The 1989 Jeep Wrangler has 4 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 521,075 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 86 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the fuel system, gasoline. Last updated July 5, 2026.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MULTIPURPOSE PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH PLASTIC FUEL TANKS. THE FUEL TANK SENDING UNIT GASKET CAN CRACK CAUSING FUEL AND FUEL VAPOR LEAKS.
FUEL AND FUEL VAPOR LEAKED FROM THE FUEL TANK CAN RESULT IN FIRE WHEN EXPOSED TO A SOURCE OF IGNITION.
REPLACE THE FUEL TANK SENDING UNIT GASKET.
WINDSHIELD FRAME METAL MAY CRACK AT THE WIPER ARM PIVOT MOUNTINGS DUE TO METAL STRESS DURING WIPER OPERATION.
THIS CAN CAUSE DISLOCATION AND BINDING OF THE WIPERSYSTEM LINKAGE WHICH, IN INCLEMENT WEATHER, COULD AFFECT DRIVER VISIBILITY ANDRESULT IN AN ACCIDENT.
RETROFIT WITH A WINDSHIELD FRAME REINFORCEMENT AT THE WIPER PIVOT LOCATIONS AND INSTALL NEW REDESIGNED LINKAGE COMPONENTS TO REDUCE STRESS AT THE PIVOT MOUNTINGS.
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.
EITHER CONDITION CAN CAUSE LOSS OF FRONT BRAKE SYSTEMFUNCTIONS, RESULTING IN INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCES AND AN INCREASED RISK OFVEHICLE ACCIDENT.
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…
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.
IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, THIS COULD RESULTIN A FIRE. VEHICLE WOULD NOT COMPLY WITH FMVSS 301.
INSTALL FLANGE ON FUEL TANK SKID PLATE.
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal information removed.
“Rear differential e-locker seized causing rear wheels to lock up, this happened luckily while the vehicle was in tow behind a motor-home going 20 miles per hour on a dirt road turning into a campground. Had this happened while driving on the highway it may have caused the vehicle to loose control…”
“Muffler hanger caught on fire. Vehicle was stationary. Muffler had hole in bottom but still should never ignite the hanger.”
“I own a 1989 jeep wrangler with a manual trasmission. On lately the parking brake has been self-releasing causing the the vehicle to roll down my driveway. On one occasion it hit my second vehicle parked behind it causing minor damage to the bumper. I found the nhtsa recall (02v041000) called…”
“I received a recall notice for my 1993 jeep wrangler for a problem with the emergency brake release. We have a 89 wrangler and this happens frequently. Why isn't it covered under the recall if it's the same brake system? It was released on may and rolled down a steep hill and hit a tree. This is…”
“Leaking fuel from passenger side rear. This occurs mostly when fuel tank is full. *jb”
“The consumer received a recall letter but the dealer stated that the vehicles vin number was not included. The recall was on the throttle. Recall# unknown. *nlm”
“The vehicle experienced the same defect with the parking brake as stated in recall number 02v041000, however the vehicle identification number was not inlcuded in the recall.*jb”
“The consumer set the parking brake and exited vehicle. Without warning the parking brake released which caused the vehicle to roll backward which resulted in a collision. There was a related recall 02v041000, however the vehicle identification number was not included in the recall. *jb *cb *nlm”
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ODI HAS RECEIVED 6 REPORTS ON FUEL LEAKAGE AND 3 REPORTS ON ALLEGED REMEDY FAILURE REPORTS
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL, FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1989 Jeep Wrangler as of July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.