Chevrolet Camaro: When Your Dream Sports Car Ends Up Parked… in the Middle of the Road

General Motors has announced a recall for 50,000 Chevrolet Camaros from the 2020–2022 model years due to a rather "enthusiastic" issue with their 10-speed automatic transmission. And when the system fails, it does so in the most dramatic way possible—by completely locking up the wheels. Because what’s more exhilarating than suddenly coming to a screeching halt while cruising down the highway at 130 km/h?

What’s the Problem?
Blame it on the transmission control valve, a tiny component that apparently wears out faster than the brake pads on a cheap Chinese motorcycle. As it degrades, transmission pressure drops, gear shifts become erratic, and—voilà!—one moment you’re driving, and the next, you’re sitting in an impromptu parking spot, staring at other cars whizzing past like a deer frozen in headlights.

GM’s Response: “Meh, It’s Probably Fine”
Like any reputable automaker, GM didn’t exactly rush to fix the issue. At first, they claimed that this minor hiccup wasn’t really dangerous enough to cause a total loss of vehicle control. That argument held up right until they were faced with 115 reported incidents and at least one crash—at which point they begrudgingly admitted that maybe unexpected full-stop braking at high speeds could be slightly inconvenient.

What Happens Now?
If you own a Cadillac CT4, CT5, or some CT6 models, congratulations! You get a software update that will warn you 16,000 km in advance that your transmission is about to betray you. At that point, the Check Engine light will illuminate, engine power will be reduced, and the car will limit itself to using just the first five gears, allowing you to slowly and painfully limp to the nearest service center like a wounded turtle.

And If You Own a Camaro?
Well… good question. GM has yet to reveal how they plan to fix this minor inconvenience for Camaro owners. Perhaps they’ll issue complimentary roadside assistance for when your muscle car decides it’s had enough and refuses to move. Or maybe they’ll just add a new section in the owner’s manual titled “What to Do When Your Car Becomes a Motionless Sculpture”.

One thing is certain—if you bought a Camaro to feel Fast and Furious, you’ll at least get the furious part.