What 187 owners told NHTSA about the 2013 Chevrolet Camaro

The airbag system failed to deploy during a side-impact collision. The vehicle is a 2013 Chevrolet Camaro LS. The vehicle was declared totaled after the accident and may be available for inspection through the insurance company if requested. Description of the Incident and Safety Risk: While driving down the street and coming around a curve, another vehicle experienced a tire blowout and lost control. The driver attempted to correct the vehicle but crossed into my lane. I attempted to turn my vehicle toward the right to avoid a head-on collision, but the other vehicle T-boned my car on the driver’s side. The impact was severe. The other vehicle struck my car twice, which caused my vehicle to spin and come to rest on a curb. During the crash, none of the airbags deployed, including the driver airbag, despite the severity of the side impact. Because of the damage to the driver’s side door, it was crushed inward, and I had to pull my leg inward and exit through the passenger side door. During the collision, my head struck the steering wheel, and my back became very sore from the force of the impact. The failure of the airbags to deploy placed my safety at serious risk, as they could have helped prevent or reduce head and upper body injuries during the crash. Inspection / Investigation: The incident has been reported to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The vehicle has been evaluated by the insurance company following the accident and was declared totaled. Warning Lights or Prior Symptoms: There were no warning lights, airbag alerts, or system messages prior to the crash. The airbag system appeared to be functioning normally before the accident.

NHTSA ODI 11722066

Hydraulic lifts trunk hood. No warnings. Trunk lid fell on neck and back

NHTSA ODI 11720898

Radio/HVAC/Audible Chimes (available for inspection). My and others safety are at risk every day when driving this car. First the radio does not work at all the HVAC controls are tied into the radio and they work intermittent (windows fog) the whole center dash shuts off and on around every 3 seconds. It is very distracting at night flashing from when I start it until I shut it off and I have a one hour commute. I no longer have chimes like keys left in ignition, lights on, and hazard lights are also effected. Everything worked fine prior to radio failure. Has not been inspected by dealer. Ran off roadway into ditch lights flashing startled me and I jerked the wheel to the left with minor damage.

NHTSA ODI 11627489

The contact owned a 2013 Chevrolet Camaro. The contact stated that while driving approximately 55 mph and making a right turn the accelerator pedal erroneously extended down causing the contact to lose control of the vehicle and crash into a utility pole. During the crash, the contact sustained a fractured right ankle and concussion and was transported to the local hospital. A police report was taken at the scene. The vehicle was destroyed and towed away. The contact stated that during the incident the accelerator pedal automatically depressed but the cruise control was not activated. The local dealer and manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 77,000.

NHTSA ODI 11525042

My 2013 Camaro had 89k miles, garage kept in excellent condition. My vehicle had never given me any issues and has impeccable maintenance records. I was pulling out of a parking spot when my engine started riving and jerking and I accelerated while in reverse and hit a concrete post behind me. I applied the brake and placed the car in drive. My car took off with a high speed of acceleration with my brakes still applied, and accelerated out of control. It followed the same path back into the parking spot ( I could not stir it) jumped the curb and ran through a brick wall finally coming to a stop in the middle of the business. The engine was still racing and in drive but the car had finally stopped and in a state of rest. I had to put the car into park and kill the engine. I could not control the car, the engine was racing with high rpm’s on its own, and driving in “ auto pilot” for lack of better term. Not one air bag deployed despite the fact I ran through a brick wall and totaled the car.

NHTSA ODI 11475530

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET CAMARO. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN THE DRIVER DROVE ON A ROAD THAT WAS UNDERGOING CONSTRUCTION WORK, THE DRIVER HAD TO MOVE INTO THE LEFT LANE, SWERVE TO AVOID THE CONES ON THE ROAD, THE DRIVER CROSSED OVER FOUR LANES OVER THE SIDEWALK, WENT THROUGH A DITCH, AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE DRIVER WAS PRONOUNCE DEAD AT SCENE. THE VEHICLES AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WAS PRESENT AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TOW YARD. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI 11416290

