Total Complaints
11 filings
CHEVROLET CORVETTE · model year
1981 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
11 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1981CHEVROLETCORVETTE carries 11 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 CORVETTE is fuel system, gasoline:storage:tank assembly with 4 filings, followed by power train:automatic transmission (3) and engine and engine cooling:exhaust system (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 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.
11
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 | 4 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 3 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM | 1 |
| STEERING | 1 |
| SUSPENSION | 1 |
| WHEELS | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20181218STEERING
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
Mileage: 84,000
20181218SUSPENSION
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
Mileage: 84,000
20181218WHEELS
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
Mileage: 84,000
20011015ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
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
19980226FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
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
19980126FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
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.
19980126POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
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.
19980126FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
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.
19980126POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
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.
19980126FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
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.
19980126POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
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.
Compare 1981CHEVROLETCORVETTE 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 CORVETTE have?▼
The 1981 CHEVROLET CORVETTE has 11 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1981 CHEVROLET CORVETTE?▼
The most-complained component for the 1981 CHEVROLET CORVETTE is FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY with 4 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION and ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM.
Is the 1981 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.