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1989 Chevrolet Corvette

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

About this comparison →
15Owner complaints

Model-year median: 29

2Recall campaigns

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2Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
15
198621
198716
198815
198934
199024
19917
1992
Compare all Corvette years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Service Brakes, Hydraulic
3Electrical System
2Power Train
2Seat Belts
2Suspension
2
All reported categories
Steering
1Structure
1Tires
1Unknown Or Other
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 3 of 15 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

1 crash reports1 fire reports0 injury reports

Steering complaints

1 reports
Clear category filter
149,000 miles · Sep 12, 2007
Steering

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1989 CHEVROLET CORVETTE. WHILE DECELERATING, THE CONTACT HEARD A CLUMPING SOUND COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE U JOINTS. THE FAILURE RECURRED AFTER THE VEHICLE LEFT THE DEALER. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE REAR WHEEL TIE ROD ASSEMBLY NEEDED T…

Read full complaint

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1989 CHEVROLET CORVETTE. WHILE DECELERATING, THE CONTACT HEARD A CLUMPING SOUND COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE U JOINTS. THE FAILURE RECURRED AFTER THE VEHICLE LEFT THE DEALER. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE REAR WHEEL TIE ROD ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE SPEED AND POWERTRAIN WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 149,000.

NHTSA ODI #10202785

Official recalls

2

91V143000 · Seat Belts:front:anchorage

Sep 4, 1991

UNDER CERTAIN VEHICLE OPERATIONS AND OCCUPANT USAGE CONDITIONS, THE SAFETY BELTS CAN LOCKUP OR JAM IN THE SAFETY BELT RETRACTOR.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF LOCKUP OCCURS, IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO PULL BELT OUT OFTHE RETRACTOR. THE OCCUPANT OF A SEAT WITH AN UNUSABLE SAFETY BELT ISSUBJECT TO INCREASED RISK OF INJURY OR DEATH IN THE EVENT OF A SUDDEN STOP ORACCIDENT.

Remedy: REPLACE THE SAFETY BELTS IF THE LOCKUP OCCURS.

90V032000 · Suspension:rear:springs:leaf Spring Assembly

Feb 12, 1990

REAR WHEEL TIE ROD ASSEMBLY MAY FATIGUE AND COULD FRACTURE AT THE INBOARD BEARING DUE TO HIGH INNER JOINT ROCKING TORQUE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: FRACTURE IN THIS ASSEMBLY COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL AND A CRASH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.

Remedy: REPLACE FAULTY TIE ROD ASSEMBLIES.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

2

DP96006 · Brake Pull

Opened May 14, 1996 · Closed Oct 18, 1996

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic

THE PETITIONS STATED THAT:WE REPRESENT THE OWNER OF A 1990 CHEVROLET CORVETTE WHICH, WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED, SUDDENTLY, VIOLENTLY, AND UNEXPECTEDLY PULLS TO THE LEFT.THIS IS A INTERMITTENT DEFECT WHICH DOES NOT OCCUR WITH AN REGULARITY.

PE90032 · Tie Rod Socket Failure

Opened Jan 12, 1990 · Closed Mar 22, 1990

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Suspension

There is no summary currently available