IllustrationWHILE DRIVING 20-25 MPH AND WITHOUT WARNING FRONT PASSENGER'S TIRE FELL OF RIM.*AK.*JB
1989 Toyota Camry
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1989 Toyota Camry do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 295.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Camry 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: 14 of 113 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.
- Seat Belts. Review the 21 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 16 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 15 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
13 crash reports4 fire reports7 injury reports
What owners actually said
113 reportsWHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH ON HIGHWAY CONSUMER STEPPED ON BRAKES AND THERE WERE NONE. IN ORDER TO STOP VEHICLE HAD TO DOWN SHIFT AND USE HAND BRAKE. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
DOOR LOCKS DO NOT WORK PROPERLY. SOMETIMES WHEN PUSHING UNLOCKED BUTTON DOOR WILL NOT UNLOCK. REAR PASSENGER DOOR DOES NOT LOCK ALL THE TIME. *AK PASSENGER SIDE DOOR UNLOCK BUTTON DOES NOT WORK, PASSENGER SIDE REAR DOOR LOCK DOES NOT WORK ALL THE TIME, ALL DOORS MUST BE OPENED FROM DRIVER SIDE MAIN UNLOCK BUTTONS FOR ALL …
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DOOR LOCKS DO NOT WORK PROPERLY. SOMETIMES WHEN PUSHING UNLOCKED BUTTON DOOR WILL NOT UNLOCK. REAR PASSENGER DOOR DOES NOT LOCK ALL THE TIME. *AK PASSENGER SIDE DOOR UNLOCK BUTTON DOES NOT WORK, PASSENGER SIDE REAR DOOR LOCK DOES NOT WORK ALL THE TIME, ALL DOORS MUST BE OPENED FROM DRIVER SIDE MAIN UNLOCK BUTTONS FOR ALL DOORS. *SLC
THE AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT RESTRAINTS ON THIS VEHICLE WON'T LOCK WHEN YOU PULL ON SEAT BELT,OR SHOULDER RESTRANT. I HAVE A 2000 TOYOTA AVALON AND WHEN I PULL ON THE WHEN BUCKELED UP IT LOCKS. THERE FOR I FEEL THAT THE RESTRANTS ARE NOT WORKING IN THE 1989 TOYOTA CAMRY. I CALLED TOYOTA 1-800-331-4331 SPOKE TO JOANN 7/12/01 SHE GAV…
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THE AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT RESTRAINTS ON THIS VEHICLE WON'T LOCK WHEN YOU PULL ON SEAT BELT,OR SHOULDER RESTRANT. I HAVE A 2000 TOYOTA AVALON AND WHEN I PULL ON THE WHEN BUCKELED UP IT LOCKS. THERE FOR I FEEL THAT THE RESTRANTS ARE NOT WORKING IN THE 1989 TOYOTA CAMRY. I CALLED TOYOTA 1-800-331-4331 SPOKE TO JOANN 7/12/01 SHE GAVE ME A CASE # 200107120985. THE GAVE ME PHONE # OF MAROONE TOYOTA TO SPEEK TO CUSTOMER SERVICE PERSON TRACY MONTES 954-659-1804. I SPOKE TO TRACY TODAY 7/17/01 AT 07:30 , SHE SAID THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL LISTED FOR MY VEHICLE.I TOLD HER THAT YOU HAVE MY YEAR AND MAKE LISTED ON YOUR SITE AS HAVING THIS DEFECT ,SHE TOLD ME THAT YOU CAN'T GO BY THOSE WEB SITES. THERE IS NO RECALL FOR YOUR VEHICLE . I TOLD HER THAT I WOULD CHECK FURTHER. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF TOYOTA IS RESPONSIBLE , AND SHOULD FIX THIS DEFECT. I MUST OF HAD THIS PROBLEM ALL ALONG , BUT BECAUSE THEY WERE AUTOMATIC DIDN'T CHECK IT OR WAS MADE AWARE OF HOW TO CHECK THIS BY THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP THAT SOLD ME THE VEHICLE. I KNOW THIS I A OLDER VEHICLE, BUT THE SEAT BELTS SHOULD WORK. IF THERE IS ANY HELP YOU CAN GIVE ME TO HAVE TOYOTA MAKE ALL THERE VEHICLES SAFE I WOULD APPRECIATE IT .*AK
MY CAR ALSO HAS SOME WEIRD ELECTIRCAL PROBLEMS WITH THE DOORS AND LIGHTS.*AK
WHILE CLOSING DOOR SEAT BELTS WILL NOT RETRACT INTO SHOULDER PLACEMENT FOR TRAVELING. *AK
POWER DOOR LOCK IN DRIVER CONTROL PANEL FAILS TO RESPOND. AFTER THE DOOR HAS BEEN LOCKED, IT WILL NOT RESPOND TO UNLOCKING BY POWER CONTROL, NOR CAN THE DOOR BE OPENED MANUALLY. THE ONLY WAY TO EXIT THE VEHICLE IS BY OPENING THE POWER WINDOW AND USING THE HANDLE LOCATED ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR. THE PASSENGER …
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POWER DOOR LOCK IN DRIVER CONTROL PANEL FAILS TO RESPOND. AFTER THE DOOR HAS BEEN LOCKED, IT WILL NOT RESPOND TO UNLOCKING BY POWER CONTROL, NOR CAN THE DOOR BE OPENED MANUALLY. THE ONLY WAY TO EXIT THE VEHICLE IS BY OPENING THE POWER WINDOW AND USING THE HANDLE LOCATED ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR. THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR WINDOW STICKS IN THE UP OR DOWN POSITION AND DOES NOT RESPOND OR RESPONDS POOR AND/OR SLUGGISHLY TO THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL PANEL LOCATED ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR.*AK
CAR DIES IN IDLE AFTER FREEWAY RUN. THREE YEAR HISTORY OF PROBLEM, SINCE 90,000 MI. NOT FIXED BY VALVE JOB, DISTRIBUTER CAP/ROTOR REPLACEMENT, OR TUNE UP. CAR ALSO SURGES SOMETIMES AT IDLE WITH A/C ON.
