Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1979 Firebird.
The 1979 Pontiac Firebird is documented in the 1979 Firebird Overview, a model year that precedes the detailed complaint record of the line. During the period from 1990 to 2002 the model logged a low of ten owner complaints in 1990 and a peak of ninety‑five in 1995, while the 1979 version recorded only two complaints and three recalls, the most frequent complaint concerning visibility. This early‑year data sits at the start of a trajectory that later included both modest and pronounced complaint peaks, indicating that the 1979 launch entered a model line whose reliability would fluctuate over subsequent decades.
0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.
Independent road tests for the Firebird 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 | Trans Am Coupe 6.6L V8 | 6.70 sec | 15.30 sec | 220 hp | RWD |
| 1980 | Turbo Trans Am Coupe 4.9L Turbo V8 | 8.20 sec | 16.70 sec | 210 hp | RWD |
| 1977 | Trans Am Coupe 6.6L V8 | 9.30 sec | 16.90 sec | 200 hp | RWD |
| 1976 | Trans Am 455 Coupe 7.5L V8 | 7.00 sec | 15.60 sec | 200 hp | RWD |
| 1982 | Trans Am Coupe 5.0L V8 | 10.60 sec | 17.50 sec | 165 hp | RWD |
| 1983 | Trans Am Coupe 5.0L V8 | 8.50 sec | 16.44 sec | 165 hp | RWD |
| 1971 | Trans Am 455 H.O. Coupe 7.5L V8 | 5.40 sec | 13.80 sec | 335 hp | RWD |
| 1987 | Formula Coupe 5.0L V8 | 6.30 sec | 14.90 sec | 190 hp | RWD |
Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.
The federal record you supplied covers only 1990–2002, so it does not include any data for a 1979 model year. Consequently, I cannot compare 1979 to the years before and after it, nor can I identify any complaint or recall trend that would involve 1979. Because the record simply lacks that year, there is no factual basis to evaluate how 1979 fits into the broader arc of the Firebird’s safety and reliability performance. As a result, I cannot determine whether 1979 is a good year to buy based on this dataset. For a reliable assessment, you would need a specific record that includes 1979 data.
All 2 complaints on record, top 2 components.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.
Showing 2 of 3 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.
ON CERTAIN VEHICLES, THE LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINT TO STEERING KNUCKLE ATTACHING NUT MAY NOT HAVE BEEN TORQUED TO SPECIFICATIONS. THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE THE NUT TO BACK OFF, RESULTING IN JOINT SEPARATION. Remedy: THE DEALER WILL PERFORM A TORQUE CHECK OF THE ATTACHING NUT, AND, IF NECESSARY, TIGHTEN IT. IN SOME CASES AN INADEQUATE TORQUE LEVEL MAY HAVE CAUSED BALL STUD OR STEERING KNUCKLE…
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 3 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.