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severe 23 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $850 · see electrical across all vehicles →
Of the 23 electrical complaints filed for the 2016 Chevrolet Camaro, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 mi.
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
No new NHTSA electrical complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 5 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
An unbelted driver is at a greater risk of injury in a crash.
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering electrical on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
This service bulletin provides information on the proper Reflective High Temperature Heat and/or Insulating Tape to use for certain repairs, such as Wiring Harness Repairs.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗The intent of this service bulletin is to identify aftermarket ALDL or DLC interface devices as potential sources for causing multiple customer concerns that do not have other diagnostic methods to identify them.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This service bulletin provides information for dealers/technicians on Service Programming System (SPS) Error Codes E4398, E4399, E4401, E4403, M4404, M4413, M6954, M6955, E4414, E4423, E4491, E4492, or E6961 and resolution information.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This service bulletin provides information to diagnose batteries that have set for a long period of time and/or cold weather climates and testing those batteries.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This bulletin advises the dealers to maintain the vehicle stock on hand by doing a full inspection on the vehicles before being sold (prepping) to the customer.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The 2016 Camaro shows a pattern of electrical and control-system failures that span from water intrusion to erratic electronics with no clear fix.
Water in the Trunk. Multiple owners find water collecting at the rear fuse block after rain. Dealers blame the trunk weatherstrip, but water causes the x-connectors and electrical harness to burn and melt. Two owners report the fuse box actually caught fire—one while driving, one while parked. GM Service Bulletin 18-NA-375 addresses this, but dealerships ignore it, and replacement parts (fuse blocks, x-connectors) are now discontinued. One owner was charged $800 just for a failed diagnosis.
Stalling and Power Loss. Several owners report the car shuts off without warning—at traffic lights, on the highway, in parking lots. The instrument cluster goes dark; the computer reboots. One owner made eight dealer visits over years with no fix. No check-engine light appears, making diagnosis nearly impossible. One vehicle lost all power at 65 mph on the highway.
Electronic Parking Brake. Owners report warning lights, unexpected brake release, and complete lockup of rear calipers. One owner's brake harness had seventeen loose or damaged wires, traced to prior tire-blowout damage that the selling dealer allegedly concealed. Temporary repairs fail; GM recommends full harness replacement (not offered under warranty).
Other Electrical Gremlins. RPM gauge bounces erratically without throttle input. Transmission temperature sensor (P0711) fails, forcing limp mode. Blind-spot warning system quits after rain. The "Shift to Park" warning stays on even in Park, sometimes locking out the trunk and headlights. Starter failure occurs; one case traces it to being too close to the exhaust.
Transmission Limp Mode. Vehicle enters reduced-power mode at highway speed, dropping to one-third power, with speedometer wildly fluctuating. Four dealership visits and computer reprogramming yield no fix. A gas pedal got stuck to the floor, and braking did not stop the car.
Same Chevrolet Camaro electrical reports on nearby years: 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2017 · 2018
Electronic parking brake warning light appears, brake stays engaged or releases unexpectedly under acceleration. In severe cases, rear brakes and calipers lock up without warning, immobilizing the vehicle. Owners report the underlying cause is body wiring harness damage—often traced to prior tire blowout or water damage—with multiple loose or compromised wires controlling brake circuits.
When: Various, including 3/2/2021; some recurring days after dealership repairs
Symptoms owners cite: Dashboard warning light for electronic parking brake malfunction; Brake stays engaged when set; Brake releases unexpectedly during acceleration; Rear brakes and calipers lock up completely while parked; Warning light returns shortly after repair
Repairs/costs cited: Dealerships perform temporary repairs (switch replacement, harness work), but full body wiring harness replacement recommended. Repair cost is high; owners describe it as 'very pricy.' One owner documented seventeen unsecured wires in the harness.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealership (not GM directly in narrative) repair attempts twice in first case; no recall or formal TSB mentioned for this specific failure mode
Water enters trunk cavity through defective trunk weatherstrip or seal, collecting at rear fuse block. Standing water causes x-connectors and electrical harness to burn, melt, or short. In multiple cases, the fuse box shorts and ignites, creating smoke and fire hazard. GM Service Bulletin 18-NA-375 applies but is allegedly ignored by dealerships.
