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 ↗2018 Chevrolet Camaro electrical problems
severe Owners of the 2018 Chevrolet Camaro have filed 14 NHTSA complaints about the electrical at roughly $850 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See electrical across all vehicles →
Complaints
14
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$850
| Model year | electrical complaints |
|---|---|
| 2014 Camaro | 89 |
| 2015 Camaro | 104 |
| 2016 Camaro | 23 |
| 2017 Camaro | 19 |
| 2018 Camaro (this page) | 14 |
| 2019 Camaro | 5 |
| 2020 Camaro | 6 |
2fires
When does it fail?
Of the 14 electrical complaints filed for the 2018 Chevrolet Camaro, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 25,000-50,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
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.
What stands out
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.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
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.
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 failure pattern owners describe
The dominant issue is water pooling in the trunk and battery compartment due to poor design. The rear fuse box sits in the trunk under the mat or in the storage area; when sunroof seals fail or trunk drainage is inadequate, water collects with no escape route. The fuse box corrodes, relays melt, wiring harnesses burn, and critical circuits short out. One owner reported smoke from the trunk post-shutdown; another found the issue recurred three months after dealer repair. Owners cite fire risk as a serious concern, especially with the fuse box located near the fuel tank.
Beyond trunk water damage, owners report sporadic electrical chaos: doors that unlock and lock themselves, windows that operate without input, interior lights staying on while parked, battery drains in 48 hours to two weeks, and a persistent "Shift to Park" message that prevents ignition shutdown. A side object detection module shorted from water intrusion, disabling the vehicle entirely. One owner alleged the car was hacked after experiencing no-start and remote failures; the dealer could not diagnose it. Engine stalling on launch and loss of power also appear in reports. USB connections and convertible rear window seals have failed. GM has acknowledged water intrusion complaints from multiple owners but stated they were unaware of the issue.
Same Chevrolet Camaro electrical reports on nearby years: 2015 · 2016 · 2017
Failure modes owners describe
Trunk water intrusion and fuse box corrosion
Water enters the trunk compartment due to poor drainage design or failed seals. The rear fuse box, mounted in the trunk area near or under the mat, becomes saturated and corroded. The sunroof, trunk seal, or undetermined sources allow moisture to pool in a confined area with no drain path, exposing critical electrical components to water damage.
When: 41,441 miles reported in one case; varies across other reports
Symptoms owners cite: Smoke from trunk after parking; Trunk fails to unlock; Melted relays and wiring harnesses; Radio cutting out and loud popping from speakers; Vehicle electrical system shuts down while driving; Potential fire hazard from shorted circuits near fuel tank; Water pooling in battery compartment
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer replaced fuse box, wiring harness, and module in one case; recurred three months later. Owners reported large repair costs for electrical component replacement. One owner declined repair and parked vehicle due to fire risk.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer advised towing to dealer for diagnosis in one case. GM stated they were unaware of the issue despite multiple owner reports. No recalls or TSBs mentioned for this defect.
Door lock and window control malfunction
Doors unlock and lock intermittently on their own; driver window operates erratically. Interior lights remain on while driving or when parked with engine off. Events occur without user input and even when key fob is not in use.
When: No mileage specified
Symptoms owners cite: Driver side door knocking noise; Window fails to shut all the way; Doors unlock spontaneously; Window tries to roll up unsuccessfully; Door unlocked warning on control panel; Interior lights stay on while driving and parked; Doors lock owner inside car with inability to exit; Window operates up and down without input
No-start condition and multiple electrical failures
Vehicle fails to start on several occasions. Instrument panel and OnStar service malfunction. Doors fail to open. Owner alleges vehicle has been hacked; police report filed. Dealer unable to determine cause.
When: 67,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle will not start; Instrument panel failure; OnStar service failure; Doors fail to open; Various remote electrical failures
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer unable to diagnose
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified of failure
Battery drain
Battery drains rapidly when vehicle is not on a charging system, even when doors are locked and vehicle is parked in garage.
When: No mileage specified
Symptoms owners cite: Battery completely dead within 48 hours to 2 weeks of parking; Vehicle requires 45 minutes to jump start; Parasitic drain when vehicle is off
Shift to Park message and ignition lockout
Display shows 'Shift to Park' error message even though vehicle is already in Park. Ignition will not turn off. Vehicle remains partially powered, draining battery.
When: No mileage specified
Symptoms owners cite: Shift to Park message when car is already in Park; Ignition cannot be turned off; Vehicle remains in partial-on state; Battery drains from extended parasitic draw
Repairs/costs cited: Suspected failed transmission controls
Side object detection module water intrusion
Side object detection module shorts out due to water intrusion from faulty manufacturing material. Causes vehicle to shut down and prevents restart.
When: No mileage specified
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle shuts down without warning; Vehicle unable to restart; Module malfunction
Repairs/costs cited: Warranty company refused coverage
Convertible rear window seal failure
Rear window seal fails on convertible model. Window pops out during normal operation.
When: No mileage specified
Symptoms owners cite: Convertible rear window pops out on passenger side; Seal failure
Repairs/costs cited: Recall acknowledged but repair shop lacked trained technicians and cited COVID-19 staffing limits
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall exists but repair unavailable at that time
Engine shudder and loss of power
Engine shudders and loses power during operation. Occurs alongside other electrical failures.
When: No mileage specified
Symptoms owners cite: Engine shudders; Loss of power
USB connection failure
USB connections in the middle console stop functioning.
When: No mileage specified
Symptoms owners cite: USB connections non-functional
Stalling during start and acceleration
Vehicle stalls repeatedly when starting from a stop and when going up driveways. Operator must avoid applying throttle or riding the clutch to prevent stalling, risking premature clutch wear.
When: No mileage specified
Symptoms owners cite: Stalls attempting to start from stop; Stalls going up driveways; Requires special throttle technique to avoid stalling
Repairs/costs cited: Workaround requires not applying throttle or riding clutch, causing premature wear
Synthesized from 14 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 4 most recent
Tl* the contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet camaro. The contact stated that after parking, turning off the vehicle, and then exiting the vehicle, the contact became aware of smoke coming from the trunk of the vehicle. The contact was unaware of the cause of the smoke. The contact attempted to unlock the trunk of the vehicle however, the trunk failed to unlock. The contact stated that after a while, the…
After shifting into park the display shows action required shift to park and will not shutoff the ignition. (stationary/parked)
Getting shift to park message when car is already in park preventing the car from completely turning off. Leaving the car partially on draining the battery- Failed transmission controls
If the car is not kept on a charging system the battery can drain within 48 hours - 2 weeks. When I leave the car in the garage with the doors locked for 48 hours the battery goes dead. When I leave it in the garage for a week unlocked the battery is dead. It took 45 minutes to jump start it.
Had electrical trouble with your 2018 Chevrolet Camaro?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the electrical problem on the 2018 Chevrolet Camaro?
It's a meaningful issue. 14 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $850.
At what mileage does the electrical typically fail?
Based on the 14 complaints filed, electrical issues most often appear around 40,939 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.
What does it cost to fix?
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.
Are there any recalls related to electrical?
No active recalls currently cover electrical issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2018/Chevrolet/Camaro.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.