FaultScore

FaultScore report

1989 Jeep Comanche problems

Owners have filed 12 complaints about the 1989 Jeep Comanche with NHTSA between 1995 and 2013. The largest single group is the transmission & drivetrain.

Not graded

Too few complaints, or too short a model run, to compare fairly.

How this is worked out

The numbers

12

Complaints

0

Crashes reported

2

Fires reported

0

Injuries reported

How 1989 compares with every other Jeep Comanche

Click any bar to open that year's report.

Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade: A B C D F ungraded

What breaks on a 1989 Jeep Comanche

Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.

Tires 3 25.0%
Transmission & Drivetrain 3 25.0%

0 crashes, 2 fires

Steering 2 16.7%
Equipment & Accessories 1 8.3%
Seat Belts 1 8.3%
Acceleration & Cruise Control 1 8.3%

Median failure at 177,041 miles

Engine & Cooling 1 8.3%

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 1995 peak 2 Dec 2013

Recalls on the 1989 Jeep Comanche

A complaint is one owner's allegation. A recall is the point at which the manufacturer or a regulator agreed the defect is real and dangerous enough to fix for free — however old the car is.

Canada — Transport Canada

Canada runs its own recall programme, and its campaigns do not always mirror the American ones.

Recall 1995062 2,683 units in Canada

Emissions

NOTE: VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 2.5 LITRE ENGINES. THESE VEHICLES DO NOT COMPLY WITH C.M.V.S.S. 1103 - EXHAUST EMISSIONS. CATALYSTS AND OXYGEN SENSORS MAY BE DEFECTIVE. CORRECTION: CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND OXYGEN SENSOR WILL BE REPLACED WITH REDESIGNED COMPONENTS.

Recall 1994195 255 units in Canada

Emissions

THESE VEHICLES DO NOT COMPLY WITH C.M.V.S.S 1103 - EXHAUST EMISSIONS. CATALYSTS AND OXYGEN SENSORS MAY BE DEFECTIVE. CORRECTION: CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND OXYGEN SENSOR WILL BE REPLACED WITH REDESIGNED COMPONENTS.

Recall 1993071 64,277 units in Canada

Emissions

NOTE: JEEP VEHICLES WITH 4.0 LITRE ENGINES, RENAULT VEHICLES WITH 2.0 LITRE ENGINES AND EAGLE PREMIER VEHICLES WITH 2.5 AND 3 LITRE ENGINES. THESE VEHICLES DO NOT COMPLY WITH C.M.V.S.S. 1103 - EXHAUST EMISSIONS. FAULTY OXYGEN SENSOR COULD LEAD TO POOR FUEL/AIR CONTROL AND REDUCED CATALYST EFFICIENCY WHICH MAY INCREASE TAILPIPE EMISSIONS. CORRECTION: OXYGEN SENSOR WILL BE REPLACED WITH ONE OF AN IMPROVED DESIGN.

Recall 1991018 12,752 units in Canada

Engine

ON VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A 4 LITRE ENGINE AND AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, A FAULTY THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR (TPS) CAN RESULT IN AN INTERMITTENT HIGH IDLE CONDITION IMMEDIATELY AFTER ENGINE START UP. IF THE TRANSMISSION IS PLACED IN GEAR DURING A PERIOD OF HIGH IDLE SPEED, LOSS OF CONTROL COULD OCCUR. CORRECTION: TPS WILL BE REPLACED ON ALL INVOLVED VEHICLES.

Recalls cover specific build ranges, so check your own vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or, in Canada, Transport Canada.

Complaints that involved harm

Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.

Hiawassee, GA Fire

POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY:PEDAL/HAND LEVER(MOTORCYCLE)

RUBBER CLUTCH HOSE FAILURE. HOSE IS ROUTED TOO CLOSE TO EXHAUST. (3 INCHES) HEAT BUILD UP IN EXHAUST SYSTEM MELTS HOSE AND CAUSES A LEAK THAT UNDER PRESSURE SQUIRTS FLUID ONTO THE EXHAUST PIPE CAUSEING FLASH FIRES. I HAVE RETAINED THE DEFECTIVE PART IF YOU REQUIRE IT FOR FURTHER INVESTIGATION.

NHTSA complaint #743092 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Warrensburg, MO Fire

POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY:PEDAL/HAND LEVER(MOTORCYCLE)

THE MASTER CLUTCH CYLINDER HOSE LEAKED FLUID ON THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CATCH FIRE.

NHTSA complaint #802627 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

The most recent complaints

In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.

