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2018 Chevrolet Camaro problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls

HIGH COMPLAINT SIGNAL
43%
33 of 76 relevant owner complaints are about the engine, transmission or fuel system

43% of relevant owner complaints filed with NHTSA on the 2018 Chevrolet Camaro are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. That is a model-level pattern, not bad luck.

Worse than 53% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).

Excludes 5 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 41%).

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 2018 Chevrolet Camaro have transmission problems?

Owner complaints say yes, as a model-year pattern. 33 of 76 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2018 Chevrolet Camaro concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (43%), and the largest group is filed under power train (17). For comparison, the 2017 scores 40% and the 2019 scores 51%. 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
33
engine, transmission, fuel
Total complaints
81
this model year
Fires reported
4
owner-reported
Recall campaigns
2
5 crashes · 5 injuries

Complaints by component

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM20 · 25%
STEERING18 · 22%
POWER TRAIN17 · 21%
ENGINE15 · 19%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER10 · 12%
STRUCTURE6 · 7%

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 2018 compares with other Chevrolet Camaro years

Of the 11 Chevrolet Camaro years with enough complaints to score, the 2018 is the 6th-best on engine and transmission share (43%). The worst is the 2010 (62%), the best the 2013 (18%). By volume, the 2018 drew 81 complaints (33 drivetrain), against 189 for the 2017 and 53 for the 2019.

Chevrolet Camaro years to avoid and best years →

In the full report

The rest of the picture on the 2018 Chevrolet Camaro

  • 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

POWER TRAIN06/29/2020CRASH1 INJURED
ENGINE CUTS OUT WHEN STARTING OUT IN 1ST GEAR. MANUAL TRANSMISSION. ENGINE STALLED EASILY. WAS REAR ENDED BECAUSE ENGINE CUT OUT WHEN STARTING FROM LIGHT AND TRUCK BEHIND ME DROVE INTO ME.

One of 33 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows up to 15, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.

2018 Chevrolet Camaro engine and transmission recalls

No engine or transmission recalls. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns on the 2018 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.

2 other recalls on this model year (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
steering: electric power assist system25V175000 · Mar 2025
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Cadillac CTS, 2017-2018 Cadillac ATS, Chevrolet Camaro, and Chevrolet Corvette vehicles. The electric power steering (EPS) assist may fail.
air bags: frontal21V211000 · Mar 2021
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2017-2021 Chevrolet Camaro vehicles. The plastic "Camaro" emblem, located on the steering wheel air bag cover, may separate during deployment of the…

Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model; one of NHTSA's listings did not answer when this page was built, so the list may be incomplete. Checked October 3, 2026.

Checking one particular 2018 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 2018 Chevrolet Camaro

Does the 2018 Chevrolet Camaro have transmission problems?

Owner complaints say yes, as a model-year pattern. 33 of 76 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2018 Chevrolet Camaro concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (43%). 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 2018 Chevrolet Camaro?

Going by NHTSA owner complaints, the most common problem filed against the 2018 Chevrolet Camaro is electrical system: 20 of 81 complaints (25%) name it, followed by steering (18) and power train (17). A complaint can name more than one component, so these overlap. Engine, transmission and fuel-system complaints together make up 43% of the relevant total.

Is the 2018 Chevrolet Camaro reliable?

On the engine and transmission, owner complaints point to a weak spot: 43% of relevant complaints filed with NHTSA concern the drivetrain (high signal). That is worse than 53% of the 1,790 model years we track. Among the 11 Chevrolet Camaro years we score, it ranks 6th-best. 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 2018 Chevrolet Camaro?

No. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns on the 2018 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 2018 (43%). 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. Combined across 3 body styles NHTSA files separately.