YearToAvoid

2018 Chevrolet Camaro Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Good

Complaint Index

43/100

#9 most-complained of 15 Camaro years

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

The 2018 Chevrolet Camaro ranks 9th worst out of 15 model years, with a complaint index of 43 and a 'Good' verdict. It has 80 complaints, 2 recalls, and no do-not-drive recalls, making it a relatively low-risk year among Camaro years.

Complaints
80
Recalls
2
Crashes / fires
5 / 4
Injuries / deaths
5 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
5 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
20
16.5 city / 27.5 hwy

Top 2018 Chevy Camaro problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Electrical System20 (25%)
  2. Steering17 (21%)
  3. Transmission & Powertrain17 (21%)
  4. Engine15 (19%)
  5. Other10 (13%)
  6. Structure & Body6 (8%)
  7. Brakes5 (6%)
  8. Fuel System5 (6%)
  9. Visibility & Wipers5 (6%)
  10. Airbags4 (5%)

What owners report

  • Owners report the driver-side frontal airbag failing to deploy in a crash while the passenger airbag activated.
  • Some describe curtain airbags not deploying at all during a frontal collision despite full deployment of other airbags.
  • Owners report the rear tire locking up unexpectedly at freeway speed with hard, unresponsive brakes, causing a loss of control.
  • Several describe smoke or fire originating in the trunk area, sometimes tied to the rear fuse box location under the trunk mat.
  • Manual transmission owners report the engine cutting out or stalling when pulling away from a stop, especially in first gear.
  • One owner described the torque management system cutting engine power during takeoff on manual ZL1 models, causing the car to bog down.
2018 Chevrolet Camaro complaints: complaints filed per quarter122017 Q42019 Q22020 Q22021 Q22023 Q22025 Q12026 Q1
108 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2017 Q4 to 2026 Q3; peak 2023 Q1 (12).

2018 Chevrolet Camaro recalls

2 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 25V175000Mar 20, 2025Steering934 vehicles

    Steering:electric power assist system

    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.

    Risk: A loss of power steering assist can require greater steering effort, especially at low speeds, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the power steering gear assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 15, 2025. Owners may contact Cadilac customer service at 1-800-333-4223 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N252497020.

  2. NHTSA 21V211000Mar 25, 2021Airbags30 vehicles

    Air bags:frontal

    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 frontal driver air bag.

    Risk: In the event of a crash, plastic pieces of emblem may act as projectiles from deployment of the driver air bag can increase the risk of injury.

    Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the frontal driver side air bag module, free of charge. The recall began April 14, 2021. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N212327220.

2018 Chevrolet Camaro fuel economy and fuel cost

City
16.5 MPG
Highway
27.5 MPG
Combined
20 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$3,725
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Premium
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2018 compared with other Camaro years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2016Caution50141121.5
2017Avoid79189320
2018Good4380220
2019Good2952120
2020Good3631320

All Chevrolet Camaro years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2018 Chevrolet Camaro reliable?
Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2018 Camaro has a complaint index of 43 and ranks 9th worst of 15 model years, earning a 'Good' verdict relative to other Camaro years.
What problems does the 2018 Chevrolet Camaro have?
NHTSA complaints center on the electrical system (25% of complaints), steering (21%), and transmission and powertrain (21%), including reports of trunk-area smoke, stalling, and steering assist issues.
Does the 2018 Camaro have any recalls?
Yes, NHTSA lists 2 recalls for the 2018 Camaro: one for electric power steering assist failure and one for a steering wheel airbag emblem that may separate during deployment. Neither is a do-not-drive recall.
How does the 2018 Camaro compare to other Camaro years?
The 2018 model's complaint index of 43 is much lower than early years like 2010 (100) and 2013 (93), but higher than newer years such as 2021 (14) and 2022 (7).
What is the fuel economy of the 2018 Chevrolet Camaro?
EPA rates the 2018 Camaro at 20 mpg combined (16.5 city / 27.5 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,725.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.