RoadVitals

1981 Chevrolet Corvette

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.
6
Latest Dec 18, 2018
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.
2
Latest Oct 24, 2007
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
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 6 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1981 Chevrolet Corvette, most frequently naming the fuel system, transmission and engine categories. 2 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year.

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

  • Fuel system436.4%
  • Transmission327.3%
  • Engine19.1%
  • Other / unspecified19.1%
  • Steering19.1%
  • Suspension19.1%

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

2 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.gov
07E088000

EQUIPMENT

Oct 24, 2007
121,680 units potentially affected
The defect: CERTAIN HONEYWELL FRAM RACING BRAND HP4 AND HP8 OIL FILTERS THAT WERE MANUFACTURED FROM MAY 25, 2006, THROUGH SEPTEMBER 14, 2007, AND SOLD FOR USE AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR VEHICLES LIST ABOVE. THE AFFECTED FILTERS ARE MARKED WITH A DATE CODE A61451 THROUGH A72571 SEQUENTIALLY. THE DATE CODE AND PART NUMBER APPEAR ON THE FILTER HOUSING. FRAM RACING HP4 AND HP8 OIL FILTERS NOT BEARING A DATE CODE IN THIS RANGE ARE NOT AFFECTED BY THIS RECALL. THE GASKET OF THE OIL FILTER BECOMES MORE PLIABLE UNDER HIGH TEMPERATURES AND PRESSURES.
The risk: THIS CONDITION MAY CAUSE INADEQUATE SEALING AND LOSS OF ENGINE OIL, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A FIRE.
The remedy: HONEYWELL WILL REPLACE THE AFFECTED OIL FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN DURING NOVEMBER 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT FRAM CUSTOMER SERVICE TOLL-FREE AT 1-800-890-2075.
HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL, INC.View on NHTSA.gov
03E032000

SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:DISC:CALIPER

May 12, 2003
15,899 units potentially affected
The defect: REMANUFACTURERD REAR BRAKE CALIPERS, PART NOS. 18-7019, 18-7020, 16-7019, AND 16-7020, MANUFACTURED FROM FEBRUARY 1, 2002, TO APRIL, 25, 2003., AND FOR USE ON 1965 THRU 1982 CHEVROLET CORVETTES. THE SUBJECT BRAKE CALIPERS WERE MANUFACTURED USING IMPROPERLY MANUFACTURED PISTON SEALS. THESE SEALS ARE INTENDED TO PREVENT FLUID LEAKAGE BETWEEN THE CALIPER HOUSING AND THE PISTONS. THESE BRAKE CALIPERS ARE FOR USE ONLY ON 1965 THRU 1982 CHEVROLET CORVETTE VEHICLES. THIS RECALL DOES NOT INVOLVE GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION OR ANY OF ITS PRODUCTS.
The risk: UNDER THESE CONDITIONS, THE VEHICLE OPERATOR MAY NOT BE ABLE TO STOP THE CAR, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
The remedy: CARDONE WILL NOTIFY ITS CUSTOMERS AND ALL UNSOLD INVENTORY WILL BE REPURCHASED AND WILL PROVIDE A FULL REFUND TO CUSTOMERS. OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING MAY 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT CARDONE AT 215-912-3000.
CARDONE INDUSTRIES, INC.View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

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

Other / unspecifiedSteeringSuspension
Filed Dec 18, 2018

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. I GAVE IT A NORMAL SMALL CORRECTION AND SHOT HALF WAY ACROSS THE LANE NEXT TO ME THEN BACK ACROSS MY LANE. LET'S JUST SAY I ALMOST LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. SCARED ME! NOW I KNOW WHY THEY CALL THEM CONTROL ARMS! I WAS WONDERING IF THE CONTROL ARM BOLTS COMING LOOSE ARE AN INHERENT PROBLEM WITH THESE VEHICLES, BECAUSE I'VE HAD MY CAR FOR ABOUT 15 YEARS AND IT'S BEEN A REAL PROBLEM WITH MINE. VERY DANGEROUS AND I'VE BEEN VERY LUCKY. A COUPLE OF TIMES I JUST GOT OFF THE FREEWAY A FEW MINUTES BEFORE IT CAME APART. ONCE I WAS COMING TO A STOP AT A STOP SIGN WHEN IT HAPPENED. IT FELT LIKE I GOT A FLAT TILL I LOOKED AT MY WHEEL ALL CROOKED ON MY CAR. ONCE PULLING AWAY FROM A CURB. THE OTHER TIMES I WAS GOING SLOW MAKIN A TURN. VERY LUCKY! I DON'T HAVE RECEIPTS FOR THE REPAIRS OR PICTURES. I'VE BEEN LUCKY IT JUST MADE THE WHEEL TUCK UNDER AND DIDN''T DO DAMAGE TO ANYTHING ELSE. BUT IF I HAD BEEN GOING FAST, WHO KNOWS THE DAMAGE IT COULD HAVE CAUSED? I SEE THIS AS SUPER DANGEROUS! I'VE ASKED A MECHANIC IF THE BOLTS COULD BE DRILLED AND A CASTLE NUT AND PIN BE USED TO PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING AGAIN? I DON'T REMEMBER THE ANSWER. I HAVE A DIFFERENT MECHANIC WHO HELPS ME WITH MY CAR. I NEED TO ASK HIM WHAT HE THINKS THE BEST SOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM IS, BECAUSE I'M BEYOND TIRED OF IT. THANKS!

NHTSA ID
11162151
Incident
Jun 12, 2018
Mileage
84,000 mi
Engine
Filed Oct 11, 2001

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. I WOULD LIKE TO ARRANGE THIS FOR EARLY IN NOVEMBER WHEN I RETURN TO VERMONT AND WILL WORK WITH SHEARER CHEVROLET TO ACHIEVE THE BEST SOLUTION POSSIBLE. NO SAFETY DEFECT MENTIONED. *AK

NHTSA ID
753118
Fuel system
Filed Feb 26, 1998

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. *AK

NHTSA ID
821063
Incident
Dec 15, 1997
Fuel systemTransmission
Filed Jan 26, 1998

FUEL TANK'S PLASTIC LINER CRACKED IN THE FRONT LOWER CORNERS CAUSING THE FUEL TANK'S OUTER STEEL SHELL TO RUST AND CAUSE A LEAK.

NHTSA ID
529786
Fuel systemTransmission
Filed Jan 26, 1998

FUEL TANK'S PLASTIC LINER CRACKED IN THE FRONT LOWER CORNERS CAUSING THE FUEL TANK'S OUTER STEEL SHELL TO RUST AND CAUSE A LEAK.

NHTSA ID
529766
Fuel systemTransmission
Filed Jan 26, 1998

FUEL TANK'S PLASTIC LINER CRACKED IN THE FRONT LOWER CORNERS CAUSING THE FUEL TANK'S OUTER STEEL SHELL TO RUST AND CAUSE A LEAK.

NHTSA ID
529765

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Chevrolet Corvette by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2025103062.5
2024202056.4
2023241052.5
2022201042.0
2021122054.1
2020344053.1
20191471042.7
2018511040.6
20172554051.5
20161032046.4
2015645047.6
2014615159.6
2013820035.8
2012561043.7
2011851041.3
2010840035.0
20091510034.6
20085400037.8
20073402249.4
20063655456.6
20055326456.2
20042174253.7
2003853157.2
20021573148.8
20012033252.6
20002774358.2
19993084558.8
19983994557.3
19971537456.1
1996441251.1
1995321151.1
1994291245.5
1993222155.4
1992722—
1991243157.6
1990344560.3
1989154259.2
1988165351.3
1987213557.7
1986155559.6
1985163453.5
1984146258.6
1982020—
1981Viewing620—
1980320—
1979320—
1978120—
1977130—
1976120—
1975420—
1974030—
1973010—
1972010—
1971010—
1970010—
1969020—
1968020—
1967010—
1966110—
1965010—
1964100—
1960100—

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.