1989 Jeep Wrangler Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1989 Jeep Wrangler, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Fuel system1925.3%
- Brakes1216.0%
- Engine1013.3%
- Electrical79.3%
- Interior & seats56.7%
- Powertrain (other)56.7%
- Seat belts45.3%
- Visibility45.3%
- Driver assistance22.7%
- Transmission22.7%
- Tires & wheels22.7%
- Exterior lighting11.3%
- Body & structure11.3%
- Other / unspecified11.3%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
LEAKING FUEL FROM PASSENGER SIDE REAR. THIS OCCURS MOSTLY WHEN FUEL TANK IS FULL. *JB
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
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
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
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
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
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
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?
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
LOOSE SEATBACK. *AK
WHEN REAR ENDED, DRIVERS FRONT SEAT BACK COLLAPSED. ONLY REPAIR WAS TO REPLACE ENTIRE SEAT. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TT
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
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.
REAR AXLE SHAFT BEARING CAME OFF.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
DRIVERS SIDE SHOLDER/LAP BELT SPONTANEOUSLY RELEASES. INQUIRED IF DEALER HAD RECALL MEMO TO REPLACE IT, WAS TOLD NO.
THE SEAT BELT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE WILL NOT BUCKLE. DEALER IS AWARE OF PROBLEM . HAS BEEN ON BACK ORDER FOR OVER (2) MONTHS. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
NO SUMMARY
WINDSHIELD MOTOR FAILED WHILE DRIVING.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
CONSTANT PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE STALLING/KILLING/ROUGH IDLE SINCE EARLY 1998. $3,000+ INVESTED TO TRY TO CORRECT PROBLEM HAS RESULTED IN THIS VEHICLE GOING FROM TRANSPORTATION TO EXPENSIVE ADDICTION TO DESTRUCTIVE LIFE STYLE. IS THERE ANY KIND OF SUPPORT GROUP FOR OWNERS OF THIS TYPE OF ILL MANNERED VEHICLE. PROBLEM CONTINUES TO BAFFLE JEEP DEALERSHIP MECHANICS, SHADE TREE MECHANICS, MUFFLER SHOPS, OTHER JEEP OWNERS, AND THOSE POSSESSING MORE COMMON SENSE THAN MYSELF WHO WOULD HAVE TRADED THIS PARTICULAR JEEP FOR A SCHWINN LONG AGO. MJS *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
NO SUMMARY
EXHAUST MANIFOLD FAILED TWICE.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Tires & wheels
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.
From owner reports, verbatim
GOODYEAR WRANGLER RT/S P215/75 R15 TIRE BLOW-OUT.
RIGHT REAR AXLE AND THE TIRE ON PASSENGER SIDE PULLED OUT COMPLETELY OUT OF THE DIFFERENTIAL. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Exterior lighting
Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE DRIVING BUTTON/SWITCH FOR ACTIVATING WINDSHIELD WIPER/TURN SIGNAL FELL OUT. DRIVER COULDN'T SEE. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TT
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
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.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE DRIVING ON FREEWAY REAR AXLE BROKE AND WHEEL AND BRAKE DRUM FLEW OFF CAR. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
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.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .