AI Damage1989 Dodge Aries: common problems
Owners of the 1989 Dodge Aries filed 10 complaints with NHTSA, most often about seat belts and service brakes. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 10
What fails most often
- 1 Seat belts 30% of all complaints
- 2 Service brakes 30% of all complaints
- 3 Vehicle speed control 20% of all complaints
- 4 Equipment 10% of all complaints
- 5 Exterior lighting 10% of all complaints
- 6 Structure 10% of all complaints
- Seat belts: 3 complaints (30% of all).
- Service brakes: 3 complaints (30% of all).
- Vehicle speed control: 2 complaints (20% of all).
- Equipment: 1 complaints (10% of all).
- Exterior lighting: 1 complaints (10% of all).
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 2.2 L · petrol · 4 cyl
- 2.5 L · petrol · 4 cyl
- automatic, 3-speed
- manual, 5-speed
Drive: FWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 10 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seat belts | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Equipment | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Exterior lighting | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 1 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
Consumer replaced defective brake pads and rotors(car quest brand) in 1999, on june 25, 2000 consumer replaced both parts again due to grinding and damaged components, consumer feels the installed parts were defective resulting in failure the following year.
The paint seems to be defective is is peeling off the vehicle.
Driver's side push button release is inoperative, seat belt buckle won't detach, also, passenger's side buckle plastic cover has fallen off. Consumer was stuck in the driver side seat belt, it would not detach, consumer had to wiggle out of it, consumer states belts do not retract when not in use.
Engine races for no reason without foot being on accelerator. Please descibe. Tt
Driver's side seat belt buckle failure, unable to unlatch seat belt buckle. Tt consumer states problems has been solved dealer will replaced the warranty is 1 year or 12,000 miles.
Headlight dimmer switch caught on fire when attempting to adjust brightness.
Driver/passenger side seatbelts will not properly retract for occupant restraint while driving vehicle. Please describe details. Tt
Vehicle periodically goes at a constant speed of 30-40mph surging, failing to stop when brakes are applied. Repaired 3 times. Tt
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 10,921 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 30% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Aries has 4 complaints (10 years in the data). This year has 10, above average.
What to check before buying
- Seat belts. Belt pretensioners after airbag deployment, SRS codes.
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
- Vehicle speed control. Accelerator pedal, cruise control, throttle codes.
- Exterior lighting. Headlamps, leveling, sensors and mounts after a frontal hit.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 1989 Dodge Aries?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: seat belts, service brakes, vehicle speed control. Total complaints: 10. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: seat belts (30%), brake failure (10%), A/C or heater (10%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 1989 Dodge Aries?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 1989 Dodge Aries from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 1989 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.