Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1979 Regal.
The 1979 Buick Regal presents a unique study in early model reliability, recording just three total owner complaints centered around tires while simultaneously navigating five separate recalls. When contextualized against the model's broader complaint history spanning 1990 to 2020, this iteration sits near the reliability high of a single issue in 2008 and far removed from the problematic spike of 325 complaints seen in 1998. For researchers, this means the 1979 Regal occupies a notably stable position in the nameplate's lineage, representing a year where documented owner dissatisfaction was minimal compared to the model's most troubled eras.
Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.
| Overall length | 200 in |
| Overall width | 72 in |
| Overall height | 53.5 in |
| Wheelbase | 108.3 in |
| Curb weight | 3170 lb |
0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.
Independent road tests for the Regal 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | Indy Pace Car T-Top Cabriolet 4.1L V6 | 7.50 sec | 16.00 sec | 125 hp | RWD |
| 1984 | T-Type Coupe 3.8L Turbo V6 | 8.00 sec | 16.00 sec | 200 hp | RWD |
| 1985 | Grand National Coupe 3.8L Turbo V6 | 7.50 sec | 15.70 sec | 200 hp | RWD |
| 1986 | Grand National Coupe 3.8L Turbo V6 | 4.90 sec | 13.90 sec | 235 hp | RWD |
| 1986 | T-Type Coupe 3.8L Turbo V6 | 5.85 sec | 14.30 sec | 235 hp | RWD |
| 1987 | Grand National Coupe 3.8L Turbo V6 | 5.40 sec | 14.20 sec | 245 hp | RWD |
| 1987 | Grand National Coupe 3.8L Turbo V6 | 6.00 sec | 14.70 sec | 245 hp | RWD |
| 1987 | Grand National Coupe 3.8L Turbo V6 | 6.10 sec | 14.70 sec | 245 hp | RWD |
Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.
The supplied year-by-year federal record spans 1990 through 2020 and contains no entry for 1979, so the target year cannot be compared to the years immediately before or after it within this dataset, nor situated within the generational complaint and recall arc that begins in 1990. Because 1979 is absent from that timeline, no trend data—whether rising complaints, recall spikes, or investigation clusters—can be mapped to this model year from the provided record. The only available target-year figures are three tire-related complaints, zero crash complaints, and zero fire complaints, though the data does not specify root causes, defect patterns, or severity. Since the record omits 1979 entirely, there are no recalls, investigations, or technical service bulletins listed for this model year, yielding no regulatory indication of systemic failure but also no documented evidence to confirm long-term durability. Ultimately, the 1979 Buick Regal is invisible in this federal dataset, so it carries no listed recalls or investigations; still, without generational trend data to confirm reliability, it is only a good buy if the individual vehicle has been thoroughly inspected and well maintained, making it a condition-dependent proposition rather than a statistically reassuring choice.
All 3 complaints on record, top 1 components.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.
Showing 2 of 5 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.
THE SHIFT CABLE RETAINING CLIP MAY HAVE BEEN INSTALLED BACKWARDS OR NOT AT ALL. THE PURPOSE OF THIS SPRING CLIP IS TO SECURE THE LOWER END OF THE SHIFT CABLE HOUSING TO THE TRANSMISSION. IF THE CLIP IS BACKWARD OR… Remedy: THE DEALER WILL INSPECT AND IF NECESSARY CORRECT THE SHIFT CABLE RETAINING CLIP INSTALLATION AT NO 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 5 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.