- The problem
- 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 raises brake fluid temperature.
- The fix
- Suspect hydraulic brake fluid will be bled from the brake system and replaced with gm delco supreme no. 11 Or an equivalent, without charge.
Vehicle safety record
1981 GMC C10 Problems, complaints & recalls
No owner complaints about the 1981 GMC C10 have been filed with NHTSA. It is covered by 1 recall, the latest in December 1981 for the fluid.
NHTSA data checked
CAbout as many problems as a typical C10 year, for its age
- Complaints
- 0
- Recalls
- 1
- Crashes
- 0
- Fires
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Deaths
- 0
1981 GMC C10 recalls 1
Recall repairs are free. Your dealer fixes them whether or not you bought the car there - check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see if yours is done. What to do
What owners say
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No complaints about the 1981 GMC C10 yet
No owner has filed a complaint about this vehicle with NHTSA. If yours has a problem, share it here and report it to NHTSA.
GMC C10: every year compared
All C10 years1981 GMC C10 vs rivals
| Vehicle | Complaints | Recalls | Grade | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 GMC C10 | 0 | 1 | C | |
| 1981 GMC C Series(light) | 1 | 0 | F | Compare |
More sales usually means more complaints, so compare similar vehicles of the same year. The grade compares each vehicle with its own model's other years.
Questions about the 1981 GMC C10
Does the 1981 GMC C10 have any recalls?
Yes - NHTSA lists 1 recall for the 1981 GMC C10: fluid (December 1981). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether yours has been fixed.
How many complaints has the 1981 GMC C10 had?
None have been filed with NHTSA so far.
Is the 1981 GMC C10 a reliable vehicle?
Its Safety Index is 50 out of 100 (grade C: about as many problems as a typical GMC C10 year, for its age). The index weighs complaints, crashes, fires, injuries, deaths and recalls against how long the vehicle has been on the road, compared with the same model's other years. It is not a measure of every repair - read the complaints and owner experiences, and have any used vehicle inspected before you buy.
Which GMC C10 years have the most complaints?
1993 (3), 1991 (1), 1992 (1). See every GMC C10 year compared.
What should I do if my 1981 GMC C10 has a problem?
If it is a safety problem, stop driving it if it is unsafe and contact your dealer. Report it to NHTSA at nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem - enough reports start investigations and recalls - and share your experience here so other owners know what to look for.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked . Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data