The short version
The Camaro is Chevrolet's rear-wheel-drive sports coupe, built to take on the Ford Mustang. It first went on sale for the 1967 model year and has returned in several forms since. The sixth generation, which began with the 2016 model year, is the one most used-car shoppers look at today, and it is the one our model-year reports cover (2016 through 2020).
What makes the sixth generation interesting to a used buyer is the spread. The lineup runs from a turbocharged four-cylinder car through a V6 and the V8-powered SS to the supercharged ZL1, with a convertible body style on top. A track-oriented 1LE package was offered on several of those versions. That means two Camaros of the same year can be completely different cars, and so can their histories. A base coupe that commuted for five years and a ZL1 that went to track days are not the same purchase, even if the badge matches.
One caution about the data: federal complaint and recall records are filed by model year, not by engine or trim. A complaint about a V8 car can sit next to one about a four-cylinder car in the same totals. Use the numbers as a guide to what to check, and use the VIN to learn what applies to the actual car in front of you.
Generations at a glance
First generation (1967 to 1969). The original Camaro, launched for 1967 as Chevrolet's answer to the Mustang. Coupe and convertible bodies, with a long list of engines and option packages. Values and originality questions put these in collector territory.
Second generation (1970 to 1981). A new, longer and lower shape and a very long production run. It changed a lot over those years as emissions and safety rules reshaped what the car could be.
Third generation (1982 to 1992). A hatchback with a modern look for its time and fuel injection arriving during the run. Enthusiasts still seek out the performance versions, but condition varies widely at this age.
Fourth generation (1993 to 2002). A rounded, aerodynamic redesign. Production ended after 2002 and the nameplate went on a break.
Fifth generation (2010 to 2015). The Camaro came back for the 2010 model year with retro-inspired styling that echoed the original. It brought V6 and V8 versions, a convertible and, later in the run, a ZL1.
Sixth generation (2016 to 2024). A fresh, lighter design on a new platform, with a smaller body and a better-balanced chassis than the car it replaced. Engines ranged from a turbocharged four-cylinder to a V6, the V8 in the SS and a supercharged V8 in the ZL1. Transmissions included manual gearboxes and multi-speed automatics, and the automatics are a big part of the used-buyer story (more on that below). Chevrolet gave the car a facelift for 2019, and the line later added more trim and powertrain choices. The generation ran through the 2024 model year.
Which used years to research first
There is no clean "best year" for a sixth-generation Camaro, because the right car depends on the version you want and the history of the specific car. A few patterns in the reports are worth knowing before you shop.
- Transmission behavior comes up across the generation. In several years, owners describe shuddering, vibration at steady speeds, harsh or odd shifts, and in some reports a torque converter or other transmission repair. Owners in several years also mention a manufacturer service bulletin about the issue. That does not mean every car has it. It does mean a long test drive at steady highway speed, plus service records showing fluid service, belongs on every automatic car's shopping list.
- Electric power steering assist matters on early cars. Recalls covering power steering assist failure apply to certain 2016 to 2018 Camaros, and the 2017 and 2018 reports show a lot of steering complaints. Many owners say they lost assist suddenly, and some say their car was not included in the recall. Check the VIN and test the steering carefully.
- Water in the trunk electrical area shows up in several early years. Owners describe wet fuse blocks, amplifiers and trunk-area electronics. Look, and ask.
- Convertibles have their own checklist. Owners across multiple years describe the rear glass separating from the fabric top and the top mechanism needing attention. A convertible deserves a close look at the top, the glass and the seals.
- The newest years have fewer complaints, but a shorter record. The 2019 and 2020 cars have lower complaint counts than the 2016 and 2017 cars. Part of that is time: newer cars have had less time to collect reports. The 2020 report also covers a 2025 recall of cars with the ten-speed automatic, and some owners say replacement parts have been slow to arrive.
- Performance use changes everything. A hard-driven SS, 1LE or ZL1 may have worn tires, brakes, clutch parts and cooling components, and may carry aftermarket parts or a tune. Ask directly, and inspect for it.
How to use the model-year reports
Each year below has its own report with the NHTSA recalls, the systems owners complain about most, and the incident counts. Start with the year you are considering, then read the year before and after. If the same system keeps appearing near the top, put it first on your test drive.
Whatever year you choose, run the car's VIN through NHTSA's free recall lookup to confirm every safety recall has been repaired, get a vehicle history report, and pay an independent mechanic who knows performance cars to inspect it. For a modified or track-used Camaro, ask for a full list of modifications and any engine or transmission tune in writing, and tell the inspector about them.
Here are the model-year reports: 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020.