DODGE DAYTONA · model year

1989 DODGE DAYTONA

39 NHTSA complaints, 10 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1989DODGEDAYTONA carries 39 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 10 crashes, 11 fires, 12 injuries, and 3 fatalities. 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 DAYTONA is air bags:frontal with 7 filings, followed by engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline (7) and engine and engine cooling:engine (2). 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 20 investigation files overlapping the 1989 DAYTONA, and 1 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.

39
Complaints
10
Crashes
11
Fires
12
Injuries
3
Deaths

Total Complaints

39 filings

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

ComponentCount
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL7
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE7
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE2
STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR2
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE2
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS2
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD2
STEERING:RACK AND PINION1
STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE1
AIR BAGS1
WHEELS1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION1
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH1
SUSPENSION:REAR:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS1

Recent Complaints

20031112WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS

WHILE DRIVING TIRE EQUIPMENT SEPARATED FROM VEHICLE.*MR WHILE DRIVING THE TIRE CAME OFF THE VEHICLE. AS A RESULT THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED DAMAGE TO THE FRONT QUARTER PANEL. *PH *NLM

20030324CrashFatalSTEERING

THE CONSUMER'S SON WAS IN AN ACCIDENT, AND SUBSEQUENTLY DIED ALONG WITH TWO OTHERS, WHICH WAS POSSIBLY DUE TO A STEERING MECHANISM DEFECT. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED INFORMATION PERTAINING TO THE SAFETY RECORD OF CHRYSLER DODGE DAYTONA, SPECIFICALLY FOR THE STEERING MECHANISM NOT OPERATING PROPERLY OR LOCKING UP WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. SCC *JB

20001101ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

I HAVE ALREADY INQUIRED ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND WAS TOLD THAT MY CAR WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY? *AK

20001026ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

ITEM LISTED IS NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 89V237000. DEALER INDICATED THAT MY VEHICLE IS NOT COVERED BECAUSE THEY COULD NOT FIND THE RECALL. CALLED CHRYSLER'S RECALL CENTER AND THEY DID NOT KNOW ABOUT THE RECALL OR THE GOVERNING AUTHORITY OF THE NHTSA. THE REPAIR CHARGE FOR THIS WORK THAT WE ARE HAVING PERFORMED IS $131.00 WE WANT TO BE REIMBURSED AS OUR VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED WITHIN THE RANGE OF MANUFACTURE DATES AND EXHIBITED THE PROBLEM NHTSA CHARACTERIZED AS A SAFETY RELATED DEFECT.

20001017CrashAIR BAGS:FRONTAL

DRIVER'S AIRBAG DEPLOYED VIOLENTLY WHEN VEHICLE WAS IMPACTED AT THE RIGHT CORNER CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL AND BURNS ON HAND DUE TO EXHAUST/CHEMICAL, NO DEPLOYMENT OF PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG. *ET

20000320CrashAIR BAGS:FRONTAL

WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE AT 10 MPH AIR BAG SUDDENLY DEPLOYED, CAUSING CONSUMER TO LOSE CONTROL OF VEHICLE AND RUN OVER A CURB. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

19990617FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD

VEHICLE BURSTED INTO FLAMES WHILE PARKED. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. THE MANUFACTURER WILL BE NOTIFIED. *AK

19990407CrashAIR BAGS:FRONTAL

MY 16 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING TO SCHOOL ON THE MORNING OF MARCH 31, 1999. SHE WAS IN THE PARKING LOT. SHE WENT OVER A SPEED BUMP, THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AND SHE HEARD A POPPING NOISE. AT THAT TIME, THE AIRBAG DEPLOYED ON HER, BUT NOT AT THE NORMAL FAST SPEED. THIS CAUSED HER TO RUN OFF OF THE ROAD AND OVER AN EMBANKMENT. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED AS WELL AS THE POLICE. THERE WERE NO CHARGES FILED, THEY SAID IT WAS A FAULTY AIRBAG. IT DEPLOYED WITHOUT ANY IMPACT. WE HAVE CONTACTED CHRYSLER CORP. AND THEY HAVE SENT A FILE ON THIS TO SPECIAL INVESTIGATIONS. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE LOCAL DODGE DEALER AND THEY HAVE SAID THE LIGHT THAT LIGHTS UP TO SHOW THE AIRBAG LIGHT HAD A LOT OF CORRISION ON IT. THE SQUIB INITIATOR SHOWED IT WAS ACTIVE FOR 73 MINUTES PRIOR TO THE DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIRBAG. THIS WAS AN ACCIDENT THAT COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED IF THE EQUIPMENT HAD BEEN INSTALLED PROPERLY. SHE WENT TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM AND HAD TO MISS 3 DAYS OF SCHOOL. THE TRAUMA IS

19981025FireFUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM

PROBLEM 1 #3 FUEL INJECTOR CRACKED CAUSING THE FUEL TO SPRAY ONTO INTAKE MANIFOLD INTO A PUDDLE (1/4

19980610SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS

BRAKE PADS SEPARATED FROM BACKING PLATE SEVERAL TIMES.

19971001FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT, NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER, DEALER DETERMINED THE PROBLEM AS AN ELECTRICAL SHORT. PLEASE PROVDIE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

19970918FireENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

CAR STARTED TO SMOKE FROM UNDER THE HOOD FOLLOWED BY FIRE. (OHIO STATE POLICE REPORT)

19970627SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM:SHOES/LININGS

REAR BRAKE LININGS SEPARATED FROM THE SHOES BECAUSE OF A BONDING DEFICIENCY.

19970627ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:GAS RECIRCULATION VALVE (EGR VALVE)

PCV HOSE FAILED.

19970220FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY

CAR PARKED AND CAUGHT ON FIRE NEAR THE BATTERY. APPEARS TO BE ELECTRICAL. *AK

19960923FireENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

ENGINE FIRE.

19960918STRUCTURE:BODY:TAILGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS

WHEN LIFTING THE REAR HATCHBACK, THE TAILGATE SUPPORT FAILED, CAUSING THE HATCHBACK TO FALL DOWN, RESULTING IN AN INJURY. *AK

19960725SUSPENSION:REAR:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS

REAR TORSION BAR BROKE 4 TIMES. *SD

19960716ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. SOURCE UNKNOWN.PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK

19960510FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH

DRIVING VEHICLE HOME, SMOKE STARTED FROM CENTER OF DASHBOARD, ARRIVED HOME, SHUT VEHICLE OFF, SUDDENLY VEHICLE WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. *AK

Compare 1989DODGEDAYTONA to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 1 Open

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1989 DODGE DAYTONA have?
The 1989 DODGE DAYTONA has 39 NHTSA complaints, 10 crashes, 11 fires, 12 injuries, and 3 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1989 DODGE DAYTONA?
The most-complained component for the 1989 DODGE DAYTONA is AIR BAGS:FRONTAL with 7 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE and ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE.
Is the 1989 DODGE DAYTONA 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.