Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1981 Corvette.
The 1981 Chevrolet Corvette is a classic two‑seat sports coupe that sits early in the model’s lineage, carrying the chassis and power‑train fundamentals that defined the generation. Although owners reported only six complaints overall, the most frequent issues involved the fuel system, gasoline delivery, and power‑train components, and the year was subject to two recalls. When viewed against the broader reliability record—from 1990 through 2025—the 1981 model falls well below the peak complaint year of 2008 (588 complaints) and near the low point recorded in 1992 (eight complaints), indicating a comparatively modest reliability footprint for its era.
Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.
| Overall length | 185.4 in |
| Overall width | 68.9 in |
| Overall height | 48 in |
| Wheelbase | 98 in |
| Curb weight | 3309 lb |
0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.
Independent road tests for the Corvette 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | Coupe 5.7L V8 | 7.20 sec | 15.40 sec | 190 hp | RWD |
| 1980 | Targa Coupe 5.7L V8 | 7.60 sec | 15.90 sec | 190 hp | RWD |
| 1982 | Coupe 5.7L V8 | 8.10 sec | 15.90 sec | 200 hp | RWD |
| 1982 | Coupe 5.7L V8 | 8.25 sec | 16.52 sec | 200 hp | RWD |
| 1979 | L82 Coupe 5.7L V8 | 6.60 sec | 15.30 sec | 225 hp | RWD |
| 1978 | Targa Coupe 5.7L V8 | 7.80 sec | 16.10 sec | 220 hp | RWD |
| 1977 | L82 Coupe 5.7L V8 | 6.80 sec | 15.50 sec | 210 hp | RWD |
| 1976 | Stingray L82 Coupe 5.7L V8 | 7.10 sec | 15.30 sec | 210 hp | RWD |
Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.
The 1981 Corvette's federal record reveals a clear escalation of issues as the model aged: complaints were relatively low in the early 1990s (39 in 1990, 24 in 1991) but surged dramatically in the late 1990s, peaking at 407 in 1998, and remained elevated through the 2000s, with a second peak of 588 in 2008. Recalls were sporadic, with a notable cluster of 6 in 2005 and 5 each in 2014 and 2015, while TSBs grew steadily from 4 in 1990 to a high of 1985 in 2014, indicating ongoing manufacturer guidance. The top complaint areas for this model year are fuel system and powertrain (3 complaints), along with steering/suspension/wheels and engine cooling (1 each), though the data does not specify root causes. With zero crash or fire complaints, the 1981 Corvette's long-term pattern of rising complaints and multiple recalls decades into its life suggests latent durability concerns. For a buyer today, this model year demands a rigorous pre-purchase inspection focused on the fuel and powertrain systems to mitigate potential age-related failures.
All 6 complaints on record, top 4 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.
REMANUFACTURERD REAR BRAKE CALIPERS, PART NOS. 18-7019, 18-7020, 16-7019, AND 16-7020, MANUFACTURED FROM FEBRUARY 1, 2002, TO APRIL, 25, 2003., AND FOR USE ON 1965 THRU 1982 CHEVROLET CORVETTES. THE SUBJECT BRAKE… Remedy: CARDONE WILL NOTIFY ITS CUSTOMERS AND ALL UNSOLD INVENTORY WILL BE REPURCHASED AND WILL PROVIDE A FULL REFUND TO CUSTOMERS. OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING MAY…
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.