Ford Mustang vs Chevrolet Camaro
Sports cars · head to head, 2010–2024
The Ford Mustang and Chevrolet Camaro were both sold for 15 model years (2010–2024). Among the Mustang's own years, its best bet is 2017; no year to avoid; the newest year rated a good buy is 2025. Among the Camaro's own years, its best bet is 2023; no year to avoid; the newest year rated a good buy is 2024.
Ford Mustang
Coupe · 2010–2026
- Best bet 2017
- Newest good buy 2025
- Avoid none
- Be careful 2011–2012
Chevrolet Camaro
Car · 2010–2024
- Best bet 2023
- Newest good buy 2024
- Avoid none
- Be careful 2017
How to read this: each model's verdicts compare that model's own years with each other (serious owner complaints per car on the road against that model's usual year, using New York registrations). They are not a reliability ranking of one model against the other, so a good-buy Mustang year says nothing about whether it beats a Camaro. (How we judge.)
Year by year, side by side
| Year | Ford Mustang | Chevrolet Camaro | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 1.3× usual, mostly engine and power train | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 0.5× usual | Side by side |
| 2023 | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 0.9× usual | BEST BUYSerious complaints 0.6× usual | Side by side |
| 2022 | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 1.0× usual | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 0.5× usual | Side by side |
| 2021 | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 1.0× usual | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 1.0× usual | Side by side |
| 2020 | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 1.3× usual, mostly power train and engine | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 1.4× usual, mostly power train and engine | Side by side |
| 2019 | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 1.0× usual | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 1.5× usual, mostly power train and engine | Side by side |
| 2018 | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 1.4× usual, mostly engine and power train | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 1.0× usual | Side by side |
| 2017 | BEST BUYSerious complaints 0.7× usual | CAREFULSerious complaints 1.6× usual, mostly steering and power train | Side by side |
| 2016 | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 0.9× usual | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 1.4× usual, mostly power train and engine | Side by side |
| 2015 | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 1.0× usual | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 0.7× usual | Side by side |
| 2014 | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 1.0× usual | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 0.7× usual | Side by side |
| 2013 | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 1.0× usual | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 0.5× usual | Side by side |
| 2012 | CAREFULSerious complaints 1.3× usual, mostly power train and air bags | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 0.5× usual | Side by side |
| 2011 | CAREFULSerious complaints 1.4× usual, mostly power train and air bags | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 0.6× usual | Side by side |
| 2010 | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 0.9× usual | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 0.7× usual | Side by side |
Each chip rates that year against the same model's other years. Tap a chip for the year's details; "Side by side" compares both models that year, trim by trim.
Compare any year, trim by trim
2024: the newest shared year, at a glance
| 2024 Ford Mustang | 2024 Chevrolet Camaro | |
|---|---|---|
| Our verdict (vs the model's own years) | GOOD BUY | GOOD BUY |
| Starting price (MSRP range) | $30,920 to $59,270 base price by trim, 5 trims | — |
| Engines and horsepower | 2.3L 4-cyl turbo 5.0L 8-cyl manual available | 3.6L 6-cyl 6.2L 8-cyl 6.2L 8-cyl supercharged manual available |
| Fuel economy (EPA combined) | 17–26 mpg | 16–22 mpg |
| Seats | 4 | — |
| Third row | No | — |
| Cargo behind last row | — | — |
| NHTSA crash rating | 5 of 5 stars | 5 of 5 stars |
| Recalls · owner complaints (NHTSA) | 12 · 82 | 0 · 4 |
Sources: OpenSpec and the makers' equipment guides, NHTSA vPIC, EPA and NHTSA ratings. Cargo, towing and bed length rows appear when we have them. "—": not in our data. Compare every 2024 trim →
Key features: base trim vs top trim
| Mustang EcoBoost lowest price, $30,920 | Mustang Dark Horse highest price, $59,270 | Camaro 1LS/1LT first listed | Camaro ZL1 last listed | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adaptive cruise control | — | Varies | — | — |
| Blind-spot warning | — | — | Optional | Optional |
| Heated front seats | Optional | Standard | — | — |
| Ventilated front seats | — | Optional | — | — |
"Standard" and "Optional" are for that trim as the 2024 data lists it (a package or option adds an "Optional" item); "—": not verified in our sources, never a guess. The cheapest and most expensive trim of each model; every trim is on the model's 2024 page (Mustang, Camaro).
Known fixes and extended coverage
Ford Mustang
4 manufacturer programs on file: 1 extended coverage, 3 repair programs.
- Extended coverage This program extends the warranty coverage of the automatic transmission molded leadframe to 10 years of service or 150,000 miles from the warranty start date of the vehicle, whichever occurs first. (16N02, 2012 models)
Chevrolet Camaro
38 manufacturer programs on file: 11 extended coverage, 27 repair programs.
- Extended coverage On some 2010-2013 model year Chevrolet Camaro vehicles, the license-plate lamp housing-retention features could fracture off the housing. 15030 - Special Coverage. (GCUS-9-908, 2010–2013 models)
- Extended coverage The transmission control valve has worn, resulting in a gradual loss of pressure within the valve. This special coverage covers vehicles that return after TCM Update Product Safety N242480630 and have P0747 condition described above for a… (N242480631, 2020–2022 models)
- Extended coverage Special Coverage - on certain vehicles if a driver repeatedly sits on the seat belt cable cover located atthe base of the driver's seat when entering the vehicle, it may cause the seat belt pretensioner to bend sharply over theseat side… (N182201660, 2016–2018 models)
- Extended coverage On some vehicles, if a driver repeatedly sits on the seat belt cable cover located at the base of the driver's seat when entering the vehicle, it may cause the seat belt pretensioner to bend sharply over the seat side shield. Special… (N192268380, 2019–2020 models)
From manufacturer bulletins filed with NHTSA, counted per program. A count is how many programs exist, not how good or bad a model is: a maker that extends coverage is paying for a known problem. A dealer can look up whether a car has had the work done or is still covered.
Which should you buy?
- Buying used, years both are rated a good buy: 2010, 2013–2016, 2018–2024. In those years, choose on price, size and features.
- Shopping around 2017: the Mustang is rated best buy (serious complaints 0.7× usual), while the Camaro is rated careful (serious complaints 1.6× usual, mostly steering and power train). Each against its own other years.
- Years to skip: neither model has a year we rate avoid.
- Newest year rated a good buy: Mustang 2025; Camaro 2024.
- Best EPA combined rating in 2024: Mustang at 26 mpg (Camaro: 22), for the most efficient version of each.
- Before you buy either: run the VIN for open recalls and ask the dealer whether the extended-coverage repairs above were done.
Rules applied to the data on this page: no overall winner is declared, because our verdicts compare each model with itself.