Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1979 Malibu.
The 1979 Chevrolet Malibu carries a modest record of four total owner complaints, with service brakes and hydraulic systems emerging as the primary concern, alongside six recalls issued for the model year. When viewed against the broader Malibu lineage tracked from 1997 through 2025 — where annual complaint totals swung from a low of seven in 2025 to a peak of 1,697 in 2004 — the 1979's figure sits below even the quietest modern year, indicating a sparsely documented complaint profile for this vintage.
Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.
| Overall length | 189.8 in |
| Overall width | 70.5 in |
| Overall height | 52.4 in |
| Wheelbase | 106.3 in |
| Curb weight | 3049 lb |
0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.
Independent road tests for the Malibu 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | Classic Landau Coupe 5.0L V8 | 10.80 sec | 18.40 sec | 145 hp | RWD |
Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.
The provided federal record covers model years 1997 through 2025, meaning there is no available data to compare the 1979 Chevrolet Malibu to its immediate predecessors or successors. Because of this gap, a generational trend cannot be established using the provided dataset. For the 1979 model year specifically, the record indicates only three complaints regarding hydraulic service brakes and one regarding seat belts. There are zero reported crash or fire complaints, and the data does not specify the root causes of the recorded issues. Based on the extremely low volume of reported complaints, this is a good year to buy.
All 4 complaints on record, top 2 components.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.
Showing 2 of 6 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.
EXCESSIVE ENLARGEMENT OF THE WHEEL CYLINDER PILOT HOLE IN THE REAR BRAKE BACKING PLATE COULD ALLOW THE WHEEL CYLINDER TO ROTATE AND CAUSE LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: A LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID LEADS TO LOSS… Remedy: ADD A PART TO PREVENT WHEEL CYLINDER FROM ROTATING.
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 6 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.