JEEP WRANGLER · model year

1989 JEEP WRANGLER

86 NHTSA complaints, 5 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1989JEEPWRANGLER carries 86 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 5 crashes, 15 fires, 1 injury, 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 WRANGLER is fuel system, gasoline:carburetor system with 7 filings, followed by electrical system:ignition (6) and parking brake:conventional (5). 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 3 investigation files overlapping the 1989 WRANGLER. 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.

86
Complaints
5
Crashes
15
Fires
1
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

86 filings

Crashes Reported

5 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:CARBURETOR SYSTEM7
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION6
PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL5
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY5
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE5
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER4
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP3
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE3
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE3
PARKING BRAKE3
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR2
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY2
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:LINKAGES2
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE2
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY2

Recent Complaints

20200130POWER TRAIN

REAR DIFFERENTIAL E-LOCKER SEIZED CAUSING REAR WHEELS TO LOCK UP, THIS HAPPENED LUCKILY WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN TOW BEHIND A MOTOR-HOME GOING 20 MILES PER HOUR ON A DIRT ROAD TURNING INTO A CAMPGROUND. HAD THIS HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY IT MAY HAVE CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO LOOSE CONTROL AND POSSIBLE CAUSE A FATAL ACCIDENT. THE RISK IS INTERNAL PARTS INSIDE THE EATON E-LOCKER WERE ABLE TO BECOME LOOSE AND CAUSE THIS JAMB IN THE RING GEAR CAUSING BOTH REAR WHEELS TO LOCK UP.

Mileage: 4,000

20180424FireUNKNOWN OR OTHER

MUFFLER HANGER CAUGHT ON FIRE. VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY. MUFFLER HAD HOLE IN BOTTOM BUT STILL SHOULD NEVER IGNITE THE HANGER.

Mileage: 138,000

20031013CrashPARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL:MECHANICAL:LINKAGE AND CABLE

I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR MY 1993 JEEP WRANGLER FOR A PROBLEM WITH THE EMERGENCY BRAKE RELEASE. WE HAVE A 89 WRANGLER AND THIS HAPPENS FREQUENTLY. WHY ISN'T IT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL IF IT'S THE SAME BRAKE SYSTEM? IT WAS RELEASED ON MAY AND ROLLED DOWN A STEEP HILL AND HIT A TREE. THIS IS DANGEROUS. *LA

20030702CrashPARKING BRAKE

I OWN A 1989 JEEP WRANGLER WITH A MANUAL TRASMISSION. ON LATELY THE PARKING BRAKE HAS BEEN SELF-RELEASING CAUSING THE THE VEHICLE TO ROLL DOWN MY DRIVEWAY. ON ONE OCCASION IT HIT MY SECOND VEHICLE PARKED BEHIND IT CAUSING MINOR DAMAGE TO THE BUMPER. I FOUND THE NHTSA RECALL (02V041000) CALLED DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403. I SPOKE WITH TOM AND RACHEAL ABOUT THIS ISSUE. THEY SAID THAT THE RECALL DOES NOT AFFECT MY YEAR VEHICLE EVEN IF THE ARE THE SAME TYPE OF VEHICLE. I WOULD LIKE THIS REPAIRED BUT THEY SEEMED UNCONCERED ABOUT THIS AND SAID THAT I WOULD NEED TO PAY TO REPAIR THIS.*AK

Mileage: 79,000

20030428CrashPARKING BRAKE

THE CONSUMER SET THE PARKING BRAKE AND EXITED VEHICLE. WITHOUT WARNING THE PARKING BRAKE RELEASED WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO ROLL BACKWARD WHICH RESULTED IN A COLLISION. THERE WAS A RELATED RECALL 02V041000, HOWEVER THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. *JB *CB *NLM

Mileage: 83,000

20030401FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

LEAKING FUEL FROM PASSENGER SIDE REAR. THIS OCCURS MOSTLY WHEN FUEL TANK IS FULL. *JB

20030324VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER BUT THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLES VIN NUMBER WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE RECALL WAS ON THE THROTTLE. RECALL# UNKNOWN. *NLM

20030224PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL

THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME DEFECT WITH THE PARKING BRAKE AS STATED IN RECALL NUMBER 02V041000, HOWEVER THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS NOT INLCUDED IN THE RECALL.*JB

Mileage: 53,300

20020917STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

PER EMISSIONS RECALL # 556 THE OYGEN SENSOR WAS REPLACE ON 02-08-95. THE REST OF THE RECALL COMPONENTS WERE EXAMINED AND DEAMED FINE. IT IS NOW THAT THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD NUTS AND BOLTS ARE FAILING AND CHRYSLER DOES NOT THINK THAT THEY/CHRYSLER SHOULD NEED TO REPLACE THEM. I AM TRYING TO GET ANSWERS IN TERMS OF IF ALL THESE COMPONENTS WERE STATED IN THE RECALL BECAUSE THEY FAIL, WHY WERE THEY NOT ALL REPLACED AT THE TIME OF ORIGINAL SERVICE AND NOW THAT THEY ARE FAILING NOW, SHOULDN'T IT STILL BE COVERED UNDER THE RECALL? THE REPLACEMENT OF THE OXYGEN SENSOR HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE FAULTY THE NUTS AND BOLTS THAT HOLD THE SECURE FIT OF THE MANIFOLD TO THE ENGINE TO PREVENT EMISSION LEAKAGE.

