1979 CHEVROLET IMPALA — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data
N/A
Safety Rating
2
Owner Complaints
3
Recalls
0
Service Bulletins
0
Investigations
Overview of the 1979 CHEVROLET IMPALA
The 1979 CHEVROLET IMPALA has received a total of 2 safety complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). There have been 3 recall campaigns affecting this vehicle, covering issues with SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH. The most commonly reported problem area is the Fuel System Gasolinecarburetor System (1 complaint).
Recalls for the 1979 CHEVROLET IMPALA
NHTSA has recorded 3 recalls for the 1979 CHEVROLET IMPALA, potentially affecting up to 1,817,977 vehicles.
Recall 79V247000 — SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
| 1,326,404 vehicles affected
Defect: THE HEADS MAY BREAK OFF THE FRONT OUTBOARD SEAT BELT ANCHOR BOLTS DURING NORMAL VEHICLE OPERATION EVEN UNDER NO LOAD CONDITIONS. THIS IS DUE TO THE COMBINATION OF BOLTS USED, HIGH INSTALLATION TORQUE AND ARRANGEMENT OF THE BODY ANCHORAGE.
Remedy: DEALER WILL REPLACE ALL ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT FRONT OUTBOARD SEAT BELT ANCHOR BOLTS ON THE AFFECTED VEHICLES AT NO COST TO OWNER.
View full details →Recall 79V161000 — LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
| 476,245 vehicles affected
Defect: A CHILD COULD OPEN THE REAR SIDE COMPARTMENT DOOR AND ENTER THIS COMPARTMENT. THE CHILD COULD BECOME ENTRAPPED IF THE DOOR WERE TO CLOSE, AS IT CANNOT BE UNLATCHED FROM THE INSIDE.
Remedy: DEALER WILL REPLACE THE ORIGINAL COMPARTMENT DOOR LATCH, WHICH CAN BE LATCHED WITHOUT A KEY, WITH A NEW ASSEMBLY THAT REQUIRES A KEY TO LATCH AS WELL AS LOCK THE DOOR.
View full details →Recall 79V142000 — EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH
| 15,328 vehicles affected
Defect: ON THE INVOLVED VEHICLES THE BRAKE STOPLIGHT AND CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH WHICH IS OPERATED BY THE BRAKE PEDAL MAY HAVE BEEN ASSEMBLED WITH AN INCORRECT LUBRICANT ON THE ACTUATING PLUNGER. THIS CAN CAUSE THE REAR BRAKE STOPLIGHTS TO BECOME INOPERATIVE AND THE CRUISE CONTROL, IF ACTIVATED, TO STAY ELECTRICALLY ENGAGED.
Remedy: DEALER WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE BRAKE STOPLIGHT AND CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH AT NO COST TO OWNER.
View full details →Owner Complaints for the 1979 CHEVROLET IMPALA
2 complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 1979 CHEVROLET IMPALA. Below is a breakdown by vehicle component.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fuel System Gasolinecarburetor System | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspensionfrontspringsleaf Spring Assemblyu Bolt Leaf Spring To Axle | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Most Recent Complaints
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 TORQUED DOWN TO THE 55 FT LBS. SINCE MOST PEOPLE DO NOT FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS COMPLETELY, AND JUST TIGHTED UNTIL THEY FEEL ITS TIGHT ENOUGH. THEY GET AWAY WITH SUPPLING A LOWER QUALITY U-BOLTS THEY MAYBE TELL GOVENMENT AND SAFTEY BOARDS. THEY MAY SAVE $ .70-1.00 ON A INSTALLATION KIT SUPPLYING LOWER GRADES OF BOLTS. THIS ALONE IS NOT MUCH MONEY, BUT IF THEY DID THIS TO 100,000 HITCHES THATS NOW A LOT OF SAVING. IS THIS A SAFTEY PROBLEM? IT MAYBE, DUE TO A COUPLE OF THINGS. 1. IF THE HITCH WAS RATED AND TESTED FOR USE WITH A HIGHER GRADE BOLT, THAT IS WHAT SHOULD BE USED IN THE INSTALLATION KIT. (WOULD IT MEET A CLASS LL RATING WITH MILD STEEL BOLTS?) 2. SOME ONE MAY FOLLOW DIRECTION SUCH AS I DID BY NECKING AND SNAPING THE BOLTS, OR WORST STOP TIGHTEN WHEN THEY FELT IT NECKING LEAVING THE U-BOLT IN A WEAKED AND DAMAGED CONDITION. DT
CARBURETOR LEAKED GAS ON MANIFOLD CAUSING VEHICLE FIRE.
Safety Rating for the 1979 CHEVROLET IMPALA
NHTSA has not yet tested the 1979 CHEVROLET IMPALA in its New Car Assessment Program.
Technical Service Bulletins for the 1979 CHEVROLET IMPALA
No technical service bulletins have been reported for this vehicle.
NHTSA Investigations for the 1979 CHEVROLET IMPALA
There are no NHTSA defect investigations on record for this vehicle.
Other Model Years of the CHEVROLET IMPALA
- 1974 CHEVROLET IMPALA — 0 complaints
- 1976 CHEVROLET IMPALA — 0 complaints
- 1977 CHEVROLET IMPALA — 1 complaint
- 1978 CHEVROLET IMPALA — 0 complaints
- 1979 CHEVROLET IMPALA (current)
- 1980 CHEVROLET IMPALA — 0 complaints
- 1981 CHEVROLET IMPALA — 2 complaints
- 1982 CHEVROLET IMPALA — 2 complaints
- 1983 CHEVROLET IMPALA — 3 complaints
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