IllustrationLEAKING FUEL FROM PASSENGER SIDE REAR. THIS OCCURS MOSTLY WHEN FUEL TANK IS FULL. *JB
1989 Jeep Wrangler
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1989 Jeep Wrangler do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 265.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Wrangler 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: 5 of 62 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.
- Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 19 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Parking Brake. 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.
5 crash reports12 fire reports1 injury reports
Fuel System, Gasoline complaints
19 reportsCARBURATOR WAS RUNNING TOO MUCH FUEL TO EXHAUST SYSTEM WHICH CAUSED EXHAUST SYSTEM TO BECOME CHERRY RED & CATCH ON FIRE IN BACK. UNDERBODY PAINT HAD BURNED. RUBBER MOUNTING HAD ALSO BURNED.*AK CONSUMER FEELS THERE WAS AN ELECTRONIC MALFUNCTION. *SLC
NO SUMMARY
ITERNAL SLAVE CYLINDER FAILED 4 TIMES IN 3 1/2 YEARS. THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT IS KNOWN THOUGH OUT THE JEEP COMMUNITY. TO ADD TO THIS PROBLEM IN ORDER TO CHANGE THIS PART ONE MUST REMOVE THE TRANSMISSION. THIS IS A MAJOR JOB AND COST ABOUT $600 TO DO.
IN 1993 MY CAR ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE, ALLEGEDLY DUE TO AN UNKNOWN REASON. I HAVE CONTINUALLY HAD CARBURETOR PROBLEMS AND HAVE HAD 2 REBUILT ONES AND A CATALYTIC CONVERTER REPLACED. I NOW NEED A FOURTH CARBURETOR. SOMETHING IS WRONG AND I AM CONCERNED THAT THE CAR WILL CATCH FIRE AGAIN.
OWNER HAD RECALL WORK DONE ON VEHICLE CONCERNIG THE FUEL TANK SENDING UNIT. FUEL TANK STILL LEAKS. RECALL NO.94V10600. *AK
FUEL TANK LEAKS WHEN FILLED.
PLASTIC FUEL TANK MELTED, CAUSING FUEL LEAKAGE. TT CONSUMER STATES TANK CAPACITY HAS SHRUNK. *SLC
CARBURETOR CHOKE ASSEMBLED BACKWARDS, CAUSING FIRE. *SD
PASSENGER COMPARTMENT FIRE, UNKNOWN CAUSE OF FIRE. TT
Official recalls
494V106000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:fuel Pump
Jun 9, 1994
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MULTIPURPOSE PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH PLASTIC FUEL TANKS. THE FUEL TANK SENDING UNIT GASKET CAN CRACK CAUSING FUEL AND FUEL VAPOR LEAKS.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: FUEL AND FUEL VAPOR LEAKED FROM THE FUEL TANK CAN RESULT IN FIRE WHEN EXPOSED TO A SOURCE OF IGNITION.
Remedy: REPLACE THE FUEL TANK SENDING UNIT GASKET.
93V150000 · Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer:linkages
Sep 13, 1993
WINDSHIELD FRAME METAL MAY CRACK AT THE WIPER ARM PIVOT MOUNTINGS DUE TO METAL STRESS DURING WIPER OPERATION.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CAN CAUSE DISLOCATION AND BINDING OF THE WIPERSYSTEM LINKAGE WHICH, IN INCLEMENT WEATHER, COULD AFFECT DRIVER VISIBILITY ANDRESULT IN AN ACCIDENT.
Remedy: RETROFIT WITH A WINDSHIELD FRAME REINFORCEMENT AT THE WIPER PIVOT LOCATIONS AND INSTALL NEW REDESIGNED LINKAGE COMPONENTS TO REDUCE STRESS AT THE PIVOT MOUNTINGS.
92V148000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings
Oct 14, 1992
ON 1987 THROUGH EARLY 1990 MODELS, BOTH FRONT BRAKE HOSES CAN WEAR DUE TO DIRECT CONTACT WITH THE WHEEL OPENING SPLASH SHIELDS. ON THE LATE 1990 THROUGH 1992 MODELS, PERIODIC RUBBING CONTACT OF THE LEFT FRONT BRAKE HOSE CAN OCCUR DUE TO MOVEMENT OF THE SPLASH SHIELD IN CERTAIN VEHICLE OPERATING CONDITIONS.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: EITHER CONDITION CAN CAUSE LOSS OF FRONT BRAKE SYSTEMFUNCTIONS, RESULTING IN INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCES AND AN INCREASED RISK OFVEHICLE ACCIDENT.
Remedy: THE 1987 TO 1990 MODEL VEHICLES WILL HAVE BOTH SPLASH SHIELDS REPLACED AND BOTH FRONT BRAKE HOSES REPLACED AS NECESSARY. ALL AFFECTED LATE 1990 THROUGH 1992 MODEL YEAR VEHICLES WILL HAVE ADDITIONAL FASTENERS INSTALLED TO FURTHER SECURE THE LEFT SIDE SPLASH SHIELD. ALSO, THE LEFT FRONT BRAKE HOSE WILL BE INSPECTED AND REPLACED AS NECESSARY.
90V168000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage
Sep 20, 1990
IN A REAR IMPACT COLLISSION, FUEL TANK MAY LEAK FUEL IN EXCESS OF AMOUNT ALLOWED BY FMVSS 301 BECAUSE OF MISBUILT FUEL TANK SKID PLATES.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, THIS COULD RESULTIN A FIRE. VEHICLE WOULD NOT COMPLY WITH FMVSS 301.
Remedy: INSTALL FLANGE ON FUEL TANK SKID PLATE.
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
9RQ97016 · Fuel Leakage
Opened Oct 27, 1997 · Closed Jun 30, 1998
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:fuel Pump
ODI HAS RECEIVED 6 REPORTS ON FUEL LEAKAGE AND 3 REPORTS ON ALLEGED REMEDY FAILURE REPORTS
PE95020 · Seat Back Failure
Opened Mar 27, 1995 · Closed Jul 28, 1995
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seats
There is no summary currently available
EA94031 · Seat Belt Buckle Failure
Opened Aug 30, 1994 · Closed Sep 30, 1997
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts:front:buckle Assembly
There is no summary currently available
PE94037 · Seat Belt Buckle Failure
Opened Apr 26, 1994 · Closed Aug 30, 1994
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts:front:buckle Assembly
There is no summary currently available
EA93031 · Sending Unit Gasket Fails
Opened Dec 15, 1993 · Closed Jun 17, 1994
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
There is no summary currently available
EA93025 · Driveshaft/univ.joint Fail
Opened Oct 29, 1993 · Closed Nov 25, 1994
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Power Train
There is no summary currently available
PE92075 · Exhaust System Fires
Opened Sep 9, 1992 · Closed Jan 29, 1993
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
There is no summary currently available
EA92014 · Fuel Tank/exhaust Interfer
Opened May 22, 1992 · Closed May 28, 1993
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
There is no summary currently available
PE92016 · Fuel Tank/exhaust Interfer
Opened Feb 5, 1992 · Closed May 22, 1992
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
There is no summary currently available