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FaultScore report

1981 Chevrolet Citation problems

Owners have filed 10 complaints about the 1981 Chevrolet Citation with NHTSA between 1996 and 2000. The largest single group is the engine & cooling.

Read the complaints What breaks Worst years for the Chevrolet Citation
—

Not graded

Too few complaints, or too short a model run, to compare fairly.

How this is worked out

The numbers

10

Complaints

0

Crashes reported

0

Fires reported

0

Injuries reported

How 1981 compares with every other Chevrolet Citation

Click any bar to open that year's report.

Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade: A B C D F ungraded

What breaks on a 1981 Chevrolet Citation

Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.

Engine & Cooling 3 30.0%
Steering 2 20.0%
Tires 1 10.0%
Windows, Mirrors & Wipers 1 10.0%
Suspension 1 10.0%
Electrical System 1 10.0%
Transmission & Drivetrain 1 10.0%

NHTSA investigations into the 1981 Chevrolet Citation

An investigation is the step before a recall: the agency has seen enough complaints to look into a pattern itself. An open one means it thinks something may be wrong and nothing has been fixed yet.

EA87006 Opened 16 Dec 1986 Closed 19 Sep 1988 STEERING

POWER ST. ASSIST

SUMMARY OF INFORMATION FROM THE MANUFACTURER:GM HAS DEVELOPED A SPLITRING FIELD REPAIR KIT AND IS EXTENDING THE WARRANRY ON ALL 1982-84 A,J, AND X, BODY CARS AND 1985 C,BODY CARS.THE WARRANTY APPLIES TO CARSTHAT ARE FOR 50,000 MILES OR 5 YRS.IT INCLUDES REIMBURSEMENT FOR PREVIOUSREPAIRS.ANALYSIS:WEARING OF THE RACK AND PINION HOUSING AND LOW AMBIENT TEMPCAN CAUSE TEMPORARY LOSS OF POWER ASSIST.TEFLON O RINGS FAIL TO SEALOFF INTERNAL PRESSURE.STATUS:EVALUATING THE EXTENDED WARRANTY OFFER BY GM.======

DP85026 Opened 16 Jul 1985 Closed 13 Aug 1985 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE

ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE

DP83008 Opened 23 Mar 1983 Closed 20 Jul 1983 UNKNOWN OR OTHER

LOCKED POWER STEERING SYSTEM

LOCKED POWER STEERING SYSTEM

DP82010 Opened 20 May 1982 Closed 18 Oct 1982 POWER TRAIN

TRANS. LOCKUPS AND TRANS. HARD SHIFTING

TRANS. LOCKUPS AND TRANS. HARD SHIFTING

Recalls on the 1981 Chevrolet Citation

A complaint is one owner's allegation. A recall is the point at which the manufacturer or a regulator agreed the defect is real and dangerous enough to fix for free — however old the car is.

Canada — Transport Canada

Canada runs its own recall programme, and its campaigns do not always mirror the American ones.

Recall 1981089 16,635 units in Canada

VEHICLES WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS. A LOW SPRING LOAD ON THE PAWL TO ENGAGE QUADRANT TEETH OF THE SELF ADJUSTING CLUTCH MECHANISM WILL RESULT IN SLIPPAGE AND PREVENT CLUTCH RELEASE WHEN THE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED TO THE FLOOR.

Recall 1981037 5,900 units in Canada

THE TERMINAL THAT ATTACHES THE ENGINE TO BODY GROUND CABLE TO THE FRONT LOWER TIE BAR MAY FRACTURE RESULTING IN REDUCED VOLTAGE TO BODY GROUNDED ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS AND CAUSE ERRATIC OPERATION OF THE COMPONENTS.

Recall 1980132 3,495 units in Canada

VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH V6 ENGINES AND POWER STEERING MAY HAVE THE POWER STEERING HOSES INCORRECTLY ROUTED. THIS CONDITION MAY ALLOW THE HOSES TO CONTACT THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD POSSIBLY RESULTING IN HOSE FAILURE. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT POWER STEERING FLUID COULD LEAK ONTO THE MANIFOLD RESULTING IN SMOKE AND UNDER HOOD FIRE. SUCH A FIRE COULD SPREAD TO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT.

Recalls cover specific build ranges, so check your own vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or, in Canada, Transport Canada.

The most recent complaints

In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.

Seattle, WA

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR

WINDSHIELD WIPER SWITCH ONLY WORKS WHEN TURNED BY USING WASHER DIRECTION INSTEAD OF TURNING ON VIEW ON SWITCH.

NHTSA complaint #725497 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Sunnyville, CA

STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM

WHEN WARMING UP THE VEHICLE AND PULLING OFF THERE IS NO POWER STEERING . THE VEHICLE LOSES ALL POWER STEERING WHEN MAKING A LEFT TURN. ALSO, THERE IS A LEAK COMING FROM UNDER THE ENGINE. COMSUMER STATES THAT SHE HAS TO DRIVE VERY SLOW WHEN MAKING A LEFT TURN, AND TURNING TO THE RIGHT THERE IS NO POWER STEERING. CONTACTED DEALER, AND THERE IS NOTHING THAT THEY COULD DO.

NHTSA complaint #828856 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Sunnyville, CA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

WHEN WARMING UP THE VEHICLE AND PULLING OFF THERE IS NO POWER STEERING . THE VEHICLE LOSES ALL POWER STEERING WHEN MAKING A LEFT TURN. ALSO, THERE IS A LEAK COMING FROM UNDER THE ENGINE. COMSUMER STATES THAT SHE HAS TO DRIVE VERY SLOW WHEN MAKING A LEFT TURN, AND TURNING TO THE RIGHT THERE IS NO POWER STEERING. CONTACTED DEALER, AND THERE IS NOTHING THAT THEY COULD DO.

NHTSA complaint #828856 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Jeannette, PA

SUSPENSION:FRONT

FRONT STRUT PLATE FAILED.

NHTSA complaint #511368 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Jeannette, PA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

FLYWHEEL FAILED.

NHTSA complaint #511368 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Jeannette, PA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

MOTOR MOUNTS REPLACED.

NHTSA complaint #511368 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Jeannette, PA

TIRES

FRONT TIRES REPLACED.

NHTSA complaint #511368 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Jeannette, PA

STEERING:LINKAGES

STEERING LINE FAILED.

NHTSA complaint #511368 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Jeannette, PA

POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY

CLUTCH FAILED.

NHTSA complaint #511368 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Jeannette, PA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR

ALTERNATOR BELT REPLACED.

NHTSA complaint #511368 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.