RoadVitals

1979 Jeep CJ5

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
1
Latest Jun 10, 2010
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
2
Latest Mar 14, 1979
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
0

Overview

Our database contains 1 NHTSA owner-reported complaint for the 1979 Jeep CJ5, most frequently naming the transmission category. 2 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Transmission1100.0%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

2 campaigns cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
79V070000

POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION

Mar 14, 1979
1,174 units potentially affected
The defect: CERTAIN VEHICLES MAY HAVE AN INCORRECT GASKET BETWEEN THE TRANSMISSION AND THE TRANSFER CASE. AN INCORRECT GASKET MAY INTERFERE WITH THE NORMAL FLOW OF LUBRICANT. THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE THE TRANSMISSION TO BECOME DAMAGED AND INOPERATIVE.
The remedy: THE GASKET BETWEEN THE TRANSMISSION AND THE TRANSFER CASE WILL BE REPLACED, IF NECESSARY.
CHRYSLER CORPORATIONView on NHTSA.gov
78V243000

STEERING:LINKAGES:ROD:RELAY:CONNECTING

Nov 6, 1978
363 units potentially affected
The defect: THE CLAMP BOLTS ON THE ADJUSTER TUBE THAT FASTENS THE CONNECTING ROD TO THE PITMAN ARM END ASSEMBLY MAY BE LOOSE. THESE LOOSE BOLTS COULD CAUSE SHIFTING OF THE STEERING WHEEL POSITION, RELATIVE TO THE STRAIGHT-AHEAD-FRONT WHEEL POSITION, AND LOSS OF STEERING.
The remedy: THE DEALER WILL TIGHTEN THE BOLTS WHERE NECESSARY, AND CHECK AND CORRECT THE STEERING WHEEL ALIGNMENT FREE OF CHARGE.
CHRYSLER CORPORATIONView on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

Transmission
Filed Jun 10, 2010

TL*THE CONTACTS OWN A 1979 JEEP CJ5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30MPH HE SHIFTED INTO SECOND GEAR AND THE VEHICLE MADE A LOUD NOISE. WHEN HE SHIFTED INTO THIRD GEAR THE ENGINE SHUT OFF. A FEW MINUTES LATER, THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. HE NOTICED THAT TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS LEAKING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CHRYSLER DEALER REFERRED HIM TO A JEEP DEALER WHO CONFIRMED THAT NHTSA CAMPAIGN 79V070000, POWER TRAIN, MANUAL TRANSMISSION RECALL WAS RELATED TO THE FAILURE; HOWEVER, THE JEEP DEALER REFUSED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE SINCE THERE WAS A 10 YEAR SUNSET CLAUSE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 50,000.

NHTSA ID
10335720
Incident
Jun 7, 2010
Mileage
50,000 mi

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Jeep CJ5 by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
1988001—
1987001—
1986001—
1985002—
1984002—
1983002—
1982011—
1981011—
1980001—
1979Viewing120—
1978120—
1977010—
1976040—
1975020—
1974020—
1973011—
1972030—

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. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.