20020523PARKING BRAKE

WHILE PARKED ON A HILL, THE VEHICLE WILL ROLLBACK DUE TO THE EMERGENCY BRAKE POPPING OUT.*JB

20020225UNKNOWN OR OTHER

METAL FRAME UNDERNEATH DASHBOARD WAS RUSTED. DEALER CONTACTED. PLEASE ADD VIN. *AK

20010227FireENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM

CARBURATOR WAS RUNNING TOO MUCH FUEL TO EXHAUST SYSTEM WHICH CAUSED EXHAUST SYSTEM TO BECOME CHERRY RED & CATCH ON FIRE IN BACK. UNDERBODY PAINT HAD BURNED. RUBBER MOUNTING HAD ALSO BURNED.*AK CONSUMER FEELS THERE WAS AN ELECTRONIC MALFUNCTION. *SLC

20010227FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM

CARBURATOR WAS RUNNING TOO MUCH FUEL TO EXHAUST SYSTEM WHICH CAUSED EXHAUST SYSTEM TO BECOME CHERRY RED & CATCH ON FIRE IN BACK. UNDERBODY PAINT HAD BURNED. RUBBER MOUNTING HAD ALSO BURNED.*AK CONSUMER FEELS THERE WAS AN ELECTRONIC MALFUNCTION. *SLC

20010227FireFUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:CARBURETOR SYSTEM

CARBURATOR WAS RUNNING TOO MUCH FUEL TO EXHAUST SYSTEM WHICH CAUSED EXHAUST SYSTEM TO BECOME CHERRY RED & CATCH ON FIRE IN BACK. UNDERBODY PAINT HAD BURNED. RUBBER MOUNTING HAD ALSO BURNED.*AK CONSUMER FEELS THERE WAS AN ELECTRONIC MALFUNCTION. *SLC

20010226ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

THE VEHICLE TENDS TO STALL AND NOT WANT TO START FOR AT LEAST ANOTHER 20 MINUTES I WONDERED IF ANY OF THE RECALLS HAD NOT BEEN PERFORMED ON THIS VEHICLE, THAT WOULD AT LEAST GIVE ME SOMETHING TO GO ON AS FAR AS TRYING TO FIX IT, ALSOHOW LONG ARE RECALLS GOOD FOR AFTER THE RECALL IS ANNOUNCED?

20010131ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE

TAIL PIPE MAKES CONTACT WITH GASOLINE TANK DUE TO FAILURE OF THE PIPE SUPPORTS, CONSUMER FEELS THE SUPPORTS WERE POORLY DESIGNED, THE EXHAUST PIPE IS A FEW INCHES FROM CONTACT WITH GASOLINE TANK WHICH BURNED A HOLE AND RESULTED IN A GASOLINE SPILL. *SLC

20001120SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

I HAD A FLAT ON THE TIRE THAT WAS ON THE VEHICLE AND HAD TO USE THE TEMPORARY TIRE THAT CAME WITH THE JEEP. I WAS TRAVELING ALONG THE ROAD WHEN ALL OF THE SUDDEN I HAD TO STOP AT A RED LIGHT BUT THE JEEP HAD NO BRAKES TO STOP. THE TEMPORARY TIRE HAD RUBBED A HOLE IN THE BRAKE LINE ONT THE DRIVERS SIDE FRONT. I HAD NO BRAKES SO I HAD TO GET A TAXI TO TAKE ME HOME. I HAD TO BUY A NEW BRAKE LINE AND ASSEMBLY FOR THE JEEP AND HAVE A MECHANIC REPLACE THE LINE ALONG WITH HAVING TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE SHOP. IF THERE HAD BEEN ANYONE IN FRONT OF ME I WOULD HAVE HIT THEM FROM BEHIND AND BEEN SIGHTED FOR FAULTY EQUIPMENT. I THINK THE COMPANY SHOULD BE WARNED ABOUT THE PROBLEM THAT I HAD WITH THE TEMPORARY TIRE AND IT COULD CAUSE A VERY SEVERE ACCIDENT TO HAPPEN AND MAYBE DEATH TO SOME INNOCENT CHILD OR FAMILY. *AK

20000918ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

NO SUMMARY

20000918VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER

NO SUMMARY

20000918POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

NO SUMMARY

Compare 1989JEEPWRANGLER to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1989 JEEP WRANGLER have?
The 1989 JEEP WRANGLER has 86 NHTSA complaints, 5 crashes, 15 fires, 1 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1989 JEEP WRANGLER?
The most-complained component for the 1989 JEEP WRANGLER is FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:CARBURETOR SYSTEM with 7 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION and PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL.
Is the 1989 JEEP WRANGLER 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.