Since I’ve purchased this vehicle I have been having issues with the transmission and engine providing the accurate amount of power as it relates to the acceleration. The persistent issue is the gear shifting lags and rumbles my vehicle each time I accelerate up a hill, accelerating from g20-30mph and it rumbles the gear. I was told the diagnosis was with the spark plugs having an issue on…
2018 Chevrolet Camaro powertrain problems
severe 14 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $2,500 · see powertrain across all vehicles →
Complaints
14
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$2,500
1crash
1injury
When does it fail?
Of the 14 powertrain complaints filed for the 2018 Chevrolet Camaro, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 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
Powertrain accounts for 18% of all owner complaints filed against this vehicle, across 6 categories tracked.
No new NHTSA powertrain complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 3 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
What owners are reporting 6 most recent
On or about november 26, 2020, at 1:30 am while driving on I-30 westbound in texarkana, tx traveling at the posted speed of 75 MPH in a 2018 camaro zl1. The transmission blew out while in cruise control and all systems that transmit power from the engine or propulsion device to the wheels were lost and the vehicle had to coast onto the emergency shoulder until it came to a complete stop away…
Grinding sound coming from the rear end,it does it while turning when the car is cold or sat for a few hours, I'm worried that it's going to lock up some day while traveling. I bought it new and the noise started at about 4000 miles, they changed the fluid and the noise never went away, I try to explain it when I take it in, but they're driving it after it's warmed up , so no noises every time,…
Upon downshifting to 2nd gear from 3rd gear is very hard , grinds and pops back in neutral, and fluttering noticed on the shifter with rubbing or friction noise.
The car has a defective transmission housing and the car is hard to downshift or upshift into 2nd gear. The dealers are calling it normal. I have manual 6speed transmission. When I downshift, the shifting liver will either pop right back up into nuteral or grinds.
Engine began to shudder as if the engine wants to turn off. It can also feel as if there is some issues with the drive axles. It leads to loss of power of the engine. The loss of power goes away upon shutting the engine off and turning it back on however the check engine light remains on and the error code p0420 displays on the reader.
Had powertrain 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 powertrain 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 $2,500.
At what mileage does the powertrain typically fail?
Based on the 14 complaints filed, powertrain issues most often appear around 20,556 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 $2,500 for powertrain 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 powertrain?
No active recalls currently cover powertrain 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.