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET CAMARO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH, HER KNEE UNINTENTIONALLY KNOCKED THE KEY OUT OF THE RUN POSITION, TURNING OFF THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A LIGHT POLE. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AND THE CONTACT SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES TO THE FACE. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS SOUGHT. THERE WAS NO POLICE REPORT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE TOW FACILITY. RON MONTGOMERY MOTORS LOCATED AT 3325 S SHILOH RD, GARLAND, TX 75041, (972) 278-5700, WAS CONTACTED BY PHONE AND INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V346000 ( ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED OR MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000. PIIR-Y. AH

NHTSA ODI 11233777

MY STEERING COLUMN CAME COMPLETELY OUT AND PINNED ME BACK TO THE SEAT AND ALMOST WENT THROUGH THE ROOF OF THE CAR. I WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN I WAS HIT AT AN ESTIMATED SPEED OF 60-65 MPH. THE GUY NEVER HIT HIS BRAKES BUT HIT ME AND PUSHED ME THROUGH THE LIGHT. PICTURES ARE POSTED. THE SCRATCH MARK IS OF THE ROOF, WHERE STEERING COLUMN ALMOST WENT THROUGH IT. GM DID SEND AN ENGINEER DOWN TO MY HOUSE TO INVESTIGATE, HE WAS THERE 5 HRS AND WHEN HE LEFT HE WAS STILL SHOCKED THAT A REAR END AND IT DID THIS. HE DID SAY THAT IF I HAD OF BEEN HIT IN THE HEAD AREA I WOULD BE DEAD. I DID HAVE SURGERY ON MY LEFT THUMB AND WRIST I HAD A RUPTURE OF THE ULNAR COLLATERAL LIGAMENT WITH AVULSION TO MY LEFT THUMB. SURGEON STATES I WILL NEVER BE 100% AGAIN..

NHTSA ODI 11229684

TAKATA RECALL, I WAS DRIVING DOWN MY CITY STREET WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN I BELIEVE IT WAS A POT HOLE OR JUST UNEVEN GRAVEL LEADING MY KNEE HIT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION AND IN THAT SECOND I HAD NO CONTROL OR CONTROL OF WHAT HAPPENED NEXT. I COULD NOT BRAKE, MY SEAT BELT LOCKED ON ME HURTING MY COLLAR BONE, THEN MY WHEEL WAS SO HARD TO TURN I WAS USING BOTH HANDS AGGRESSIVELY TO TURN AS HARD AS I CAN JUST SO I WOULDN'T HIT A BUILDING OR CAUSE DAMAGE TO OTHERS AND AS I WAS STERLING I WOULD KEEP PRESSING THE BRAKES AND THEY WERE JUST LOCKED. I HAD TO HIT A BARRIER OF WOOD TO STOP MY CAR. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AS WELL WHICH WAS VERY SCARY. I HAD NO CONTROL OF MY CAR FOR THE FIRST TIME AND IT WAS NOT MY FAULT, THIS HAS NEVER HAPPENED AND I KNOW IT'S BECAUSE OF THE KEY BEING BUMPED. MY RECALL # 14V346000 ACCIDENTAL BUMPING OF KEY IGNITION. I HAD NO IDEA THIS CAR HAD A RECALL. THE DEALERSHIP DID NOT INFORM ME EITHER. I AM NOW CAR -LESS AND HOPING TO GET SOMEWHAT TAKEN CARE OF BECAUSE IT WAS UNSAFE AND I DON'T WISH THIS ON ANYONE. VERY SCARY EXPERIENCE.

NHTSA ODI 11207701

RADIO NOT WORKING SCREEN BLACK. UNABLE TO HEAR TURN SIGNALS WHEN ON. AIR CONDITIONER COMING ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY AS THOUGHT THERE IS AN ELECTRICAL SHORT.

NHTSA ODI 11011980

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2013 CHEVROLET CAMARO. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH IN THE RAIN, THE VEHICLE HYDROPLANED AND CRASHED INTO A WALL. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WERE MINOR INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE GM ENGINEERS DIAGNOSED THAT, DUE TO THE SLOW CRASH, THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 30,000.

