This page lists the 20 worst cars of model year 1980 by reliability-and-durability grade point average (Reliability-Durability GPA or more concisely, R-D GPA).

1980's Bottom 10 Cars: The Ten Worst

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

• The Plymouth Horizon, TC-3, Turismo, with a Reliability-Durability GPA of 0.30 and a Reliability-Durability Grade of F
• The Dodge Omni, O24, Charger (except Turbo), with a R-D GPA of 0.30, an F
• The Pontiac Phoenix V6, with a R-D GPA of 0.31, an F
• The Renault LeCar, with a R-D GPA of 0.33, an F
• The AMC Eagle Inline 6, with a R-D GPA of 0.38, an F
• The Plymouth Volare, with a R-D GPA of 0.39, an F
• The Dodge Aspen Inline 6, with a R-D GPA of 0.39, an F
• The Chevrolet Caprice, Impala V8, diesel, with a R-D GPA of 0.42, an F
• The Cadillac Seville V8, gasoline, with a R-D GPA of 0.44, an F
• The Cadillac Eldorado V8, gasoline, with a R-D GPA of 0.46, an F

Manufacturers of the 10 Worst 

General Motors Corporation and Chrysler Corporation each accounted for 4 of the least reliable-durable cars of 1980; American Motors Corporation and Renault S.A. each accounted for 1.

Three of the then Michigan 4 manufacturers accounted for 9 of 1980's worst cars, and none of 1980's best cars. The France-based Renault S.A. accounted for the remaining member of 1980's 10 worst.

1980's Next 10 Worst Cars

The remaining 10 of the 20 worst cars are listed below in ascending order of Reliability-Durability GPA (worst first), together with the corresponding R-D Grade.

• The Chevrolet Monza V6, with a Reliability-Durability GPA of 0.51 and a Reliability-Durability Grade of D
• The Oldsmobile Omega Inline 4, with a R-D GPA of 0.76, a D
• The Pontiac Sunbird Inline 4, with a R-D GPA of 0.77, a D
• The AMC Concord Inline 6, with a R-D GPA of 0.78, a D
• The Buick Riviera V8, gasoline, with a R-D GPA of 0.79, a D
• The Chevrolet Citation V6, with a R-D GPA of 0.79, a D
• The Jeep CJ Series Inline 4, with a R-D GPA of 0.79, a D
• The Jeep Wagoneer, Cherokee, with a R-D GPA of 0.82, a D
• The Dodge Sportsman Wagon V8 van, with a R-D GPA of 0.85, a D
• The Pontiac Phoenix Inline 4, with a R-D GPA of 1.04, a D

Manufacturers of the 20 Worst 

General Motors Corporation accounted for half of the 20 worst cars of model year 1980. Chrysler Corporation accounted for 25% of the least reliable-durable cars of 1980; American Motors Corporation - 20%, and Renault S.A. - 5%.

Three of the then Michigan 4 manufacturers accounted for 19 of 1980's worst cars, and none of 1980's best cars. The France-based Renault S.A. accounted for the remaining member of Bottom 20.

Ford Motor Company accounted for none of the 20 Worst cars of 1980 and none of the 10 Best cars of 1980.

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.