Total Complaints
3 filings
CHEVROLET CORVETTE · model year
1980 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
3 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1980CHEVROLETCORVETTE carries 3 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 1980 CORVETTE is structure:frame and members with 2 filings, followed by tires (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 1980 CORVETTE, 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.
3
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 |
|---|---|
| STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS | 2 |
| TIRES | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20100607TIRES
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1980 CHEVROLET CORVETTE EQUIPPED WITH FIRESTONE FIREHAWK P255/60/R15 TIRES. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE FRONT PASSENGER TIRE EXPLODED. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND INSTALLED THE SPARE TIRE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 96,000.
Mileage: 96,000
19981124STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
CRACKED FRONT CROSSMEMBER AND FRAME SIDE RAILS, OTHER CORVETTE OWNERS STATED THIS IS NORMAL, BUT THE 2-PIECE CROSSMEMBER WAS PULLED APART AND CAUSED THE FRONT FRAME RAILS TO COME IN TOWARDS THE ENGINE, THIS IN TURNED CAUSED THE POWER STEERING PUMP PULLEY TO COME IN CONTACT WITH THE FRAME. ALSO THERE WERE CRACKS WHERE THE RUBBER STOPS ON THE UPPER A-ARMS COME IN CONTACT WITH THE FRAME RAILS.
19970724STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
LEFT SIDE FRAME IS RUSTED FROM TRANSMISSION TO DIFFERENTIAL CROSS MEMBERS, PREVENTING LEFT REAR WHEEL FROM BEING ALIGNED.
Compare 1980CHEVROLETCORVETTE 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 1980 CHEVROLET CORVETTE have?▼
The 1980 CHEVROLET CORVETTE has 3 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1980 CHEVROLET CORVETTE?▼
The most-complained component for the 1980 CHEVROLET CORVETTE is STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS with 2 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include TIRES.
Is the 1980 CHEVROLET CORVETTE 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.