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2016 Chevrolet Camaro problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls

HIGH COMPLAINT SIGNAL
48%
64 of 132 relevant owner complaints are about the engine, transmission or fuel system

48% of relevant owner complaints filed with NHTSA on the 2016 Chevrolet Camaro are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. That is a model-level pattern, not bad luck.

Worse than 62% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).

Excludes 9 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 45%).

NHTSA data checked October 3, 2026

The VIN is on the listing, the driver’s door jamb, and the bottom of the windshield on the driver’s side.

Does the 2016 Chevrolet Camaro have transmission problems?

Owner complaints say yes, as a model-year pattern. 64 of 132 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2016 Chevrolet Camaro concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (48%), and the largest group is filed under power train (48). For comparison, the 2015 scores 24% and the 2017 scores 40%. On a test drive, check for shuddering, slipping, delayed or harsh shifts, or a whine at speed. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.

Drivetrain complaints
64
engine, transmission, fuel
Total complaints
141
this model year
Fires reported
4
owner-reported
Recall campaigns
1
3 crashes · 1 injuries

Complaints by component

POWER TRAIN48 · 34%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM31 · 22%
ENGINE22 · 16%
STEERING22 · 16%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER19 · 13%
SERVICE BRAKES9 · 6%

The years either side

Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.

How the 2016 compares with other Chevrolet Camaro years

Of the 11 Chevrolet Camaro years with enough complaints to score, the 2016 is the 4th-worst on engine and transmission share (48%). The worst is the 2010 (62%), the best the 2013 (18%). By volume, the 2016 drew 141 complaints (64 drivetrain), against 206 for the 2015 and 189 for the 2017.

Chevrolet Camaro years to avoid and best years →

In the full report

The rest of the picture on the 2016 Chevrolet Camaro

  • The mileage where it happens. When owners of the 2016 Chevrolet Camaro said the problem showed up, and the range most of them fell in.
  • What the repair costs. Typical transmission repair ranges, to price into your offer.
  • Cleaner alternatives. Similar cars and nearby years with a better record.
  • Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
  • What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive, for this car.
  • Two cars side by side, if you are deciding between them.

What one owner reported

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING11/30/2023FIRE1 INJURED
The contact's grandson owned a 2016 Chevrolet Camero. While the grandson was driving at approximately 40 MPH, smoke suddenly was present coming from under the front hood of the vehicle. The vehicle was immediately parked and moments later flames and smoke streamed from the engine compartment and the vehicle exploded. T…

One of 64 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows up to 15, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.

2016 Chevrolet Camaro engine and transmission recalls

No engine or transmission recalls. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2016 Chevrolet Camaro, none of them for the engine, transmission or fuel system. A recall is the manufacturer admitting a defect and paying to fix it; whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN, which the full report checks. The owner complaints above are a separate record and often point at problems that never became a recall.

1 other recall on this model year (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
electrical system: software16V084000 · Feb 2016
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…

Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model. Checked October 3, 2026.

Checking one particular 2016 Chevrolet Camaro? This page is about the model year. Accidents, title brands and odometer records belong to the individual car, and that is what a vehicle history report covers.

Get a history report from EpicVIN Before you pay: EpicVIN’s $1 offer is a 3-day trial (up to 5 reports) that renews at $49.99 a month unless you cancel. Other plans are listed under “View all our packages” at checkout. We may earn a commission if you buy through this link. It does not change what this page reports.

Questions people ask about the 2016 Chevrolet Camaro

Does the 2016 Chevrolet Camaro have transmission problems?

Owner complaints say yes, as a model-year pattern. 64 of 132 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2016 Chevrolet Camaro concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (48%). Before buying one, have an independent mechanic check the transmission and ask the seller whether it has been repaired or replaced.

What is the most common problem with the 2016 Chevrolet Camaro?

Going by NHTSA owner complaints, the most common problem filed against the 2016 Chevrolet Camaro is power train: 48 of 141 complaints (34%) name it, followed by electrical system (31) and engine (22). A complaint can name more than one component, so these overlap.

Is the 2016 Chevrolet Camaro reliable?

On the engine and transmission, owner complaints point to a weak spot: 48% of relevant complaints filed with NHTSA concern the drivetrain (high signal). That is worse than 62% of the 1,790 model years we track. Among the 11 Chevrolet Camaro years we score, it ranks 4th-worst. Complaint data describes the model year, not one car, and it says nothing about trim, paint or electronics outside the drivetrain; an independent inspection still decides it.

Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2016 Chevrolet Camaro?

No. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2016 Chevrolet Camaro, none of them for the engine, transmission or fuel system.

Which Chevrolet Camaro years are better?

Among the Chevrolet Camaro years we track, the 2013 (18%), the 2014 (22%) and the 2015 (24%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2016 (48%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car. Every year side by side: https://thelanecheck.com/cars/chevrolet-camaro

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Experimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle.