Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1979 Civic.
Defined by a single owner complaint centered on steering and one recall, the 1979 Honda Civic establishes a minimal reliability footprint within its specific model year. While the broader model complaint history spans from 1990 to 2022 with volumes ranging from a low of 102 issues in 1990 to a peak of 1,402 in 2006, this earlier iteration records only one incident. Consequently, the 1979 vehicle sits well below the documented complaint peaks of later decades, indicating a strong reliability standing within the context of the provided data.
Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.
| Overall length | 148 in |
| Overall width | 61.8 in |
| Overall height | 53.1 in |
| Wheelbase | 89 in |
0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.
Independent road tests for the Civic 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 | CVCC Wagon 1.5L I-4 | 15.50 sec | 20.10 sec | 67 hp | FWD |
| 1975 | CVCC 3-door Hatchback 1.5L I-4 | 15.60 sec | 20.10 sec | 53 hp | FWD |
| 1975 | CVCC 3-door Hatchback 1.5L I-4 | 17.40 sec | 21.00 sec | 53 hp | FWD |
| 1973 | 3-door Hatchback 1.2L I-4 | 12.90 sec | 18.70 sec | 50 hp | FWD |
Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.
The 1979 Honda Civic falls outside the provided federal complaint and recall dataset, which begins in 1990, so direct year-over-year comparisons within its generation are not possible using this data. However, the absence of recorded federal complaints or recalls for the 1979 model year in this dataset implies either minimal reported issues or a lack of formal documentation for vehicles of that era. The lone complaint recorded for 1979 pertains to steering, with no fire-related incidents or crash complaints beyond that single entry, suggesting isolated rather than systemic problems. Without additional context on recalls or investigations, the data does not indicate widespread reliability concerns for this specific year. That said, the lack of modern safety and emissions oversight for 1979 models means buyers should prioritize thorough mechanical inspection over federal trend analysis. **Takeaway: The 1979 Civic appears statistically unremarkable in this dataset, but its age demands meticulous pre-purchase evaluation—proceed only with verified maintenance records and expert assessment.**
All 1 complaints on record, top 1 components.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.
Showing 1 of 1 campaigns on record for this vehicle.
PROLONGED CONTACT WITH ROAD SALT MAY, UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, CAUSE SERIOUS RUSTING. THIS CAN WEAKEN CERTAIN UNDERCARRIAGE COMPONENTS: LATERAL SUSPENSION ARMS, FRONT CROSSBEAM AND STRUT COIL SPRING LOWER SUPPORTS. Remedy: VEHICLES WILL BE INSPECTED AND, IF NECESSARY, TREATED WITH A RUST PREVENTIVE COATING. IN SOME CASES, REPLACEMENT OF COMPONENTS WILL BE PERFORMED, WITHOUT CHARGE TO OWNER.
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 1 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.