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Chevrolet CitationYears to avoid, problems & recalls

NHTSA has 12 owner complaints and 16 safety recalls on record for the Chevrolet Citation.

Years to avoidNoneBased on weighted complaintsBest years—Fewest complaints for their ageOwner complaints12Top: SteeringSafety recalls161980–1988 model years

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports. Updated daily. How we score years.

Best & worst years

Chevrolet Citation years to avoid

Complaints by model year, colored by the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Citation median. Tap a year for its full report.

'80'81'82'83'84'88
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
1988Not rated–/1001 complaint · 0 recalls1984Not rated–/1007 complaints · 1 recall1983Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall1982Not rated–/1000 complaints · 3 recalls1981Not rated–/1003 complaints · 2 recalls1980Not rated–/1001 complaint · 9 recalls
Complaints by system

Most common Chevrolet Citation problems

All model years combined: 12 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Steering51
Engine and engine cooling40
Fuel system, gasoline31
Electrical system30
Visibility20
Power train20
Service brakes, hydraulic10
Suspension10
Tires10
2 other systems21
16 recalls

Chevrolet Citation recalls

Newest first. The ring shows the share of affected vehicles repaired, from the manufacturer's latest report to NHTSA.

–Delivery: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings85V-034 · 1984 · Mar 29, 1985 · 121,095 vehicles–Foundation components: differential proportional valve83V-105 · 1983 · Oct 13, 1983 · 352,036 vehicles–Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components83V-018 · 1980 · Feb 24, 1983 · 239,799 vehicles–Foundation components: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings83V-007 · 1982 · Jan 1, 1983 · 15,495 vehicles–Tank assembly: filler pipe and cap82V-021 · 1982 · Mar 8, 1982 · 519,329 vehicles–Clutch assembly: pedal/hand lever(motorcycle)82V-018 · 1982 · Mar 2, 1982 · 4,987 vehicles–Foundation components: differential proportional valve81V-095 · 1980 · Aug 10, 1981 · 47,371 vehicles–12v/24v/48v battery: cables81V-038 · 1981 · Mar 24, 1981 · 105,130 vehicles–Hydraulic power assist: hose, piping, and connections80V-129 · 1981 · Oct 8, 1980 · 25,463 vehicles–Steering: rack and pinion79V-221 · 1980 · Oct 17, 1979 · 161,225 vehicles–Automatic transmission: cooling unit and lines79V-220 · 1980 · Sep 25, 1979 · 224,892 vehicles–Springs: coil springs79V-098 · 1980 · Apr 17, 1979 · 23,725 vehicles

Showing the 12 newest of 16 recalls. Each model-year page lists all recalls for that year.

10 investigations

NHTSA investigations of the Citation

  1. POWER ST. ASSISTEA87006 · 1980–1985 · closed Sep 19, 1988
    No recall
  2. EXPEDITE DETERMINATN OF DEFECT IN C84-01DP86020 · 1980 · closed Oct 6, 1986
    No recall
  3. ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIREDP85026 · 1981 · closed Aug 13, 1985
    No recall
  4. ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRESPE85016 · 1983–1984 · closed Mar 22, 1985
    Led to recall 85V-034
  5. REAR WHEEL LOCKUP INVOLVING AFTERMARKETDP83017 · 1980 · closed Sep 22, 1983
    No recall
  6. LOSS OF POWER BRAKE ASSIST (E80-100)DP83010 · 1980 · closed Jul 29, 1983
    No recall
  7. LOCKED POWER STEERING SYSTEMDP83008 · 1980–1981 · closed Jul 20, 1983
    No recall
  8. X-BODY LOCKUP OF REAR BRAKESDP83007 · 1979 · closed Feb 7, 1983
    No recall
  9. REAR BRAKE LOCKUP, EXPAND CASE C81-09 TODP83006 · 1980 · closed Dec 8, 1982
    No recall
  10. TRANS. LOCKUPS AND TRANS. HARD SHIFTINGDP82010 · 1980–1981 · closed Oct 18, 1982
    No recall