VehicleVerdict

1979 Mercury Capri problems

Verdict · NHTSA data

Limited data — recalls on file

NHTSA has just 0 complaints on file for the 1979 Mercury Capri — too few to judge reliability from owner reports alone — but 7 recall campaigns apply to this year, so any used example should have its VIN checked for completed recall work.

0

NHTSA complaints

7

Recalls

2

Investigations

0

Crash-involved

0

Fires reported

0

Injuries

0

Deaths

—

NCAP overall

How does 1979 compare to other Capri years?

Capri NHTSA complaints by model year, 1979 highlighted33 complaints1971: 0 complaints1972: 0 complaints1973: 0 complaints1974: 0 complaints1975: 0 complaints1976: 0 complaints1977: 0 complaints1978: 0 complaints1979: 0 complaints1980: 0 complaints1981: 1 complaints1982: 0 complaints1983: 0 complaints1984: 0 complaints1985: 4 complaints1986: 0 complaints1987: 0 complaints1988: 0 complaints1989: 0 complaints1991: 33 complaints1992: 14 complaints1993: 6 complaints1994: 2 complaints
Capri NHTSA complaints by model year, 1979 highlighted. Red bars are years to avoid.

See all Capri years to avoid →

Does the 1979 Mercury Capri have recalls?

7 NHTSA recall campaigns on file. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.

08E019000Fuel SystemMarch 6, 2008 · 1,937 units

Defect

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 NOT BE SECURELY CRIMPED TO THE HOUSING. THIS COULD RESULT IN A SEPARATION OF FILTER'S OUTLET CAP FROM THE HOUSING.

Consequence

IF THIS CONDITION OCCURS WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, A NO START CONDITION MAY RESULT AND FUEL MAY BE PUMPED ONTO THE GROUND. IF THIS OCCURS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION, THE ENGINE MAY STOP DUE TO INADEQUATE FUEL SUPPLY. IF AN IGNITION SOURCE WERE PRESENT, FUEL LEAKAGE MAY RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy

INTERCONTINENTAL WILL REPLACE THE FUEL FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN DURING MARCH 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT INTERCONTINENTAL AT 800-451-2593.

07E064000Fuel SystemAugust 27, 2007 · 34,000 units

Defect

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. THE FUEL PUMP DIAPHRAGM IN CERTAIN PRODUCTION RUNS MAY HAVE BEEN IMPROPERLY INSTALLED OR INADEQUATELY TESTED WHICH MAY CAUSE THE FUEL PUMP TO LEAK.

Consequence

A LEAKING FUEL PUMP COULD CREATE A VEHICLE FIRE HAZARD.

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.

79V117000BrakesMay 15, 1979 · 82,000 units

Defect

THE INVOLVED VEHICLES WERE PRODUCED WITH BRAKE PUSH-ROD TO BRAKE PEDAL RETAINING PINS WHICH WERE NOT HEAT-TREATED AS SPECIFIED. THIS COULD ALLOW THE BRAKE PEDAL TO BECOME DISENGAGED FROM THE PUSH-ROD.

Remedy

DEALER WILL REPLACE THE SUSPECT BRAKE RETAINING PIN.

79V087000EngineApril 5, 1979 · 2,700 units

Defect

WITH THE ENGINE OPERATING AT HIGH SPEED, THE PLASTIC ENGINE FAN FINGER GUARDS MAY CONTACT THE ENGINE FAN AND BREAKAGE OF THE GUARD MAY OCCUR. THIS COULD CAUSE FRAGMENTS OF THE FINGER GUARD TO SCATTER.

Remedy

TWO GUARD SUPPORTS AND TWO ADDITIONAL FASTENERS WILL BE INSTALLED. IF THE FAN GUARD HAS BEEN DAMAGED, THE GUARD AND FAN WILL BE REPLACED AT NO COST TO OWNER.

79V053000SteeringFebruary 22, 1979 · 16,000 units

Defect

AN INCORRECT STEERING GEAR FLANGE MAY HAVE BEEN INSTALLED, WHICH MAY SLIP AND CAUSE EVENTUAL LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL.

Remedy

INSPECTION FOR AND REPLACEMENT OF INCORRECT STEERING GEAR FLANGES WILL BE DONE AT NO COST TO OWNER.

78V211000EngineOctober 4, 1978 · 6,750 units

Defect

THE INVOLVED VEHICLES ARE EQUIPPED WITH FLEXIBLE COOLING FAN BLADES THAT MAY CRACK WHEN SUBJECTED TO HIGH ENGINE SPEED OPERATING CONDITIONS. FAN BLADE CRACKING CAN LEAD TO FRAGMENTS SEPARATING FROM THE FAN.

Remedy

THE DEALER WILL REPLACE THE EXISTING COOLING FAN AT NO COST TO OWNER.

78V186000SteeringAugust 24, 1978 · 59 units

Defect

THE TILT STEERING COLUMNS ON THE INVOLVED VEHICLES CONTAIN IN-PROCESS TEMPORARY ALIGNMENT PINS RATHER THAN THE PERMANENT PRESS-FIT PIVOT PINS. THE TEMPORARY PINS ARE SLIGHTLY UNDERSIZED AND COULD SEPARATE FROM THE STEERING COLUMN DURING VEHICLE OPERATION. THIS CAN CAUSE STEERING WHEEL LOCKUP.

Remedy

THE DEALER WILL INSTALL A PERMANENT PIVOT PIN IN THE STEERING COLUMN WITHOUT CHARGE TO OWNER.

1979 Mercury Capri — common questions

Is the 1979 Mercury Capri reliable?

The record is thin — 0 NHTSA complaints — so owner-report data can't strongly confirm reliability either way, though 7 recalls should be verified as completed.

Does the 1979 Mercury Capri have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 7 recall campaigns affecting the 1979 Mercury Capri. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers; check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm the work was done.

Is the 1979 Mercury Capri under NHTSA investigation?

NHTSA opened 2 investigations into this model year; all are now closed.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.