US vehicle recalls and complaint patterns, explained
Chevrolet Citation recall history and complaint patterns
Comprehensive recall and complaint data for the Chevrolet Citation,
sourced from official National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) records.
Stats focus on model years from 1960 onwards.
Earlier years appear in the detailed table below where data exists.
Ask About This Model
Get plain-language explanations of recalls and complaints for the
Chevrolet Citation. Powered by AI, backed by NHTSA data.
AI Assistant
Important: This assistant provides context from aggregated NHTSA data.
Always check your specific VIN on
NHTSA.gov
for vehicle-specific recall information.
Key Takeaways
A quick scan of where recalls and complaints concentrate for the Chevrolet Citation,
based on aggregated NHTSA counts and campaign metadata.
Coverage spans model years 1980–1988 with 16 recall campaigns and 28 complaints in NHTSA data.
Years with the most recall activity: 1980 (9), 1982 (3), and 1981 (2).
Years with the most complaint volume: 1984 (10), 1981 (10), and 1980 (7).
Top recall themes: Brakes, Fuel and emissions, and Steering and suspension.
Most reported complaint areas (across all years): Engine and engine cooling:engine, Steering:hydraulic power assist system, Visibility:windshield wiper/washer:motor.
Complaints are not proof of a defect, but repeated themes can be useful signals when researching a used vehicle.
Always check your specific VIN for open recalls (open recalls are VIN-specific and can change over time).
Recall Themes
Instead of listing long campaign narratives, this groups recall campaigns into a few recurring areas.
Each theme links back to official notices as evidence.
Brakes
5 campaigns · Years: 1980, 1982–1983
These campaigns relate to braking system components that can affect stopping performance or warning behavior.
Official notices (evidence):
83V105000
· Service brakes, hydraulic: Differential proportional valve
83V007000
· Service brakes, hydraulic: Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
79V090000
· Service brakes, hydraulic: Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
+ 2 more notices in this theme
Fuel and emissions
3 campaigns · Years: 1980, 1982, 1984
These campaigns relate to fuel delivery or emissions components where leaks or failures can raise safety risk.
Official notices (evidence):
85V034000
· Fuel system, gasoline: Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
82V021000
· Fuel system, gasoline: Filler pipe and cap
79V091000
· Fuel system, gasoline: Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Steering and suspension
3 campaigns · Years: 1980–1981
These campaigns relate to steering or suspension components that can affect vehicle control or stability.
Official notices (evidence):
80V129000
· Steering: Hose, piping, and connections
Across all model years, the most frequently reported areas for the
Chevrolet Citation in NHTSA complaint data are
Engine and engine cooling:engine, Steering:hydraulic power assist system, Visibility:windshield wiper/washer:motor.
Jump to Model Year
Year-by-Year Overview
Each row shows how often this model appears in NHTSA recalls and consumer
complaints for a given model year. These are counts of campaigns and
complaints, not risk predictions.
Model Year
Recalls
Complaints
Details
1988
0
1
Complaints recorded; no recall campaigns issued.
Top complaint areas: Steering:rack and pinion.
1984
1
10
Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Electrical system:ignition:module, Parking brake, Engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline.
1983
1
0
Recall campaign(s) issued; no grouped complaints in summary.
1982
3
0
Recall campaign(s) issued; no grouped complaints in summary.
1981
2
10
Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Engine and engine cooling:engine, Electrical system:alternator/generator/regulator, Power train:clutch assembly.
1980
9
7
Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Engine and engine cooling:cooling system:fan, Engine and engine cooling:engine, Power train:clutch assembly:pedal/hand lever(motorcycle).
What to Do Next
Check open recalls by VIN on the official NHTSA site (open recalls are VIN-specific).
If buying used, ask for proof of recall remedy completion (dealer paperwork helps).
If symptoms match common complaint themes, consider a mechanic inspection before purchase or long trips.
A compact evidence view of recall campaigns that include this model.
The default text is an original summary line, with official notice text available on demand.
Most common areas involved:
Service brakes
, Fuel system
and Power train
Show recall evidence by year
1984
Fuel system, gasoline: Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings:
Safety recall involving the fuel system area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: The fuel system may leak at the throttle body injection fuel feed pipe connection. Consequence of defect: this leakage could result in an underhood fire which could spread to the passenger compartment and cause burn injuries to occupants.
