Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 98 complaints with NHTSA about the 1999 Chevrolet Camaro, and it carries 5 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 | 29 | 30% |
| Power train | 15 | 15% |
| Tires | 6 | 6% |
| Air bags | 5 | 5% |
| Electrical system | 5 | 5% |
| Exterior lighting | 4 | 4% |
| Structure | 3 | 3% |
| Seat belts | 2 | 2% |
| Fuel system | 2 | 2% |
| Visibility | 2 | 2% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHEVROLET CAMARO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH, THE SEAT BELT FAILED TO RETRACT WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS ENGAGED. THE TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE
NHTSA complaint: Seat belts
I HAD A GUY TELL ME THAT GM WAS RECALLING IGNITION SWITCHES I JUST WONTED TO KNOW IF MY CAR WAS ONE OF THEM. *TR
NHTSA complaint: Power train
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHEVROLET CAMARO. THE CONTACT STATED THE CLUTCH FAILED TO DISENGAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 43,000
NHTSA complaint: Power train
FLOOR OF TRUNK IS WET AFTER RAIN; NO VISIBLE LEAKS HAVE BEEN DETECTED. *TR
NHTSA complaint: Structure
ENGINE STALLS WHEN COMING TO A STOP. IN ADDITION, THE BATTERY VOLT GAUGE DROPS BELOW 13. THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN EVERY TIME I COME TO A RED LIGHT, BUT IT HAPPENS FREQUENTLY ENOUGH. ALSO, AFTER FILLING THE VEHICLE WITH GAS, T
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
VALVE STEM FAILURE CAUSING LEAKS AND ULTIMATELY, NEED TO REPLACE ALL TIRES. *TR
NHTSA complaint: Tires
VALVE STEM FAILURE RESULTING IN TIRE FAILURE AND ULTIMATELY, THE NEED TO REPLACE ALL TIRES. *TR
NHTSA complaint: Tires
WHEN REFUELING THE CAR, GAS WILL SPILL OUT WHILE FILLING THE TANK. THERE IS SOME KIND OF ISSUE WITH VENTING OF THE GAS TANK WHEN REFUELING. THERE IS NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND THE CAR RUNS FINE. I CALLED THE LOCAL DEA
NHTSA complaint: Fuel system
NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for the 1999 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 | 78 | good |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 76 | good |
| Maintenance | 75 | good |
| Depreciation | 66 | good |
| Performance | 74 | good |
| Efficiency | 36 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other compact cars in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 98 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and service brakes is the most reported area with 29 of them (30%). There are 5 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 78/100 (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 1999 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 71/100. 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.