALANT MATERIAL, AND REINSTALL WINDSHIELD.
| Reliability raw | 77 | good |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 76 | good |
| Maintenance | 75 | good |
| Depreciation | 66 | good |
| Performance | 71 | good |
| Efficiency | 32 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other compact cars in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 110 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and fuel system is the most reported area with 34 of them (31%). There are 7 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 77/100 (good) 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 76/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 1991 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 70/100. 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.