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2016 Chevrolet Camaro Recalls, Problems & Maintenance

The 2016 Chevrolet Camaro carries 1 open NHTSA recall — most recently covering software. Owners report 8 recurring issue clusters, led by “Windshield fogging that obstructs visibility.” Chevrolet vehicles use the GM Oil Life System (OLS) — a percentage-based monitor that calculates oil life from driving conditions, not fixed mileage. When the OLS drops to 0%, oil and filter are due. The schedule below reflects GM's Normal Use intervals for everything else.

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1 Open Recall

Source: NHTSA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE

Campaign #16V084000 · Nov 2, 2016

Issue: Genera Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016 Chevrolet Camaro, Malibu, Silverado and GMC Sierra vehicles. The radio may intermittently fail to provide an audio warning when the key has been left in the ignition and the door is opened or when the driver does not fasten their seat belt. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) number 114, "Theft Protection", and/or 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."

Risk: An unbelted driver is at a greater risk of injury in a crash.

Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will update the radio software, free of charge. The recall began on March 14, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 15808.

Recall data refreshed Sep 20, 2026.

Known issues & problems for this vehicle

What drivers and federal regulators have officially reported about the 2016 Chevrolet Camaro.

Reported to NHTSA

Windshield fogging that obstructs visibility

VISIBILITY/WIPER

6 NHTSA complaints · 2017-02 → 2018-07

“THERE IS A CONTINUED BEHAVIOR OF THE FRONT WINDOW FOGGING UP, NEARLY COMPLETELY OBSTRUCTING MY ABILITY TO SEE OUT OF THE FRONT OF THE CAR. THIS IS AN ABSOLUTE SAFETY CONCERN THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10950216
“WINDSHIELD FOGS UP AND BLOCKS VISIBILITY TREMENDOUSLY (ON A VEHICLE WITH LOW VISIBLE ALREADY, IT IS VERY DANGEROUS). THIS IS CAUSED BY COLD AIR LEAKING FROM THE WINDSHIELD DEFROSTER VENT, AND HAPPENS REGARDLESS OF DEFROSTER SETTING”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11110153
“FRONT WINDSHIELD FOGGING UP. IS SPECIALLY SCARY WHEN THE SUN IS IN YOUR FACE AND THE WINDSHIELD IS FOGGY MAKES THE EFFECT 10 TIMES WORSE TO THE POINT I CANT SEE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10950425

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Seat belt detachment from anchor point

SEAT BELTS

5 NHTSA complaints · 2018-06 → 2022-07

“The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Camaro. The contact stated that the front driver’s side seat belt had detached from the floor of the vehicle making the seat belt unusable and unable to secure the driver”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11473304
“SEAT BELT BROKE 34000 MILES LIGHT DRIVING NO ACCIDENT, DEFECTIVE SEAT BELT BROKE OFF METAL FROM FLOORBOARD . TOOK IN FOR WARRANTY REPAIR”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11149796
“My seat belt broke completely apart from car”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11461683

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Reduced or lost braking response

SERVICE BRAKES

8 NHTSA complaints · 2017-01 → 2021-06

“THE BREAKS FAILED ON MY 2016 CAMARO. LOST ALL POWER TO BREAKS ON CITY STREET THEY PULSED AND VIBRATED ON DRY PAVEMENT BUT HAD NO GRIP AND HAD TO STOP BY USING TRANSMISSION”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11061453
“WHILE PULLING THROUGH A FAST FOOD DRIVE-THRU, I APPLIED THE BRAKES AND "BRAKE ASSIST" ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD. THIS RESULTED IN REDUCED BRAKING WITH THE ABS MODULE PULSATING”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10949843
“Around 3/2/2021 I received a dash warning light for the electronic parking brake indicating some form of malfunction. The electronic parking brake began to stay on once set and when I would accelerate a bit, it would release”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11420819

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Transmission shudder and torque converter failure

POWER TRAIN

49 NHTSA complaints · 2016-07 → 2026-08

“The component that failed is the 8-speed automatic transmission and torque converter on my 2016 Chevrolet Camaro SS. The system experienced shuddering, slipping, and overheating, leading to unsafe driving conditions”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11669757
“The torque converter on my vehicle is faulty. It has a violent shake, slippage of gears, and sometimes even loss of power while driving”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11664387
“AUTOMATIC 8 SPEED TRANSMISSION SHUDDERS ON LIGHT ACCELERATION BETWEEN 1300-1700RPM. THIS ISSUE CAN BE REPLICATED AND IS ESPECIALLY NOTICEABLE WHEN CRUISING UP A SLIGHT INCLINE AT AROUND 1500RPM”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11219310

