Total Complaints
6 filings
CHEVROLET MALIBU · model year
1980 CHEVROLET MALIBU
6 NHTSA complaints. A VIN lookup is required to determine whether a specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1980CHEVROLETMALIBU carries 6 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 1 fire, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
The most frequently selected component label in reports for the 1980 MALIBU is fuel system, gasoline:storage:tank assembly with 2 filings, followed by electrical system:wiring:front underhood (1) and tires:sidewall (1). Complaint categories reflect owner reports and intake categorization; they do not establish a defect pattern or cause.
NHTSA currently has 57 investigation files overlapping the 1980 MALIBU, and 2 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should read the complaint-by-year trend as report volume, not a causal diagnosis. Use the related-complaint feed and the official recall lookup when researching a specific vehicle.
6
Complaints
0
Crashes
1
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 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD | 1 |
| TIRES:SIDEWALL | 1 |
| TIRES:TEMPORARY/EMERGENCY SPARE TIRE | 1 |
| VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER | 1 |
Recent Complaints
19990720FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
GAS TANK IS 10 INCHES FROM REAR BUMPER.CONTACTED MANUFACTURER. *AK
19981005TIRES:SIDEWALL
U.S. ROYAL, STEEL BELTED RADIAL 195R75-14 TIRE SIDEWALL FAILED CAUSING BLOW OUT.
19981005TIRES:TEMPORARY/EMERGENCY SPARE TIRE
SPARE TIRE ON VEHICLE CAUSED POOR CONTROL RESULTING IN VEHICLE COLLISION.
19981005FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
FUEL PROPANE TANK HAD HOLE.
19981005VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER
DESIGN MATERIAL OF THE WINDSHIELD WIPER ASSEMBLY FAILED (APOXY BONDING).
19970606FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IT CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDER THE HOOD. OWNER HAD DRIVEN VEHCLE FOR ABOUT (20) MINUTES BEFORE FIRE HAPPENED. FIRE DEPARTMENT BELIEVED FIRE WAS ELECTRICAL OR CAUSED BY OVERHEATING. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TOTALLED. *AK
Compare 1980CHEVROLETMALIBU 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 MALIBU have?▼
The 1980 CHEVROLET MALIBU has 6 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 1 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1980 CHEVROLET MALIBU?▼
The most-complained component for the 1980 CHEVROLET MALIBU is FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY with 2 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD and TIRES:SIDEWALL.
Is the 1980 CHEVROLET MALIBU 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 vintage: August 2026. 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.
Every figure on PlainCars is rendered directly from NHTSA complaint and safety data, no number is typed in by an editor. This year-specific record is rendered from NHTSA ODI, recall, and NCAP rows for the 1980 CHEVROLET MALIBU; no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of August 2026.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.