TOYOTA CAMRY · model year

1989 TOYOTA CAMRY

138 NHTSA complaints, 13 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1989TOYOTACAMRY carries 138 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 13 crashes, 4 fires, 9 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 CAMRY is seat belts with 13 filings, followed by latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch (12) and vehicle speed control (12). 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 51 investigation files overlapping the 1989 CAMRY, 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.

138
Complaints
13
Crashes
4
Fires
9
Injuries
1
Deaths

Total Complaints

138 filings

Crashes Reported

13 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
SEAT BELTS13
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH12
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL12
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY11
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR8
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION5
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM5
TIRES4
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS4
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES4
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE3
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION3
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR3
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE2
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS2

Recent Complaints

20230717FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM

The contact owns a 1989 Toyota Camry. The contact stated while driving 10 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power and his wife noticed smoke coming from under the driver's side of the hood. The contact was able to veer to the side of the road. The contact stated that when he opened the hood, he noticed that the battery had caught on fire and the fire was expanding. The contact was able to extinguish the fire with the assistance of the fire department. The vehicle was then pushed to the side of the road. There was no injury sustained. There was no police report filed. There was no fire department report filed. The contact stated that the battery was a 24 months Group 25-24 battery, made by Battery Energy Group, and purchased on February 15, 2022. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 144,000.

Mileage: 144,000

20190325ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

PASSENGERS DOOR WILL MOT UNLOCK. EITHER BY ELECTRIC DOOR LOCK OR BY PULLING UP THE UNLOCK BOTTON. 1989 TOYOTA CAMRY RECALL - #92V135000 RECALL FOR LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES : DOORS : LATCH THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT (ECU) FOR THE POWER DOOR LOCK SYSTEM CAN FAIL, CAUSING THE CONTACTS TO "WELD", AND RESULTING IN DOOR LOCK SOLENOID DAMAGE, WITH FAILURE OF THE DOOR TO LOCK OR UNLOCK, EVEN UNDER MANUAL OPERATION.

Mileage: 198,315

20180331ENGINE

GOT EMAIL SAYING 1989 TOYOTA CAMRY ON RECALL LIST BECAUSE OF ENGINE PISTON PROBLEMS

Mileage: 260,000

20171114UNKNOWN OR OTHER

CAR STALLS WHILE EITHER GOING DOWN THE STREET, OR AT A STOPLIGHT. MY FEAR IS THAT I WILL GET REAR-ENDED. AND, ALSO EMBARRASSING AND FRUSTRATING. THIS HAS HAPPENED SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR IN 1989 NEW. IT HAPPENS SEVERAL TIMES A YEAR. IT IS ALWAYS WHEN WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE WET/DAMP. I CAN FEEL IT START "MISSING" AS I AM DRIVING DOWN THE CITY STREET. SOMETIMES, I HAVE TO GO TO A QUIET NEIGHBORHOOD AND KEEP DRIVING AROUND AND CHUGGING AROUND. IT STOPS, I HAVE TO PULL OVER AND TRY TO START IT SEVERAL TIMES, AND GO, AND IT DIES. ATFER I DO THIS FOR ABOUT 15 MINUTES, THEN PARK IT FOR ABOUT AN HOUR OR TWO, IT WILL USUALLY START, AND GO OK. NEVER HAPPENS IN DRY WEATHER. I THINK IN THE FIRST YEAR OR 2 OF OWNING IT, I TOOK IT IN SEVERAL TIMES. FINALLY THEY CHANGED THE "COMPUTER" OR SOMETHING. BUT, SADLY THIS HAS CONTINUED TO HAPPEN EVER SINCE I BOUGHT IT NEW, AND IT JUST DID IT A COUPLE DAYS AGO AFTER A WET WARM SNOW STORM. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY MY CAR DOES THIS. BUT IT IS SCARY WHEN I

Mileage: 1,000

20160929SEAT BELTS

THE SHOULDER HARNESS ON THIS CAR MOVES IN A TRACK TO GET OUT OF THE WAY WHEN THE DRIVER OPENS THE DOOR, AND TO MOVE TO THE OTHER END OF THE TRACK TO SECURE THE DRIVER WHEN THE DOOR IS CLOSED. IT IS A DUMB DESIGN. THIS CAR IS OLD, AND DESPITE MY MECHANIC'S BEST EFFORTS, THE MOTION TO GET OUT OF THE WAY SOMETIMES HESITATES AND THE DRIVER MUST USE HIS HAND TO MOVE THE ANCHOR ALONG IN THE TRACK. I AM CONCERNED THAT SOMEDAY THE ANCHOR WILL FAIL TO MOVE INTO POSITION TO SECURE THE DRIVER PROPERLY.