When: Water intrusion noted between purchase and first year of ownership; fire incidents reported 11.23.2017 and after rain events in 2018–2019
Symptoms owners cite: Water visible in trunk after rain or low-sitting water in trunk cavity; Melted, singed, or discolored fuses; Smoke smell from trunk; Trunk fire—fuse box shorts and ignites; Vehicle will not start; requires jump start; Electrical system power loss; Burned x-connectors and harness
Repairs/costs cited: Trunk seal replaced (at dealer cost in one case after water damage denial by insurance); however, fuse block and x-connectors (discontinued parts) cannot be replaced. Wiring harness must be repaired first to restore power, but parts are no longer available. One owner charged $800 for diagnosis only with no repair completed.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: GM Service Bulletin 18-NA-375 exists but dealerships reported to have ignored it. GM denied customer-goodwill claim; later closed case without full investigation after dealership failed to report melted-fuse fire hazard to GM.
Vehicle stalls or shuts off completely while driving or idling. Instrument cluster goes dark, computer reboots. Multiple dealer visits fail to isolate root cause. Stalling occurs at traffic lights, during acceleration, in parking lots, and at highway speeds (65+ mph)—all with no warning codes.
When: Started 1 month after purchase (95 miles on odometer in one case); ongoing over years for other owners
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle stalls without warning; Instrument cluster and computer display go dark/blank; Computer reboots or requires restart; No check engine light or warning codes present; Stalling in traffic, at stop lights, during acceleration, and at highway speed; Vehicle loses power while driving; Happens intermittently; hard to reproduce
Repairs/costs cited: Approximately eight dealer visits in one case with no fix. Field mechanic sent by GM could not resolve issue. No documented repair or parts replacement listed.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: GM closed case without resolution; dealerships unable to diagnose or repair after multiple attempts. One owner escalated through Better Business Bureau and NBC News investigative unit ('Call 12 for Action') with no resolution from GM.
Transmission temperature sensor becomes faulty or dies, triggering limp-mode derate and reduced engine power. No check engine light may illuminate despite code present. Owner notes GM has recalled other 2016 models for this same sensor failure but not Camaro.
When: Not specified in narrative; owner was told of code during separate service visit
Symptoms owners cite: Transmission enters limp mode—power reduced to 1/3 power or two cylinders; Speedometer fluctuates wildly (±25 mph); Abnormal transmission shifting behavior; No check engine light appears despite fault code present; Code P0711 (faulty/dead transmission temperature sensor)
Codes mentioned: P0711
Repairs/costs cited: Repair cost varies by location of wiring harness; may require significant transmission disassembly. Owner indicates repair is not cheap.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No recall for Camaro despite recalls on other 2016 GM vehicles with 8L90 transmission and same sensor fault. GM does not acknowledge issue in Camaro lineup.
RPM needle jumps erratically to high RPM readings without corresponding engine noise or throttle input. Gauge behavior is intermittent and unpredictable—sometimes fine, sometimes bouncing wildly. Causes confusion and safety concern as driver may mistake gauge malfunction for actual engine over-rev. One owner waited 5 months for unspecified parts that may or may not fix the issue.
When: One owner experienced first incident 4/5/2022 (day of purchase); another had issue ongoing from purchase
Symptoms owners cite: RPM gauge needle jumps to high RPM without engine rev sound; Gauge bounces erratically without throttle input; Occurs during acceleration, deceleration, and steady driving; Intermittent—hard to reproduce reliably; No warning light accompanies malfunction; Customer confused whether issue is real or electrical
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership unable to diagnose or fix issue. One owner waited approximately 5 months for a part that 'may or may not fix the issue.' Repair method not specified.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealership acknowledged issue but could not identify root cause or find fix. No parts or repair completed in either narrative.
Starter motor fails to engage, preventing vehicle from starting. In one case, starter is physically compromised by heat from nearby exhaust system—starter locked up due to thermal damage. Vehicle unable to start requires towing to dealership.
When: After normal commute; one incident 6/15/2018
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle will not start; Starter does not engage; Starter locked up due to heat exposure (in one case)
Repairs/costs cited: Starter replaced by dealership. One owner notes starter is mounted too close to exhaust system, which heats up extremely hot and damages starter components.
Gas pedal becomes stuck to the floor during driving, preventing deceleration via braking alone. Braking does not work to stop the accelerating vehicle. Safety-critical failure that forces driver to take emergency action (in one case, kicking pedal to break it; in another, using umbrella as makeshift pedal replacement).
