Total Complaints
2 filings
CHEVROLET IMPALA · model year
1979 CHEVROLET IMPALA
2 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1979CHEVROLETIMPALA carries 2 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 1 fire, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1979 IMPALA is fuel system, gasoline:carburetor system with 1 filings, followed by suspension:front:springs:leaf spring assembly:u-bolt, leaf spring to axle (1). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.
NHTSA currently has 57 investigation files overlapping the 1979 IMPALA, and 2 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
2
Complaints
0
Crashes
1
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
0 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:CARBURETOR SYSTEM | 1 |
| SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:LEAF SPRING ASSEMBLY:U-BOLT, LEAF SPRING TO AXLE | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20021106SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:LEAF SPRING ASSEMBLY:U-BOLT, LEAF SPRING TO AXLE
THE PROBLEM IS IN A NEW HITCH I JUST PURCHASED MANUFACTURED BY VALLEY INDUSTRIES, OF LODI, CALIFORNIA. KIT CAME WITH TWO 7/16" SQUARE U-BOLTS, WHICH REQUIRED DRILLING HOLES INTO THE FRAME TO INSTALL. THE INSTRUCTIONS CALLED FOR THE NUTS ON THE SQUARE U-BOLTS TO BE TIGHTEN TO A FORCE OF 55 FT.LBS. THE BOLTS PROVIDED, WILL NOT HOLD THAT FORCE. INSTEAD THEY NECKED AND BROKE AT SLIGHTLY OVER 40 FT. LBS. I FEEL THEY HAVE PROVIDED A MILD STEEL BOLT INSTEAD OF A GRADE #0, 1, OR 2. INSTEAD OF THE GRADE OF A #5 WHICH WOULD HAVE HELD THIS KIND OF FORCE. I CALLED THE MANUFACTER A COUPLE OF TIMES ABOUT THIS TODAY 11/4/02 AND FINIALLY TALKED TO ENGINEERING, WHO TOLD ME THAT ALL THE U-BOLTS ARE MILD STEEL, YOU CAN'T GET U-BOLTS IN A HARDEN STEEL, IN AUTOMOTIVE APPLICATIONS. THEY (THE COMPANY), DIDN'T UNDERSTAND HOW THE BOLTS WOULD BREAK, BUT THEY WOULD SEND ME OUT SOME NEW ONES. IT IS MY CONTENTION THAT THEY KNEW ALL ALONG THAT THE GRADE OF BOLTS THEY WERE PROVIDING CAN NOT BE TORQUE
19970926FireFUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:CARBURETOR SYSTEM
CARBURETOR LEAKED GAS ON MANIFOLD CAUSING VEHICLE FIRE.
Compare 1979CHEVROLETIMPALA to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations 2 Open
EA25007Engineering AnalysisOpen
Loss of motive power due to engine failure
PE23022Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Loss of Motive Power due to the Battery Energy Control Module
PE20016Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Electric Vehicle Battery Fires
EA20002Engineering AnalysisClosed
Outboard Front Seat Belt Anchor Cable Failure
PE20011Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Fuel Line Leak
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1979 CHEVROLET IMPALA have?▼
The 1979 CHEVROLET IMPALA has 2 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 1 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1979 CHEVROLET IMPALA?▼
The most-complained component for the 1979 CHEVROLET IMPALA is FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:CARBURETOR SYSTEM with 1 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:LEAF SPRING ASSEMBLY:U-BOLT, LEAF SPRING TO AXLE.
Is the 1979 CHEVROLET IMPALA safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Vehicle Safety Guides
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.