IllustrationCONSUMER WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OF RECALL 89V237 OF THE VALVE COVER GASKET. NLM
1989 Dodge Dynasty
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1989 Dodge Dynasty do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 55.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Dynasty years →Counts vary with age, sales 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: 3 of 55 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.
- Power Train. Review the 22 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 15 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 8 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 reports5 fire reports1 injury reports
What owners actually said
55 reportsREAR AXLE FAILED WHILE DRIVING AT 20 MPH. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TOAN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT PARTS WERE NOT COVERED UNDER MANUFACTURER'S RECALL. *AK
ABS BRAKING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING THE BRAKE PEDAL TO BE "HARD," AND HAVE EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE WHICH MAY RESULT IN A CRASH. *AK *ML
WHEN VEHICLE WAS PUT IN DRIVE THE VEHICLE FELT LIKE IT WAS IN NEUTRAL, AND IT MADE CLUNKING NOISES. DEALER SAID TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK
01MAR99: HAD PARKED & LEFT VEHICLE IDLING. RETURNED HEARD NOISE. ARRIVED HOME & NOTICED HEAVY SMOKE. VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE UNDER HOOD. FIRE DEPT ARRIVED & EXTINGUISEHD THE FLAMES. INFORMED CONSUMER THAT IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM UNDER HOOD. HAD HAPPENEDED AGAIN ON MAY 11,Y99. SAME PROBLEM & FIRE. ALSO, SOMETIMES HARD TO S…
Read full complaint
01MAR99: HAD PARKED & LEFT VEHICLE IDLING. RETURNED HEARD NOISE. ARRIVED HOME & NOTICED HEAVY SMOKE. VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE UNDER HOOD. FIRE DEPT ARRIVED & EXTINGUISEHD THE FLAMES. INFORMED CONSUMER THAT IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM UNDER HOOD. HAD HAPPENEDED AGAIN ON MAY 11,Y99. SAME PROBLEM & FIRE. ALSO, SOMETIMES HARD TO START VEHICLE. REPLACED BATTERY & STARTER BEFORE FIRES. EACH TIME HAD WORKED FOR A WHILE & THEN FAILED. *AK
THE ENGINE HEAD GASKETS HAVE GONE BAD, CAUSING A LEAK IN THE COMPARTMENT AND OUTSIDE ON THE ENGINE. DEALER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED.
HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ISSUED ON ENGINE HEAD GASKETS, BUT DID NOT FIND IT ON YOUR SITE. RECALL 89V27. *AK
WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE, THE CONSUMER SMELLED OIL BURNING AND THERE WAS AN OIL LEAKAGE. VEHICLE SOUNDED LIKE IT WAS TRYING TO CUT OFF. *AK
MANUAL INFORMATION DOES NOT HAVE INFORMATION ON WHAT OIL TO USE ON THE HOOD COVER.
TRANSMISSION CONSTANTLY SLIPS, UNABLE TO CORRECT PROBLEM.
Official recalls
189V237000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:engine
Dec 27, 1989
THE ENGINE VALVE COVER GASKET MAY DISLOCATE AND ALLOW AN ENGINE OIL LEAK AT THE GASKET.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE LEAKAGE OF OIL IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT COULD CAUSEA FIRE.
Remedy: REPLACE GASKET COVER WITH REVISED COVER, AND RTV SEALANT WILL BE APPLIED IN PLACE OF A GASKET.
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
1PE89036 · Transmission Downshifting
Opened Jan 9, 1989 · Closed Jan 31, 1989
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Power Train
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