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How Many Miles & Years Do Chevrolet Camaros Last? (10 Important Facts)

The Chevrolet Camaro may very well be the biggest rival the Ford Mustang has. What’s more is the fact that, like the Mustang, it’s also an American model.

The car’s smooth, suave design, and its affordability makes it difficult to ignore.

It is easy to understand why millions of Camaros were purchased as soon as they hit the market.

This article dives into every detail about the longevity of this popular muscle car.

Here is the short answer to how long the Chevrolet Camaro lasts:

With proper maintenance and regular use, a Chevrolet Camaro can last 150,000 miles with no major issues. If you drive 15,000 miles per year, that means a well-maintained Chevy Camaro can provide 10 years of headache-free performance. 

How Many Miles Can You Expect from a Chevrolet Camaro?

Your Camaro should last 150,000 miles or more if you use it like a regular car and keep up with maintenance.

However, many Camaros with proper maintenance and overall care can cover over 200,000 miles in their lifetime. Although, we advise that Camaros with that much mileage should not be used for sports or driven too hard.

However, you need to buy one of the good years to get that. We have a list here of the best years for Chevrolet Camaro.

To achieve such high mileages, you may have to keep the drag racing and stunts to a few times per year, as those high-speed adventures can put a lot of strain on your engine and other critical components of the Camaro.

How Soon Should You Expect Rust On A Chevrolet Camaro?

The Camaro is built to resist corrosion. However, it comes with a rust warranty due to corrosion that lasts for 6 years.

That’s a very calming feature as it shows the automaker’s confidence in their rust-proofing techniques.

If you use an old Camaro that has exceeded the warranty period, you should ensure you get it rust proofed. You should do this yearly.

Your car may rust due to several reasons. However, one of the major reasons this would occur is due to the weather in your location. Precipitates like snow and rain can cause moisture which can react with oxygen to cause rust.

This means your car is more likely to rust in environments with high levels of rainfall and humidity. If roads get salted in your area or you live close to the sea, your Camaro may rust earlier than expected.

Areas where you can expect to see rust early on the Camaro include the undercarriage and the exhaust pipe.

Please also read our article about the Chevrolet Camaro in snow and winter driving

How Long Do Chevrolet Camaros Last Compared to Similar Sports Cars?

The Camaro is a long-lasting sports car. However, let’s compare it with other sport cars in its class.

Chevrolet Camaro vs Ford Mustang

The Camaro and the Mustang can last up to 200,000 miles, which means they are equal in terms of service life.

The Mustang is often considered by most people as a better car than the Camaro. However, both cars are equal in several aspects.

Chevrolet Camaro vs Dodge Challenger

The Challenger lasts longer than the Camaro. It can go well over 300,000 miles with no engine or transmission replacement.

In other areas such as space, it also beats the Camaro. However, the Camaro beats the Challenger in terms of efficiency.

Chevrolet Camaro vs Pontiac Firebird

The Firebird can run 300,000 miles and more if maintained properly. It also has a powerful engine and amazing interior design.

From the comparisons above, it’s safe to say the Camaro doesn’t last very long when compared to other pony cars. However, it more than complements for that in terms of affordability.

Make sure to also read our article about the Chevrolet Camaro statistics.

How Reliable Is a Chevrolet Camaro?

Repairpal scores the Camaro 3.5 out of 5 in terms of reliability rating. This gives it the 21st position out of 24 mid-sized cars. It is next to the Ford Mustang which takes the 20th spot on the list.

J. D. Power rates it 86/100 in terms of reliability and quality. This score considers defects, malfunctions, and design flaws.

Note that the Camaro mostly needs minor repairs and hardly requires major ones. This feature contributes to the overall reliability of the car.

Also, the reliability of any car is not dependent on the manufacturing, assembling and quality of materials used alone. Proper maintenance of your vehicle enables it to serve you better.

The Best and Worse Years for Chevrolet Camaro

Many people have described the 1969 Camaro as the best Camaro of all time. However, 2013 was also a great year to buy a brand new Camaro.

The 2013 model has powerful V6 and V8 engines that produce 323 and 580 horsepower, respectively.

The 2015 and 2016 models have amazing handling and style, coupled with a powerful engine.

The worst years for the Camaro started in 2017.

The 2017 model reportedly had body and paint problems. The same problems were also encountered the following year, with the car’s windows also developing faults.

