1989 Chevrolet Celebrity

Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.

72/100

Worth a look

AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.

What owners actually report

Owners have filed 50 complaints with NHTSA about the 1989 Chevrolet Celebrity, and it carries 1 recall. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.

Complaints by area, from NHTSA records for this model-year
Area	Complaints	Share
Service brakes	8	16%
Electrical system	6	12%
Seat belts	5	10%
Engine and engine cooling	5	10%
Tires	4	8%
Latches/locks/linkages	4	8%
Structure	4	8%
Seats	2	4%
Vehicle speed control	2	4%
Power train	2	4%

In owners' own words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.

1989 CHEVY CELEBRITY SUFFERED A TIRE BLOWOUT. CONSUMER LOST CONTROL AND SPUN OFF THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROADWAY THEN STRUCK AN EMBANKMENT. *NJ THE CONSUMER SUFFERED INJURIES. OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT # 19-0473-91
NHTSA complaint: Tires

THE ROOF RACK HAD SEPARATED WITH TWO BIKES ATTACHED TO IT WHILE IN MOTION, AND HAD FLOWN OFF OF THE VEHICLE. THE THIN FABRICATION OF THE HEATER CORE TUBING ALLOWED LEAKAGE INTO THE VEHICLE WHICH CAN CAUSE PROLONGED INHA
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling

DRIVER'S SIDE BUCKLE WOULD NOT LATCH. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED, AND WERE UNABLE TO FIND A REPLACEMENT PART. ASKING NHTSA TO ASSIST IN THIS MATTER. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
NHTSA complaint: Seat belts

PE00 048 CONSUMER BOUGHT TWO MICHELIN TIRES FROM SEARS, NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE TIRES WERE DRY ROTTEN, AND MANAGER AT SEARS TOLD HER THAT TIRES WERE NOT ON WARRANTY FOR ROTTEN TIRES. *AK
NHTSA complaint: Tires

THIS TIRE FAILED 3 TIMES, EACH TIME DUE TO STUD PENETRATION. WE PURCHASED THESE TIRES FROM LES SCHWAB IN NOVEMBER OF 2000. THE THREE STUD PENETRATIONS OCCURED ON 2-1-01, 2-7-01 AND 2-8-01. EACH TIME WE TOOK THE TIRE BACK
NHTSA complaint: Tires

PURCHASE DATE 3/16/2000 FELT BUMP AND I STOP CAR .TIRE WAS COMPLETELY RIPED APART (THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL FOR THIS LINE ALSO) (DOT NUMBER: U9KA TIRESIZE: P195/75R14)
NHTSA complaint: Tires

SEAT BELT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE WOULD NOT UNLATCH, AND WAS NO LONGER FUNCTIONING. SEAT BELT HAD TO BE CUT. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED ABOUT THE PROBLEM, OWNER WILL HAVE TO PAY FOR REPLACEMENT. *AK *ML
NHTSA complaint: Seat belts

WHILE DRIVING AT ABOUT 40-45MPH ON THE HIGHWAY, ALL OF A SUDDEN WAS HIT FROM THE REAR. UPON IMPACT, DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT COLLAPSED, AND HINGE BROKE ON THE INSIDE, THROWING CONSUMER TO HIS BACK AT AN ANGLE. CONTACTED MAN
NHTSA complaint: Seats

Recalls on record

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 1989 Chevrolet Celebrity. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.

Seat belts:front:anchorage 95V173000

THESE VEHICLES WERE ASSEMBLED WITH REAR OUTBOARD SAFETY BELT ANCHORAGES THAT MAY NOT WITHSTAND THE REQUIRED LOAD. THIS DOES NOT COMPLY WITH FMVSS NO.210, "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY ANCHORAGES."

Risk: CONSEQUENCE OF NON-COMPLIANCE: IN A COLLISON, STRESS CAN CAUSE THE ATTACHMENT METAL TO TEAR AND ALLOW THE ANCHORAGE TO SEPARATE FROM THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE. THE SAFETY BELT MAY NOT PROTECT AN OCCUP

Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE EXISTING ANCHOR BOLTS WITH A NEW SHOULDER BOLT AND THREAD LOCKING ADHESIVE. ADDITIONALLY, NOISE CONTROL PATCHES WILL BE APPLIED AT EACH ANCHORAGE.

The seven scores

Reliability raw	82	excellent
Longevity est.	79	good
Maintenance	88	excellent
Depreciation	57	average
Performance	50	average
Efficiency	43	below average

How it compares in its class

Percentile ranks against other midsize & large cars in the catalog.

Reliability: better than 47% of midsize & large cars
Longevity: better than 63% of midsize & large cars
Running costs: better than 93% of midsize & large cars
Value retention: better than 36% of midsize & large cars

Which of these numbers are measured

What stands behind each score for this car:

Reliability 82: from NHTSA recalls and complaints. This one is a raw count: we do not have a sales figure for this model, so a high-volume car looks worse here than it should.
Longevity 79: an estimate from powertrain and brand record. No 200,000-mile population exists for a 1989 car yet, so this is a prior, not evidence.
Maintenance 88: repair-cost data where we have it for this model, otherwise a mechanical-complexity estimate from engine size, cylinder count and drivetrain.
Safety: no score. NHTSA crash testing thins out for older vehicles and we would rather show nothing than guess.

Common questions

What goes wrong with the 1989 Chevrolet Celebrity?

Owners have filed 50 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and service brakes is the most reported area with 8 of them (16%). There is 1 recall on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.

Is the 1989 Chevrolet Celebrity reliable?

AVOIR scores its reliability 82/100 (excellent) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.

How long will a 1989 Chevrolet Celebrity last?

AVOIR scores its longevity 79/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 1989 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.

Should I buy a 1989 Chevrolet Celebrity?

AVOIR's read: worth a look, because a solid ownership case with specific caveats below. Its overall ownership score is 72/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.

Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.