Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 54 complaints with NHTSA about the 2001 Chevrolet Camaro, and it carries 4 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 | 10 | 19% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 7 | 13% |
| Power train | 4 | 7% |
| Electrical system | 3 | 6% |
| Steering | 3 | 6% |
| Air bags | 2 | 4% |
| Unknown or other | 2 | 4% |
| Tires | 2 | 4% |
| Steering | 2 | 4% |
| Fuel system | 2 | 4% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
RAMIRO MAYORGA OWNER OF IDEAL AUTOS SOLD ME THIS CAR KNOWING HE HAD A MECHANIC RESET THE MILEAGE AND BREAK INDICATORS AND AIRBAG INDICATORS. THE AIRBAGS ARE NONE FUNCTIONAL I COMPLAINED TO THE BBB BUT THERE WAS NOTHING T
NHTSA complaint: Steering
FIRESTONE 500 TIRE EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION FAILURE RESULTING IN A TRAFFIC ACCIDENT AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. CONTACTED FIRESTONE VIA REGISTERED MAIL BUY AFTER ONE MONTH NO RESPONSE. THIS IS THE SAME PROBLEM THAT THEY EXP
NHTSA complaint: Wheels
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET CAMARO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE THERE WAS A SOUND OF METAL RUBBING NEAR THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPA
NHTSA complaint: Engine
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET CAMARO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN WAS NOT SECURELY CONNECTED DUE TO A PREMATURE FRACTURE OF AN INTERNAL COMPONENT WHICH WAS AFFECTING THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE EME
NHTSA complaint: Steering
WAS INVOLVED INTO (2) SEPARATE CAR ACCIDENT IN THE LAST YEAR THAT THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOYED. THE FIRST ONE I WAS REAR END WHEN I CAME TO A STOP AND THE PERSON BEHIND ME DID NOT STOP AND SUSTAIN NECK INJURY THAT I HAD
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
DASHBOARD HAS CRACKED TERRIBLY. HAD TO PUT A COVER OVER IT. THOUGHT PIECES WOULD FLY OFF.
NHTSA complaint: Unknown or other
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET CAMARO EQUIPPED WITH GOODYEAR EAGLE SPORT (NA) TIRES, SIZE: 245/45/R17. WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH, THE CONTACT FELT A VIBRATION COMING FROM THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE AND THE TIRE BLEW
NHTSA complaint: Tires
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET CAMARO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE OCCURRED TWICE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT
NHTSA complaint: Steering
NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for the 2001 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 | 80 | excellent |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 78 | good |
| Maintenance | 75 | good |
| Depreciation | 66 | good |
| Performance | 64 | average |
| Efficiency | 40 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other compact cars in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 54 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and service brakes is the most reported area with 10 of them (19%). There are 4 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 80/100 (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 78/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2001 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.