There are 7 owner-reported engine complaints for the 2002 Chevrolet Camaroin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET CAMARO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CONTROL BOX IN THE ENGINE, LOCATED NEAR THE FIREWALL, CAUSED THE FUEL INJECTORS TO POUR FUEL INTO THE ENGINE. AS A RESULT, THE ENGINE WAS RUINED. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, WHITE SMOKE APPEARED FROM THE EXHAUST. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, BUT THEY WENT OUT OF BUSINESS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO ANOTHER DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE ENTIRE ENGINE. THE MANUFACTURER OFFERED HIM A 10% DISCOUNT AND THE CONTACT PAID $6,200 FOR THE REPAIR. THE CONTACT HAS A PHOTO OF WHERE THE BOX WAS LOCATED IN THE ENGINE, WHICH HE FELT WAS TOO CLOSE TO THE FIREWALL AND THE INITIAL CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 44,000. UPDATED 1/26/09 *CN THE CONSUMER WAS THE NUMBER 7 CYLINDER MAY HAVE COMPRESSED LIQUID, MOST LIKELY FUEL THAT CAUSED THE PISTON AND ROD TO BE DAMAGED. IT CAUSED DAMAGED TO THE CYLINDER WALL WHICH REQUIRED THE REPLACEMENT OF THE ENGINE. THE CONSUMER WAS THEN TOLD THE FUEL INJECTORS WERE IN THE OPEN POSITION BECAUSE THE WIRING CONTROLLING THE FUEL INJECTORS WAS CHAFED AND MAKING CONTACT WITH THE BULKHEAD WHICH GROUNDED THE WIRING. UPDATED 01/27/09. *JB
2002 CHEVROLET CAMARO SS. CONSUMER STATES ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO WIRING HARNESS PLACEMENT. *TGW ACCORDING TO THE DEALERSHIP, THE NUMBER 7 CYLINDER MAY HAVE PASSED COMPRESSED LIQUID, MOST LIKELY FUEL THAT CAUSED THE PISTON AND ROD TO BE DAMAGED. IT CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE CYLINDER WALL WHICH REQUIRED REPLACEMENT OF THE ENGINE. THE TECHNICIAN ALSO INDICATED THAT THE NUMBER 8 CYLINDER WAS DAMAGED. THE DEALER STATED THE CAUSE FOR THE FUEL INJECTORS REMAINING IN THE OPEN POSITION WAS THE WIRING CONTROLLING THE FUEL INJECTORS WAS CHAFED AND MAKING CONTACT WITH THE BULKHEAD WHICH GROUNDED THE WIRING. THE CONSUMER STATED ONE DAY HE STARTED THE VEHICLE AND WHITE SMOKE EMITTED FROM THE EXHAUST, HE SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF AND LET IT SIT IN THE DRIVEWAY. THE CONSUMER STATED THE DISTANCE OF THE WIRING FROM THE BULKHEAD IS LESS THAN 1/4 OF AN INCH, THE PCM CAN BE MADE TO MOVE JUST UNDER 1/2 INCH WHICH WOULD BE ENOUGH DISTANCE FOR THE WIRES TO MAKE CONTACT WITH THE BULKHEAD. IT WOULD INDICATE THAT OVER TIME, VIBRATION FROM DRIVING CONDITIONS WOULD CAUSE THE PCM TO MOVE BACK AND FORTH WHICH STRONGLY SUGGEST A FLAW IN THE POSITIONING OF THE PCM. THERE WAS EVIDENCE TO SUGGEST THAT AN OUTSIDE SOURCE CAUSED THE WIRING TO CHAFE, SUCH AS RODENTS NESTING IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. *JB
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE LOST POWER MULTIPLE TIMES. THE FIRST TIME THE ENGINE COIL BURNED OUT AND WAS REPLACED BY THE DEALERSHIP. THE SECOND TIME THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS PLUGGED AND ENGINE BOLTS HAD BROKEN. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND THE BOLTS. DURING THE THIRD OCCURRENCE THE FOOT THROTTLE BODY SENSOR FAILED AND THE DASH LIGHTS INTERMITTENTLY ILLUMINATED. THE THROTTLE BODY SENSOR WAS REPLACED BY THE DEALERSHIP. DURING ALL THE OCCURRENCES THE VEHICLE LOST POWER WITHOUT WARNING.
COLD AND HOT ENGINE KNOCK, ISTONS REPLACED,YLINDER WALLS IN #1 AND 8 OUT OF SPECIFICATION. *AK
THE VEHICLE BURNED AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF OIL.*JB
HTTP://EMER.HOMEDNS.ORG/LS1_KNOCK/INDEX.ASP. NO SAFETY DEFECT STATED IN SUMMARY. *AK
THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A LOUD ENGINE RATTLE AND WATER LEAKAGE IN RIGHT SIDE WINDOW.*AK *JB
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 25, 2026