IllustrationWHILE DRIVING 30 MPH A FIRE STARTED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
1989 Chrysler New Yorker
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
Counts are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. A lower count does not establish that a car is problem-free.
About this comparison →78Owner complaints
Model-year median: 2
0Recall campaignsView recall details →
1InvestigationsView investigation details →
Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗ Model-level counts do not show whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.
Inspection summary
1989 Chrysler New Yorker
NHTSA snapshot: September 18, 2026. 78 owner complaints · 0 recall campaigns · 1 investigations.
Counts are not failure probabilities and are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. One report may name several categories. Comparison method and limitations.
Top reported categories (up to 5)
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 33 reports
- Power Train: 21 reports
- Electrical System: 9 reports
- Seat Belts: 6 reports
- Engine And Engine Cooling: 5 reports
Full reported-category list and vehicle report
Recall links
No recall campaigns in this snapshot.
Check a VIN with NHTSA. Model-level history does not establish whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.
Print the top reported categories, recall links, snapshot date and comparison limits.
How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all New Yorker years →Counts vary with age, sales, mileage exposure and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
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: 1 of 78 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 33 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 21 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
3 crash reports5 fire reports3 injury reports
Electrical System complaints
9 reportsTHE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED A PROBLEM WITH ALTERNATOR. WHILE DRIVING NOTICED THAT SMOKE WAS COMING FROM HOOD. PANEL LIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE TO ALERT THEM OF THE PROBLEM. WHEN THEY PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER, THEY NOTICED THAT IT WAS ON FIRE. THE VEHICLE BURNED UNTIL IN IT WAS PUT OUT BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. THEY DIAGNOSED …
Read full complaint
THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED A PROBLEM WITH ALTERNATOR. WHILE DRIVING NOTICED THAT SMOKE WAS COMING FROM HOOD. PANEL LIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE TO ALERT THEM OF THE PROBLEM. WHEN THEY PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER, THEY NOTICED THAT IT WAS ON FIRE. THE VEHICLE BURNED UNTIL IN IT WAS PUT OUT BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. THEY DIAGNOSED THAT IT WAS DUE TO THE WIRING ASSOCIATED WITH THE ALTERNATOR. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
WHEN THE VEHICLE IS AT ANY SPEED THE VEHICLE CUTS OFF, AND STARTS BACK UP. THIS SOMETIMES HAPPENS TWICE WHILE DRIVING. WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN REVERSE, THE GEAR WILL SWITCH ALL BY ITSELF. TOOK TO DEALER, AND THEY SAID THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDS THE TRANSMISSION AND ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE FIXED. THERE IS AN INVESTIGATION ON THE …
Read full complaint
WHEN THE VEHICLE IS AT ANY SPEED THE VEHICLE CUTS OFF, AND STARTS BACK UP. THIS SOMETIMES HAPPENS TWICE WHILE DRIVING. WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN REVERSE, THE GEAR WILL SWITCH ALL BY ITSELF. TOOK TO DEALER, AND THEY SAID THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDS THE TRANSMISSION AND ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE FIXED. THERE IS AN INVESTIGATION ON THE TRANSMISSION DOWNSHIFTING. PE89-036. *AK
CORRODED BATTERY CABLES CAUSED COMPUTER TO READ "ENGINE OFF".
VEHICLE SEIZED WHILE DRIVING AT 40-45 MPH ON HWY, DEALER SAID STARTER WAS THE PROBLEM. TT
ELECTRICAL PROBLEM IN THE WIRING. TT LIGHT WOULD TURN ON AND OFF AT ANY TIME BLINKING OR NOT WORK AT ALL , THIS HAPPEN IN THE DASH BOARD ALSO TAIL LIGHTS WOULD NOT WORK, POSSIBLE SHOTRS IN THE WIRING HARNESS IN FRONT AND BACK IT TOOK THREE TIMES TO FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM.*JB
THROTTLE FAILURE.
THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE DUE TO ELECTRICAL SHORT FROM THE WIRING HARNESS.PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT
ABS FAILURE, WHEN APPLIED BRAKES TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE, ALSO LOST OF POWER. TT
Recall campaigns
0No recalls in this snapshot.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
Defect investigations
1PE89036 · Transmission Downshifting
Opened Jan 9, 1989 · Closed Jan 31, 1989
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Power Train
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An investigation is not a finding of a defect, and closure does not prove a vehicle is problem-free.