Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade:
A
B
C
D
F
ungraded
What breaks on a 1989 Eagle Summit
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Seat Belts
857.1%
1 crashes, 0 fires
Engine & Cooling
214.3%
0 crashes, 1 fires · median 118,879 mi
Other & Unspecified
17.1%
Seats
17.1%
Windows, Mirrors & Wipers
17.1%
Suspension
17.1%
When owners complained
A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing
out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single
owner can see from inside their own car.
Feb 1995peak 3Oct 2005
NHTSA investigations into the 1989 Eagle Summit
An investigation is the step before a recall: the agency has seen enough
complaints to look into a pattern itself. An open one means it thinks
something may be wrong and nothing has been fixed yet.
EA96014Opened 28 Jun 1996Closed 12 Jun 1997SEAT BELTS
AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT FAILURE
THE AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT ALLEGEDLY MALFUNCTIONS OR FAILS
PE96007Opened 19 Jan 1996Closed 28 Jun 1996SEAT BELTS
AUTO SHOULDER BELT FAILURE
THE AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT ALLEGEDLY MALFUNCTIONS OR FAILS
Complaints that involved harm
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
Hinano, HICrash2 injured
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
FAILURE OF THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDE SEAT BELTS, CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD-ON COLLISION AND THE SEAT BELTS DID NOT LOCK, RESULTING IN INJURIES.
NHTSA complaint #801761 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Kennesaw, GAFire1 injured
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
THE CAR WAS PARKED THE OWNER WENT TO START THE CAR AND THE CAR BACKFIRED AND FIRE STARTED. TT
NHTSA complaint #978625 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Fort Wayne, IN1 killed
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
A PIECE OF PLASTIC BROKE OFF SEAT BELT LOCK AND REMAINED LODGED INSIDE, CAUSING SEAT BELT TO FAIL.
NHTSA complaint #486887 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
at 118,879 milesHyde Park, MA
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
I HAD PROBLEMS EVER SINCE I BOUGHT THIS CAR, WHICH WAS IN EXCHANGE FOR A TRADE-IN. THIS CAR WAS $200 EXTA DOLLARS WORTH OF PROBLEMS THAT I NEVER GOT RESOLVED. I BOUGHT INTO A GREAT DEAL OF FRUSTRATIONS AND HEADACHES OVER A SIMPLE RESOLVE. THEY SAW ME COMING. THROUGH BRINGING AND LEAVING MY CAR FOR DAYS AT THE CAR LOT TO BE FIXED PROPERLY, AND GETTING SWINDLED OUT OF MY MONEY TO HAVING THE PEOPLE AT THE CAR LOT BRING IT TO THEIR MECHANICS, WHO LED ME TO THINK THAT MY CAR WAS ACTUALLY GOING TO BE FIXED, MY FRUSTRATIONS AND ANGER HAD REACHED A BOILING POINT. THE PROBLEM WAS THE ENGINE, WHEN IT GOT TOO HOT THE SPEEDOMETER WOULD WAVER UP AND DOWN, THREATENING TO SHUT THE CAR OFF. THIS CREATED A SAFETY PROBLEM, AND OF COURSE, I RECEIVED TWO REJECTION STICKERS FOR THIS PROBLEM, WHICH WAS THE EMISSIONS. THE SECOND TIME WAS I THOUGHT THE PEOPLE AT THE CAR LOT WOULD FIX UP; SO I BROUGHT IT BACK TO BE INSPECTED AGAIN, PAYING $60.00 FOR IT.
NHTSA complaint #10141225 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
White Bear Lake, MN
SEATS
THE DRIVER SEAT FRAME BROKE AT THE WELD TO THE AUTO BODY. THE REAR LEFT SIDE CLOSEST TO THE DOOR WAS WHERE THE WELD JOINT BROKE.
NHTSA complaint #757719 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Royal OAK, MI
SEAT BELTS:FRONT
THE THE FRONT LAP BELT WILL NOT ENGAGE . MANUFACTURER CONTACTED , THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE FRONT SHOULDER BELTS. SHOULDER BELTS HAVE BEEN REPAIRED.
NHTSA complaint #813379 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Hinano, HICrash2 injured
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
FAILURE OF THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDE SEAT BELTS, CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD-ON COLLISION AND THE SEAT BELTS DID NOT LOCK, RESULTING IN INJURIES.
NHTSA complaint #801761 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Columbia, SC
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
ALL FOUR POWER WINDOW MOTORS FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #502055 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Columbia, SC
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
OIL SENSOR LIGHT FAILED, CAUSING MOTOR TO THROW A ROD.
NHTSA complaint #502055 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Columbia, SC
SUSPENSION
DRIVERS SIDE AXLE FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #502055 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Kennesaw, GAFire1 injured
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
THE CAR WAS PARKED THE OWNER WENT TO START THE CAR AND THE CAR BACKFIRED AND FIRE STARTED. TT
NHTSA complaint #978625 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Fort Wayne, IN1 killed
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
A PIECE OF PLASTIC BROKE OFF SEAT BELT LOCK AND REMAINED LODGED INSIDE, CAUSING SEAT BELT TO FAIL.
NHTSA complaint #486887 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Round Rock, TX
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
PASSENGER FRONT SHOULDER/LAP BELT BUCKLES INOPERATIVE, DUE TO PLASTIC PIECES FALLING INSIDE, MALE WON'T GO INTO FEMALE PORTION. TT
NHTSA complaint #966461 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Toledo, OH
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
PASSENGER FRONT LAP BELT BUCKLE MALE TO FEMALE WON'T LOCK IN. TT
NHTSA complaint #965279 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Toledo, OH
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE WILL NOT LOCK. TT
NHTSA complaint #965241 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Union, NJ
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
PARTICLES SEEMED TO BE STUCK INSIDE TAKATA SEAT BELT BUCKLE; DOES NOT ENGAGE LEAVING OCCUPANT UNRESTRAINED. TT
NHTSA complaint #963895 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Westminster, MD
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
BOTH REAR SHOULDER/LAP BELT BUCKLES CAME UNDONE WHEN LATCHED. TT
NHTSA complaint #960171 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.