This page lists the 20 worst cars of model year 1981 by reliability-and-durability grade point average (Reliability-Durability GPA or more concisely, R-D GPA).

1981's Bottom 10 Cars: The Ten Worst

The 10 worst cars of 1981 are listed below in ascending order of Reliability-Durability GPA (worst first), together with the corresponding R-D Grade.

• The Plymouth Horizon, TC-3, with a Reliability-Durability GPA of 0.26 and a Reliability-Durability Grade of F
• The Dodge Omni, O24, with a R-D GPA of 0.26, an F
• The Pontiac Grand Prix V6, with a R-D GPA of 0.31, an F
• The Buick Regal V6, with a R-D GPA of 0.32, an F
• The Jeep CJ Series Inline 4, with a R-D GPA of 0.35, an F
• The AMC Eagle Inline 6, with a R-D GPA of 0.35, an F
• The Pontiac Phoenix Inline 4, with a R-D GPA of 0.37, an F
• The Pontiac Phoenix V6, with a R-D GPA of 0.39, an F
• The Pontiac T1000, 1000, with a R-D GPA of 0.43, an F
• The Chevrolet Chevette, gasoline, with a R-D GPA of 0.43, an F

Manufacturers of the 10 Worst 

General Motors Corporation increased its share of the least reliable-durable cars of 1981 - from 4 in 1980 to 6 in 1981; Chrysler Corporation decreased its share - from 4 in 1980 to 2 in 1981; American Motors Corporation had the remaining two 1.

Three of the then Michigan 4 manufacturers (American Motors Corporation was absorbed by Chrysler Corporation in 1987) accounted for all 10 of 1981's worst cars, and none of 1981's best cars.

The following chart gives each car maker's percent share of the Bottom 10 of 1981.

CR's ratings are converted to numerical values following the standard academic pattern: a grade point of 4.0 (an A) is accorded a rating of Much Better Than Average, a 3.0 (a B) is accorded a rating of Better Than Average, a 2.0 (a C) is accorded a rating of Average, a 1.0 (a D) is accorded a rating of Below Average, and a 0 (an F) is accorded a rating of Much Below Average.