Mileage: 173,000

20141119VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

I BOUGHT A 1989 TOYOTA CAMRY ABOUT 3 YEARS AGO FROM THE ORIGINAL OWNER. IT NOW HAS 250,000 MILES ON IT. SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR I'VE HAD TROUBLE WITH THE GAS PEDAL STICKING. I DID NOT SEE THIS YEAR LISTED ON THE RECALL LIST. YOU REALLY HAVE TO PUSH HARD ON IT WHEN YOU PUT IT IN DRIVE TO GET THE CAR TO MOVE. WAS THIS PARTICULAR YEAR RECALLED? I'M ALSO HAVING TROUBLE WITH THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW POWER SWITCH YOU HAVE TO SQUEEZE THE WHOLE PLASTIC PIECE TO GET IT TO WORK, AND WHAT ABOUT THE AIRBAGS? I REALIZE THE CAR IS OLD BUT I'VE HEARD THAT TOYOTA'S RUN FOREVER AND MECHANICALLY IT'S BEEN GREAT SO FAR (EXCEPT FOR A LITTLE RUST). PLEASE LET ME KNOW ABOUT THESE ISSUES ASAP.......THANKS. *TR

Mileage: 235,000

20141119ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

I BOUGHT A 1989 TOYOTA CAMRY ABOUT 3 YEARS AGO FROM THE ORIGINAL OWNER. IT NOW HAS 250,000 MILES ON IT. SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR I'VE HAD TROUBLE WITH THE GAS PEDAL STICKING. I DID NOT SEE THIS YEAR LISTED ON THE RECALL LIST. YOU REALLY HAVE TO PUSH HARD ON IT WHEN YOU PUT IT IN DRIVE TO GET THE CAR TO MOVE. WAS THIS PARTICULAR YEAR RECALLED? I'M ALSO HAVING TROUBLE WITH THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW POWER SWITCH YOU HAVE TO SQUEEZE THE WHOLE PLASTIC PIECE TO GET IT TO WORK, AND WHAT ABOUT THE AIRBAGS? I REALIZE THE CAR IS OLD BUT I'VE HEARD THAT TOYOTA'S RUN FOREVER AND MECHANICALLY IT'S BEEN GREAT SO FAR (EXCEPT FOR A LITTLE RUST). PLEASE LET ME KNOW ABOUT THESE ISSUES ASAP.......THANKS. *TR

Mileage: 235,000

20141119AIR BAGS

I BOUGHT A 1989 TOYOTA CAMRY ABOUT 3 YEARS AGO FROM THE ORIGINAL OWNER. IT NOW HAS 250,000 MILES ON IT. SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR I'VE HAD TROUBLE WITH THE GAS PEDAL STICKING. I DID NOT SEE THIS YEAR LISTED ON THE RECALL LIST. YOU REALLY HAVE TO PUSH HARD ON IT WHEN YOU PUT IT IN DRIVE TO GET THE CAR TO MOVE. WAS THIS PARTICULAR YEAR RECALLED? I'M ALSO HAVING TROUBLE WITH THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW POWER SWITCH YOU HAVE TO SQUEEZE THE WHOLE PLASTIC PIECE TO GET IT TO WORK, AND WHAT ABOUT THE AIRBAGS? I REALIZE THE CAR IS OLD BUT I'VE HEARD THAT TOYOTA'S RUN FOREVER AND MECHANICALLY IT'S BEEN GREAT SO FAR (EXCEPT FOR A LITTLE RUST). PLEASE LET ME KNOW ABOUT THESE ISSUES ASAP.......THANKS. *TR

Mileage: 235,000

20141007LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES

1989 TOYOTA CAMRY'S DRIVER SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE POWER DOOR LOCKS STUCK IN LOCKED POSITION. UNABLE TO EXIT VEHICLE FROM FRONT SEATS. UNABLE TO UNLOCK FRONT DOORS MANUALLY FROM INSIDE VEHICLE. UNABLE TO UNLOCK FRONT DOORS USING KEY FROM OUTSIDE VEHICLE. SAFETY ISSUE ALONG WITH INCONVENIENCE WHEN ENTERING AND EXITING VEHICLE FROM REAR DOORS. *TR

Mileage: 103,002

20141007STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR

1989 TOYOTA CAMRY'S DRIVER SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE POWER DOOR LOCKS STUCK IN LOCKED POSITION. UNABLE TO EXIT VEHICLE FROM FRONT SEATS. UNABLE TO UNLOCK FRONT DOORS MANUALLY FROM INSIDE VEHICLE. UNABLE TO UNLOCK FRONT DOORS USING KEY FROM OUTSIDE VEHICLE. SAFETY ISSUE ALONG WITH INCONVENIENCE WHEN ENTERING AND EXITING VEHICLE FROM REAR DOORS. *TR

Mileage: 103,002

20140519LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES

AUTOMATIC LOCKS LOCK DOWN, CANNOT OPEN CAR. *JS

Mileage: 40,000

20130619LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES

I HAVE A 1989 TOYOTA CAMRY AND I NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL(92V135000) ON THE DOOR ASSEMBLY WITH THE LATCHES AND LOCKS WELL I CALLED THE DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THE MAINTENANCE WAS ALREADY DONE ON THE CAR BUT NOW I HAVE BOTH BACK DOORS THAT WONT OPEN AT ALL, AND I BELIEVE THIS IS THE CAUSE OF IT I WAS WONDERING IF THE DEALER CAN FIX IT AGAIN DUE TO THE SAME ERROR ON THE VEHICLE. *TR