NHTSA ODI 10930035

WHILE DRIVING DOWN A LOCAL ROADWAY MAKING A LEFT TURN THE TILT STEERING WHEEL LOCKING LEVER FELL OUT OF POSITION AND HIT MY LEG WHILE I WAS ATTEMPTING TO SHIFT GEARS. THE SURPRISE OF AN UNEXPECTED OBJECT STRIKING MY LEG RESULTED IN MISSING THE SHIFT AND GRAZING A CURB WHICH RESULTED IN DAMAGE TO MY RIGHT FRONT TIRE AND WHEEL. UPON STOPPING, THE LEVER WAS UNABLE TO BE PUSHED BACK INTO PLACE AND WAS EASILY REMOVED FROM THE STEERING COLUMN WITHOUT THE USAGE OF TOOLS. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO CHEVROLET DEALER WHERE I WAS TOLD THAT THE ONLY WAY TO FIX THIS WAS TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN, SERVICE DEPARTMENT AGREED THAT THIS WAS NOT A WEAR & TEAR ISSUE ON THE MECHANISM, BUT THAT THEY HAVE NO INFORMATION ON A PROBLEM WITH THIS ITEM. CAMARO AND OTHER CHEVY FORUMS SHOW THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT.

NHTSA ODI 10883488

BOUGHT A 2013 CAMARO, MAKING A RIGHT TURN ON MY CAR MY KEYS WERE BUMPED BY MY KNEE AND THE CAR JUST STALLED. THANKFULLY ONLY I WAS INVOLVED AND NO ONE COMING FROM THE OPPOSING WAS HURT AS I ENDED UP IN A TRAIN TRACK MEDIAN WITH SOME DAMAGE ONLY TO MY CAR. I DRIVE WITH THE FEAR THAT THIS COULD HAPPEN AGAIN AND THE SIMPLE FACT THAT THEY REMOVED THE KEY FROM THE FLIPKEY/CONTROL DOES NOT SOLVE THE ISSUE. I HAVE EXPERIMENTED WITH DIFFERENT CARS BY PURPOSEDLY BUMP MY KEYS AND NONE STALLED WITH AS LITTLE FORCE AS THE ONE ASSERTED ONTO THE CAMARO. THIS IS A TERRIBLE DESIGN AND ENGINEERING FLAW THAT NEEDS A BETTER SOLUTION THAN THEIR FIX.

NHTSA ODI 10882193

TRAVELING AT 35 MPH AND CHANGING FROM RIGHT LANE TO LEFT LANE POWER STEERING FAILED CAUSED CAR TO CROSS MEDIAN INTO LANES ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE STREET STRIKING FIRE HYDRANT AND CURB. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10694357

10/26/2012 - PULLING INTO PARKING SPACE AT LOW SPEED. CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. I ASSUMED THAT SOMEHOW IT WAS MY FAULT. IMPACTED A SECOND VEHICLE. 02/23/2015 - EXACT SAME THING. PULLING INTO PARKING SPACE AT LOW SPEED. CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. I WAS ABLE TO SLAM ON THE BRAKES AND PREVENT A COLLISION. I GOOGLED "CAMARO UNINTENDED ACCELERATION" AND FOUND A VIDEO CLIP OF ANOTHER PERSON APPEARING TO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. HTTP://WWW.TUNDRAHEADQUARTERS.COM/BLOG/CHEVY-CAMARO-UNINTENDED-ACCELERATION-VIDEO/. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10691121

I PURCHASE A NEW 2013 CAMARO FOR SON EARLIER THIS YEAR. THIS CAR HAS FEWER THAN 15K MILES AND EARLIER THIS MONTH MY SON WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN IN A NEIGHBORHOOD AND ON THE STEERING WHEEL RETURNING BACK TO CENTER, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED THEN HE HEARD A SNAP WHICH RESULTED IN HIM HITTING THE CURB. THE SNAPPING SOUND WAS PROBABLY THE SOUND OF THE RIGHT CONTROL ARM SNAPPING IN HALF AND THE BENDING OF THE TIE ROD. I FILED A CLAIM WITH GM AND THEY DECLINED ALL CLAIMS EVEN WITH THE MANY RECALLS ON GM CARS INCLUDING THE CAMARO HAVING STEERING WHEEL LOCKING ISSUES. I COULD HAVE LOST MY SON AND I'M SIMPLY ASKING THAT GM COVER THE REPAIRS. THIS HAS BEEN VERY DISAPPOINTING AND STRESSFULLY ON MY FAMILY. *JS

NHTSA ODI 10661568

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET CAMARO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH ON AN INCLINE DURING RAIN WEATHER, THE REAR END OF VEHICLE VEERED TO THE RIGHT CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CRASH INTO A CURB. ON ANOTHER OCCASION, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A LIGHT POST DUE TO THE FAILURE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A BURN ON THE LEFT WRIST FROM THE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT, WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,600.

