Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1979 Mustang.
The 1979 Ford Mustang Overview enters a complaint database that spans 1990 through 2026, a period in which the nameplate's reported issues peaked at 868 in 2005 and dwindled to just four by 2026; because the 1979 model year falls outside the covered range, its reliability standing within that specific dataset cannot be plotted, leaving its long-term trouble profile uncharted in this particular history.
Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.
| Overall length | 179.1 in |
| Overall width | 64.2 in |
| Overall height | 53.9 in |
| Wheelbase | 101.2 in |
0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.
Independent road tests for the Mustang 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 | Cobra Hatchback Coupe 4.9L V8 | 8.30 sec | 17.00 sec | 139 hp | RWD |
| 1979 | Hatchback Coupe 2.8L V6 | 10.70 sec | 18.60 sec | 109 hp | RWD |
| 1979 | Hatchback Coupe 3.3L I-6 | 12.90 sec | 19.20 sec | 109 hp | RWD |
| 1980 | Cobra Hatchback Coupe 2.3L Turbo I-4 | 10.80 sec | 18.20 sec | 132 hp | RWD |
| 1976 | II Cobra II Hatchback Coupe 4.9L V8 | 8.90 sec | 17.00 sec | 140 hp | RWD |
| 1976 | II Mach I Hatchback Coupe 4.9L V8 | 10.40 sec | 17.70 sec | 134 hp | RWD |
| 1982 | GT Hatchback Coupe 5.0L V8 | 8.00 sec | 16.30 sec | 157 hp | RWD |
| 1982 | GT Hatchback Coupe 5.0L V8 | 8.10 sec | 16.20 sec | 157 hp | RWD |
Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.
Showing 2 of 7 campaigns on record for this vehicle.
INTERCONTINENTAL AUTO PARTS IS RECALLING 1,937 FUEL FILTERS, P/NOS ALG 44/1 AND PUROLATOR F10024, SHIPPED BETWEEN JANUARY 14 AND FEBRUARY 13, 2008, SOLD FOR USE ON THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE FILTER'S OUTLET CAP MAY… Remedy: INTERCONTINENTAL WILL REPLACE THE FUEL FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN DURING MARCH 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT INTERCONTINENTAL AT 800-451-2593.
CERTAIN FEDERAL-MOGUL AFTERMARKET FUEL PUMPS SOLD UNDER THE BRAND NAMES OF CARTER, ACCUFLOW, NAPA, TRUFLOW, PARTS DEPO, AND PARTS MASTER, SHIPPED BETWEEN AUGUST 2006 AND JULY 2007 FOR USE ON THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE… Remedy: FEDERAL-MOGUL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE FUEL PUMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 15, 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT FEDERAL-MOGUL AT 248-354-7700.
Showing 2 of 2 bulletins on record with NHTSA.
| Bulletin | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 80-11-2 | 1980-06-01 | Service Brakes, Hydraulic | UNKNOWN |
| 80-12-15 | 1980-06-01 | Engine And Engine Cooling | UNKNOWN |
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 7 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.