Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1981 Camaro.
The 1981 Chevrolet Camaro recorded only a single owner complaint—focused on tires—and two recalls, making it a notably low-complaint model year in the Camaro's history, which from 1990 to 2023 saw a peak of 295 complaints for the 2010 model year. This minimal complaint count places the 1981 model as a particularly trouble-free entry, indicating a strong reliability standing for its era.
Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.
| Overall length | 197.6 in |
| Overall width | 74.4 in |
| Overall height | 50 in |
| Wheelbase | 107.9 in |
| Curb weight | 3501 lb |
0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.
Independent road tests for the Camaro 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | Z28 Coupe 5.0L V8 | 8.60 sec | 16.40 sec | 145 hp | RWD |
| 1982 | Z28 Coupe 5.0L V8 | 9.70 sec | 17.50 sec | 145 hp | RWD |
| 1983 | Z28 Coupe 5.0L V8 | 6.70 sec | 15.00 sec | 190 hp | RWD |
| 1983 | Z28 Coupe 5.0L V8 | 7.41 sec | 15.55 sec | 190 hp | RWD |
| 1983 | Coupe 5.0L V8 | 9.50 sec | 17.50 sec | 165 hp | RWD |
| 1978 | Z28 Coupe 5.7L V8 | 7.30 sec | 16.00 sec | 185 hp | RWD |
| 1984 | Berlinetta Coupe 5.0L V8 | 9.30 sec | 17.00 sec | 150 hp | RWD |
| 1977 | Z28 Coupe 5.7L V8 | 8.60 sec | 16.30 sec | 185 hp | RWD |
Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.
The provided federal record contains no year-by-year entry for the 1981 Chevrolet Camaro, nor for any adjacent model years; the dataset begins in 1990, making direct before-and-after comparison impossible. Consequently, the complaint, recall, investigation, and TSB trends shown across the 1990-through-2023 span represent a later period and offer no arc in which to place the 1981 model year. For the target year itself, the data show only a single tire-related complaint alongside zero crash and zero fire complaints, though no root cause is specified. Because 1981 falls entirely outside the supplied timeline, the record implies nothing about whether this model year sits at a high, low, or midpoint of defect frequency. Given the near-total absence of documented complaints but also the complete lack of comparative context, the data alone do not establish 1981 as a demonstrably good year to buy, so any purchase decision must rest on a thorough physical inspection.
All 1 complaints on record, top 1 components.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.
Showing 2 of 2 campaigns on record for this vehicle.
CERTAIN HONEYWELL FRAM RACING BRAND HP4 AND HP8 OIL FILTERS THAT WERE MANUFACTURED FROM MAY 25, 2006, THROUGH SEPTEMBER 14, 2007, AND SOLD FOR USE AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR VEHICLES LIST ABOVE. THE AFFECTED FILTERS… Remedy: HONEYWELL WILL REPLACE THE AFFECTED OIL FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN DURING NOVEMBER 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT FRAM CUSTOMER SERVICE TOLL-FREE AT 1-800-890-2075.
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 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 2 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.