Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 1 of 1 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
Power Train. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
0 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports
What owners actually said
1 reports
50,000 miles · Jun 10, 2010
Power Train
TL*THE CONTACTS OWN A 1979 JEEP CJ5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30MPH HE SHIFTED INTO SECOND GEAR AND THE VEHICLE MADE A LOUD NOISE. WHEN HE SHIFTED INTO THIRD GEAR THE ENGINE SHUT OFF. A FEW MINUTES LATER, THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. HE NOTICED THAT TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS LEAKING FROM THE VEHICLE. …
Read full complaint
TL*THE CONTACTS OWN A 1979 JEEP CJ5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30MPH HE SHIFTED INTO SECOND GEAR AND THE VEHICLE MADE A LOUD NOISE. WHEN HE SHIFTED INTO THIRD GEAR THE ENGINE SHUT OFF. A FEW MINUTES LATER, THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. HE NOTICED THAT TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS LEAKING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CHRYSLER DEALER REFERRED HIM TO A JEEP DEALER WHO CONFIRMED THAT NHTSA CAMPAIGN 79V070000, POWER TRAIN, MANUAL TRANSMISSION RECALL WAS RELATED TO THE FAILURE; HOWEVER, THE JEEP DEALER REFUSED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE SINCE THERE WAS A 10 YEAR SUNSET CLAUSE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 50,000.
CERTAIN VEHICLES MAY HAVE AN INCORRECT GASKET BETWEEN THE TRANSMISSION AND THE TRANSFER CASE. AN INCORRECT GASKET MAY INTERFERE WITH THE NORMAL FLOW OF LUBRICANT. THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE THE TRANSMISSION TO BECOME DAMAGED AND INOPERATIVE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Not supplied
Remedy: THE GASKET BETWEEN THE TRANSMISSION AND THE TRANSFER CASE WILL BE REPLACED, IF NECESSARY.
THE CLAMP BOLTS ON THE ADJUSTER TUBE THAT FASTENS THE CONNECTING ROD TO THE PITMAN ARM END ASSEMBLY MAY BE LOOSE. THESE LOOSE BOLTS COULD CAUSE SHIFTING OF THE STEERING WHEEL POSITION, RELATIVE TO THE STRAIGHT-AHEAD-FRONT WHEEL POSITION, AND LOSS OF STEERING.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Not supplied
Remedy: THE DEALER WILL TIGHTEN THE BOLTS WHERE NECESSARY, AND CHECK AND CORRECT THE STEERING WHEEL ALIGNMENT FREE OF CHARGE.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0
No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
1979 Jeep CJ5 Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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