RoadVitals

1979 Vehicles: Recalls, Complaints & Safety Data

Every 1979 model-year vehicle in our database with enough NHTSA data to publish, ranked by the number of complaints owners have filed. Because all of these vehicles are the same model year, they have had the same amount of time in which reports could accumulate.

Complaints 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.

Vehicles listed1979 model years that clear the threshold at which we publish a vehicle page.
654
across 161 makes
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.
190
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.
424
distinct campaigns naming a vehicle of this year
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.
73

1979 vehicles by owner-reported complaint volume

60 vehicles of 654, most-reported first

1979 model-year vehicles ranked by owner-reported complaint count
#VehicleComplaintsComplaints 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.90 daysRecallsInvestigationsIssue IndexThe Vehicle Issue Index is our own informational metric, not an official safety rating and not a reliability prediction.
1Dodge Sport Utility5201040.6
2Plymouth Sport Utility8010—
3Chevrolet Camaro6031—
4Chevrolet C104012—
5Chevrolet Malibu4061—
6Buick Regal3051—
7Chevrolet Corvette3020—
8Chevrolet Caprice3040—
9Lincoln Continental2020—
10Porsche 9242000—
11Beam Beam2001—
12Dolphin Dolphin2002—
13Pontiac Firebird2031—
14Oldsmobile Cutlass2081—
15Toyota Corolla2010—
16Pontiac Bonneville2011—
17Honda Accord2011—
18GMC GMC2031—
19Chevrolet Chevrolet Truck2032—
20Peterbilt Peterbilt2031—
21Ford F-15020100—
22Ford F-2502090—
23Mercedes-Benz 450SLC2010—
24Ford F1002090—
25MG Mgb2020—
26Dodge B3002020—
27Chevrolet Impala2030—
28Saab 9002040—
29Ford Ranchero2040—
30Oldsmobile 882030—
31Ford LTD2090—
32Ford Bronco2060—
33BMW R1001010—
34BMW 320I1010—
35Ford Thunderbird1040—
36Ford Ford1010—
37Plymouth Horizon1030—
38Toyota Cressida1000—
39Toyota Celica1000—
40Chrysler Lebaron1001—
41Mercedes-Benz Mercedes Benz1001—
42Four Seasons Micro Mini Motorhome1001—
43GMC C25001011—
44Mack Mack1030—
45BMW 3201010—
46Honda Civic1011—
47Ford E-2501041—
48Ford All Full Size1010—
49Zieman Zieman1010—
50Chevrolet G201030—
51Jeep CJ51020—
52Ford LNT90001010—
53Ford Econoline1080—
54Fleetwood Taurus1010—
55Cadillac Eldorado1010—
56Jeep Wagoneer1020—
57Dodge M Series-Mobilhome1010—
58Mercury Zephyr1040—
59Buick Lesabre1020—
60Volkswagen Scirocco1070—

Showing the 60 most-reported of 654 1979 vehicles. The rest are reachable through their make and model pages.

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.

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

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.