Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 73 complaints with NHTSA about the 1989 Jeep Wrangler, and it carries 7 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel system | 18 | 25% |
| Parking brake | 8 | 11% |
| Electrical system | 8 | 11% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 8 | 11% |
| Seats | 5 | 7% |
| Power train | 4 | 5% |
| Seat belts | 3 | 4% |
| Visibility | 3 | 4% |
| Unknown or other | 2 | 3% |
| Service brakes | 2 | 3% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
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
NHTSA complaint: Power train
MUFFLER HANGER CAUGHT ON FIRE. VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY. MUFFLER HAD HOLE IN BOTTOM BUT STILL SHOULD NEVER IGNITE THE HANGER.
NHTSA complaint: Unknown or other
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 SYSTE
NHTSA complaint: Parking brake
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 T
NHTSA complaint: Parking brake
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 CAUSIN
NHTSA complaint: Parking brake
LEAKING FUEL FROM PASSENGER SIDE REAR. THIS OCCURS MOSTLY WHEN FUEL TANK IS FULL. *JB
NHTSA complaint: Fuel system
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
NHTSA complaint: Vehicle speed control
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
NHTSA complaint: Parking brake
NHTSA lists 7 recall campaigns for the 1989 Jeep Wrangler. 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.
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 INSTA
Risk: A LEAKING FUEL PUMP COULD CREATE A VEHICLE FIRE HAZARD.
Fix: 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.
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 D
Risk: WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
Fix: 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.
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 T
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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
WINDSHIELD FRAME METAL MAY CRACK AT THE WIPER ARM PIVOT MOUNTINGS DUE TO METAL STRESS DURING WIPER OPERATION.
Risk: THIS CAN CAUSE DISLOCATION AND BINDING OF THE WIPERSYSTEM LINKAGE WHICH, IN INCLEMENT WEATHER, COULD AFFECT DRIVER VISIBILITY ANDRESULT IN AN ACCIDENT.
Fix: RETROFIT WITH A WINDSHIELD FRAME REINFORCEMENT AT THE WIPER PIVOT LOCATIONS AND INSTALL NEW REDESIGNED LINKAGE COMPONENTS TO REDUCE STRESS AT THE PIVOT MOUNTINGS.
| Reliability raw | 84 | excellent |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 78 | good |
| Maintenance | 70 | good |
| Depreciation | 66 | good |
| Performance | 72 | good |
| Efficiency | 31 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other other in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 73 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and fuel system is the most reported area with 18 of them (25%). There are 7 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 84/100 (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 78/100, 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 71/100. 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.