Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1981 Citation.
The 1981 Chevrolet Citation, documented in an overview, shows a concentration of nine owner complaints centered on the engine and cooling systems alongside two recalls. This pattern marks a notable point in the model’s reliability history, indicating early‑year challenges that influenced later engineering approaches. For researchers, the data underscore how a single model year can reveal both the intended scope of the vehicle and the practical reliability outcomes that emerged.
Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.
| Overall length | 176.8 in |
| Overall width | 68.1 in |
| Overall height | 53.5 in |
| Wheelbase | 104.7 in |
| Curb weight | 2482 lb |
0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.
Independent road tests for the Citation 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 | X11 Coupe 2.8L V6 | 9.90 sec | 17.30 sec | 135 hp | FWD |
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 Citation lead in one area — the engine & engine cooling, 2 of 9 reports (22%), well ahead of the next concern. None of this vehicle's 2 recall campaigns target the engine & engine cooling, so those reports read as owner-reported wear-and-tear rather than an acknowledged defect. 0 of the reports describe a crash and 0 a fire — a small share of the total, but worth weighing against the engine & engine cooling 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 9 complaints on record, top 8 components.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.
Showing 2 of 2 campaigns on record for this vehicle.
THE INVOLVED VEHICLES MAY HAVE BEEN ASSEMBLED WITH THE POWER STEERING HOSE INCORRECTLY ROUTED. THE POWER STEERING HOSE MAY THEN CONTACT THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD, RESULTING IN DETERIORATION AND EVENTUAL FAILURE OF THE HOSE… Remedy: THE DEALER WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE HOSES AND INLET PIPE AND ADD A CLIP AT NO CHARGE TO OWNER.
THE ENGINE-TO-BODY GROUND CABLE ON CERTAIN VEHICLES MAY HAVE BEEN DAMAGED DURING MANUFACTURE. THE CABLE COULD EVENTUALLY BREAK DUE TO THE RELATIVE MOTION BETWEEN THE ENGINE AND BODY DURING VEHICLE OPERATION. Remedy: A NEW GROUND CABLE WILL BE INSTALLED FREE OF 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 2 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.