RoadVitals

1989 Jeep Comanche

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
12
Latest Dec 30, 2013
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
1
Latest Oct 2, 1990
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
2

Overview

Our database contains 12 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1989 Jeep Comanche, most frequently naming the tires & wheels, transmission and steering categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; and 11 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Tires & wheels325.0%
  • Transmission325.0%
  • Steering216.7%
  • Driver assistance18.3%
  • Seat belts18.3%
  • Engine18.3%
  • Other / unspecified18.3%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

1 campaign cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
90V177000

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL

Oct 2, 1990
165,000 units potentially affected
The defect: MALFUNCTION OF FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM THROTTLE POSTITION SENSOR COULD CAUSE INTERMITTENT HIGH ENGINE IDLE SPEED IMMEDIATELY AFTER STARTING ENGINE.
The risk: HIGH ENGINE IDLE WHEN CAR IS FIRST PLACED IN GEAR COULDRESULT IN UNEXPECTED ACCELERATION.
The remedy: REPLACE THROTTLE POSITION SENSORS WITH SENSORS THAT WOULD SEND CORRECT SIGNALS TO THE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM.
CHRYSLER CORPORATIONView on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

View all 12
Tires & wheels
Filed Dec 30, 2013

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.

NHTSA ID
10557886
Incident
Dec 30, 2013
Driver assistance
Filed Jun 8, 2010

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

NHTSA ID
10335289
Incident
Jun 4, 2010
Mileage
177,041 mi
Tires & wheels
Filed Mar 1, 2002

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)

NHTSA ID
758824
Incident
Feb 27, 2002
Transmission
Filed Mar 26, 2001
Fire reported

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.

NHTSA ID
743092
Incident
Mar 20, 2001
Engine
Filed Feb 1, 2000

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

NHTSA ID
855924
Transmission
Filed Jan 28, 2000

4WD WILL NOT ENGAGE AS NEEDED. *AK

NHTSA ID
717985
Incident
Dec 13, 1999
Steering
Filed Feb 26, 1999

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

NHTSA ID
835269
Incident
Feb 25, 1999
Tires & wheels
Filed Sep 22, 1997

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

NHTSA ID
522247
Incident
Jun 23, 1997

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

2100601

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FLUID USAGE ATF+4. *TT *MJ

0800600REV

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

SUBJECT REGARDING WIRE SPLICE REPAIRS. *SB

080600

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

THIS BULLETIN PROVIDES A REVISED WIRE SPLICE PROCEDURE AND RELATED PARTS. *TT

081698

EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.

INFORMATION ON INSTALLATION OF RADIO TRANSMITTING EQUIPMENT. *AK

070397

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

VARIOUS CAR OWNER'S HAVE EXPRESSED INTEREST IN USING ENGINE COOLANTS MADE WITH PROPYLENE GLYCOL INSTEAD OF ETHYLENE GLYCOL. *YC

070397

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

CONCERNS WITH ENGINE COOLANT USAGE. *NLM

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Jeep Comanche by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
1992200—
1991510—
1990112054.1
1989Viewing121044.8
1988100136.6
1987552—
1986660—
1985210—

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.