Home · 2011 · Chevrolet
2011 Chevrolet Camaro Zl1 With Recaro
Solid pick. The public record on this car is clean for its age. Inspect it, then negotiate with confidence.
194 owner complaints · 3 recalls · data verified July 19, 2026 · source: NHTSA
Why buy?
Airbags problems dominate (36% of complaints, typically reported near 60k miles).
Complaint reports have faded. Early issues appear resolved or aged out.
Score breakdown, by factor
Full methodology →#141 of 342Among the 2011 models with a matured record, the 2011 Chevrolet Camaro Zl1 With Recaro ranks #141, scoring higher than 55% of them. See the 2011 ranking →
Complaints filed per year
Fading = early teething worked out. Climbing = problems aging in.
How it crashes
NHTSA’s own crash tests, separate from the reliability score above.
NHTSA crash-tested this model year but didn’t publish an overall star rating for it.
Source: nhtsa.gov/ratings. Star ratings compare vehicles within the same class and size, not across every car on the road.
The road ahead
What breaks on a 2011 Chevrolet Camaro Zl1 With Recaro, plotted where owners report it happening.
Also reported (mileage varies): Electrical system (29) · Transmission & drivetrain (18) · Seats (15) · Steering (14)
Mileage medians come from owners who mentioned an odometer reading in their NHTSA complaint, a rough guide, not a schedule.
Airbags
36%69 complaints · typically near 60k mi · 3 in the last 2 years
“they still havent replaced my airbag yet why is this even posable14 years yes 14 years to replace a national recall very unexctable get on them”
Electrical system
15%29 complaints · 1 in the last 2 years
“WHILE DRIVING ON A RURAL ROAD, APPROX. 55 MPH, TWICE MY DRIVER SIDE ELECTRIC SEAT STARTED TO MOVE FORWARD AND UP BY ITSELF. IT WILL NOW ONLY MOVE UP AND FORWARD NOT BA…”
Engine
14%28 complaints · typically near 33k mi · 1 in the last 2 years
“I was driving down the freeway when I suddenly heard a knock coming from the motor. The engine blew a rod almost immediately. Parts and debris started shot out of the …”
Transmission & drivetrain
9%18 complaints · 3 in the last 2 years
“Gains speed on mild downhills. Request a feature to be called "Brake Saver" on all automatic transmissions. Depressing Brake downshifts if RPMs are low enough to reduc…”
Check it against this car’s mileage
Type the odometer reading on the actual car you’re looking at to see which of these problem areas owners tend to report before it, around it, or after it.
We can place 2 of this model's commonly reported problem areas against a mileage. Nothing is stored.
Read all 194 owner complaints in their own words → · just the 19 crash/fire/injury reports →
Recalls (3)
Safety recall repairs are free at the brand’s franchised dealers. Before buying, run the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and make the seller show the work was done.
Electrical System · 19E064000
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain replacement flip-key ignition transmitter assemblies sold as replacement equipment for 2010-2015 Chevrolet Camaro vehicles. GM dealers may have inadvertently sold these assemblies as replacement keys despite them having been recalled under NHTSA recall number 14V-346 (GM number 14294) when they were the original equipment assemblies. The driver may accidentally bump the ignition key with their knee, moving the ignition out of the run position and turning off the engine.
Risk: Once the engine is off, the vehicle can lose power steering and power braking, increasing the risk of a crash. The air bags may not deploy in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, as necessary, replace the key with the flat blade design, free of charge. Interim notices informing owners of the safety risk were mailed November 6, 2019. Owners received a second notice and the recall began February 4, 2020. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N192223230.
Seats · 14V447000
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 Buick LaCrosse, Regal and Chevrolet Camaro, as well as certain 2010-2012 Cadillac SRX, Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain vehicles, equipped with power height adjustable driver and passenger seats. In the affected vehicles, the bolt that secures the driver's and passenger's power front seat height adjuster may fall out causing the seat to drop suddenly to the lowest vertical position.
Risk: If the driver's seat unexpectedly drops, the distraction and altered seat position may affect the drivers' control of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the height adjuster shoulder bolts, free of charge. The manufacturer distributed interim letters to owners on September 11, 2014. The recall began on December 26, 2014. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-800-521-7300 (Buick), 1-800-458-8006 (Cadillac), 1-800-222-1020 (Chevrolet), or 1-800-462-8782 (GMC). GM's number for this recall is 14271.
Electrical System · 14V346000
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling all 2010-2014 Chevrolet Camaro vehicles manufactured December 3, 2008 to May 23, 2014. In the affected vehicles, the driver may accidentally hit the ignition key with their knee, unintentionally knocking the key out of the run position, turning off the engine.
Risk: If the key is not in the run position, the air bags may not deploy if the vehicle is involved in a crash, increasing the risk of injury. Additionally, a key knocked out of the run position could cause loss of engine power, power steering, and power braking, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will remove the key blade from the original flip key/RKE transmitter assemblies, and provide two new keys and two key rings per key. The recall began August 25, 2014. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 14294. Note: Until the recall has been performed, it is very important that drivers adjust their seat and steering column to allow clearance between their knee and the ignition key.
Questions to ask the seller
Questions worth asking the seller of this Chevrolet before you buy, drawn from its public record:
- NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 2011 Chevrolet Camaro Zl1 With Recaro. Can you run this car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and confirm each one shows "Remedy Completed"?
- Owners of this model report airbags problems more than anything else (owners tend to report it near 60k miles). Has this car shown any airbags symptoms, and are there repair records for it?
- Owners of this model report electrical system problems more than anything else. Has this car shown any electrical system symptoms, and are there repair records for it?
- Has this car been in any accident or had any structural, airbag, or flood-related repair? Do you have a clean title and a recent history report (Carfax / AutoCheck)?
- How many owners has it had, do you have the maintenance records, and why are you selling it?
- Are you open to me having an independent mechanic inspect it before we settle on a price?
Before you hand over money
Check the VIN for open recalls
NHTSA’s free lookup shows whether this exact car had its recall remedies completed.
Free NHTSA VIN check ↗Get a pre-purchase inspection
A $150 to $250 independent inspection of this exact 2011 Chevrolet CAMARO ZL1 WITH RECARO beats every score on the internet, including ours.
What to ask forNot set on the 2011? See how every Camaro Zl1 With Recaro model year scores →
Cross-shopping? Compare the 2011 Chevrolet Camaro Zl1 With Recaro against another car →
What owners say
Real owners of this exact model-year, shown separately from the NHTSA score. If they disagree, that’s worth knowing.