1980 Chevrolet El Camino Recalls, Complaints & Specs
3 safety recalls list the 1980 Chevrolet El Camino, and owners have filed 1 complaint with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
3 safety recalls for the 1980 Chevrolet El Camino
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
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Wheel cylinders (service brakes)
Excessive enlargement of the wheel cylinder pilot hole in the rear brake backing plate could allow the wheel cylinder to rotate and cause loss of brake fluid. Consequence of defect: a loss of brake fluid leads to loss of rear brake action, creating the potential for an accident. Front brakes would remain operational.
Remedy: Add a part to prevent wheel cylinder from rotating.
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Axle shaft (power train)
Rear axle assembly may have axles that were improperly manufactured. This condition may result in separation of the axle shaft and wheel assembly from the vehicle.
Remedy: The dealer will inspect the rear axle to determine whether it was manufactured at the buffalo plant. If so, they will make axle measurements and if necessary replace or modify affected axle components without charge.
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Suspension: rear
The bolts that attach the lower rear control arm to the frame may fracture. The rear control arm supports and positions the rear axle. Fracture of the bolts would allow the control arm to drop free.
Remedy: Both rear control arm attachment bolts will be replaced without charge.
1 owner complaint filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 1980 Chevrolet El Camino have filed 1 complaint with NHTSA. Complaints peaked in 1998 with 1 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“Owner found out about recalls issued during 1981, 1984 and 1985 and wants to know if the manufacturer has to honor the recalls.”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, July 5, 1998 · Unknown or other
Compare Chevrolet El Camino model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Chevrolet El Camino model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 1966 Chevrolet El Camino | 1 | 0 |
| 1967 Chevrolet El Camino | 1 | 0 |
| 1968 Chevrolet El Camino | 1 | 0 |
| 1970 Chevrolet El Camino | 1 | 0 |
| 1973 Chevrolet El Camino | 4 | 0 |
| 1974 Chevrolet El Camino | 1 | 0 |
| 1975 Chevrolet El Camino | 1 | 0 |
| 1977 Chevrolet El Camino | 1 | 0 |
| 1978 Chevrolet El Camino | 4 | 1 |
| 1979 Chevrolet El Camino | 3 | 0 |
| 1980 Chevrolet El Camino | 3 | 1 |
| 1981 Chevrolet El Camino | 2 | 0 |
| 1983 Chevrolet El Camino | 1 | 1 |
| 1984 Chevrolet El Camino | 1 | 1 |
| 1986 Chevrolet El Camino | 0 | 1 |
| 1987 Chevrolet El Camino | 1 | 0 |
Checking a specific 1980 Chevrolet El Camino
How do I know if my 1980 Chevrolet El Camino has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 3 campaigns currently list the 1980 Chevrolet El Camino; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Chevrolet dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 81V025000).
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other Chevrolet models
- Malibu19,364 complaints
- Silverado 150018,029 complaints
- Impala10,434 complaints
- Tahoe10,032 complaints
- Equinox9,161 complaints
- Silverado8,799 complaints
- Blazer8,192 complaints
- Suburban8,164 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.