VehicleVerdict

1989 Jeep Wrangler problems

Verdict · NHTSA data

Worth extra scrutiny

The 1989 Jeep Wrangler is a recall-heavy year with an otherwise ordinary complaint record: 7 NHTSA recall campaigns apply, yet its 86 owner complaints run below the Wrangler median. The recalls matter more than the complaint count here — verify every campaign was completed before buying.

Fuel System leads the complaint categories with 22 reports (26% of the total).

86

NHTSA complaints

7

Recalls

9

Investigations

5

Crash-involved

15

Fires reported

1

Injuries

0

Deaths

—

NCAP overall

How does 1989 compare to other Wrangler years?

Wrangler NHTSA complaints by model year, 1989 highlighted2,613 complaints1984: 0 complaints1985: 0 complaints1986: 1 complaints1987: 51 complaints1988: 55 complaints1989: 86 complaints1990: 105 complaints1991: 100 complaints1992: 100 complaints1993: 134 complaints1994: 184 complaints1995: 259 complaints1996: 2 complaints1997: 548 complaints1998: 401 complaints1999: 262 complaints2000: 311 complaints2001: 235 complaints2002: 139 complaints2003: 130 complaints2004: 281 complaints2005: 756 complaints2006: 852 complaints2007: 792 complaints2008: 1,253 complaints2009: 495 complaints2010: 899 complaints2011: 677 complaints2012: 1,282 complaints2013: 1,042 complaints2014: 847 complaints2015: 660 complaints2016: 633 complaints2017: 413 complaints2018: 2,613 complaints2019: 1,064 complaints2020: 773 complaints2021: 1,481 complaints2022: 622 complaints2023: 571 complaints2024: 1,362 complaints2025: 104 complaints2026: 12 complaints
Wrangler NHTSA complaints by model year, 1989 highlighted. Red bars are years to avoid.

See all Wrangler years to avoid →

What are the most common 1989 Jeep Wrangler problems?

ComponentComplaintsShare
Fuel System2226%
Engine1315%
Brakes1214%
Transmission89%
Electrical System89%
Visibility & Wipers56%
Seats56%
Seat Belts45%
Tires & Wheels33%
Speed Control22%
Other22%
Lighting11%
Body & Structure11%

Does the 1989 Jeep Wrangler have recalls?

7 NHTSA recall campaigns on file. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.

07E064000Fuel SystemAugust 27, 2007 · 34,000 units

Defect

CERTAIN FEDERAL-MOGUL AFTERMARKET FUEL PUMPS SOLD UNDER THE BRAND NAMES OF CARTER, ACCUFLOW, NAPA, TRUFLOW, PARTS DEPO, AND PARTS MASTER, SHIPPED BETWEEN AUGUST 2006 AND JULY 2007 FOR USE ON THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE FUEL PUMP DIAPHRAGM IN CERTAIN PRODUCTION RUNS MAY HAVE BEEN IMPROPERLY INSTALLED OR INADEQUATELY TESTED WHICH MAY CAUSE THE FUEL PUMP TO LEAK.

Consequence

A LEAKING FUEL PUMP COULD CREATE A VEHICLE FIRE HAZARD.

Remedy

FEDERAL-MOGUL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE FUEL PUMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 15, 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT FEDERAL-MOGUL AT 248-354-7700.

06E026000LightingMarch 23, 2006 · 61,944 units

Defect

CERTAIN PRO-A MOTORS CORNER LAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.

Consequence

WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

Remedy

PRO-A MOTORS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PRO-A MOTORS AT 323-838-2988.

04E041000OtherJune 7, 2004 · 80 units

Defect

BESTOP AFTERMARKET REAR SHELL ROOF RACKS,MANUFACTURED BETWEEN APRIL 27 AND MAY 20, 2004, DESIGNED FOR USE WITH THE BESTOP HARDTOP MADE FOR THE 1986-1995 AND 1997-2003 JEEP WRANGLER. THE COCKPIT COVER MAY NOT STAY LATCHED TO THE ROOF RACK BECAUSE THE LATCH BRACKET MISPOSITIONS THE ROTARY LATCH TO THE COCKPIT COVER. AS A RESULT, THE COCKPIT COVER MAY NOT STAY LATCHED TO THE ROOF RACK AND COULD SEPARATE FROM THE ROOF RACK. THIS RECALL ONLY PERTAINS TO AFTERMARKET REAR SHELL ROOF RACKS AND HAS NO RELATION TO ANY ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT INSTALLED ON JEEP WRANGLER VEHICLES BY DAIMLERCHRYSLER.

Consequence

SHOULD THIS OCCUR, THE COCKPIT COULD CAUSE INJURY BY STRIKING PERSONS OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE OR COULD BECOME A DISTRACTION OR AN OBSTACLE TO OTHER DRIVERS, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy

BESTOP WILL NOTIFY ITS CUSTOMERS AND PROVIDE A REPAIR KIT AND INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS FREE OF CHARGE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JUNE 16, 2004. OWNERS WHO DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT BESTOP CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT (800) 845-3567.

94V106000Fuel SystemJune 9, 1994 · 230,000 units

Defect

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MULTIPURPOSE PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH PLASTIC FUEL TANKS. THE FUEL TANK SENDING UNIT GASKET CAN CRACK CAUSING FUEL AND FUEL VAPOR LEAKS.

