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Worst Vehicles of 1981

The most problematic 1981 model year vehicles ranked by NHTSA complaints, federal recalls, and safety investigations.

Other Years

1986198519841983198219801979197819771976
All-Time Worst|Most Reliable|Browse by Class
How scoring works: Each complaint counts as 1 point, each recall as 5 points, and each federal investigation as 10 points. Click any vehicle to view its full reliability profile.
#11981 Mercury Lynx
0 complaints10 recalls6 invest.1 TSBs
110
#21981 Ford Escort
2 complaints10 recalls4 invest.6 TSBs
92
#31981 Chevrolet Chevette
6 complaints3 recalls7 invest.
91
#41981 Plymouth Reliant
3 complaints4 recalls4 invest.
63
#51981 Dodge Aries
2 complaints4 recalls4 invest.1 TSBs
62
#61981 Chevrolet Citation
10 complaints2 recalls4 invest.
60
#71981 Pontiac T1000
0 complaints2 recalls5 invest.
60
#81981 Freightliner Freightliner
1 complaints9 recalls1 invest.1 TSBs
56
#91981 Ford Mustang
0 complaints2 recalls4 invest.3 TSBs
50
#101981 Buick Skylark
5 complaints2 recalls3 invest.
45
#111981 Mercury Capri
1 complaints2 recalls3 invest.
41
#121981 Chevrolet C10
5 complaints3 recalls2 invest.
40
#131981 American Motors Eagle
0 complaints4 recalls2 invest.
40
#141981 Buick Century
1 complaints3 recalls2 invest.
36
#151981 Audi 5000
1 complaints3 recalls2 invest.
36
#161981 Renault 18i
0 complaints5 recalls1 invest.
35
#171981 International Harvester S1700
0 complaints7 recalls
35
#181981 Peterbilt Peterbilt
0 complaints5 recalls1 invest.
35
#191981 International Harvester S1900
0 complaints7 recalls
35
#201981 Ford F350
3 complaints4 recalls1 invest.9 TSBs
33
#211981 Oldsmobile Omega
2 complaints2 recalls2 invest.
32
#221981 Volkswagen Rabbit
1 complaints4 recalls1 invest.
31
#231981 Chevrolet C20
1 complaints2 recalls2 invest.
31
#241981 Jeep Cherokee
1 complaints2 recalls2 invest.
31
#251981 International Harvester S1800
0 complaints6 recalls
30
#261981 Prevost Prestige
0 complaints6 recalls
30
#271981 Ford E350
0 complaints2 recalls2 invest.2 TSBs
30
#281981 Kenworth Kenworth
0 complaints2 recalls2 invest.
30
#291981 Thomas Thomas
0 complaints6 recalls1 TSBs
30
#301981 Pontiac Phoenix
0 complaints2 recalls2 invest.
30
#311981 Oldsmobile Cutlass
8 complaints2 recalls1 invest.
28
#321981 Chevrolet Malibu
3 complaints3 recalls1 invest.
28
#331981 Ford F250
1 complaints5 recalls6 TSBs
26
#341981 Chevrolet K30
1 complaints1 recalls2 invest.
26
#351981 Jeep Wagoneer
0 complaints3 recalls1 invest.
25
#361981 Western Rws Series
0 complaints5 recalls
25
#371981 Ford F600
0 complaints5 recalls
25
#381981 Ford Ltd
0 complaints5 recalls1 TSBs
25
#391981 Western Rwl Series
0 complaints5 recalls
25
#401981 Chevrolet K20
0 complaints1 recalls2 invest.
25
#411981 Buick Regal
0 complaints3 recalls1 invest.
25
#421981 Chevrolet C30
0 complaints1 recalls2 invest.
25
#431981 American Motors Concord
0 complaints3 recalls1 invest.
25
#441981 Transportation Mc9
0 complaints3 recalls1 invest.
25
#451981 Mack Cf
0 complaints5 recalls22 TSBs
25
#461981 Toyota Cressida
0 complaints1 recalls2 invest.15 TSBs
25
#471981 Audi 4000
0 complaints3 recalls1 invest.
25
#481981 Chevrolet Chevrolet Truck
4 complaints0 recalls2 invest.
24
#491981 Volvo Volvo
2 complaints0 recalls2 invest.3 TSBs
22
#501981 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
2 complaints2 recalls1 invest.
22

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Check Your CarBased on 2.1M+ owner complaints
Data sourced from NHTSA complaints, federal recalls, and safety investigations.