- The problem
- The engine-to-body ground cable on certain vehicles may have been damaged during manufacture. The cable could eventually break due to the relative motion between the engine and body during vehicle operation.
- The fix
- A new ground cable will be installed free of charge.
Vehicle safety record
1981 Pontiac Phoenix Problems, complaints & recalls
No owner complaints about the 1981 Pontiac Phoenix have been filed with NHTSA. It is covered by 2 recalls, the latest in March 1981 for the cables.
NHTSA data checked
CAbout as many problems as a typical Phoenix year, for its age
- Complaints
- 0
- Recalls
- 2
- Crashes
- 0
- Fires
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Deaths
- 0
1981 Pontiac Phoenix recalls 2
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
- The problem
- The involved vehicles may have been assembled with the power steering hose incorrectly routed. The power steering hose may then contact the exhaust manifold, resulting in deterioration and eventual failure of the hose and leakage of power steering fluid onto the exhaust manifold.
- The fix
- The dealer will inspect and, if necessary, replace the hoses and inlet pipe and add a clip at no charge to owner.
What owners say
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No complaints about the 1981 Pontiac Phoenix 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.
Pontiac Phoenix: every year compared
All Phoenix years1981 Pontiac Phoenix vs rivals
| Vehicle | Complaints | Recalls | Grade | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 Pontiac Phoenix | 0 | 2 | C | |
| 1981 Pontiac Bonneville | 1 | 0 | A | 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 Pontiac Phoenix
Does the 1981 Pontiac Phoenix have any recalls?
Yes - NHTSA lists 2 recalls for the 1981 Pontiac Phoenix: cables (March 1981); hose, piping, and connections (October 1980). 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 Pontiac Phoenix had?
None have been filed with NHTSA so far.
Is the 1981 Pontiac Phoenix a reliable vehicle?
Its Safety Index is 58 out of 100 (grade C: about as many problems as a typical Pontiac Phoenix 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.
What should I do if my 1981 Pontiac Phoenix 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