The 1981 Chevrolet C20 has 1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting an estimated 17 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 1 complaint with NHTSA, most often about the tires. Last updated July 5, 2026.
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 MAY BE REDUCED AND VEHICLE STOPPING DISTANCE INCREASED, ESPECIALLY WHEN HARD OR FREQUENT BRAKING…
SUSPECT HYDRAULIC BRAKE FLUID WILL BE BLED FROM THE BRAKE SYSTEM AND REPLACED WITH GM DELCO SUPREME NO. 11 OR AN EQUIVALENT, WITHOUT CHARGE.
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal information removed.
“While driving about 45 mph heard a popping noise on the left rear tire. Also, by the flapping on the tire noticed a tread separation. Firestone atx , size p235/75r15 dot vnh1. *ak”
There is no summary currently available
SUMMARY:SOME 1981-86 TRUCKS WITH 7.4L ENGINES AND CAST IRON EXHAUSTMANIFOLDS MAY EXPERIENCE A CONDITION WHERE AN EXHAUST LEAK DEVELOPSBETWEEN THE MANIFOLD AND THE CYLINDER HEAD MATING SURFACE CAUSING A NOISECONDITION. MOST OF THE REPORTS (AND ALL OF THE INJURIES AND THEMANIFOLD FIRE) ARE FROM THE P30 MOTORHOME…
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL, FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1981 Chevrolet C20 as of July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.