Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1980 Chevette.
The 1980 Chevrolet Chevette enters the reference record with a notably quiet owner-feedback profile, registering just a single total complaint across its model year documentation. Engine and engine cooling surfaces as the lone complaint category, indicating that where owners did report issues, powertrain-related concerns were the only area to draw attention. Set against three issued recalls, this model year stands as a comparatively restrained chapter in the Chevette's reliability history, giving researchers a low-noise data point when tracing patterns across the nameplate's run.
Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.
| Overall length | 162.2 in |
| Overall width | 61.8 in |
| Overall height | 52.4 in |
| Wheelbase | 94.1 in |
0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.
Independent road tests for the Chevette of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.
| Year | Trim / engine | 0–60 | ¼ mile | HP | Drivetrain |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | Diesel 5-door Hatchback 1.8L Diesel I-4 | 21.13 sec | 21.48 sec | 51 hp | RWD |
| 1977 | 3-door Hatchback 1.6L I-4 | 15.00 sec | 19.80 sec | 52 hp | RWD |
Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.
Owner complaints about the 1980 Chevrolet Chevette dominate in one area — the engine & engine cooling, 1 of 1 reports (100%), well ahead of the next concern. None of this vehicle's 3 recall campaigns target the engine & engine cooling, so those reports read as owner-reported wear-and-tear rather than an acknowledged defect. 0 of the reports describe a crash and 0 a fire — a small share of the total, but worth weighing against the engine & engine cooling pattern above. These are tallies of what owners actually reported to the federal government, not an editorial score — and higher-selling models naturally rack up more reports.
All 1 complaints on record, top 1 components.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.
Showing 2 of 3 campaigns on record for this vehicle.
ON CERTAIN VEHICLES, THE SEAT BELT RETRACTORS IN THE REAR SEATING POSITIONS CONTAIN FIRST LOCK POSITIONS WHICH WILL NOT LOCK WHEN USED BY SMALLER PASSENGERS. THIS FAILS TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR… Remedy: ALL OWNERS WILL BE SENT A PRE-PAID POSTAGE CARD THAT IS TO BE FILLED OUT AND SENT BACK. THE CARD WILL INDICATE WHETHER THE SEAT BELTS ARE FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. IF DEALER INSPECTS…
THE CARBURETOR FUEL INLET HOUSING PLUG IN THE SIDE OF THE CARBURETOR MAY COME OUT. Remedy: THE DEALER WILL INSTALL A RETAINING CLIP ON THE CARBURETOR INLET PLUG TO PREVENT FUEL LEAKAGE, WITHOUT CHARGE.
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 3 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.