Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1981 G10.
The 1981 Chevrolet G10, documented in its overview, is a distinct model in Chevrolet's lineup. It recorded four total owner complaints, with the fuel system, gasoline, identified as the primary complaint area and three recall actions issued. Later complaint records from 1990 to 1998 show a low of one complaint in 1990 and a peak of ten in 1996, placing the 1981 model year before a period of relatively modest reliability concerns.
Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.
| Overall length | 202 in |
| Overall width | 79.5 in |
| Wheelbase | 125.2 in |
Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.
The federal record for the 1981 Chevrolet G10 begins in 1990, showing a clear upward trend in complaints from 1 in 1990 to a peak of 10 in both 1996 and 1997, before declining to 7 in 1998. Recalls were frequent in the early 1990s (3 per year from 1990–1992) but dropped to 1 in 1997 and 1998, while TSBs first appeared in 1994 and rose to 4 by 1997. The 1981 model year itself has no reported crash or fire complaints, with its top complaint areas being the fuel system (2), service brakes (1), and engine/visibility (1). This places the 1981 model in the early part of the complaint arc, where issues were relatively low initially but escalated significantly as the vehicle aged, suggesting latent problems that may not surface immediately. Given the rising complaint trend and multiple recalls across the generation, the 1981 G10 is not a standout year for reliability, and a buyer should expect potential fuel and brake system concerns based on the data.
All 4 complaints on record, top 3 components.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.
Showing 2 of 3 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.
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… 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.
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 3 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.