The 1989 Flxible Metro has 7 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 8,384 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 1 complaint with NHTSA, most often about the latches/locks/linkages. Last updated July 5, 2026.
Recall campaigns
VISIBILITY95V2350001995-12-14741 affected
Defect
THESE BUSES HAVE THE HEADLIGHTS AUTOMATICALLY ACTIVATED WHENEVER THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ARE ACTIVATED. NO OTHER EXTERIOR LIGHTS ARE ACTIVATED BY WINDSHIELD WIPER ACTIVATION. THIS DOES NOT COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."
Consequence
CONSEQUENCE OF NON-COMPLIANCE: THIS COULD CAUSE A VISIBILITY PROBLEM INCREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL MODIFY THE ELECTRICAL WIRING TO ACTIVATE ALL EXTERIOR LIGHTS WHENEVER THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ARE ACTIVATED.
SEAT BELTS90V2030001990-12-141,447 affected
Defect
ADJUSTABLE LENGTH TETHER BELT ON DRIVER'S AIR SUSPENSION TYPE SEAT MAY NOT HAVE BEEN ADJUSTED TO THE CORRECT LENGTH DURING MANUFACTURE.
Consequence
INCORRECT LENGTH BELTS WILL NOT PROPERLY RESTRAIN DRIVERIN AN ACCIDENT OR SUDDEN STOP AND WOULD NOT COMPLY WITH FMVSS 207 AND FMVSS 210.
Remedy
PROPERLY ADJUST TETHER BELTS TO CORRECT LENGTH.
STEERING90V1500001990-08-20461 affected
Defect
WITH APPROXIMATELY TWO THREADS ENGAGEMENT OF STEERING WHEEL RETAINING NUT WITH STEERING SHAFT, THE STEERING WHEEL COULD SEPARATE FROM THE STEERING COLUMN IF NUT LOOSENS AND FALLS OFF.
Consequence
STEERING WHEEL SEPARATION FROM THE STEERING COLUMN COULDRESULT IN LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL AND AN ACCIDENT.
Remedy
REPLACE STEERING WHEEL WITH NEW DESIGN WHEEL THAT ALLOWS FULL THREAD ENGAGEMENT OF STEERING WHEEL RETAINING NUT.
VISIBILITY90V0850001990-05-0755 affected
Defect
WINDOW INSERT IN DRIVER'S BARRIER ENCLOSURE WAS NOT MARKED IN ACCORDANCE WITH FMVSS 205.
Consequence
BUSES WOULD NOT COMPLY WITH FMVSS 105 STANDARD.
Remedy
INSTALL A DECAL CONTAINING THE REQUIRED DATA ON THE GLAZING.
STEERING89V1860001989-11-03755 affected
Defect
THE CLAMP LOAD MAY NOT FULLY ENGAGE ON THE MATING STEERING BOX SPLINES DUE TO MANUFACTURING TOLERANCES AND/OR THE PINCH BOLT MAY NOT BE PROPERLY TORQUED.
Consequence
INADEQUATE TORQUE MAY RESULT IN SLIPPAGE AND POSSIBLESHAFT DISENGAGEMENT WITH LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL; THIS COULD RESULT IN ANACCIDENT.
Remedy
REPLACE STEERING SHAFT.
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR89V1720001989-10-16167 affected
Defect
THE AIR LINES TO THE RIGHT REAR BRAKE CHAMBER CAN BE PINCHED BY THE AUXILIARY HEATER CABINET IF THE AIR IN THE REAR AIR SUSPENSION SYSTEM BLEEDS OUT WHEN A LEAK DEVELOPS OR THE ENGINE HAS NOT BEEN RUN FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME.
Consequence
THIS WOULD AFFECT OPERATION OF BRAKES, CREATING APOTENTIAL FOR AN ACCIDENT.
Remedy
REROUTE AIR LINES TO RIGHT REAR BRAKE CHAMBER TO PROVIDE CLEARANCE WITH THE AUXILIARY HEATER CABINET.
STRUCTURE89V0400001989-03-224,758 affected
Defect
THE ENTRANCE DOOR EMERGENCY RELEASE MECHANISM MAY EXCEED THE 20 LB. FORCE ALLOWED BY FMVSS 217.
Consequence
BUSES WOULD NOT COMPLY WITH STANDARD.
Remedy
REPAIR RELEASE CABLE MECHANISM TO COMPLY WITH STANDARD.
Complaints by component
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH
1
Total complaints1
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“Hood latches failed, causing hood inner panel to break.”
Defect investigations
InvestigationPE90010 Opened 1989-10-23 · closed 1989-12-15
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1989 Flxible Metro as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.