Total Complaints
69 filings
CHRYSLER LEBARON · model year
1989 CHRYSLER LEBARON
69 NHTSA complaints, 10 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1989CHRYSLERLEBARON carries 69 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 10 crashes, 10 fires, 7 injuries, and 1 fatality. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1989 LEBARON is engine and engine cooling:engine with 9 filings, followed by air bags:frontal (8) and electrical system:wiring:front underhood (4). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.
NHTSA currently has 88 investigation files overlapping the 1989 LEBARON, and 7 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
69
Complaints
10
Crashes
10
Fires
7
Injuries
1
Deaths
Crashes Reported
10 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 9 |
| AIR BAGS:FRONTAL | 8 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD | 4 |
| AIR BAGS | 3 |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 3 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS | 2 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS | 2 |
| POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY | 2 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 2 |
| POWER TRAIN | 2 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 2 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION | 2 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY | 2 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM | 2 |
| SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20030811CrashAIR BAGS
WHILE DRIVING AT 15 MPH VEHICLE HIT A POTHOLE AND AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, CAUSING SEVERE BURNS TO THE CONSUMER. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK
20030512ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
THE CONSUMER DISCOVERED A RELATED RECALL AND CONFIRMED THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL, THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER REGARDING REMEDY 89V237000 WHO ADVISED THE RECALL WAS TOO OLD AND THEY WERE NO LONGER HONORING IT. *JB
20021211FatalELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
KEY CAME OUT OF IGNITION WHILE CAR STILL RUNNING AND ABLE TO BE PUT INTO GEAR. CAR ROLLED BACKWARD KNOCKING DOWN DRIVER CAUSING FATAL INJURIES. DT
20021015CrashAIR BAGS:FRONTAL
CONSUMER STATES WHILE TRAVELING AT 15 MPH THE VEHICLE TRAVELING AHEAD SUDDENLY CAME TO A STOP, CAUSING A REAR IN COLLISION BY CONSUMER. CONSUMER STATES THE DRIVERS SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED, AND A PUDDY LIKE SUBSTAINS FROM AIRBAG CAUSED SECOND DEGREE BURNS TO CONSUMERS FACE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. MR
20020906VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
20020821SEATS
I WAS FRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND SUDDENLY MY SEAT BROKE I SWERVED AL OVER THE ROAD AND FINALLY GOT CONTROL AN PULLED OVER AND FOUN OUT THAT THE FRAME OF THE SEAT BROKE. *AK
20020320ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
WHITE SMOKE WAS COMING FROM UNDERNEATH OF VEHICLE, THERE WAS A CLICKING NOISE. *AK RECALL 89V237000 TO REPLACE GASKET COVER. *TT
20020320ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
WHITE SMOKE WAS COMING FROM UNDERNEATH OF VEHICLE, THERE WAS A CLICKING NOISE. *AK RECALL 89V237000 TO REPLACE GASKET COVER. *TT
20010423STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
WELDS ON DRIVER SIDE DOORS ARE MALFUNCTION MAKEING THE DOOR HARD TO CLOSE AND CRUSHING THE FENDER. CONVERTIBLE TOP WILL NOT LATCH DOWN. ALL POWER WINDOWS ON THE CAR ARE MALFUNCTIONING( MOTORS AND GEARS MALFUNCTION) WITH THE MILEGE OF THE CAR SOME THING ARE GOING TO FAIL BUT WELDS SHOULD HOLD FOR THE LIFE OF THE CAR
19991117ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
ENGINE CYLINDER HEAD COVER GASKET LEAKS- NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL #467 -(SHOULD BE INCLUDED). *AK
19991112FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
WHILE DRIVING AT 20MPH CONSUMER NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE DASH AREA, PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. BY TIME CONSUMER WAS OUT OF VEHICLE ENTIRE DASHBOARD HAD IGNITED INTO FLAMES. FIRE WAS PUT OUT BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, CAUSE OF FIRE UNDETERMINED. CHRYSLER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
19990730ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:TURBO/SUPERCHARGER
TURBO MAKES GRINDING NOISE WHEN ACCELERATING. DRIVERS SIDE DOOR DOES NOT LATCH WHEN UNLOCKED, BUT WHEN LOCKED IT DOES LATCH. ON BACK DRIVERS SIDE THE BACK WINDOW DOES NOT ROLL UP, YOU CAN HEAR THE MOTOR RUNNING, BUT THE WINDOW DOES NOT MOVE.
19990730LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
TURBO MAKES GRINDING NOISE WHEN ACCELERATING. DRIVERS SIDE DOOR DOES NOT LATCH WHEN UNLOCKED, BUT WHEN LOCKED IT DOES LATCH. ON BACK DRIVERS SIDE THE BACK WINDOW DOES NOT ROLL UP, YOU CAN HEAR THE MOTOR RUNNING, BUT THE WINDOW DOES NOT MOVE.
19990420AIR BAGS
AIR BAG FAILED FOR UNSPECIFIED REASONS CAUSING LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE.
19990322FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
VEHICLE DEVELOPED A FIRE THROUGH THE WIRING UNDERNEATH THE STEERING COLUMN, RESULTING IN TOTAL LOSS OF VEHICLE. *AK
19990222CrashAIR BAGS:FRONTAL
PLEASE ADD VIN #. CONSUMER WAS DRIVING APROXIMATELY 5MPH WHEN SHE SIDESWIPED ANOTHER VEHICLE WITH THE FRONT OF HER VEHICLE, AIR BAG DEPLOYED, AND CONSUMER WAS INJURED FROM THE POWDER OR RESIDUE FROM THE AIR BAG. *AK
19990128POWER TRAIN
ODOMETER/SPEEDOMETER ARE INOPERATIVE , NEVER BEEN TO THE DEALER . PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
19990125STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:POWER STEERING FLUID
POWER STEERING FLUID LEAKING, REPAIRED ONCE BUT CONTINUES TO LEAK.
19990125TIRES
TIRES NEED TO BE FILLED WITH AIR EVERY 2-3 DAYS.
19990125ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
ANTIFREEZE IS LEAKING FROM VEHICLE.
Compare 1989CHRYSLERLEBARON to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations 7 Open
RQ25005Recall QueryOpen
Recall 23V-413 Post Remedy Failures
PE25009Preliminary EvaluationOpen
Intermittent Loss of Electric Power Steering
RQ25002Recall QueryClosed
Recall 19V-293 Post Remedy Failures
PE24018Preliminary EvaluationOpen
Engine Stall With Intermittent Restart
RQ24004Recall QueryOpen
Loss of motive power due to an internal wiring connector short.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1989 CHRYSLER LEBARON have?▼
The 1989 CHRYSLER LEBARON has 69 NHTSA complaints, 10 crashes, 10 fires, 7 injuries, and 1 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1989 CHRYSLER LEBARON?▼
The most-complained component for the 1989 CHRYSLER LEBARON is ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE with 9 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include AIR BAGS:FRONTAL and ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD.
Is the 1989 CHRYSLER LEBARON safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Vehicle Safety Guides
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.