Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1981 Chevrolet Camaro, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Tires1
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 0 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 1981 Chevrolet Camaro failed the safety check 0.53% of the time — 26% less often than the average 1981 passenger car (0.73%). Median odometer at inspection: 62,021 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
In the Netherlands
37 first registered in 1981 are on Dutch roads; 57% arrived later as imports.
Most common APK defects
- Overmatige vloeistoflekkage overige vloeistoffen9
- Slijtage/beschadiging wiellager hoorbaar of voelbaar2
- Lichtbeeld dimlicht onjuist2
- Ruitensproeierinstallatie werkt niet2
- Richtingaanwijzer werkt niet (goed)2
- Schijf-, trommelrem loopt niet vrij2
- Gordel beschadigd1
- Remleiding door corrosie aangetast1
Colours
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles and APK defects (CC0) · defect descriptions in the RDW's Dutch wording
In Finland
9 of these cars first registered in 1981 were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026, with an average of 30,000 km on the odometer at their last inspection.
Traficom (Finnish Transport and Communications Agency), open data on vehicles in use · CC BY 4.0
In New Zealand
23 1981 cars are on the New Zealand register; 65% arrived as used imports, 22% were sold new in New Zealand.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Recalls in Canada
1 Transport Canada recall for the 1981 Chevrolet Camaro.
| 1981057 5 May 1981 | Not Entered THE RIGHT OR LEFT REAR SEAT LAP BELT OUTER AUTOMATIC LOCKING RETRACTOR MAY NOT FULLY LOCK WHEN THE OCCUPANT BUCKLES UP THE SEAT BELT. THIS MAY RESULT IN SMALL … |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
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 VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 208, "OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION".
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
NHTSA investigations
FUEL LEAKAGE AT FILLER NECK
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation