1989 Jeep WRANGLER: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
48 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
79,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1989 model year. Data snapshot: . 5 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Parking Brake:Conventional is the most frequently named component, appearing in 5 of 48 complaints (10.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 12 | 25.0% |
| Engine operation | 3 | 6.3% |
| Fuel system concerns | 3 | 6.3% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 2.1% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 2.1% |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Parking Brake:Conventional | 5 |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 4 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Carburetor System | 4 |
| Seats:Front Assembly:Recliner | 4 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 3 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 3 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump | 3 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly | 3 |
Parking Brake:Conventional: 5; Electrical System:Ignition: 4; Fuel System, Gasoline:Carburetor System: 4; Seats:Front Assembly:Recliner: 4; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 3; Fuel System, Gasoline: 3; Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump: 3; Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly: 3
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 1 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 2 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 0
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (2). 43 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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 26 |
| 1996 | 5 |
| 2000 | 3 |
| 2001 | 3 |
| 2002 | 3 |
| 2003 | 6 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2020 | 1 |
1995: 26; 1996: 5; 2000: 3; 2001: 3; 2002: 3; 2003: 6; 2018: 1; 2020: 1
Pattern summary
Parking Brake:Conventional leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 12 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 3 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10009078 · 2003-02-24 (February 24, 2003)
THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME DEFECT WITH THE PARKING BRAKE AS STATED IN RECALL NUMBER 02V041000, HOWEVER THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS NOT INLCUDED IN THE RECALL.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. 53,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10009078 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10012263 · 2003-03-24 (March 24, 2003)
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
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10012263 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10013769 · 2003-04-01 (April 1, 2003)
LEAKING FUEL FROM PASSENGER SIDE REAR. THIS OCCURS MOSTLY WHEN FUEL TANK IS FULL. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10013769 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10017647 · 2003-07-03 (July 3, 2003)
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
Owner-reported narrative. 83,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10017647 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10025288 · 2003-07-02 (July 2, 2003)
I OWN A 1989 JEEP WRANGLER WITH A MANUAL TRASMISSION. ON LATELY THE PARKING BRAKE HAS BEEN SELF-RELEASING CAUSING THE THE VEHICLE TO ROLL DOWN MY DRIVEWAY. ON ONE OCCASION IT HIT MY SECOND VEHICLE PARKED BEHIND IT CAUSING MINOR DAMAGE TO THE BUMPER. I FOUND THE NHTSA RECALL (02V041000) CALLED DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT [phone removed]. I SPOKE WITH TOM AND RACHEAL ABOUT THIS ISSUE. THEY SAID THAT THE RECALL DOES NOT AFFECT MY YEAR VEHICLE EVEN IF THE ARE THE SAME TYPE OF VEHICLE. I WOULD LIKE THIS REPAIRED BUT THEY SEEMED UNCONCERED ABOUT THIS AND SAID…
Owner-reported narrative. 79,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10025288 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10041685 · 2003-10-13 (October 13, 2003)
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
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10041685 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11089961 · 2018-04-24 (April 24, 2018)
MUFFLER HANGER CAUGHT ON FIRE. VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY. MUFFLER HAD HOLE IN BOTTOM BUT STILL SHOULD NEVER IGNITE THE HANGER.
Owner-reported narrative. 138,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11089961 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11302973 · 2020-01-30 (January 30, 2020)
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.
Owner-reported narrative. 4,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11302973 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
4 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
90V168000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage
Reported: 1990-09-20 (September 20, 1990)
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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗92V148000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings
Reported: 1992-10-14 (October 14, 1992)
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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗93V150000 · Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:Linkages
Reported: 1993-09-13 (September 13, 1993)
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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗94V106000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump
Reported: 1994-06-09 (June 9, 1994)
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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