Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1979 Corvette.
The 1979 Chevrolet Corvette, as recorded in the Overview, is a vehicle whose body, platform, and engine are central to its complaint profile, and its owner‑complaint record shows only 13 total complaints with two recall actions, a modest figure that contrasts with later spikes such as 2008’s 588 complaints. The primary complaints cluster in the engine and engine cooling area, underscoring that early‑year reliability concerns are limited to those systems. Because the 1979 model precedes the bulk of the complaint data set, its low complaint count suggests relatively stable early‑generation performance, though the limited sample size cautions against broad reliability conclusions.
Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.
| Overall length | 182.3 in |
| Overall width | 67.7 in |
| Overall height | 47.2 in |
| Wheelbase | 96.5 in |
| Curb weight | 3466 lb |
0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.
Independent road tests for the Corvette 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | L82 Coupe 5.7L V8 | 6.60 sec | 15.30 sec | 225 hp | RWD |
| 1978 | Targa Coupe 5.7L V8 | 7.80 sec | 16.10 sec | 220 hp | RWD |
| 1980 | Targa Coupe 5.7L V8 | 7.60 sec | 15.90 sec | 190 hp | RWD |
| 1977 | L82 Coupe 5.7L V8 | 6.80 sec | 15.50 sec | 210 hp | RWD |
| 1981 | Coupe 5.7L V8 | 7.20 sec | 15.40 sec | 190 hp | RWD |
| 1976 | Stingray L82 Coupe 5.7L V8 | 7.10 sec | 15.30 sec | 210 hp | RWD |
| 1982 | Coupe 5.7L V8 | 8.10 sec | 15.90 sec | 200 hp | RWD |
| 1982 | Coupe 5.7L V8 | 8.25 sec | 16.52 sec | 200 hp | RWD |
Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.
The 1979 Corvette sits early in the generation’s federal record, a decade before the 1990 data that marks the start of the available trend. In the years immediately preceding and following 1979, complaint counts rise sharply from the 8 complaints in 1992 to 167 in 1997, while recall activity peaks at 6 in 2005 and then drops to zero in 2008, indicating a volatile recall trend. The 1979 model falls at the very beginning of this arc, with only a single fire complaint and no crash complaints reported, and its top complaint areas—Engine & Engine Cooling, Structure, Tires, and Equipment—mirror issues that become more frequent in later years. Because the early record shows minimal complaints and no recalls, a 1979 Corvette represents a relatively clean entry point before the surge of issues in the mid‑1990s and 2000s. For a buyer, this suggests that a 1979 Corvette is a good year to consider, provided the vehicle’s condition aligns with the low complaint profile shown in the data.
All 13 complaints on record, top 5 components.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.
Showing 2 of 2 campaigns on record for this vehicle.
CERTAIN HONEYWELL FRAM RACING BRAND HP4 AND HP8 OIL FILTERS THAT WERE MANUFACTURED FROM MAY 25, 2006, THROUGH SEPTEMBER 14, 2007, AND SOLD FOR USE AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR VEHICLES LIST ABOVE. THE AFFECTED FILTERS… Remedy: HONEYWELL WILL REPLACE THE AFFECTED OIL FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN DURING NOVEMBER 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT FRAM CUSTOMER SERVICE TOLL-FREE AT 1-800-890-2075.
REMANUFACTURERD REAR BRAKE CALIPERS, PART NOS. 18-7019, 18-7020, 16-7019, AND 16-7020, MANUFACTURED FROM FEBRUARY 1, 2002, TO APRIL, 25, 2003., AND FOR USE ON 1965 THRU 1982 CHEVROLET CORVETTES. THE SUBJECT BRAKE… Remedy: CARDONE WILL NOTIFY ITS CUSTOMERS AND ALL UNSOLD INVENTORY WILL BE REPURCHASED AND WILL PROVIDE A FULL REFUND TO CUSTOMERS. OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING MAY…
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 2 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.