1981 Chevrolet Corvette Problems
- Complaints
- 6filed with NHTSA
- Median mileage
- 84,000miles, 1 complaints with mileage
- Recalls
- 0campaigns on record
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
Sources: NHTSA records for the 1981 Chevrolet Corvette (complaints, recalls, investigations). Report an error
NHTSA recorded 6 consumer complaints for the 1981 Chevrolet Corvette. The part named most often is fuel system, with 4 complaints (67% of the total), followed by transmission and drivetrain (3) and engine cooling (1). 1 of the complaints include a mileage, and 0% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 84,000 miles. NHTSA lists 0 recall campaigns and 0 technical service bulletins for this model year.
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.
- Fuel system4 67%
- Engine cooling1 17%
- Steering1 17%
- Suspension1 17%
- Wheels1 17%
Example complaints
Fuel system: “Fuel tank which is made of a steel outer shell with an inner liner of high density polyethylene developed a crack in both front lower corners. This permitted fuel to enter between the steel tank and the liner. The condensation in the fuel rusted the outer tank, resulting in a fuel leak.”
NHTSA complaint #821063, filed 1998-02Engine cooling: “I am the original owner of this vehicle. It has been in storage since 1982 and has 4900 original miles. The vehicle is in new showroom condition. I am now planning to transport the vehicle to florida and dirve it on occasion. I was notified of this recall in 1983 and have misplaced the notification due to the car being in storage. I would appreciate any assistance in getting this recall done, working with a dealer near where it is stored in burlington, vermont. They say they have no access to obtaining this infofrmation and unless I can provide the notice, they are unable to help me. …”
NHTSA complaint #753118, filed 2001-10Steering: “I've had an upper control arm bolt come out 4 times on my car causing the wheel to tuck under the car. I also had a lower control arm bolt come out once. I've been lucky, it's always happened when I was turning around or going slow. However, the first time it happened, I was pulling away from the curb in front of my house, and it sounded like a rock shot out from under the tire. I stopped and took a look at things and looked at the street but didn't see a it or bolt or anything, and figured it was a rock. It drove fine, got on the freeway and my car seeed to drift to the right. …”
NHTSA complaint #11162151, filed 2018-12, 84,000 milesMileage when problems were reported
0% of the 1 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 84,000 and 84,000 miles.
Complaints by year filed
Fewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
Recalls and investigations
NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for the 1981 Chevrolet Corvette in the data used here. A recall can apply to some vehicles of a model year and not others, so check a specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Technical service bulletins
No technical service bulletins are on record for the 1981 Chevrolet Corvette.
Other model years of the Chevrolet Corvette
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | Crash ★ | MPG | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 11 | 25 | 3 | — | 14 | — | Too new |
| 2024 | 21 | 500 | 2 | — | 15 | — | Too new |
| 2023 | 27 | 812 | 1 | — | 15 | 43 · Typical | Too new |
| 2022 | 21 | 9,250 | 1 | — | 19 | — | Stable |
| 2021 | 13 | 12,500 | 2 | — | 19 | — | Not enough data |
| 2020 | 34 | 1,100 | 4 | — | 19 | 69 · More | Falling |
| 2019 | 148 | 7,953 | 1 | — | 17 | 99 · More | Falling |
| 2018 | 51 | 10,000 | 1 | — | 18 | 52 · Typical | Falling |
| 2017 | 257 | 14,000 | 4 | — | 19 | 100 · More | Falling |
| 2016 | 104 | 14,500 | 2 | — | 20 | 69 · More | Falling |
| 2015 | 65 | 12,000 | 5 | — | 20 | 69 · More | Falling |
| 2014 | 63 | 7,700 | 5 | — | 21 | 73 · More | Stable |
| 2013 | 82 | 18,250 | 0 | — | 18 | 24 · Fewer | Falling |
| 2012 | 56 | 25,000 | 1 | — | 18 | 22 · Fewer | Falling |
| 2011 | 85 | 28,900 | 1 | — | 18 | 22 · Fewer | Falling |
| 2010 | 84 | 35,202 | 0 | — | 18 | 10 · Fewer | Falling |
| 2009 | 151 | 38,500 | 0 | — | 18 | 35 · Fewer | Falling |
| 2008 | 541 | 48,300 | 0 | — | 18 | 48 · Typical | Falling |
| 2007 | 341 | 43,000 | 2 | — | 19 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2006 | 365 | 36,750 | 5 | — | 19 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2005 | 533 | 40,000 | 6 | — | 19 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2004 | 217 | 33,100 | 2 | — | 20 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2003 | 85 | 30,544 | 1 | — | 20 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2002 | 157 | 42,500 | 1 | — | 20 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 2001 | 205 | 42,000 | 1 | — | 20 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2000 | 278 | 39,000 | 2 | — | 19 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1999 | 308 | 45,000 | 2 | — | 20 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 1998 | 399 | 46,140 | 2 | — | 19 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 1997 | 153 | 42,258 | 5 | — | 19 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 1996 | 44 | 100,000 | 0 | — | 18 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1995 | 32 | 94,000 | 0 | — | 18 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1994 | 29 | 92,000 | 0 | — | 18 | Not compared (before 2008) | Rising |
| 1993 | 22 | 77,452 | 1 | — | 18 | — | Falling |
| 1992 | 7 | 34,000 | 1 | — | 18 | — | Not enough data |
| 1991 | 24 | 89,450 | 1 | — | 17 | — | Falling |
| 1990 | 34 | 57,999 | 2 | — | 17 | Not compared (before 2008) | Rising |
| 1989 | 15 | 76,700 | 2 | — | 18 | — | Stable |
| 1988 | 16 | 57,000 | 3 | — | 18 | — | Stable |
| 1987 | 21 | 99,000 | 1 | — | 17 | — | Stable |
| 1986 | 15 | 83,200 | 3 | — | 18 | — | Stable |
| 1985 | 16 | 92,000 | 1 | — | 17 | — | Stable |
| 1984 | 14 | 94,000 | 5 | — | 15 | — | Not enough data |
| 1981 | 6 | 84,000 | 0 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
All Chevrolet Corvette model years · Best and worst years by complaints
Frequently asked questions
How many NHTSA complaints does the 1981 Chevrolet Corvette have?
NHTSA recorded 6 consumer complaints for the 1981 Chevrolet Corvette as of Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
What part of the 1981 Chevrolet Corvette is reported most often?
Fuel system is named most often, in 4 complaints (67% of the total), followed by transmission and drivetrain with 3.
Has the 1981 Chevrolet Corvette been recalled?
NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for this model year in the data used here. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
At what mileage are problems with the 1981 Chevrolet Corvette reported?
Among the 1 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 84,000 miles and the middle half falls between 84,000 and 84,000 miles; 0% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.
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.