NHTSA ODI 10650971

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET CAMARO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND BECAME VERY HARD TO TURN. THE POWER BRAKES BECAME INOPERABLE AND THE VEHICLE VEERED TO THE RIGHT. AS A RESULT, THE DRIVER CRASHED INTO A DITCH. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED A MINOR INJURY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ODI 10637021

I DROVE MY CAR THROUGH MY GUARD GATE AND PROCEEDED TO TURN THE CORNER AT APPROXIMATELY 25MPH WHEN I LOST COMPLETE STEERING OF MY CAR AND THE CAR SHUT OFF. LUCKILY I WAS NOT AT A HIGH SPEED WHEN THIS OCCURRED AND WAS ABLE TO STOP THE CAR ON THE GRASSY EMBANKMENT OF OUR LAKE, AFTER MY CAR RIM WAS SNAGGED BY A 2 FT THIN METAL POST ATTACHED TO A TREE. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE CHEVY DEALER WHO IMMEDIATELY HAD ME FILE A CLAIM WITH GM AFTER NOTICING THAT A PART ON THE STEERING OF THE CAR WAS FAULTY AND CAUSED A COLLAPSE OF THE STEERING RACK. AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT THE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT LIGHT CAME ON EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS NO COLLISION NOR DEPLOYMENT. BY THE WAY, GM DECLINED THE CLAIM EVEN THOUGH IT WAS DUE TO A FAULTY PART AND I AM CAUGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INSURANCE COMPANY, CHEVY DEALER AND GM TRYING TO DECIDE WHO IS PAYING FOR THE REPAIR OF MY VEHICLE 6 WEEKS LATER. THE CAR HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT AND ALL PARTS ARE ORIGINAL TO THE CAR WITH NO AFTER MARKET INSTALLATIONS AT ALL. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10599001

I WAS DRIVING ON WEST VIRGINIA HIGHWAY 75 SOUTH BOUND ON A SUNDAY MORNING, I WAS RETURNING FROM THE NAVAL STATION GREAT LAKES, (MY SON GRADUATED FROM RECRUIT TRAINING) THEN UNEXPECTED HAPPENS, THE RIGHT TIRE AND THE ENTIRE ASSEMBLY SYSTEM BROKE OFF THE CAR, I SAW THE ENTIRE SYSTEM, ABANDON MY CAR AND CARRY ON MOVING FORWARD. WITHOUT ANY EXAGGERATION, I SAW MY LIFE FLASH IN FRONT OF MY EYES, I THOUGHT I WAS A GONER. SEEING YOUR TIRE MOVING FORWARD, WHILE SIMULTANEOUSLY TRYING TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE FROM COLLIDING WITH THE CEMENTED MEDIAN, WAS THE WORSE EXPERIENCE YET, WHAT A NIGHTMARE. THIS WHOLE INCIDENT FELT LIKE I WAS HIT BY AND IED IN IRAQ, WHAT A SCARE. MY QUESTION TO ANYONE IS, HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE? PLEASE CAN SOMEONE HELP EXPLAIN WHAT THE HECK HAPPENING HERE, I DIDN'T HIT ANYTHING, AND HOWEVER I WAS DRIVING A LITTLE OVER 70 MILES PER HOUR. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10588052

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET CAMARO. THE CONTACT WAS TRAVELING 35 MPH AND IN AN ATTEMPT TO AVOID STRIKING A ROAD OBJECT, CRASHED AGAINST THE SIDE OF A CURB. AN ABNORMAL GRINDING NOISE WAS HEARD FROM THE FRONT END AS THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED A SLIGHT LOSS IN STEERING CONTROL. THE VEHICLE LATER TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE UPPER AND LOWER CONTROL ARMS WERE FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000.

NHTSA ODI 10561196