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Worst Vehicles of 1979

The most problematic 1979 model year vehicles ranked by NHTSA complaints, federal recalls, and safety investigations.

Other Years

1984198319821981198019781977197619751974
All-Time Worst|Most Reliable|Browse by Class
How scoring works: Each complaint counts as 1 point, each recall as 5 points, and each federal investigation as 10 points. Click any vehicle to view its full reliability profile.
#11979 Flxible Transit Coach
0 complaints13 recalls
65
#21979 Dodge Sport Utility
52 complaints1 recalls
57
#31979 Volkswagen Rabbit
0 complaints7 recalls2 invest.
55
#41979 Mercury Capri
0 complaints7 recalls2 invest.
55
#51979 Ford Mustang
0 complaints7 recalls2 invest.2 TSBs
55
#61979 Ford F150
2 complaints10 recalls
52
#71979 Oldsmobile Cutlass
2 complaints8 recalls1 invest.
52
#81979 Ford Ltd
3 complaints9 recalls
48
#91979 Ford F100
2 complaints9 recalls
47
#101979 Ford F250
1 complaints9 recalls
46
#111979 Chevrolet Malibu
4 complaints6 recalls1 invest.
44
#121979 Ford Econoline
1 complaints8 recalls
41
#131979 Buick Century
0 complaints6 recalls1 invest.
40
#141979 Freightliner Freightliner
0 complaints6 recalls1 invest.1 TSBs
40
#151979 Buick Regal
3 complaints5 recalls1 invest.
38
#161979 Chevrolet Chevrolet Truck
2 complaints3 recalls2 invest.1 TSBs
37
#171979 Volkswagen Scirocco
1 complaints7 recalls
36
#181979 Audi 5000
0 complaints3 recalls2 invest.
35
#191979 Ford E350
0 complaints3 recalls2 invest.
35
#201979 Western Ws Series
0 complaints7 recalls
35
#211979 Ford E150
0 complaints5 recalls1 invest.
35
#221979 Western Wl Series
0 complaints7 recalls
35
#231979 Pontiac Grand Prix
0 complaints5 recalls1 invest.
35
#241979 Ford Club Wagon
0 complaints7 recalls
35
#251979 Pontiac Lemans
0 complaints5 recalls1 invest.
35
#261979 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
0 complaints5 recalls1 invest.
35
#271979 Ford Bronco
2 complaints6 recalls
32
#281979 Chevrolet Camaro
6 complaints3 recalls1 invest.
31
#291979 Ford E250
1 complaints4 recalls1 invest.
31
#301979 Chevrolet C20
0 complaints4 recalls1 invest.
30
#311979 Gmc Caballero
0 complaints4 recalls1 invest.
30
#321979 Chevrolet El Camino
0 complaints4 recalls1 invest.
30
#331979 Mack Rwl
0 complaints6 recalls22 TSBs
30
#341979 Ford F350
0 complaints4 recalls1 invest.
30
#351979 Chevrolet C30
0 complaints4 recalls1 invest.
30
#361979 Chevrolet C10
4 complaints1 recalls2 invest.
29
#371979 Peterbilt Peterbilt
2 complaints3 recalls1 invest.
27
#381979 Gmc Gmc
2 complaints3 recalls1 invest.
27
#391979 Pontiac Firebird
2 complaints3 recalls1 invest.
27
#401979 Chevrolet Caprice
6 complaints4 recalls
26
#411979 Chevrolet K30
0 complaints3 recalls1 invest.
25
#421979 Ford E100
0 complaints5 recalls
25
#431979 International Harvester S Series
0 complaints5 recalls
25
#441979 Mack Cf
0 complaints5 recalls22 TSBs
25
#451979 Western Rwl Series
0 complaints5 recalls
25
#461979 Ford Granada
0 complaints5 recalls
25
#471979 Western Rws Series
0 complaints5 recalls
25
#481979 Mercury Marquis
0 complaints5 recalls
25
#491979 Kenworth Kenworth
0 complaints3 recalls1 invest.
25
#501979 Chevrolet K20
0 complaints3 recalls1 invest.
25

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Check Your CarBased on 2.1M+ owner complaints
Data sourced from NHTSA complaints, federal recalls, and safety investigations.