IllustrationELECTRONIC TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS.
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 reportsTHE LEFT OUTER TIE ROD END SEPARATED AND CAUSED LOSS OF STEERING.
PLASTIC PIECE INSIDE RELEASE BUTTION MECHANISM WILL NOT DISENGAGE, CAUSING FASTNER TO STICK. *AK
WITHIN TWO YEARS THE ENGINE CONTROLLER HAS FAILED, RESULTING IN ALL POWER, INCLUDING BRAKES AND STEERING BECOMING NONFUNCTIONAL. ON SECOND OCCURRENCE, OWNER ALMOST STRUCK A CHILD IN PARKING LOT DUE TO POWER LOSS. *AK BODY CONTROLLER ALSO CONTINUES TO GO OUT. *YH
A604 TRANSAXLE WAS DESIGNED DEFECTIVELY WITH A NUMBER OF SNAP RINGS THAT WEAR OUT/BREAK. *AK
THE HEAD GASKET VALVE COVER DISLOCATED, CAUSING AN OIL LEAK WHICH COULD RESULT IN A FIRE. *AK
ENGINE VALVE COVER HAS DISLOCATED, CAUSING THE ENGINE OIL TO LEAK AT THE GASKET. RECALL # 05150021. DEALER HAS NO INFORMATION ON THIS RECALL. THIS IS THE SAME IDENTICAL PROBLEM STATED IN THE RECALL DESCRIPITION. *AK
BRAKES FAILED.
WHEN APPLYING THE ABS BRAKES THE PEDAL BECOMES HARD. EXCESSIVE PRESSURE IS NEEDED TO GAIN VEHICLE'S CONTROL. VEHICLE DIAGNOSED, DEFECTIVE MASTER CYLINDER AND COMPUTER CAUSED FAILURE. PLEASE SEND REPAIR INFORMATION. *AK
VEHICLE FIRE DUE TO LEAK IN THE POWER STEERING HOSE.
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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