20130619LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH

I HAVE A 1989 TOYOTA CAMRY AND I NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL(92V135000) ON THE DOOR ASSEMBLY WITH THE LATCHES AND LOCKS WELL I CALLED THE DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THE MAINTENANCE WAS ALREADY DONE ON THE CAR BUT NOW I HAVE BOTH BACK DOORS THAT WONT OPEN AT ALL, AND I BELIEVE THIS IS THE CAUSE OF IT I WAS WONDERING IF THE DEALER CAN FIX IT AGAIN DUE TO THE SAME ERROR ON THE VEHICLE. *TR

20110810CrashAIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1989 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE STOPPED, SHE WAS CRASHED INTO FROM THE REAR AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES AND WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND A POLICE REPORT WAS ALSO FILED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 120,000.

Mileage: 120,000

20100405VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

I HAVE A FRIEND THAT IS A LADY THAT HAD A 1989 TOYOTA CAMRY THAT WOULD REFUSE TO USE THE CRUISE CONTROL BECAUSE THE GAS PEDAL WOULD GET STUCK. I TRIED IT AND SURE ENOUGH IT DID GET STUCK WHEN YOU HAD THE CRUISE CONTROL ON AND YOU ACCELERATED. APPLYING THE BRAKES DID NOT UNSTICK THE PEDAL. I OPENED UP THE HOOD AND THE CHAIN FOR THE CRUISE CONTROL THAT PULLED ON THE THROTTLE WOULD GET STUCK ON THE THROTTLE BODY. I DISCONNECTED IT AND AFTER THAT THERE NO MORE PROBLEMS BUT NO CRUISE CONTROL. SHE CAN BE REACHED BY DIALING 209-951-7423 AND ASKING FOR TONI. *TR

Mileage: 40,000

20090805LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES

1989 RECALL ON TOYOTA CAMRY FOR WELDED DOOR SOLENOID HAS EXPIRED? HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE? SO WAT ARE WE SUPPOSED TO DO WIITH THE CAR> IT'S UNSAFE TO DRIVE NOT HAVING BOTH DOORS OPERATIONAL! WHAT IS THE NHTSA FOR? WHAT ARE RECALLS FOR? I GUESS ITS MORE IOMP[ORTANT TO REWARD MIDDLE CLASS INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE BEEN DRIVING GAS GUZZLERS THAN WORKING CLASS PEOPLE TRYING TO SURVIVE. *TR

Mileage: 188,000

20060302STRUCTURE:BODY:TRUNK LID

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING THE TRUNK LID OPENS, THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR GOT STUCK AND WOULD NOT OPEN PROPERLY, THE DRIVER SEAT BELT WOULD NOT RETRACT AND THE POLLUTION CONTROL DEVICES ARE INOPERABLE. THE DEALERSHIP AND MANUFACTURER WERE ALERTED HOWEVER NO REPAIRS WERE MADE.

Mileage: 163,000

20060302STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING THE TRUNK LID OPENS, THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR GOT STUCK AND WOULD NOT OPEN PROPERLY, THE DRIVER SEAT BELT WOULD NOT RETRACT AND THE POLLUTION CONTROL DEVICES ARE INOPERABLE. THE DEALERSHIP AND MANUFACTURER WERE ALERTED HOWEVER NO REPAIRS WERE MADE.

Mileage: 163,000

20060302SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING THE TRUNK LID OPENS, THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR GOT STUCK AND WOULD NOT OPEN PROPERLY, THE DRIVER SEAT BELT WOULD NOT RETRACT AND THE POLLUTION CONTROL DEVICES ARE INOPERABLE. THE DEALERSHIP AND MANUFACTURER WERE ALERTED HOWEVER NO REPAIRS WERE MADE.

Mileage: 163,000

20060302ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING THE TRUNK LID OPENS, THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR GOT STUCK AND WOULD NOT OPEN PROPERLY, THE DRIVER SEAT BELT WOULD NOT RETRACT AND THE POLLUTION CONTROL DEVICES ARE INOPERABLE. THE DEALERSHIP AND MANUFACTURER WERE ALERTED HOWEVER NO REPAIRS WERE MADE.

Mileage: 163,000

Compare 1989TOYOTACAMRY to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 1 Open

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1989 TOYOTA CAMRY have?
The 1989 TOYOTA CAMRY has 138 NHTSA complaints, 13 crashes, 4 fires, 9 injuries, and 1 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1989 TOYOTA CAMRY?
The most-complained component for the 1989 TOYOTA CAMRY is SEAT BELTS with 13 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH and VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL.
Is the 1989 TOYOTA CAMRY 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.