Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data
Data refreshed
Our database contains 5 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1981 Chevrolet Chevette, most frequently naming the seat belts, brakes and engine categories. 3 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 7 NHTSA investigations name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
When owners filed reports about this model year
| Month | Complaints filed | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|
| Oct 1996 | 1 | 1 |
| Apr 1997 | 2 | 3 |
| Sep 1997 | 1 | 4 |
| Nov 2005 | 1 | 5 |
Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
3 campaigns cover this model year
Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.
Check a VIN on NHTSA.govFUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:CARBURETOR SYSTEM
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:CARBURETOR SYSTEM
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.
SHIFTER FAILURE
===
SAFETY BELTS
SAFETY BELTS
BRAKE FAILURE
SUMMARY OF INFORMATION FROM MANUFACTURER:GM MAINTAINS THAT THERE IS NO DEFECT IN THE DESIGN.SPATIAL RELATIONSHIP DOES NOT CHANGE WITH APPLICATION OF PEDAL FORCE.GM BELIEVES THAT THEIR TEST DATA DEMONSTRATES THAT PEDAL, BRACKET, AND FIREWALL ARE SUFFICIENTLY STOUT.GM REPORTSNO FIELD COMPLAINTS ON THIS ALLEGED DEFECT. ANALYSIS:THIS ALLEGED DEFECT WAS REPORTED IN A BENDIX TRADE PUBLICATION. IT CITED FIREWALL FLEXING AS REDUCING THE PEDAL FREE PLAY AND PREVENTINGTHE MASTER CYLINDER FROM COMPENSATING NORMALLY.STATUS:ON DEC 11,1986, A MEMO WAS SENT TO VRTC REQUESTING TESTING ON A VEHICLE IN ORDER TO EVALUATE THE ALLEGED DEFECT.VRTC HAS PURCHASED A TEST VEHICLE AND TESTING HAS BEEN COMPLETED.DRAFT REPORT IN REVIEW CYCLE. PROPOSED ACTION:CLOSED AUG 25,1987===
BRAKE FAILURE/FIREWALL
ANALYSIS:THE COMPLAINT HAS BEEN VERIFIED WITH THE VEHICLE'S OWNER AND ASTATE OF MICHIGAN CONSUMER REPRESENTATIVE.THE BENDIX REPORT WAS SUPPLIEDBY A MIDAS REPRESENTATIVE, AND REMAINS UNCONFIRMED.ALTHOUGH NO OTHERCOMPLAINTS IDENTIFY THIS PARTICULAR CONDITION, THERE ARE SEVERAL REPORTEDINCIDENTS OF UNEXPLAINED BRAKE LOSS AMONG THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.THERE ARENO TSB'S OR RECALLS REGARDING THE ALLEGED DEFECT.PROPOSED ACTION:PREPARE AN INFORMATION REQUEST TO GM AND BENDIX.
Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words
CONSUMER WANTS ANY INFORMATION REGARDING THE SENSITIVITY OF THE GAS TANK IN THE 1981 CHEVETTE DURING CRASHES. *TS *NM
TIMING BELT FAILED.
THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFT LEVER MECHANISM IS WORN OUT, CAUSING DIFFICULY SHIFTING INTO PARK/ REVERSE.
DEFECTIVE SEATBELT AND BRAKES, UPON HITTING THE BRICK HOUSE THE PASSENAGER WAS EJECTED INTO THE WINDSHIELD.
SEAT BELT FAILED TO RESTRAIN PASSENGER IN ACCIDENT CAUSED BY BRAKE FAILURE.
Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.