The 1989 Toyota Pickup has 1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting an estimated 977,839 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 30 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the engine and engine cooling. Last updated July 5, 2026.
Recall campaigns
STEERING05V3890002005-09-06977,839 affected
Defect
ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, IF THE STEERING WHEEL IS REPEATEDLY TURNED UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS WHERE HIGH STEERING EFFORT AND POWER ASSIST ARE REQUIRED, FOR INSTANCE, WHEN FULLY TURNING THE WHEEL WHILE THE VEHICLE IS STOPPED, A FATIGUE CRACK MAY DEVELOP IN THE STEERING RELAY ROD.
Consequence
IF THE VEHICLE IS CONTINUED TO BE OPERATED IN THIS CONDITION, THE RELAY ROD MAY FRACTURE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE STEERING RELAY ROD. THE RECALL BEGAN OCTOBER 5, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.
Complaints by component
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
4
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
3
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
2
STEERING:LINKAGES:ROD:RELAY:CONNECTING
2
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
2
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
2
ENGINE
1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
1
Total complaints30
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“Sheared clutch and brake bracket. Vehicle was in motion.”
“Sheared clutch and brake bracket. Vehicle was in motion.”
“Tl*the contact owns a 1989 toyota pickup. The contact noticed that the frame of the vehicle was severely covered with rust. The vehicle has not been diagnosed and the manufacturer has not been contacted. The failure and current mileages were 166, 643.”
“Without warning, vehicle stalled at 25 mph. After towing to dealership and waiting over 7 weeks was told head gasket blown and heads warped. Then charged over $4220.00 for repairs already done. *jb”
“Dt*: the contact stated the clutch looses power. An independent repair shop determined the brake pedal bracket fractured. The bracket was spot welded. The weld is coming loose and the bracket needs to be replaced.”
“Tl* the contact owns a 1989 toyota pickup. The contact received a safety recall 05v389 related to replacing the steering relay rod. T the closest dealer would require him drive for 3 hours. The contact preffered to have the vehicle repaired at a local repair shop and requested reimbursement. The…”
“Dt*: the contact stated although there were no problems displayed by the vehicle. There is a nhtsa recall, #05v389000 on the vehicle regarding the steering. The parts needed to repair the vehicle were not available at the local dealership. The manufacturer confirmed the parts were not available.”
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1989 Toyota Pickup as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.