AI Damage1989 Dodge Omni: common problems
Owners of the 1989 Dodge Omni filed 4 complaints with NHTSA, most often about vehicle speed control and engine. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 4
- involving a crash
- 1
What fails most often
- 1 Vehicle speed control 50% of all complaints
- 2 Engine 25% of all complaints
- 3 Engine and cooling 25% of all complaints
- 4 Equipment 25% of all complaints
- 5 Powertrain 25% of all complaints
- 6 Service brakes 25% of all complaints
- Vehicle speed control: 2 complaints (50% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Engine: 1 complaints (25% of all).
- Engine and cooling: 1 complaints (25% of all).
- Equipment: 1 complaints (25% of all).
- Powertrain: 1 complaints (25% 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
- automatic, 3-speed
- manual, 5-speed
Drive: FWD
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle speed control | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Engine | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Equipment | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 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.
Applied brakes, disengaged clutch, heard engine racing, vehicle suddenly accelerated. This is the second incident.
My car started leaking large amounts of oil and made the brakes not work properly and my 9 year old son and I almost went off a high embankment while moving and trying to slow down at a bend in the road.
Front motor mount failed breaking axle and ripping out auto-transmission. Pleas describe details. 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 15,521 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 42% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Omni has 4 complaints (6 years in the data). This year has 4, about average.
What to check before buying
- Vehicle speed control. Accelerator pedal, cruise control, throttle codes.
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 1989 Dodge Omni?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: vehicle speed control, engine, engine and cooling. Total complaints: 4.
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 1989 Dodge Omni?
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 Omni 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.