11 of the
88 complaints about the 1997 Chevrolet Camaro are about the
braking system — 13% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
152,690 miles.
THIS CAR IS A 97 Z28 WITH THE 350CI MOTOR AND 4 SPEED AUTO TRANSMISSION. WHAT HAPPENS IS THAT WHEN THE FRONT WHEELS ARE NOT TURNING, THE REAR BRAKES DO NOT ENGAGE, NO MATTER HOW HARD YOU PUSH DOWN ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE ISSUE PRESENTS ITSELF UNDER ICY CONDITIONS. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED WAS WHEN I PULLED INTO A SPOT AT A FAST FOOD PLACE, THE PARKING SPOT WAS ICY WHILE THE REST OF THE LOT WAS ICE FREE. AS I PULLED INTO THE SPOT, I PUT ON MY BRAKES AND THE FRONT WHEELS STOPPED, BUT THE REAR DID NOT. THEY WERE ON THE CLEAR PART OF THE PARKING LOT AND THEY SHOULD HAVE STOPPED MY FORWARD MOTION, HOWEVER THEY DID NOT. SLID AHEAD UNTIL THE FRONT HIT THE SNOW BANK. THOUGHT THIS WAS UNUSUAL, BUT DIDN'T CONCERN MYSELF ABOUT IT ANY MORE. NEXT TIME I BECAME AWARE OF THE PROBLEM WAS WHEN I HAD THE REAR (BOTH) WHEELS OF THE CAR OFF THE GROUND AND I PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE AS I WANTED TO CHECK IF ONE OF THE REAR RIMS WAS BENT. WELL NO IT WASN'T BUT WHEN I GOT BACK IN THE CAR TO PUT IT IN PARK, I PRESSED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL TO STOP THE REAR WHEELS FROM TURNING, AND THEN WENT TO PUT THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER IN PARK. BIG GRINDING NOISE. SO I PRESSED HARDER ON THE BRAKE AND TRIED TO PUT IT IN PARK AGAIN, AGAIN BIG GRINDING NOISE. SO I LOOKED AT THE REAR WHEELS WHILE PRESSING THE BRAKE, AND WHAT TO MY SURPRISE, THE REAR WHEELS DO NOT STOP! THIS CAN'T BE A GOOD THING. TODAY AS I BACKED OUT OF THE GARAGE, THE DRIVEWAY WAS A LITTLE ICY. SO AS I BACKED UP, I PUT ON THE BRAKES, AND OF COURSE, ONLY THE FRONT WHEELS STOPPED AND THE REAR WHEELS KEPT PULLING THE CAR DOWN THE DRIVEWAY. NOT A GOOD THING IF A CAR IS PASSING BY ON THE STREET. SO WHAT'S UP WITH THIS. YES MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON, BUT I WAS TOLD BY THE CHEV DEALER THAT IT IS FROM THE TRANSMISSION BECAUSE SOMETIMES, WHEN IT IS HOT, IT WILL SHIFT HARD.
NHTSA complaint #10816172 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Union, NJ
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC
SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR NEW, IT HAS GONE THROUGH 4 SETS OF REAR DISC PADS. THE PADS HAVE UNEVEN WEAR FROM TOP TO BOTTOM WHICH MAKE THE CAR HAVE A "NOT SMOOTH" STOPPING FEEL. THE MOST RECENT INCIDENT ON 6/2002 WAS THE REAR BRAKES MAKING A LOUD SQUEELING NOISE WHEN STOPPING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT. THE REAR WHEELS ARE MORE DIRTY THAN THE FRONT WHEELS. NORMALLY, THE FRONTS WOULD BE MORE DIRTY THAN THE REARS. THIS LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THE REAR BRAKES ARE "HANGING UP" ON THE ROTOR (NOT RELEASING). THE DEALER INSISTS THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE REAR BRAKES.
NHTSA complaint #763058 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Union, NJ
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC
SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR NEW, IT HAS GONE THROUGH 4 SETS OF REAR DISC PADS. THE PADS HAVE UNEVEN WEAR FROM TOP TO BOTTOM WHICH MAKE THE CAR HAVE A "NOT SMOOTH" STOPPING FEEL. THE MOST RECENT INCIDENT ON 6/2002 WAS THE REAR BRAKES MAKING A LOUD SQUEELING NOISE WHEN STOPPING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT. THE REAR WHEELS ARE MORE DIRTY THAN THE FRONT WHEELS. NORMALLY, THE FRONTS WOULD BE MORE DIRTY THAN THE REARS. THIS LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THE REAR BRAKES ARE "HANGING UP" ON THE ROTOR (NOT RELEASING). THE DEALER INSISTS THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE REAR BRAKES.
NHTSA complaint #763058 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Hendersonville, NC
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE.
NHTSA complaint #711192 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Alpharetta, GACrash1 injured
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC
ELECTRICAL - DRIVER SIDE PARKING LIGHT OUT & BLINKER, TAIL LIGHT DULL. BULB REPLACEMENT DOES NOT FIX PROBLEM WHICH HAS BEEN THIS WAY FOR 2.5 YEARS. DISC HARDWARE STICKING, CALIPERS BINDING, NOT RELEASING WHEN BRAKES RELEASED CAUSING AN EFFECT AS IF RIDING BRAKES CAUSING PREMATURE WEAE AND LOSS OF BRAKES. REAR ROTOR CRACKED IN 3 PLACES.
NHTSA complaint #718041 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Trophy Club, TXCrash1 injured
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
NO SUMMARY
NHTSA complaint #711686 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Burleson, TX
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
BRAKES ARE NOT WORKING. WHEN CONSUMER APPLIES BRAKES, THEY BARELY CATCH AND MAKES A HORRIBLE NOISE.
NHTSA complaint #847611 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
West Hartford, CT
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS
THE REAR DISC PADS WORE OUT AND WERE REPLACED ON JANUARY 19, 1998 AT 23,889 MILES. THE CAR HAS FOUR-WHEEL DISC BRAKES. THE FRONT BRAKES WERE FINE. AT 32,000 MILES THE REAR BRAKE PADS HAD AGAIN WORN OUT. THE FRONT PADS SHOWED 15% LIFE LEFT. WHEN TESTED ON A DRIVE ON BRAKE MACHINE, THE RESULTS SHOWED 135% FRONT AND 21% REAR BRAKING.
NHTSA complaint #705046 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Pottsville, PA
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
ROTORS WARP PREMATURELY.
NHTSA complaint #542358 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Newtonvill, MA
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
BRAKES FAILED ON A RAINY DAY.
NHTSA complaint #536416 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Mountain View, CA
PARKING BRAKE
WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED THE EMERGENCY PARKING BRAKE KNUCKLE JOINT BROKE IN HALF, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO ROLL DOWN AN INCLINE. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.
NHTSA complaint #823003 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.