THE KUMHO STEEL BELTED RADIAL 771 TIRES ON THE VEHICLE TO NOT RESPOND WELL AND CAUSED THE CONSUMER TO SLIDE THROUGH INTERSECTIONS AND SPIN EXCESSIVELY. *MJS
WATER LEAKS IN THROUGH DRIVER'S SEAT BELT AUTO-TRACK WHEN DRIVING AFTER A RAIN STORM WHILE CAR WAS SITTING. REAR FLOOR IS SOAKED WITH WATER. *AK
Official recalls
316V396000 · Seats:front Assembly:seat Heater/cooler
Jun 2, 2016
Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain 2005-2011 4Runner, Highlander, Sequoia, and Sienna, 2005-2010 Avalon and Tundra, 2006-2008 Camry Solara, 2006-2010 Highlander hybrid, 2006-2011 Rav4 and Tacoma, 2007-2010 FJ Cruiser, 2007-2011 Camry hybrid, 2009-2010 Venza, 2010-2012 Prius, 1988-1990 and 2005-2010 Camry, and 1989 and 2009-2010 Corolla vehicles equipped with aftermarket accessory seat heaters with a copper strand heating element. The electrical wiring in the seat heaters may be damaged when the seat cushion is compressed.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If damaged, the copper strand heating element may short circuit, increasing the risk of a fire.
Remedy: SET will notify owners, and dealers will disconnect the seat heaters, free of charge, and refund the purchase price of the seat heater accessory. The recall began on July 14, 2016. Owners may contact SET customer service at 1-866-405-4226. SET number for this recall is SET16B.
92V135000 · Latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch
Sep 22, 1992
THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT (ECU) FOR THE POWER DOOR LOCK SYSTEM CAN FAIL, CAUSING THE CONTACTS TO "WELD", AND RESULTING IN DOOR LOCK SOLENOID DAMAGE, WITH FAILURE OF THE DOOR TO LOCK OR UNLOCK, EVEN UNDER MANUAL OPERATION.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THE DOOR FAILS TO OPEN AFTER ECU FAILURE, VEHICLEOCCUPANTS WOULD HAVE INCREASED DIFFICULTY EXITING THE VEHICLE IN AN EMERGENCY.
Remedy: INSTALL AN ADDITIONAL SUBCIRCUIT RELAY CONTROL TO PREVENT MALFUNCTION OF ORIGINAL RELAYS IN THE ECU.
89V175000 · Seat Belts:front
Oct 18, 1989
OCCUPANT RELEASE OF THE LAP BELT IN A CERTAIN MANNER COULD CAUSE THE BELT RETRACTOR TO LOCK AT THE RETRACTED AND STOWED POSITION.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: SEAT BELTS MAY BE UNUSABLE OR OCCUPANTS MAY BEDISCOURAGED FROM USING BELTS, INCREASING THEIR POTENTIAL FOR INJURY IN ANACCIDENTAL OR SUDDEN STOP.
Remedy: REPLACE LAP BELT WITH A REDESIGNED BELT GUIDE.
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
7EA97008 · Leaking Fuel Tank
Opened Apr 23, 1997 · Closed Apr 22, 1998
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
CRACKS IN THE SOLDER JOINT OF THE FUEL FILL OR INLET PIPE IN THE FUEL TANK ALLOWS LIQUID FUEL TO LEAK FROM THE TANK
PE97003 · Leaking Fuel Tank
Opened Jan 21, 1997 · Closed Apr 23, 1997
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
CRACKS IN THE SOLDER JOINT OF THE FUEL FILL OR INLET PIPE IN THE FUEL TANK ALLOWS LIQUID FUEL TO LEAK FROM THE TANK.
EA92044 · Throttle Sticking
Opened Dec 18, 1992 · Closed Jan 31, 1994
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
There is no summary currently available
PE92065 · Throttle Sticking
Opened Jul 16, 1992 · Closed Dec 18, 1992
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
There is no summary currently available
EA92013 · Stuck Power Door Locks
Opened May 8, 1992 · Closed May 12, 1993
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Structure
There is no summary currently available
EA90028 · Passive Safety Belt Fails
Opened May 29, 1990 · Closed Feb 28, 1992
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts
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PE90027 · Passive Safety Belt Warnin
Opened Dec 15, 1989 · Closed May 29, 1990
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts
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