WHILE TRAVELING AT 55 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT WARNING CHECK ENGINE LIGHT APPEARS ON THE DEASHBOARD.*AK
1980 Chevrolet Chevette
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Chevette years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 0 of 1 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
1 reportsOfficial recalls
383V027000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:carburetor System
Mar 4, 1983
THE CARBURETOR FUEL PLUG MAY COME OUT AND FUEL COULD LEAK FROM THE CARBURETOR.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Not supplied
Remedy: THE DEALER WILL INSTALL A RETAINING CLIP ON THE CARBURETOR INLET PLUG TO PREVENT IT FROM DISLODGING, AT NO CHARGE TO OWNER.
82V106000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:carburetor System
Nov 1, 1982
THE CARBURETOR FUEL INLET HOUSING PLUG IN THE SIDE OF THE CARBURETOR MAY COME OUT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Not supplied
Remedy: THE DEALER WILL INSTALL A RETAINING CLIP ON THE CARBURETOR INLET PLUG TO PREVENT FUEL LEAKAGE, WITHOUT CHARGE.
81V060000 · Seat Belts:front:retractor
May 19, 1981
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".
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Not supplied
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 SEAT BELTS, THE SEAT BELT RETRACTORS WILL BE REPLACED, IF NECESSARY, WITHOUT CHARGE.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
7PE88023 · Shifter Failure
Opened Feb 5, 1988 · Closed Apr 8, 1988
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Power Train
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EA86033 · Brake Failure
Opened Sep 30, 1986 · Closed Aug 25, 1987
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic
SUMMARY OF INFORMATION FROM MANUFACTURER:GM MAINTAINS THAT THERE IS NO DEFECT IN THE DESIGN.SPATIAL RELATIONSHIP DOES NOT CHANGE WITH APPLICATION OF PEDAL FORCE.GM BELIEVES THAT THEIR TEST DATA DEMONSTRATES THAT PEDAL, BRACKET, AND FIREWALL ARE SUFFICIENTLY STOUT.GM REPORTSNO FIELD COMPLAINTS ON THIS ALLEGED DEFECT. ANALYSIS:THIS ALLEGED DEFECT WAS REPORTED IN A BENDIX TRADE PUBLICATION. IT CITED FIREWALL FLEXING AS REDUCING THE PEDAL FREE PLAY AND PREVENTINGTHE MASTER CYLINDER FROM COMPENSATING NORMALLY.STATUS:ON DEC 11,1986, A MEMO WAS SENT TO VRTC REQUESTING TESTING ON A VEHICLE IN ORDER TO EVALUATE THE ALLEGED DEFECT.VRTC HAS PURCHASED A TEST VEHICLE AND TESTING HAS BEEN COMPLETED.DRAFT REPORT IN REVIEW CYCLE. PROPOSED ACTION:CLOSED AUG 25,1987===
PE86057 · Brake Failure/firewall
Opened May 23, 1986 · Closed Sep 26, 1986
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic
ANALYSIS:THE COMPLAINT HAS BEEN VERIFIED WITH THE VEHICLE'S OWNER AND ASTATE OF MICHIGAN CONSUMER REPRESENTATIVE.THE BENDIX REPORT WAS SUPPLIEDBY A MIDAS REPRESENTATIVE, AND REMAINS UNCONFIRMED.ALTHOUGH NO OTHERCOMPLAINTS IDENTIFY THIS PARTICULAR CONDITION, THERE ARE SEVERAL REPORTEDINCIDENTS OF UNEXPLAINED BRAKE LOSS AMONG THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.THERE ARENO TSB'S OR RECALLS REGARDING THE ALLEGED DEFECT.PROPOSED ACTION:PREPARE AN INFORMATION REQUEST TO GM AND BENDIX.
EA85018 · Crankshaft Pulley Bolt
Opened Mar 13, 1985 · Closed Sep 4, 1987
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling
SUMMARY: GM ADMITS THERE HAS BEEN A PROBLEM AND HAS DESIGNED A MODIFICATIONKIT INTENDED TO PREVENT PULLEY BOLT FAILURES BY KEEPING THE PULLEY INPROPER ALIGNMENT WITH THE CRANKSHAFT AND THEREBY REDUCING THE BENDINGSTRESS ON THE BOLT. GM DOES NOT BELIEVE THE PROBLEM IS SAFETY RELATEDAND WILL CONDUCT A SERVICE CAMPAIGN.ANALYSIS:THE HIGHEST FAILURE RATES HAVE OCCURRED ON VEHICLES EQUIPPEDWITH AC AND PS WHICH USE A TRIPLE SHEAVE PULLEY. THE MODIFICATION KITSHOULD REDUCE THE FAILURE RATE ON THESE VEHICLES.STATUS: GM LAUNCHED A SERVICE CAMPAIGN IN FEBRUARY 1987 APPLICABLE TO185,000 T BODY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH TRIPLE PULLEYS. (PRODUCT CAMPAIGN84C27)EA CLOSED 9/4/87===
DP85012 · Brake Problems
Opened Jan 18, 1985 · Closed Mar 18, 1985
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic
BRAKE PROBLEMS
DP85002 · Crankshaft Pulley Bolt Breaks
Opened Oct 10, 1984 · Closed Mar 26, 1985
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:gasoline
CRANKSHAFT PULLEY BOLT BREAKS
EA83004 · Carburetor Plug Pops Out
Opened Oct 22, 1982 · Closed Jul 15, 1983
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
There is no summary currently available
Additional source detail variants (2)
Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
There is no summary currently available
Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
There is no summary currently available
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