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Power steering assist loss

STEERING

20 NHTSA complaints · 2016-02 → 2026-03

“I expereinced sudden and complete loss of Electric Power Steering Assist. A warning ,message appeared on dash notification area that power steering assist had failed”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11693642
“The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Camaro. The contact stated that while driving at 15 MPH, the vehicle lost power steering functionality, requiring the contact to use excessive force to steer the vehicle”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11714004
“The power steering shuts of randomly with loss of steering. When I try to turn under this condition, the steering wheel bounces back and forth violently”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11444054

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Trunk water intrusion causing electrical fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, STRUCTURE

7 NHTSA complaints · 2018-04 → 2024-08

“2016 CAMARO 2LT RS WOULD NOT START 11.23.2017. AFTER CHECKING THE BATTERY COMPARTMENT, WATER WAS FOUND BELOW THE TRUNK DECK LID”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11083296
“TRUNK LEAKS WITH ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS LOCATED IN THE BASE OF THE TRUNK WHERE A SPARE TIRE WOULD BE LOCATED. WATER POOLS IN THIS AREA AND EXPOSES THE FUSE BOX, AMPLIFIER AND OTHER ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS TO WATER”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11174424
“our insured, [XXX] , owners of the 2016 Camaro, turned in their vehicle to Atkins Kroll, Inc, Guam, due to complaints of the wiring harness within the trunk burned due to water infiltration into the trunk cavity, due to the trunk weatherstrip failing to keep out the water from”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11504820

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Unexpected engine stall while driving

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE

6 NHTSA complaints · 2017-08 → 2020-12

“CAR IS SHUTTING OFF WHILE DRIVING ON ROADWAYS. CAR NOT SHUTTING OFF WHEN PUSHING THE IGNITION BUTTON. CAR NOT STARTING AT HOME OR WHILE IN THE COMMUNITY”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11020481
“THE TRANSMISSION FAILS. THE CAR SHUTS OFF IN TRAFFIC WITHOUT WARNING OR WITHOUT CODES SOMETIMES IN A PARKIMG LOT AND SOMETIMES ON THE HIGHWAY”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11023554
“THE CARS PUSH BUTTON START IS NOT WORKIMG TO START THE CAR, INTERMITTANT. THE CAR SHUTS OFF IN TRAFFIC”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11055594

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Starter failure from exhaust manifold heat

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

5 NHTSA complaints · 2018-07 → 2025-12

“2016 CHEV CAMARO SS STARTER ISSUES. STARTER IS TOO CLOSE TO THE EXHAUST SYSTEM WHICH HEATS UP EXTREMELY HOT AND AFFECTS THE COMPONENTS IN THE STARTER AND LOCKS UP STARTER”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11483990
“The vehicle was towed to the residence, where the contact discovered that the smoke and the burning odor were coming from the starter that was 3 inches away from the exhaust manifold, by design”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11700843
“The dealer, Flori Auto Sales LLC, was contacted, and the dealer towed the vehicle to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with starter failure”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11704738

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Issues on other model years

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI). Complaint data refreshed Sep 20, 2026. Investigation data refreshed Sep 20, 2026.

We display NHTSA's record with attribution; we don't editorialize on what these complaints mean for any specific vehicle.

Raw data + downloads for this vehicle →

Essential maintenance

Critical for safety and preventing major damage

Engine Oil & Filter (per Oil Life System)

Every 7,500 mi

Change oil when the Oil Life System reaches 0% or every 12 months — whichever comes first. dexos1-approved synthetic oil required on all gas engines since 2011.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$120–$160

Shop

~$85–$115

DIY

~$25–$55

Full synthetic costs more than conventional. 5-quart 0W-20 + filter is the typical bill.

Tire Rotation

Every 7,500 mi

Rotate tires every 7,500 miles. Silverado 4x4 and Tahoe owners benefit from earlier rotations to even out drivetrain wear.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Often free at the shop where you bought the tires — worth asking before paying.

Brake Inspection

Every 7,500 mi

Inspect brake pads, rotors, and parking brake at each tire rotation. Equinox and Malibu front pads typically last 40,000-50,000 miles.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Most shops do this free as a courtesy with any service. Don't pay separately if you can avoid it.

Brake Fluid

Every 45,000 mi

GM specifies brake fluid replacement based on contamination testing. Test every 30,000 miles; replace if moisture content exceeds 3% or fluid appears dark.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$180–$200

Shop

~$125–$140

DIY

~$10–$25

DOT 3 or 4 — match the cap. Vacuum bleeders make this a one-person DIY.

Important maintenance

Keeps your vehicle running smoothly and efficiently

Engine Air Filter

Every 45,000 mi

GM long-life cellulose air filters are rated 45,000 miles. Direct-injection engines are sensitive to airflow restriction; inspect at every oil change.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

5-minute job on most cars; the airbox lid usually has clips, no tools needed.

Automatic Transmission Fluid

Every 45,000 mi

Severe service (heavy towing, frequent stop-and-go, dusty conditions): replace every 45,000 miles. Normal service: 97,500 miles. Use Dexron-VI on 6L80/8L90 transmissions.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$330–$500

Shop

~$235–$355

DIY

~$60–$180

Some sealed transmissions have no dipstick — fill is precise and best left to a shop. Many drivers can still DIY drain-and-fill.

Spark Plugs

Every 100,000 mi

GM iridium spark plugs are rated 100,000 miles on most LS and LT engines. The 5.3L V8 in Silverado 1500 commonly fouls plugs early under heavy idling.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$390

Shop

~$200–$275

DIY

~$25–$100

Iridium plugs cost more but last 100k+ miles. V6/V8 access varies wildly — some are tough.

Dex-Cool Engine Coolant

Every 50,000 mi

GM Dex-Cool (orange): first change at 150,000 miles or 5 years, then every 50,000 miles. Mixing with green coolant creates a sludge that destroys the cooling system.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$330

Shop

~$200–$235

DIY

~$25–$60

Use the manufacturer-specified coolant — wrong color/chemistry can damage the cooling system.

Rear Differential Fluid

Every 50,000 mi

Silverado and Tahoe: replace rear axle fluid every 50,000 miles, or 25,000 miles if towing. Limited-slip differentials require GM friction-modifier additive.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$150–$195

Shop

~$105–$135

DIY

~$20–$50

Drain plug + fill plug — straightforward DIY. AWD vehicles have two; budget for both.

Recommended maintenance

Extends the life of your vehicle and improves comfort

Cabin Air Filter

Every 22,500 mi

Replace the cabin air filter every 22,500 miles. Silverado and Tahoe owners in dusty climates should replace earlier.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

Usually behind the glovebox. Shops charge labor for a 10-minute job — easy DIY win.

Fatal crash history & reported problems

Occupant deaths in fatal crashes (FARS)

37 crashes 1990–2024

How the 37 occupant deaths break down

31

driver deaths

6

passenger deaths

37

occupant deaths

Crash years covered: 1990–2024 This model year first appears in 2016 crashes. Older models have had more years on the road to appear in these crashes, so a higher count here does not by itself mean a vehicle is less safe.

FARS counts every occupant death in a fatal crash, whatever the cause — it does not mean the vehicle was at fault or defective. Counts are not adjusted for how many of each vehicle are on the road. How to read this number

FARS 2024 data is an annual report file. NHTSA revises these records when the final file is published, so this count can change.

Why we show driver deaths too

Every vehicle has exactly one driver seat, so driver deaths line up fairly when you compare one model to another. Occupant deaths include passengers, so a three row SUV can show a higher number than a two seat car simply because it carries more people.

Both figures are plain counts, not rates. A rate would need to know how many of each vehicle are on the road, and that registration data is not public, so we do not publish rates or scores of any kind.

IIHS publishes driver death rates using this same driver only idea, paired with a registered vehicle years denominator we do not have. Their rates and these counts answer different questions, so do not read either number here as a safety rating.

Owner-reported problem signals

Separate from the federal fatality data above: complaints owners filed with NHTSA about this year and model. These are reports of problems, unverified, and are counted here only as signals.

3

complaints mentioning a crash

4

complaints mentioning a fire

Reviewed known issues for this vehicle·Open recalls for this vehicle

Typical U.S. ranges. Actual quotes vary by shop, parts choice, and vehicle condition.

How we estimate: Dealer = OEM parts × 1.4 + labor × $165/hr. Shop = parts + labor × $115/hr. DIY = parts only.

This maintenance schedule for the 2016 Chevrolet Camaro reflects Chevrolet's published service intervals and the Oil Life System system. Your actual service needs may vary based on driving conditions, climate, and vehicle usage. Always consult your owner's manual for model-specific recommendations.

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