The most common problem that was encountered with the 2019 Camaro was with its transmission.

The decline in the reliability of the Camaro is occurring at an unprecedented rate. Meanwhile, the 2020 model year had one of the lowest predicted reliability rating in the segment.

Also check our article about where the Chevrolet Camaros are made.

What About Recalls for this Model?

According to Consumer Reports data, here are the number of recalls for the Chevrolet Camaro from 2011 to 2021:

Year Number of Recalls
2011 3
2012 5
2013 3
2014 4
2015 2
2016 1
2017 2
2018 1
2019 1
2020 2
2021 3

From the table above, we can deduce that the number of recalls over the past 10 years has decreased.

Chevrolet Camaro Model Year List

Here is a grouping of all Chevrolet Camaro model years and the generation they fall under:

Generation Model Year
First 1967 – 1969
Second 1970 – 1981
Third 1982 – 1992
Fourth 1993 – 2002
Fifth 2010 – 2015
Sixth 2016 – Present

Are Chevrolet Camaros Expensive To Maintain?

RepairPal reports that it costs $585 annually to maintain the Chevrolet Camaro. This is just a little over the average maintenance cost of $526 for mid-sized cars.

When you consider that the Camaro is a poor man’s sports car, it is easy to see it has a pocket-friendly maintenance cost.

How Long Do the Brakes Last?

The lifespan of your brakes depends on your braking habits. If you drive frequently in stop-and-go traffic, your brakes may wear faster than someone who travels on the highway most times.

Your brakes should get you up to 40,000 up to 60,000 miles of smooth usage if you practice good braking habits and maintenance.

Ensure you get your brake rotors checked after every 5000 miles. This is just an added safety precaution. If the width of your rotor has thinned too much, you would need to get it changed.

Your brake pad may also have to be changed together with your rotor.

The average cost for a Chevrolet Camaro brake pad is around $280, while labor costs about $140. Total replacement costs range from $380 to $420.

YourMechanic estimates the replacement costs to be from $140 to $531.

How Long Do the Tires Last?

The longevity of your tires depends on your driving and braking habits. Most Camaros are driven extra hard since they are sports cars. However, we advise that you drive gently if you do not use your Camaro for racing.

If you drive hard, or race a lot, expect 15,000 to 20,000 miles or even less from your tires.

On average, tires may last up to 50,000 miles.

As with brakes, your tires also need to be properly maintained.

The road surface, topography on which you drive, your driving style, and other factors affect the rate of wearing. Wheel balancing and rotations can help prolong your tires’ life expectancy.

How Long Do the Transmissions Last?

Many cars on the road today still function with the original transmission that came with the car.

Your transmission can last 100,000 miles or more.

This means you can get your tranny to last up to 200,000 miles if you are gentle with your Camaro and perform maintenance diligently.

How Long Do the Spark Plugs Last?

Your Camaro’s spark plugs do not need to be replaced often.

They can last up to 100,000 miles and still function optimally. Spark plugs are one of those car components that you tend to forget are even there.

What About Insurance Cost?

The cost of insuring your Camaro depends on some factors, including the model year of your car, your driving history, credit score, and location. Recent Camaros are more expensive to insure compared to older models.

Data from finder.com suggests that it costs an average of $181 a month, or $2,172 annually to insure the Chevrolet Camaro, which is surprisingly affordable for a high-performance car.

Tips to Prolong the Life of Your Chevrolet Camaro

The Camaro is a durable and efficient sports car. Nevertheless, it isn’t ideal to drive it too hard. Stressing your car can reduce its lifespan. Here are things to do to prolong your Camaro’s life:

  • Make sure you fix any problem that your car develops immediately; never wait for too long before getting it checked.
  • Clean your car’s interior and be sure not to scratch the leather. Make sure children are on their best behavior while inside the car.
  • Change your engine oil and service your car when due. You also need to change your fluids when they need replacement. 
  • Go for routine checkups to assess the general wellbeing of the car.
  • Use only high-quality spares.
  • Avoid modifications that can impact engine performance.

Lastly, the Chevy Camaro is also among the cars with extra big engine bays.

Sources

The Most Reliable Chevy Camaro Models to Consider | motorbiscuit.com

Chevrolet Camaro Reliability | repairpal.com

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