Consequence

FUEL AND FUEL VAPOR LEAKED FROM THE FUEL TANK CAN RESULT IN FIRE WHEN EXPOSED TO A SOURCE OF IGNITION.

Remedy

REPLACE THE FUEL TANK SENDING UNIT GASKET.

93V150000Visibility & WipersSeptember 13, 1993 · 11,000 units

Defect

WINDSHIELD FRAME METAL MAY CRACK AT THE WIPER ARM PIVOT MOUNTINGS DUE TO METAL STRESS DURING WIPER OPERATION.

Consequence

THIS CAN CAUSE DISLOCATION AND BINDING OF THE WIPERSYSTEM LINKAGE WHICH, IN INCLEMENT WEATHER, COULD AFFECT DRIVER VISIBILITY ANDRESULT IN AN ACCIDENT.

Remedy

RETROFIT WITH A WINDSHIELD FRAME REINFORCEMENT AT THE WIPER PIVOT LOCATIONS AND INSTALL NEW REDESIGNED LINKAGE COMPONENTS TO REDUCE STRESS AT THE PIVOT MOUNTINGS.

92V148000BrakesOctober 14, 1992 · 280,000 units

Defect

ON 1987 THROUGH EARLY 1990 MODELS, BOTH FRONT BRAKE HOSES CAN WEAR DUE TO DIRECT CONTACT WITH THE WHEEL OPENING SPLASH SHIELDS. ON THE LATE 1990 THROUGH 1992 MODELS, PERIODIC RUBBING CONTACT OF THE LEFT FRONT BRAKE HOSE CAN OCCUR DUE TO MOVEMENT OF THE SPLASH SHIELD IN CERTAIN VEHICLE OPERATING CONDITIONS.

Consequence

EITHER CONDITION CAN CAUSE LOSS OF FRONT BRAKE SYSTEMFUNCTIONS, RESULTING IN INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCES AND AN INCREASED RISK OFVEHICLE ACCIDENT.

Remedy

THE 1987 TO 1990 MODEL VEHICLES WILL HAVE BOTH SPLASH SHIELDS REPLACED AND BOTH FRONT BRAKE HOSES REPLACED AS NECESSARY. ALL AFFECTED LATE 1990 THROUGH 1992 MODEL YEAR VEHICLES WILL HAVE ADDITIONAL FASTENERS INSTALLED TO FURTHER SECURE THE LEFT SIDE SPLASH SHIELD. ALSO, THE LEFT FRONT BRAKE HOSE WILL BE INSPECTED AND REPLACED AS NECESSARY.

90V168000Fuel SystemSeptember 20, 1990 · 75 units

Defect

IN A REAR IMPACT COLLISSION, FUEL TANK MAY LEAK FUEL IN EXCESS OF AMOUNT ALLOWED BY FMVSS 301 BECAUSE OF MISBUILT FUEL TANK SKID PLATES.

Consequence

IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, THIS COULD RESULTIN A FIRE. VEHICLE WOULD NOT COMPLY WITH FMVSS 301.

Remedy

INSTALL FLANGE ON FUEL TANK SKID PLATE.

Consumer complaints filed with NHTSA

Representative excerpts, cleaned of personal information. These are consumer statements, not verified defects.

“IN 1993 MY CAR ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE, ALLEGEDLY DUE TO AN UNKNOWN REASON. I HAVE CONTINUALLY HAD CARBURETOR PROBLEMS AND HAVE HAD 2 REBUILT ONES AND A CATALYTIC CONVERTER REPLACED. I NOW NEED A FOURTH CARBURETOR. SOMETHING IS WRONG AND I AM CONCERNED THAT THE CAR WILL CATCH FIRE AGAIN.”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Fuel System · November 1, 1998 · fire

“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”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Engine · fire

“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…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Brakes · May 13, 2003 · crash

“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…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Transmission · January 3, 2020

“WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IT CAUGHT ON FIRE . THIS HAPPENED ABOUT (10) MINUTES AFTER DRIVING THE VEHICLE. FIRE BELIEVED TO HAVE STARTED IN THE ENGINE. VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED. THE VEHICLE ALSO CAUGHT ON FIRE IN JULY, 96 IN THE ENGINE BECAUSE OF DISTRIBUTOR CAP. *AK”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Electrical System · February 27, 1997 · fire

1989 Jeep Wrangler — common questions

Is the 1989 Jeep Wrangler reliable?

Its record is better than the model's norm: 86 NHTSA complaints, below the typical Wrangler year, with 7 recalls and no open investigations.

What are the most common 1989 Wrangler problems?

According to NHTSA complaint data, the leading problem areas are fuel system (22 complaints), engine (13 complaints), brakes (12 complaints).

Does the 1989 Jeep Wrangler have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 7 recall campaigns affecting the 1989 Jeep Wrangler. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers; check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm the work was done.

Is the 1989 Jeep Wrangler under NHTSA investigation?

NHTSA opened 9 investigations into this model year; all are now closed.

Which Jeep Wrangler years should you avoid?

Based on complaint rates and open investigations, the Wrangler years to avoid are 2018, 2021, 2024, 2012, 2008, 2019, 2013, 2010, 2006, 2014, 2007, 2020, 2005, 2011, 2015, 2016, 2022, 2023, 2009, 2017. The cleanest record among Wrangler years belongs to 1985.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.