RoadVitals

1980 Chevrolet Citation

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
1
Latest Aug 24, 1999
Safety recallsA 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.
9
Latest Feb 24, 1983
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.
7
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
0

Overview

Our database contains 1 NHTSA owner-reported complaint for the 1980 Chevrolet Citation, most frequently naming the brakes, engine and steering categories. 9 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.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Brakes120.0%
  • Engine120.0%
  • Steering120.0%
  • Transmission120.0%
  • Visibility120.0%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

9 campaigns cover this model year

View all 9

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
83V018000

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS

Feb 24, 1983
239,799 units potentially affected
The defect: UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, VEHICLES MAY EXPERIENCE PREMATURE REAR WHEEL SKID DURING BRAKING. REAR WHEEL SKIDDING IS MOST LIKELY TO OCCUR ON A WET OR SLICK SURFACE.
The remedy: DEPENDING ON THE TRANSMISSION TYPE AND THE BRAKE COMPONENTS THAT HAVE BEEN INSTALLED, DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE OR REPAIR, AS NECESSARY, CERTAIN FRONT BRAKE COMPONENTS, AND THE PARKING BRAKE CABLES. THE REAR BRAKE SHOES AND LININGS WILL BE REPLACED WITH PARTS THAT USE A MATERIAL WHICH GREATLY REDUCES THE LIKELIHOOD OF REAR WHEEL SKID. ACTIONS TAKEN TO THE FRONT BRAKES ARE TO ENSURE UNIFORMITY OF THE ENTIRE BRAKE SYSTEM. ACTIONS TAKEN TO THE PARKING BRAKE COMPONENTS WILL ENSURE THAT THE PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS, FOR KEEPING THE VEHICLE STATIONARY WHILE MANUAL TRANSMISSION EQUIPPED UNITS ARE IN NEUTRAL AND AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION EQUIPPED UNITS ARE IN PARK, ARE MET.
GENERAL MOTORS CORP.View on NHTSA.gov
81V095000

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DIFFERENTIAL PROPORTIONAL VALVE

Aug 10, 1981
47,371 units potentially affected
The defect: UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, THE REAR BRAKES COULD LOCK UP WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING DURING HIGH DECELERATION BRAKING. THE PROBLEM MAY BE CAUSED BY DEFECTIVE PROPORTIONER VALVES IN THE BRAKING SYSTEM.
The remedy: THE DEALER WILL INSPECT THE BRAKE SYSTEM PROPORTIONER VALVES AND IF NECESSARY INSTALL NEW VALVES.
GENERAL MOTORS CORP.View on NHTSA.gov
79V221000

STEERING:RACK AND PINION

Oct 17, 1979
161,225 units potentially affected
The defect: THE STEERING GEAR MOUNTING PLATE ON THE INVOLVED VEHICLES MAY DEVELOP FATIGUE CRACKS AT HIGH MILEAGE WHICH WOULD ALLOW THE STEERING GEAR ATTACHMENT TO BECOME LOOSE. IF THIS CONDITION EXISTS, THE DRIVER MAY NOTICE CONSIDERABLE "FREE PLAY" IN THE STEERING WHEEL.
The remedy: THE DEALER WILL INSTALL AN IMPROVED TYPE OF STEERING GEAR MOUNTING BRACKET WITHOUT CHARGE TO OWNER.
GENERAL MOTORS CORP.View on NHTSA.gov

Safety investigations

NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.

EA87006ClosedEngineering Analysis

POWER ST. ASSIST

Opened Dec 16, 1986
Closed Sep 19, 1988

SUMMARY OF INFORMATION FROM THE MANUFACTURER:GM HAS DEVELOPED A SPLITRING FIELD REPAIR KIT AND IS EXTENDING THE WARRANRY ON ALL 1982-84 A,J, AND X, BODY CARS AND 1985 C,BODY CARS.THE WARRANTY APPLIES TO CARSTHAT ARE FOR 50,000 MILES OR 5 YRS.IT INCLUDES REIMBURSEMENT FOR PREVIOUSREPAIRS.ANALYSIS:WEARING OF THE RACK AND PINION HOUSING AND LOW AMBIENT TEMPCAN CAUSE TEMPORARY LOSS OF POWER ASSIST.TEFLON O RINGS FAIL TO SEALOFF INTERNAL PRESSURE.STATUS:EVALUATING THE EXTENDED WARRANTY OFFER BY GM.======

STEERING
DP86020ClosedDefect Petition

EXPEDITE DETERMINATN OF DEFECT IN C84-01

Opened Sep 18, 1986
Closed Oct 6, 1986

EXPEDITE DETERMINATN OF DEFECT IN C84-01 POWER BRAKE ASSIST

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
DP83017ClosedDefect Petition

REAR WHEEL LOCKUP INVOLVING AFTERMARKET

Opened Sep 1, 1983
Closed Sep 22, 1983

REAR WHEEL LOCKUP INVOLVING AFTERMARKET REAR BRAKE LININGS

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
DP83010ClosedDefect Petition

LOSS OF POWER BRAKE ASSIST (E80-100)

Opened Mar 29, 1983
Closed Jul 29, 1983

LOSS OF POWER BRAKE ASSIST (E80-100)

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

BrakesEngineSteering+2 more
Filed Aug 24, 1999

BRAKES GRAB WHEN PAVEMENT IS DAMP CAUSING VEHICLE TO SWING INTO OTHER LANES OF TRAFFIC. MJS

NHTSA ID
548131

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Chevrolet Citation by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
1988100—
1985011—
1984722—
1983012—
1982031—
1981324—
1980Viewing197—
1979001—

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.