Total Complaints
5 filings
CHEVROLET C10 · model year
1981 CHEVROLET C10
5 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1981CHEVROLETC10 carries 5 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1981 C10 is fuel system, gasoline:storage:tank assembly with 2 filings, followed by visibility:windshield wiper/washer:motor (1) and engine and engine cooling (1). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.
NHTSA currently has 57 investigation files overlapping the 1981 C10, and 2 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
5
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
0 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY | 2 |
| VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20080319SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
1981 CHEVY C-10, FRONT BRAKE HOSES RETAINER BRACKET, CRIMPED TOO TIGHTLY ON HOSE, CAUSING HOSE TO PLUG, UNEVEN BRAKE PRESSURE, VEHICLE PULLS TO RIGHT OR LEFT. *TR
Mileage: 150,000
20050526VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR
DT: SPENT THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TRYING TO REPAIR PROBLEM. ON 03/05 FIRST NOTICED THE PROBLEM WHEN THE EXHAUST WAS SENDING FUMES INTO THE VEHICLE, AND WAS CAUSING HEADACHES/BLURRED VISION, AND SO ON. THE DEALERSHIP INSTALLED AN EXHAUST SYSTEM FROM ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS STILL RELEASING FUMES INTO CAB. *AK EXHAUST GASES WERE PASSING THROUGH RUBBER HOSES IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE VEHICLE'S EXHAUST MANIFOLD WITH A "CAPRICE" MANIFOLD. THE ENGINE WOULD HESITATE BETWEEN THE 2ND-3RD GEARS AND IDLED ROUGHLY. THE WIPERS HAD BECOME INOPERATIVE, THE OIL PRESSURE GAUGE WAS READING TOO LOW. THERE WAS AN EXHAUST LEAK COMING FROM THE LEFT OF THE MANIFOLD. THE VEHICLE WOULD ALSO SPUTTER WHEN BEING DRIVEN ON HILLS. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED TO BE CHARGED BACK 3K DOLLARS TO HIS CREDIT CARD. *SC *NM
Mileage: 714
20050526ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
DT: SPENT THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TRYING TO REPAIR PROBLEM. ON 03/05 FIRST NOTICED THE PROBLEM WHEN THE EXHAUST WAS SENDING FUMES INTO THE VEHICLE, AND WAS CAUSING HEADACHES/BLURRED VISION, AND SO ON. THE DEALERSHIP INSTALLED AN EXHAUST SYSTEM FROM ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS STILL RELEASING FUMES INTO CAB. *AK EXHAUST GASES WERE PASSING THROUGH RUBBER HOSES IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE VEHICLE'S EXHAUST MANIFOLD WITH A "CAPRICE" MANIFOLD. THE ENGINE WOULD HESITATE BETWEEN THE 2ND-3RD GEARS AND IDLED ROUGHLY. THE WIPERS HAD BECOME INOPERATIVE, THE OIL PRESSURE GAUGE WAS READING TOO LOW. THERE WAS AN EXHAUST LEAK COMING FROM THE LEFT OF THE MANIFOLD. THE VEHICLE WOULD ALSO SPUTTER WHEN BEING DRIVEN ON HILLS. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED TO BE CHARGED BACK 3K DOLLARS TO HIS CREDIT CARD. *SC *NM
Mileage: 714
19981020FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
POOR DESIGN OF THE LOCATION OF THE GAS TANK.
19960920FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
PURCHASED TRUCK USED, FUEL TANK DOESN'T HAVE A PLATE , THE DOORS DON'T SHUT RIGHT . *AK *JB
Compare 1981CHEVROLETC10 to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations 2 Open
EA25007Engineering AnalysisOpen
Loss of motive power due to engine failure
PE23022Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Loss of Motive Power due to the Battery Energy Control Module
PE20016Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Electric Vehicle Battery Fires
EA20002Engineering AnalysisClosed
Outboard Front Seat Belt Anchor Cable Failure
PE20011Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Fuel Line Leak
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1981 CHEVROLET C10 have?▼
The 1981 CHEVROLET C10 has 5 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1981 CHEVROLET C10?▼
The most-complained component for the 1981 CHEVROLET C10 is FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY with 2 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR and ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING.
Is the 1981 CHEVROLET C10 safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Vehicle Safety Guides
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.