Mesa, AZ

TIRES

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1989 JEEP COMANCHE EQUIPPED WITH MICHELIN LTX TIRES, SIZE 31X10.50/15. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE TIRES EMITTED A LOUD NOISE AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE VIN, TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE, VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE AND DOT NUMBER WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA complaint #10557886 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 177,041 miles Blacksburg, SC

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1989 JEEP COMANCHE. WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 55 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL INCREASE IN ENGINE RPMS UP TO 3,000. THE CONTACT PLACED THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL AND THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE CONTACT SHUT OFF THE ENGINE AND WHEN RESTARTING, THE FAILURE WOULD INTERMITTENTLY PERSIST. THE CONTACT INQUIRED ABOUT NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 90V177000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL: CRUISE CONTROL) AND THE DEALER INFORMED HIM THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE AS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 177,041 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 177,072. UPDATED 08/11/10. *LJ UPDATED 08/17/10

NHTSA complaint #10335289 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Watsonville, CA

TIRES:SIDEWALL

I HAD A NEARLY NEW TRIUMPH R 1200 TIRE FAIL IN AN UNUSUAL MANNER. THIS TIRE HAD ONLY ABOUT 800 MILES ON IT WHEN IT FAILED, AND I'M REASONABLY CERTAIN THAT THE FAILURE WAS NOT DUE TO ABUSE (OVERLOAD, POTHOLE, CURB SCUFFING, ETC.). A LARGE BUBBLE FORMED IN THE SIDEWALL OF THE TIRE. THE BUBBLE WAS APPROXIMATELY 4" DIAMETER AND 3/4" HIGH. THE BUBBLE APPEARED TO DISTORT THE BEAD, CAUSING A LARGE LEAK BETWEEN THE TIRE AND THE WHEEL. THIS OCCURRED ON THE FIRST REALLY WARM WEATHER DAY FOLLOWING INSTALLATION, LEADING ME TO SUSPECT A POSSIBLE MANUFACTURING DEFECT THAT NEEDED SOME HEAT TO MANIFEST ITSELF. THIS FAILURE SEEMED UNUSUAL ENOUGH TO WARRANT REPORTING, EVEN IF MY THEORY IS INCORRECT. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF YOU NEED MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS. I STILL HAVE THE TIRE IF FURTHER FAILURE ANALYSIS IS OF INTEREST. THANKS- WILLIAM T. DALEY, P.E. MECHANICAL ENGINEER. *AK (DOT NUMBER: ? TIRESIZE: P205/75R15)

NHTSA complaint #758824 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Hiawassee, GA Fire

POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY:PEDAL/HAND LEVER(MOTORCYCLE)

RUBBER CLUTCH HOSE FAILURE. HOSE IS ROUTED TOO CLOSE TO EXHAUST. (3 INCHES) HEAT BUILD UP IN EXHAUST SYSTEM MELTS HOSE AND CAUSES A LEAK THAT UNDER PRESSURE SQUIRTS FLUID ONTO THE EXHAUST PIPE CAUSEING FLASH FIRES. I HAVE RETAINED THE DEFECTIVE PART IF YOU REQUIRE IT FOR FURTHER INVESTIGATION.

NHTSA complaint #743092 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Honolulu, HI

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

ENGINE COOLANT IS NOT GOING INTO THE ENGINE DUE TO A DEFECT WITHIN THE WATER PUMP. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.

NHTSA complaint #855924 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Robbins, NC

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT

4WD WILL NOT ENGAGE AS NEEDED.

NHTSA complaint #717985 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Santa ANA, CA

STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)

STEERING GEAR BOX BROKE OFF FROM THE METAL FRAME, CAUSING STEERING SYSTEM TO BE INOPERATIVE WHILE DRIVING ,MAY HAVE RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION AND VIN#.

NHTSA complaint #835269 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Milwaukee, WI

TIRES:TEMPORARY/EMERGENCY SPARE TIRE

CABLE THAT HOLDS THE SPARE TIRE IN PLACE BROKE AND THE TIRE FELL OFF WHILE DRIVING.

NHTSA complaint #522247 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Middlefield, OH

EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL:CARRIER/RACK

FAILURE OF THE CABLE THAT HOLDS THE SPARE TIRE IN PLACE, THE CABLE BROKE, CAUSING THE SPARE TIRE TO FALL OFF THE VEHICLE WHEN DRIVING.

NHTSA complaint #803029 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Warrensburg, MO Fire

POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY:PEDAL/HAND LEVER(MOTORCYCLE)

THE MASTER CLUTCH CYLINDER HOSE LEAKED FLUID ON THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CATCH FIRE.

NHTSA complaint #802627 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Laverne, CA

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY

THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE COME LOOSE IT SLIP OUT. TT

NHTSA complaint #967058 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Laguna BCH, CA

STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR

STEERING WHEEL MOUNTING ASSEMBLY BECAME LOOSE.

NHTSA complaint #478278 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.