Total Complaints
1 filings
CHEVROLET SUBURBAN · model year
1981 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN
1 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1981CHEVROLETSUBURBAN carries 1 consumer safety complaint 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 SUBURBAN is tires with 1 filings. 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 SUBURBAN, 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.
1
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 |
|---|---|
| TIRES | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20040617TIRES
WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH CONSUMER FELT THE VEHICLE SHAKING SEVERELY. CONSUMER PULLED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND INSPECTED IT. AFTER DRIVING SEVERAL MORE MILES DOWN THE ROAD THE SHAKING BEGAN AGAIN. AFTER ANOTHER INSPECTION CONSUMER FOUND THAT THE LEFT REAR TIRE WAS OUT OF ROUND. *AK THE CONSUMER CONTINUED TO DRIVE UNTIL THE TIRE EXPLODED. THE CONSUMER CHANGED THE TIRE AND PUT ON THE SPARE. *NM
Compare 1981CHEVROLETSUBURBAN 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 SUBURBAN have?▼
The 1981 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN has 1 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1981 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN?▼
The most-complained component for the 1981 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN is TIRES with 1 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include various components.
Is the 1981 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 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.