1981 Chevrolet Chevette Problems
- Complaints
- 5filed with NHTSA
- Median mileage
- —no mileage reported
- Recalls
- 3campaigns on record
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
Sources: NHTSA records for the 1981 Chevrolet Chevette (complaints, recalls, investigations). Report an error
NHTSA recorded 5 consumer complaints for the 1981 Chevrolet Chevette. The part named most often is seat belts, with 2 complaints (40% of the total), followed by brakes (1) and engine cooling (1). Of all complaints, 2 involved a crash, 2 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns and 0 technical service bulletins for this model year. Seat belts complaints overlap with 1 recall campaign covering the retractor and 1 NHTSA investigation filed under the same part. Brakes complaints overlap with 2 NHTSA investigations filed under the same part.
This model year has fewer than 25 complaints on record, so the numbers below can change a lot with a few new reports.
Which parts are reported most
Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.
- Seat belts2 40%
- Brakes1 20%
- Engine cooling1 20%
- Fuel system1 20%
Complaints by year filed
Fewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
Recalls and investigations
- 83V027000Mar 4, 1983Fuel system, gasoline › Carburetor systemCovers: Chevrolet Chevette 1980–1982
The carburetor fuel plug may come out and fuel could leak from the carburetor.
- 82V106000Nov 1, 1982Fuel system, gasoline › Carburetor systemCovers: Chevrolet Chevette 1980–1982
The carburetor fuel inlet housing plug in the side of the carburetor may come out.
- 81V060000May 19, 1981Seat belts › Front › RetractorCovers: Chevrolet Chevette 1980–1981, Camaro 1981, Monza 1980 +2 more
On certain vehicles, the seat belt retractors in the rear seating positions contain first lock positions which will not lock when used by smaller passengers. This fails to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 208…
Recall details for the 1981 Chevrolet Chevette → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls
NHTSA investigations
- PE88023Shifter failureClosed · Feb 5, 1988
- DP87009SAFETY BELTSClosed · Dec 30, 1986
- EA86033BRAKE FAILUREClosed · Sep 30, 1986
- PE86057Brake failure/firewallClosed · May 23, 1986
- EA85018Crankshaft pulley boltClosed · Mar 13, 1985
Technical service bulletins
No technical service bulletins are on record for the 1981 Chevrolet Chevette.
Other model years of the Chevrolet Chevette
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | Crash ★ | MPG | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | 5 | — | 3 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
All Chevrolet Chevette model years
Frequently asked questions
How many NHTSA complaints does the 1981 Chevrolet Chevette have?
NHTSA recorded 5 consumer complaints for the 1981 Chevrolet Chevette as of Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
What part of the 1981 Chevrolet Chevette is reported most often?
Seat belts is named most often, in 2 complaints (40% of the total), followed by brakes with 1.
Has the 1981 Chevrolet Chevette been recalled?
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.