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U.S. public vehicle records

1989 Toyota CAMRY problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

70 owner complaints analyzed

3 distinct recall campaigns

153,500 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 1989 model year. Data snapshot: . 14 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Vehicle Speed Control is the most frequently named component, appearing in 11 of 70 complaints (15.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior68.6%
Engine operation57.1%
Transmission and shifting34.3%
Electrical and battery issues34.3%
Steering behavior11.4%
Fuel system concerns11.4%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Vehicle Speed Control
11
Seat Belts
9
Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch
7
Structure:Body:Door
6
Electrical System
5
Latches/Locks/Linkages
4
Power Train:Automatic Transmission
3
Tires
3
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Vehicle Speed Control11
Seat Belts9
Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch7
Structure:Body:Door6
Electrical System5
Latches/Locks/Linkages4
Power Train:Automatic Transmission3
Tires3

Vehicle Speed Control: 11; Seat Belts: 9; Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch: 7; Structure:Body:Door: 6; Electrical System: 5; Latches/Locks/Linkages: 4; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 3; Tires: 3

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
1
25,000 to 49,999
2
50,000 to 74,999
0
75,000 to 99,999
0
100,000 to 149,999
4
150,000 and above
7
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0001
25,000 to 49,9992
50,000 to 74,9990
75,000 to 99,9990
100,000 to 149,9994
150,000 and above7

Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 2; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 4; 150,000 and above: 7

150,000 and above miles has the most reports with usable mileage (7). 56 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

1995
26
1996
9
2000
7
2001
7
2002
5
2004
2
2005
1
2006
1
2009
1
2010
1
2011
1
2013
1
2014
3
2016
1
2017
1
2018
1
2019
1
2023
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
199526
19969
20007
20017
20025
20042
20051
20061
20091
20101
20111
20131
20143
20161
20171
20181
20191
20231

1995: 26; 1996: 9; 2000: 7; 2001: 7; 2002: 5; 2004: 2; 2005: 1; 2006: 1; 2009: 1; 2010: 1; 2011: 1; 2013: 1; 2014: 3; 2016: 1; 2017: 1; 2018: 1; 2019: 1; 2023: 1

Pattern summary

Vehicle Speed Control leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 6 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 5 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 3 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10323844 · 2010-04-05 (April 5, 2010)

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 [phone removed] AND ASKI…

Owner-reported narrative. 40,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10323844 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 490550 · 1995-12-14 (December 14, 1995)

BRAKES APPEAR WEAK.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 490550 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11045960 · 2017-11-14 (November 14, 2017)

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 F…

Owner-reported narrative. 1,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11045960 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 483709 · 1995-09-04 (September 4, 1995)

INTERMITTENT SURGING/LOSS OF POWER. *TW

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 483709 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 483256 · 1995-08-22 (August 22, 1995)

TRANSMISSION SLIPPED OUT OF GEAR. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 483256 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 958494 · 1995-01-10 (January 10, 1995)

DOES NOT STAY IN DRIVE AND SLIPS OUT OF GEAR. WHEN CAR SLOWS DOWN IT SHIFTS OUT OF DRIVE AND IT WON'T GO FORWARD ANYMORE. TT

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 958494 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11532767 · 2023-07-17 (July 17, 2023)

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 po…

Owner-reported narrative. 144,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11532767 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 482297 · 1995-03-16 (March 16, 1995)

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURE, CAUSING REPLACEMENT OF THREE BATTERIES. *AW

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 482297 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 801621 · 1996-08-29 (August 29, 1996)

CONSUMER HIT ANOTHER AUTO AND HER SEAT BELT DID NOT HOLD HER, SHE HIT HER CHEST ON THE STEERING WHEEL. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 801621 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 972735 · 1995-09-28 (September 28, 1995)

THE COLD START INJECTOR TIME SWITCH TAKES A LONG TIME TO START. TT

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 972735 at NHTSA ↗