Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1981 K10 Suburban.
The 1981 Chevrolet K10 Suburban represents a classic iteration of Chevrolet's full-size, truck-based utility platform, engineered for rugged capability and expansive passenger hauling. For researchers assessing its mechanical pedigree, the model year exhibits an exceptionally clean track record, defined by a single owner complaint focused on the gasoline fuel system and zero recorded recalls. This minimal defect rate positions the 1981 K10 Suburban as a notably stable entry within the model's broader reliability history, indicating that its foundational engineering largely sidestepped the systemic faults that frequently plague vehicles of this era.
Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.
| Overall length | 185.4 in |
| Overall width | 79.5 in |
| Overall height | 73.6 in |
| Wheelbase | 106.7 in |
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 K10 Suburban dominate in one area — the fuel system, gasoline, 1 of 1 reports (100%), well ahead of the next concern. NHTSA has issued no recalls for this vehicle, so these are owner-reported concerns only. 0 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 1 complaints on record, top 1 components.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.
No recall campaigns on record with NHTSA for this vehicle as of the last data refresh.
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 0 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.