RoadVitals

1981 Chevrolet Chevette Recalls

Safety recall campaigns filed with NHTSA that cover this model year

Data refreshed

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.gov
Recall campaignsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
3
Newest Mar 4, 1983
Carrying an NHTSA advisoryCampaigns where NHTSA told owners not to drive the vehicle, or to park it outside, until the repair is done.
0
Open investigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
7 investigations on file

Recall campaigns

3 campaigns cover this model year — what the defect is, what it could cause, and what the remedy is

83V027000

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:CARBURETOR SYSTEM

Mar 4, 1983
491,736 units potentially affected
The defect: THE CARBURETOR FUEL PLUG MAY COME OUT AND FUEL COULD LEAK FROM THE CARBURETOR.
The remedy: THE DEALER WILL INSTALL A RETAINING CLIP ON THE CARBURETOR INLET PLUG TO PREVENT IT FROM DISLODGING, AT NO CHARGE TO OWNER.
GENERAL MOTORS CORP.View on NHTSA.gov
82V106000

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:CARBURETOR SYSTEM

Nov 1, 1982
106,651 units potentially affected
The defect: THE CARBURETOR FUEL INLET HOUSING PLUG IN THE SIDE OF THE CARBURETOR MAY COME OUT.
The remedy: THE DEALER WILL INSTALL A RETAINING CLIP ON THE CARBURETOR INLET PLUG TO PREVENT FUEL LEAKAGE, WITHOUT CHARGE.
GENERAL MOTORS CORP.View on NHTSA.gov
81V060000

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR

May 19, 1981
55,238 units potentially affected
The defect: 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, "OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION".
The remedy: ALL OWNERS WILL BE SENT A PRE-PAID POSTAGE CARD THAT IS TO BE FILLED OUT AND SENT BACK. THE CARD WILL INDICATE WHETHER THE SEAT BELTS ARE FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. IF DEALER INSPECTS SEAT BELTS, THE SEAT BELT RETRACTORS WILL BE REPLACED, IF NECESSARY, WITHOUT CHARGE.
GENERAL MOTORS CORP.View on NHTSA.gov

What a recall is

Safety recall
A safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
Safety investigation
NHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
Manufacturer communication
Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Safety investigations

NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect, and it is not a recall.

PE88023ClosedPreliminary Evaluation

SHIFTER FAILURE

Opened Feb 5, 1988
Closed Apr 8, 1988

===

POWER TRAINLed to recall 88V050000
DP87009ClosedDefect Petition

SAFETY BELTS

Opened Dec 30, 1986
Closed Feb 10, 1987

SAFETY BELTS

SEAT BELTS
EA86033ClosedEngineering Analysis

BRAKE FAILURE

Opened Sep 30, 1986
Closed Aug 25, 1987

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===

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
PE86057ClosedPreliminary Evaluation

BRAKE FAILURE/FIREWALL

Opened May 23, 1986
Closed Sep 26, 1986

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.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
EA85018ClosedEngineering Analysis

CRANKSHAFT PULLEY BOLT

Opened Mar 13, 1985
Closed Sep 4, 1987

SUMMARY: GM ADMITS THERE HAS BEEN A PROBLEM AND HAS DESIGNED A MODIFICATIONKIT INTENDED TO PREVENT PULLEY BOLT FAILURES BY KEEPING THE PULLEY INPROPER ALIGNMENT WITH THE CRANKSHAFT AND THEREBY REDUCING THE BENDINGSTRESS ON THE BOLT. GM DOES NOT BELIEVE THE PROBLEM IS SAFETY RELATEDAND WILL CONDUCT A SERVICE CAMPAIGN.ANALYSIS:THE HIGHEST FAILURE RATES HAVE OCCURRED ON VEHICLES EQUIPPEDWITH AC AND PS WHICH USE A TRIPLE SHEAVE PULLEY. THE MODIFICATION KITSHOULD REDUCE THE FAILURE RATE ON THESE VEHICLES.STATUS: GM LAUNCHED A SERVICE CAMPAIGN IN FEBRUARY 1987 APPLICABLE TO185,000 T BODY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH TRIPLE PULLEYS. (PRODUCT CAMPAIGN84C27)EA CLOSED 9/4/87===

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
DP85002ClosedDefect Petition

CRANKSHAFT PULLEY BOLT BREAKS

Opened Oct 10, 1984
Closed Mar 26, 1985

CRANKSHAFT PULLEY BOLT BREAKS

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

Showing 6 of 7 inquiries on file for this model year, open ones first. Every one of them is listed on NHTSA.gov.

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .