The 1979 Chevrolet Chevrolet Truck has 3 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 55,880 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 2 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the engine and engine cooling. Last updated July 5, 2026.
THE HYDRAULIC STEEL BRAKE TUBE CONNECTING THE BRAKE HOSE TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT FRONT TOP WHEEL CYLINDER MAY DEVELOP A FRACTURE IN THE BEND NEXT TO THE WHEEL CYLINDER. THIS FRACTURE RESULTS FROM PERIODIC HIGH STRESSES IN THE TUBE DUE TO "BRAKE CHATTER" WHICH CAN OCCUR DURING CERTAIN ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS.
THE DEALER WILL REPLACE THE FRONT BRAKE TUBES AT NO CHARGE TO OWNER.
A MISROUTING OF THE POSITIVE BATTERY CABLE MAY EXIST. AS A RESULT, THE POSITIVE BATTERY CABLE INSULATION COULD BE DAMAGED FROM EXHAUST MANIFOLD HEAT. THE WIRE IN THE CABLE MAY THEN CONTACT AND DAMAGE THE METAL BRAKE TUBE.
ALL INVOLVED VEHICLES WILL BE INSPECTED FOR POSITIVE BATTERY CABLE MISROUTING AND POSSIBLE HEAT DAMAGE TO THE INSULATION. IF NECESSARY, THE POSITIVE BATTERY CABLE WILL BE REPLACED OR REROUTED AT NO CHARGE TO OWNER.
DURING TESTING OF THE FIRE APPARATUS, EXTREME HEAT GENERATED FROM THE RIGHT SIDE ENGINE EXHAUST MANIFOLD, RESULTED IN DAMAGE TO THE BRAKE HOSE AT THE FRAME FITTING. THIS COULD CAUSE A LEAK IN THE FRONT AXLE HYDRAULIC BRAKE HOSE.
DEALER WILL INSTALL AN EXHAUST HEAT SHIELD AT THE RIGHT SIDE FRAME TO BRAKE HOSE FITTING AND REPLACE FRONT BRAKE HOSES AT NO CHARGE TO OWNER.
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal information removed.
“Fan blade broke off striking mechanic in the face.”
“Fuel tank mounted outside frame. *skd”
FUEL TANK POSITION
Mr. Chevedden petition the agency requesting a defect investigation that would resultin the retrofitting of a low cost gas tank guard on all 1973-87 Chevrolet and GMC CK pickup trucks to prevent fires in a side impact
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL, FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1979 Chevrolet Chevrolet Truck as of July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.