1983
Service brakes, hydraulic: Differential proportional valve:
Safety recall involving the service brakes area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: The brake proportioner valves may break and separate from the master cylinder. This would allow brake fluid to leak and would result in a partial loss of the brake system.
1982
Power train: Pedal/hand lever(motorcycle):
Safety recall involving the power train area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: The clutch cable may rub against the master cylinder brake pipe when the clutch pedal is operated. Continued operation of the vehicle may result in wear through of the insulation on the clutch cable. The resulting metal on metal contact could lead to failure of the brake pipe, loss of brake fluid
Fuel system, gasoline: Filler pipe and cap:
Safety recall involving the fuel system area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: Under certaain conditions, the hose clamps on the fuel tank filler pipe and fuel tank filler vent pipe could fracture. The fracture of these clamps could cause fuel leakage at any of the four pipe to hose connections. Leakage can occur during refueling, or while driving, if the fuel tank is above
Service brakes, hydraulic: Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings:
Safety recall involving the service brakes area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: Rear brake hoses may have been manufactured incorrectly when the metal end fittings were installed. Some rear brake hoses may separate from the metal end fittings when subjected to the pulling force specified by federal motor vehicle safety standard 106, "brake hoses".
1981
Steering: Hose, piping, and connections:
Safety recall involving the steering area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: 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.
Electrical system: Cables:
Safety recall involving the electrical system area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: 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.
1980
Seats:
Safety recall involving the seats area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: Vehicles do not comply to federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 207, "Anchorage of seats". The lock bar in the front seat adjuster assemblies may not engage properly and the ability of the seat adjuster to maintain the seat in a latched position during an accident may be reduced.
Service brakes, hydraulic: Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings:
Safety recall involving the service brakes area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: There is a potential for interference between the clutch control cable and brake pipe in the master cylinder. This can result in rubbing contact when the clutch pedal is operated. Also, the brake pipe clearance to the transmission case may be inadequate. If this condition exists, it could eventua
Fuel system, gasoline: Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings:
Safety recall involving the fuel system area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: Fuel hoses may be incorrectly positioned and contact the right front drive axle boot during vehicle operation. After a period of time, the rotating boot could wear a hole in the fuel hose, resulting in fule leakage.
Structure: Frame and members:
Safety recall involving the structure area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: The longitudinal body bars at the rear control arm location may not have been adequately welded into the structure. Some of these bars may have been pulled down from the body during shipment with resulting damage to the brake or fuel lines. Separation of the control arm attachment may also result
Suspension: Coil springs:
Safety recall involving the suspension area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: The front suspension coil spring may have a larger than desired inside diameter of the lower coil where it rests on the spring seat. This could allow the spring to be forced over the lower spring seat due to suspension forces.
Power train: Cooling unit and lines:
Safety recall involving the power train area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: The automatic cooler line hoses on some of the suspect vehicles may contain material voids, which combined with a high thermal expansion at elevated temperatures, could result in hose failure and transmission fluid leakage.
Steering: Rack and pinion:
Safety recall involving the steering area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: The steering gear mounting plate on the involved vehicles may develop fatigue cracks at high mileage which would allow the steering gear attachment to become loose. If this condition exists, the driver may notice considerable "free play" in the steering wheel.
Service brakes, hydraulic: Differential proportional valve:
Safety recall involving the service brakes area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: Under certain conditions, the rear brakes could lock up without prior warning during high deceleration braking. The problem may be caused by defective proportioner valves in the braking system.
Service brakes, hydraulic: Foundation components:
Safety recall involving the service brakes area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: Under certain conditions, vehicles may experience premature rear wheel skid during braking. Rear wheel skidding is most likely to occur on a wet or slick surface.
Other Chevrolet Models
Explore recall and complaint data for other Chevrolet models.
Recall Explained provides independent analysis of official NHTSA data.
This site does not replace the official NHTSA VIN lookup and should not be
treated as legal or safety advice for your specific vehicle.
For any safety concerns: Always check your VIN on the official
NHTSA site and contact an authorized dealer.
