1979 Chevrolet Camaro Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1979 Chevrolet Camaro, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Tires & wheels350.0%
- Engine116.7%
- Steering116.7%
- Visibility116.7%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Tires & wheels
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1979 CHEVROLET CAMARO WITH KUMHO SOLUS TIRES, SIZE: 205/70/14. WHILE PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE HAD BECOME FLAT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THERE WAS A PIN HOLE ON THE TREAD AND SIDE WALL JUNCTURE. THE TIRE WAS REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED BOTH DRIVER SIDE TIRES HAD ALSO FAILED. THE VIN AND DOT WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE TIRES WERE REPLACED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 245,136. UPDATED 05/09/12 *BF
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1979 CHEVROLET CAMARO. THE TIRE BRAND WAS KUMHO AND THE TIRE SIZE WAS P205/70/R14(NA). THE DOT WAS UNKNOWN. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE REAR PASSENGERS SIDE TIRE DEFLATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. HE CONTACTED A ROADSIDE SERVICE THAT INSTALLED THE SPARE TIRE. WITHIN HOURS, THE SPARE TIRE FAILED. THE DEALER REFILLED THE TIRE WITH AIR AND RELEASED THE VEHICLE TO THE OWNER. SEVERAL HOURS LATER, THE SPARE TIRE HAD DEFLATED A SECOND TIME. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND PROVIDED THE CONTACT WITH A REPLACEMENT TIRE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 247,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 251,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
ENGINE FIRE. (OHIO STATE POLICE REPORT) *DSH
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1979 CHEVROLET CAMARO. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 25 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE UNCONTROLLABLY ACCELERATED. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE OR REGAIN CONTROL AND CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT AND A PASSENGER WERE INJURED, AS WELL AS THE DRIVER OF THE SECOND VEHICLE WHO WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL. THE POLICE WERE ON SCENE AND FILED A POLICE REPORT OF THE INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE DRIVER OF THE SECOND VEHICLE WAS HOSPITALIZED BUT DIED 18 DAYS AFTER THE CRASH DUE TO COMPLICATIONS. THE DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE CRASH. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED WHO GAVE THE CONTACT A CASE NUMBER (711084923939) AND OFFERED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 80V108000 (STEERING:LINKAGES :KNUCKLE:SPINDLE:ARM) BUT COULD NOT CONFIRM IF THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. ..UPDATED 05/09/13 *BF
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
WINDSHIELD WASHER PUMP FAILED.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .