Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1981 Chevette.
The 1981 Chevrolet Chevette is the subject of this reference page, which draws on owner complaints and recall data to frame how the model year has held up. Across the year, just five owner complaints are on record, with the fuel system — specifically gasoline-related components — standing out as the top complaint area. Three recalls were issued for the 1981 run, providing a useful counterweight to that low overall complaint count when assessing where this year sits in the model's reliability history. Taken together, the figures suggest a model year that generated limited owner dissatisfaction, even while recall activity flagged discrete issues that a researcher should not overlook.
Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.
| Overall length | 161.8 in |
| Overall width | 61.8 in |
| Overall height | 52.8 in |
| Wheelbase | 94.1 in |
| Curb weight | 2121 lb |
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 1981 Chevrolet Chevette lead in one area — the fuel system, gasoline, 1 of 5 reports (20%), well ahead of the next concern. That matters, because the fuel system, gasoline are also the target of recall 82V-106 on this vehicle — so the single most useful check before buying or servicing one is confirming it was actually performed. 2 of the reports describe a crash and 0 a fire — a small share of the total, but worth weighing against the fuel system, gasoline 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 5 complaints on record, top 5 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.