Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 42 complaints with NHTSA about the 1993 Chevrolet Camaro, and it carries 6 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Service brakes | 9 | 21% |
| Air bags | 5 | 12% |
| Steering | 5 | 12% |
| Structure | 3 | 7% |
| Vehicle speed control | 3 | 7% |
| Power train | 3 | 7% |
| Electrical system | 2 | 5% |
| Visibility | 2 | 5% |
| Seat belts | 2 | 5% |
| Fuel system | 1 | 2% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
I WENT IN A DITCH AND HIT TREE STUMP AND THEY DIDN'T DEPLOY AND I HIT HARD MY MOM IS AN AUTOMOTIVE AND SEMI TECHNICIAN I TOTALED THE CAR SHE DIDN'T UNDER STAND WHY THEY DIDN'T. *TR
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
PROTECTIVE COVERING OVER THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL LINE WORE THROUGH THE FUEL LINE CAUSING A LEAK. FUEL WAS SPRAYING DIRECTLY ONTO THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. THERE WAS NO FIRE. TWO OF THE OTHER FUEL LINES RUPTURED IN THE SAME
NHTSA complaint: Fuel system
SIDE IMPACT FAILURE, STEERING FAILURE, ANTI-LOCK BRAKE FAILURE. SEVERE RIGHT SIDE IMPACT ON FEBRUARY 28, 2005 MODERATE WEATHER CONDITIONS. ANTI-LOCK BRAKES FAILED TO STOP THE CAR. WHICH CAUSED THE CAR HARD TO STEER.
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
CONSUMER BELIEVES THERE IS A DESIGN FLAW WITH THE DISC BRAKE SYSTEM, CONSUMER STATES THAT IF THE BRAKES DRAG LONG ENOUGH THEY CAN GET HOT AND LOCK UP, HE BELIEVES THAT IF A SPRING IS INSTALLED INTO THE CALIPER THAT THIS
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
CONSUMER BELIEVES THERE IS A DESIGN FLAW WITH THE DISC BRAKE SYSTEM, CONSUMER STATES THAT IF THE BRAKES DRAG LONG ENOUGH THEY CAN GET HOT AND LOCK UP, HE BELIEVES THAT IF A SPRING IS INSTALLED INTO THE CALIPER THAT THIS
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S DOORS ARE COMING LOOSE AT HINGES. WHEN DRIVING IT'S LIKE DOORS ARE ABOUT TO PEEL AWAY FROM VEHICLE. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED.*AK
NHTSA complaint: Structure
ENGINE OIL LEAK THAT DEALERS CAN NOT REPAIR, SPENT APPROXIMATELY $700, ENGINE STILL LEAKS OIL ON DRIVEWAY AFTER 1 YEAR OF DEALERSHIP ATTEMPTED REPAIRS, INTAKE GASKET REPLACEMENT 3 TIMES, REAR ENGINE OIL SEAL REPLACEMENT
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
TROUBLE WITH CAR FROM DAY 1. HAD IT CHECKED AND THERE IS NO CATALYTIC CONVERTER ON CAR! ALSO THERE WAS NO ODOMETER READING RECORDED ON ANY PAPER WORK AT TIME OF PURCHASE. I HAVE NOT BEEN DRIVING THE CAR BECAUSE IT IS
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns for the 1993 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.
DOPE, INC. IS RECALLING 42,540 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES
Risk: DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Fix: DOPE, INC. WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 28, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOPE, INC. AT 1-626-272-1798.
SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES
Risk: DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Fix: SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.
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 AJ MOTORSPORT COMBINATION LAMPS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED PASSENGER VEHICLES. COMBINATION LAMPS NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIAT
Risk: LACK OF AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS IN THE LAMPS WILL DECREASE LIGHTING VISIBILITY TO OTHER DRIVERS AND MAY POSSIBLY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Fix: AJ MOTORSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 31, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT AJ MOTORSPORT AT 626-618-2026.
| Reliability raw | 85 | excellent |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 79 | good |
| Maintenance | 75 | good |
| Depreciation | 66 | good |
| Performance | 74 | 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 42 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and service brakes is the most reported area with 9 of them (21%). There are 6 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 85/100 (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 79/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 1993 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.