Recalls (1)
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 1981 Chevrolet C20. Check whether yours was repaired with NHTSA's free VIN lookup ↗
Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. PlainVIN shows every recall campaign listed for a model year, with the official text and how many cars have been fixed so far.
Check on NHTSA ↗BRAKES:FLUID:HYDRAULIC (FLUID CONTAMINATION/WRONG
- Summary
- THE HYDRAULIC BRAKE FLUID USED IN CERTAIN VEHICLES MAY FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE BRAKE FLUID BOILING POINT REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 116, "MOTOR VEHICLE BRAKE FLUIDS". BRAKING EFFICIENCY MAY BE REDUCED AND VEHICLE STOPPING DISTANCE INCREASED, ESPECIALLY WHEN HARD OR FREQUENT BRAKING RAISES BRAKE FLUID TEMPERATURE.
- Remedy
- SUSPECT HYDRAULIC BRAKE FLUID WILL BE BLED FROM THE BRAKE SYSTEM AND REPLACED WITH GM DELCO SUPREME NO. 11 OR AN EQUIVALENT, WITHOUT CHARGE.
PlainVIN shows public government records for education. It isn't a vehicle inspection or legal advice. Check your own VIN with NHTSA or your dealer.
Owner complaints (1)
1 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The tires is mentioned most often.
As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.
Most-reported components
| Component | Complaints | % of 1 |
|---|---|---|
| Tires | 1 | 100% |
How 1981 compares with other C20 years
Best and worst C20 years →| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | 1 | 1 |
| 1982 | 1 | 1 |
| 1983 | 1 | 0 |
| 1984 | 4 | 0 |
| 1985 | 2 | 0 |
| 1987 | 3 | 0 |
| 1988 | 3 | 5 |
| 1989 | 1 | 2 |
| 1990 | 5 | 3 |
| 1991 | 6 | 1 |
Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Owners are still filing reports for recent model years, so these counts will grow. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Looking at a 1981 C20 for sale?
Print a one-page buyer's checklist: each recall campaign with a box to tick when the seller shows proof of repair, the top complaint areas to inspect, crash stars, MPG, and a link back to this page.
Where to next
1981 Chevrolet C20 FAQ
How many recalls does the 1981 Chevrolet C20 have?
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign: 81V148000 (brake). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.
What are the most common 1981 Chevrolet C20 problems?
Owners filed 1 complaints with NHTSA. Tires (1) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.
How does the 1981 C20 compare with other years?
Among the 1981–1991 Chevrolet C20 model years at least five years old, the 1981 drew the fewest complaints (1) and the 1991 the most (6). The 1981 drew 1. Counts are owner reports, not failure rates.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.