JEEP COMANCHE · model year

1989 JEEP COMANCHE

12 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1989JEEPCOMANCHE carries 12 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 2 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 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 COMANCHE is power train:clutch assembly:pedal/hand lever(motorcycle) with 2 filings, followed by steering: steering wheel/handle bar (1) and seat belts:front:buckle assembly (1). 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 29 investigation files overlapping the 1989 COMANCHE, and 3 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.

12
Complaints
0
Crashes
2
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

12 filings

Crashes Reported

0 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY:PEDAL/HAND LEVER(MOTORCYCLE)2
STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR1
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY1
EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL:CARRIER/RACK1
TIRES:TEMPORARY/EMERGENCY SPARE TIRE1
STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)1
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM1
TIRES:SIDEWALL1
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL1
TIRES1

Recent Complaints

20131230TIRES

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1989 JEEP COMANCHE EQUIPPED WITH MICHELIN LTX TIRES, SIZE 31X10.50/15. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE TIRES EMITTED A LOUD NOISE AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE VIN, TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE, VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE AND DOT NUMBER WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

20100608VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1989 JEEP COMANCHE. WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 55 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL INCREASE IN ENGINE RPMS UP TO 3,000. THE CONTACT PLACED THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL AND THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE CONTACT SHUT OFF THE ENGINE AND WHEN RESTARTING, THE FAILURE WOULD INTERMITTENTLY PERSIST. THE CONTACT INQUIRED ABOUT NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 90V177000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL: CRUISE CONTROL) AND THE DEALER INFORMED HIM THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE AS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 177,041 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 177,072. UPDATED 08/11/10. *LJ UPDATED 08/17/10*JB

Mileage: 177,041

20020305TIRES:SIDEWALL

I HAD A NEARLY NEW TRIUMPH R 1200 TIRE FAIL IN AN UNUSUAL MANNER. THIS TIRE HAD ONLY ABOUT 800 MILES ON IT WHEN IT FAILED, AND I'M REASONABLY CERTAIN THAT THE FAILURE WAS NOT DUE TO ABUSE (OVERLOAD, POTHOLE, CURB SCUFFING, ETC.). A LARGE BUBBLE FORMED IN THE SIDEWALL OF THE TIRE. THE BUBBLE WAS APPROXIMATELY 4" DIAMETER AND 3/4" HIGH. THE BUBBLE APPEARED TO DISTORT THE BEAD, CAUSING A LARGE LEAK BETWEEN THE TIRE AND THE WHEEL. THIS OCCURRED ON THE FIRST REALLY WARM WEATHER DAY FOLLOWING INSTALLATION, LEADING ME TO SUSPECT A POSSIBLE MANUFACTURING DEFECT THAT NEEDED SOME HEAT TO MANIFEST ITSELF. THIS FAILURE SEEMED UNUSUAL ENOUGH TO WARRANT REPORTING, EVEN IF MY THEORY IS INCORRECT. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF YOU NEED MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS. I STILL HAVE THE TIRE IF FURTHER FAILURE ANALYSIS IS OF INTEREST. THANKS- WILLIAM T. DALEY, P.E. MECHANICAL ENGINEER. *AK (DOT NUMBER: ? TIRESIZE: P205/75R15)

20010405FirePOWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY:PEDAL/HAND LEVER(MOTORCYCLE)

RUBBER CLUTCH HOSE FAILURE. HOSE IS ROUTED TOO CLOSE TO EXHAUST. (3 INCHES) HEAT BUILD UP IN EXHAUST SYSTEM MELTS HOSE AND CAUSES A LEAK THAT UNDER PRESSURE SQUIRTS FLUID ONTO THE EXHAUST PIPE CAUSEING FLASH FIRES. I HAVE RETAINED THE DEFECTIVE PART IF YOU REQUIRE IT FOR FURTHER INVESTIGATION.

20000201ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

ENGINE COOLANT IS NOT GOING INTO THE ENGINE DUE TO A DEFECT WITHIN THE WATER PUMP. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

20000128POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT

4WD WILL NOT ENGAGE AS NEEDED. *AK

19990226STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)

STEERING GEAR BOX BROKE OFF FROM THE METAL FRAME, CAUSING STEERING SYSTEM TO BE INOPERATIVE WHILE DRIVING ,MAY HAVE RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION AND VIN#. *AK

19971204TIRES:TEMPORARY/EMERGENCY SPARE TIRE

CABLE THAT HOLDS THE SPARE TIRE IN PLACE BROKE AND THE TIRE FELL OFF WHILE DRIVING.

19961025EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL:CARRIER/RACK

FAILURE OF THE CABLE THAT HOLDS THE SPARE TIRE IN PLACE, THE CABLE BROKE, CAUSING THE SPARE TIRE TO FALL OFF THE VEHICLE WHEN DRIVING.*AK

19961021FirePOWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY:PEDAL/HAND LEVER(MOTORCYCLE)

THE MASTER CLUTCH CYLINDER HOSE LEAKED FLUID ON THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CATCH FIRE. *AK

19950616SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY

THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE COME LOOSE IT SLIP OUT. TT

19950203STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR

STEERING WHEEL MOUNTING ASSEMBLY BECAME LOOSE. *AK

Compare 1989JEEPCOMANCHE to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 3 Open

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1989 JEEP COMANCHE have?
The 1989 JEEP COMANCHE has 12 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 2 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1989 JEEP COMANCHE?
The most-complained component for the 1989 JEEP COMANCHE is POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY:PEDAL/HAND LEVER(MOTORCYCLE) with 2 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR and SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY.
Is the 1989 JEEP COMANCHE 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.