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1981 Volvo DLProblems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 1 owner complaint about the 1981 Volvo DL, most often about the steering. It is covered by 1 safety recall.

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CarFlaw IndexNot enough dataHigher is better (0–100)
Safety recalls1Free fix at dealersOwner complaints10 with a crash, fire or injuryTop problem1Steering

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through January 8, 2001. Updated daily.

Complaints by system

Where the 1981 Volvo DL has problems

1 complaint 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
Steering10

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.

1 recall

1981 Volvo DL recalls and how many were fixed

Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Volvo.

Best & worst years

1981 vs. every other DL year

Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the DL median. How we score

'81'82'83'84'85'86'90
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
1 investigation

NHTSA defect investigations

Federal investigations that included the 1981 Volvo DL, and the recalls they led to.

  1. IGNITION PROBLEMS, FLUID LEAKS AND STALLDP83002 · closed Mar 10, 1983
    No recall

Own a 1981 DL?

Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.