When: 6/21/2018 while driving to appointment; also reported in another narrative as 'gas pedal got stuck to the floor' in traffic
Symptoms owners cite: Gas pedal stuck to floor during driving; Repeated brake pedal application does not stop vehicle; No control over engine power during stuck-pedal condition; Requires emergency action by driver to regain control
Repairs/costs cited: Not specified in narrative.
Push-button start becomes intermittent or non-functional. In one case, negative battery cable required replacement. Vehicle hesitant to start and hesitant during acceleration. Engine feels like it will stall while driving. Car was declared a lemon in arbitration but remains unresolved.
When: Ongoing; vehicle declared lemon November 2017
Symptoms owners cite: Push-button start intermittent or non-responsive; Car shuts off in traffic; Engine hesitant to start after repair attempts; Engine hesitant during acceleration; Feels like engine will die while driving
Repairs/costs cited: Negative battery cable and ignition switch repaired; issue persists. Vehicle deemed lemon by arbitrator for engine, safety, and suspension issues.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: GM keeping case in appeals; arbitrator awarded replacement but GM non-compliant and not replacing vehicle.
Blind spot monitoring system stops functioning. Warning message 'Service Side Detection System' appears randomly. Owner suspects water intrusion after rain storms is the cause, though not yet confirmed by dealer inspection.
When: After rain storms; warning message appeared 'the other day'
Symptoms owners cite: Blind spot warning system stops working; Warning message 'Service Side Detection System' appears randomly; No obvious cause for warning (no collision); Pattern linked to rain/water intrusion
Repairs/costs cited: Component has not been inspected by dealer; problem not yet confirmed by dealer.
Dashboard displays 'Shift to Park' warning message even though vehicle is already in Park. Warning persists until driver shifts car back out of Park and then back into Park. In severe cases, warning prevents headlights and trunk from functioning, requiring battery disconnection to reset vehicle.
When: Not specified; two different 2016 Camaro owners report this issue
Symptoms owners cite: Dashboard shows 'Shift to Park' when car is already in Park; Warning message does not clear without additional shifting; In severe cases: cannot turn off headlights, cannot open trunk; Requires battery disconnect to reset vehicle electronics
Repairs/costs cited: Not specified.
On convertible models, glass panel separates from the convertible top material. Associated plastic trim piece breaks frequently and can detach or fly off while top is down, creating safety hazard to occupants and road users.
When: Within first year of ownership
Symptoms owners cite: Glass separating from convertible top material; Plastic trim piece breaks constantly; Trim piece can fly off with top down; Glass at risk of coming loose
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer has confirmed issue but demands out-of-pocket payment despite car being used less than one year.
Vehicle enters 'Reduced Performance' mode while driving at highway speed, triggering message 'Reduce Clutch Use.' Engine power drops to roughly one-third or shifts to two-cylinder operation. Speedometer becomes erratic, fluctuating ±25 mph. Four dealership visits and clutch/flywheel replacement, reprogramming, and two GM cases filed—problem persists. Transmission still under warranty but GM claims it is not transmission-related.
When: Ongoing; multiple visits over extended time period
Symptoms owners cite: Dashboard message: 'Reduced Performance, Reduce Clutch Use'; Engine power drops to 1/3 power or two cylinders; Speedometer fluctuates wildly (±25 mph variance); Extremely dangerous driving situation; Occurs at highway speeds
Repairs/costs cited: Clutch and flywheel replaced/tightened; computer reprogrammed multiple times across four dealership visits. No resolution.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Two separate GM cases filed; GM has not resolved. Transmission under warranty but GM denies transmission is the cause.
Synthesized from 23 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
2016 camaro 2ss. Starting in early oct. Vehicle was parked in the driveway and would not start. Had vehicle towed to dealership. Got vehicle back late oct. And 5 miles down the highway the vehicle lost all power. Called for a tow back to dealership. Received vehicle late dec. Drove to work and back, all is good next day .. Drove to the bank and pulled up into my driveway .. Activated e brake and…
The cars push button start is not workimg to start the car, intermittant. The car shuts off in traffic. The cars negitive battery cable, ignition switch, were repaired but the car s hesitant to start again. The engine feels like it is going to die again whike driving. The car is hesitant on acceleration. The car was deemed a lemon november 2017 for several engine, safty, and suspension…
It's a meaningful issue. 23 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $850.
Based on the 23 complaints filed, electrical issues most often appear around 39,180 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
Independent shops typically charge around $850 for electrical repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Yes — 1 active recall(s) cover electrical issues on this vehicle. Recall fixes are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status. Use the VIN decoder at the top of the page to check if your specific vehicle is affected.