Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1979 Eldorado.
The 1979 Cadillac Eldorado, Cadillac’s flagship full‑size luxury coupe for that model year, recorded only a single owner complaint in the compiled reliability data, with the lone issue falling under tires and accompanied by one recall. Although the broader complaint history spans 1990‑2002, the Eldorado’s 1979 data point sits outside that range, suggesting that the year precedes the period of higher reported problems and thus represents an early point in the model’s overall reliability timeline. Consequently, researchers can view the 1979 iteration as a relatively trouble‑free example within the Eldorado’s long production run.
Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.
| Overall length | 205.1 in |
| Overall width | 72 in |
| Overall height | 54.3 in |
| Wheelbase | 114.6 in |
| Curb weight | 3898 lb |
0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.
Independent road tests for the Eldorado of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.
| Year | Trim / engine | 0–60 | ¼ mile | HP | Drivetrain |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | Touring Coupe 4.1L V8 | 15.20 sec | 20.20 sec | 125 hp | FWD |
| 1984 | Touring Coupe 4.1L V8 | 13.10 sec | 19.30 sec | 135 hp | FWD |
Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.
The provided federal record data covers model years 1990–2002, which does not include the target year 1979. Consequently, there is no complaint, recall, investigation, or TSB data available for the 1979 Cadillac Eldorado in this dataset to analyze its position within any trend or generation-specific pattern. The available data shows a general trend of increasing complaints and TSBs from 1990 through 2002, with a peak in complaints around 1996–1997 (79–81 complaints) and a steady rise in TSBs from 4 in 1991 to 351 in 2002, suggesting greater service documentation over time rather than necessarily more defects. Without any data for 1979, it is impossible to determine where this model year falls within any complaint or recall arc specific to that generation. The data does not specify reliability metrics, common failure points, or historical context for the 1979 model. **Takeaway:** This is not a good year to buy based on this analysis, because the available federal record data does not cover 1979, leaving a critical information gap about its specific complaint and recall history; prospective buyers should seek additional sources such as owner forums, pre-purchase inspections, or model-specific historical records to assess this vehicle's reliability.
All 1 complaints on record, top 1 components.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.
Showing 1 of 1 campaigns on record for this vehicle.
VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 105, "HYDRAULIC BRAKE SYSTEMS". AN INCORRECT PARKING BRAKE ADJUSTING SPRING WAS INSTALLED ON CERTAIN VEHICLES. THIS MAY CAUSE INTERFERENCE WHEN… Remedy: THE CALIPER ACTUATOR ASSEMBLY WILL BE REPLACED WITHOUT CHARGE.
The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.
Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.
Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.