AI Damage1989 Eagle Premier: common problems
Owners of the 1989 Eagle Premier filed 67 complaints with NHTSA, most often about visibility and electrical system. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 67
- involving a crash
- 1
What fails most often
- 1 Visibility 31% of all complaints
- 2 Electrical system 19% of all complaints
- 3 Service brakes 19% of all complaints
- 4 Engine and cooling 16% of all complaints
- 5 Powertrain 10% of all complaints
- 6 Vehicle speed control 10% of all complaints
- 7 Seat belts 9% of all complaints
- 8 Equipment 4% of all complaints
- Visibility: 21 complaints (31% of all).
- Electrical system: 13 complaints (19% of all).
- Service brakes: 13 complaints (19% of all).
- Engine and cooling: 11 complaints (16% of all).
- Powertrain: 7 complaints (10% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 2.5 L · petrol · 4 cyl
- 3 L · petrol · 6 cyl
- automatic, 4-speed
Drive: FWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 67 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visibility | 21 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 13 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 13 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 11 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 7 | 1 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| Seat belts | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Equipment | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Latches, locks, linkages | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Exterior lighting | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension | 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.
Transmission locked up, causing vehicle to come to an abrupt halt, resulting in injuries.
1989 eagle premier sedan/erratic speedometer operation speedometer began acting erratically last month with intermittent operation. Problem diagnosed as defective sensor wiring harness.
When the heater is turned on there is a loud noise. The dealer replaced the blower motor. The dealer will not repair the heater core which was recalled under 94v-006 because the vehicle is too old with too many miles.
The heater control valve failed, causing coolant to leak inside vehicle. Same part failed before at 33000 in 1992, there is a recall but per manufacturer this vehicle is not affected. Also the bulb was replaced for the brake light.
Frame attached to rack and pinion steering broke. Dealer/manufacturer were not notified at this time. Feel free to provide any further details on this matter.
Very strong (suffocating) coolant smell in passenger compartment when heater and/or blower is engaged. When contacted the manufacturer about recall #607 (in 1994) for vehicles manufactured between 7/87 thru 6/92 (my vehicle manufactured 10/88) for 1989 eagle premiers, they said it did not include my vehicle.
Master cylinder is defective, and the abs brake light comes on the dashboard. Consumer was traveling about 35mph, applied brakes, and pedal went all the way to the floor.
While driving about 35 mph, heater core ruptured, causing hot anti freeze to spill on the floor of vehicle. This also caused windows to fog up, which imparied driver's visiblity. The dealer has been notified about the problem. Problem has not been corrected.
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 4,533 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 12% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Premier has 31 complaints (7 years in the data). This year has 67, above average.
What to check before buying
- Visibility. Wipers, mirrors, defrosters, cracked glass.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 1989 Eagle Premier?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: visibility, electrical system, service brakes. Total complaints: 67. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: A/C or heater (25%), overheating, coolant loss (7%), smoke, burning smell, fire (6%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 1989 Eagle Premier?
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 Eagle Premier 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.