Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1981 C30.
The 1981 Chevrolet C30 carries a single recorded owner complaint categorized under "Unknown Or Other" and was subject to one recall, marking a notably quiet entry in the model's documented history. Broader complaint tracking for the C/K series spanning 1990 through 1998 shows a peak of nine complaints in 1995 and a low of just one in 1991, framing the 1981 model's solitary complaint as consistent with the lower end of the range's long-term reliability profile. This sparse complaint record suggests the 1981 C30 occupies a comparatively trouble-free position within the truck's generational arc, though the limited data pool warrants measured interpretation.
Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.
| Overall width | 79.5 in |
| Wheelbase | 131.5 in |
Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.
The 1981 Chevrolet C30 shows minimal federal activity, with only one complaint listed under "Unknown Or Other" and zero reported crash or fire complaints. In contrast, the provided record for the 1990-1998 period reveals a trend of increasing issues that peaked between 1994 and 1995, where complaints reached 9 and recalls hit 9. The 1981 model falls well outside this later era of volatility, maintaining a significantly lower volume of complaints than any year listed in the 1990s data. The provided data does not specify the root cause of the single complaint for the 1981 model year. Given the negligible number of reported issues compared to the subsequent generation's trend, this is a good year to buy.
All 1 complaints on record, top 1 components.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.
Showing 1 of 1 campaigns on record for this vehicle.
CERTAIN HONEYWELL FRAM RACING BRAND HP4 AND HP8 OIL FILTERS THAT WERE MANUFACTURED FROM MAY 25, 2006, THROUGH SEPTEMBER 14, 2007, AND SOLD FOR USE AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR VEHICLES LIST ABOVE. THE AFFECTED FILTERS… Remedy: HONEYWELL WILL REPLACE THE AFFECTED OIL FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN DURING NOVEMBER 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT FRAM CUSTOMER SERVICE TOLL-FREE AT 1-800-890-2075.
The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.
Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.
Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.