Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 101 complaints with NHTSA about the 1989 Eagle Premier, and it carries 5 recalls. 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.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Visibility | 20 | 20% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 15 | 15% |
| Electrical system | 13 | 13% |
| Service brakes | 10 | 10% |
| Power train | 8 | 8% |
| Vehicle speed control | 7 | 7% |
| Seat belts | 5 | 5% |
| Equipment | 3 | 3% |
| Structure | 2 | 2% |
| Fuel system | 2 | 2% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
1989 EAGLE PREMIER SEDAN/ERRATIC SPEEDOMETER OPERATION SPEEDOMETER BEGAN ACTING ERRATICALLY LAST MONTH WITH INTERMITTENT OPERATION. PROBLEM DIAGNOSED AS DEFECTIVE SENSOR WIRING HARNESS. COMPUTER DOWNLOAD R
NHTSA complaint: Vehicle speed control
A FAULTY GASKET CAUSED COOLANT TO LEAK AND AS A RESULT THE COOLANT COULD BE SMELLED INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. WHEN THE HEATER IS TURNED ON THERE IS A LOUD NOISE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE BLOWER MOTOR. THE DEALER WILL NOT
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
THE HEATER CONTROL VALVE FAILED, CAUSING COOLANT TO LEAK INSIDE VEHICLE. SAME PART FAILED BEFORE AT 33000 IN 1992, THERE IS A RECALL BUT PER MANUFACTURER THIS VEHICLE IS NOT AFFECTED. ALSO THE BULB WAS REPLACED FOR THE B
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
FRAME ATTACHED TO RACK AND PINION STEERING BROKE. DEALER/MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK
NHTSA complaint: Structure
VERY STRONG (SUFFOCATING) COOLANT SMELL IN PASSENGER COMPARTMENT WHEN HEATER AND/OR BLOWER IS ENGAGED. WHEN CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER ABOUT RECALL #607 (IN 1994) FOR VEHICLES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN 7/87 THRU 6/92 (MY VEH
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
HEATER COIL MALFUNCTIONED. VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL 94V006000. *AK
NHTSA complaint: Visibility
MASTER CYLINDER IS DEFECTIVE, AND THE ABS BRAKE LIGHT COMES ON THE DASHBOARD. CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 35MPH, APPLIED BRAKES, AND PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. *AK
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE #98V005000. CONTACTED DEALERSHIP. TOOK VEHICLE FOR REPAIR OF BRAKE ROTORS. DROVE VEHICLE APPROXIMATELY 13,000 WHEN THE BRAKES SHOE PARTS FELL OFF IN STREET. VEHICLE WAS NOT TOUCHED BY ANOTHER MECHA
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for the 1989 Eagle Premier. 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.
REAR BRAKE TUBE ROUTING IS CONTACTED BY FUEL TANK HEAT SHIELD WHEN SUSPENSION IS IN FULL JOUNCE POSITION. THIS DAMAGES THE BRAKE FLUID TUBE, CAUSING A LEAK.
Risk: LOSS OF FLUID FROM HALF OF THE DIAGONALLY SPLIT BRAKEHYDRAULIC SYSTEM AFFECTS BRAKING CAPABILITY, WHICH COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT.
Fix: MODIFY HEAT SHIELD TO ELIMINATE POTENTIAL FOR SHIELD CONTACTING BRAKE TUBE.
THE END CAP CONNECTING THE HEAT EXCHANGER'S CORE TO THE ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM COULD RUPTURE AND ALLOW HOT COOLANT TO ESCAPE INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT.
Risk: THE COOLANT ESCAPING INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT COULD CONTACT THE DRIVER'S FEET AND INJURE THE DRIVER. ALSO, STEAM FROM THE HEATER LIQUID WILL CLOUD ON THE WINDOW SURFACES AND IMPAIR THE DRIVER'S
Fix: A COOLANT TEMPERATURE CONTROLLED HEATER CORE FLUID BYPASS VALVE WILL BE INSTALLED.
ROUTING OF THE FRONT BRAKE HOSE MAY CAUSE EXCESSIVE HOSE FLEXING RESULTING IN PREMATURE FATIGUE CRACKING OF THE OUTER HOSE COVER.
Risk: THIS COULD LEAD TO HOSE FAILURE AND LOSS OF BRAKE FLUIDREDUCING BRAKING EFFECTIVENESS.
Fix: REPLACE FRONT BRAKE HOSES WITH HOSES REDESIGNED TO PROVIDE A MODIFIED ROUTING CONFIGURATION.
THE AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT SYSTEMS CAN MALFUNCTION AND BECOME INOPERATIVE.
Risk: THE LACK OF PASSIVE RESTRAINTS COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE COLLISION.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SYSTEM TRACK AND DRIVE ASSEMBLY ON AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT SYSTEMS WHICH ARE CURRENTLY INOPERATIVE AND THOSE SYSTEMS WHEN THEY BECOME INOPERATIVE IN THE FUTURE.
| Reliability raw | 86 | excellent |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 80 | excellent |
| Maintenance | 88 | excellent |
| Depreciation | 60 | average |
| Performance | 50 | average |
| Efficiency | 41 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other midsize & large cars in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 101 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and visibility is the most reported area with 20 of them (20%). There are 5 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 86/100 (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.
AVOIR scores its longevity 80/100, 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.
AVOIR's read: worth a look, because a solid ownership case with specific caveats below. Its overall ownership score is 73/100. 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.