AI Damage1989 Toyota SR5: common problems
Owners of the 1989 Toyota SR5 filed 5 complaints with NHTSA, most often about engine and cooling and powertrain. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 5
What fails most often
- 1 Engine and cooling 40% of all complaints
- 2 Powertrain 20% of all complaints
- 3 Suspension 20% of all complaints
- 4 Tires 20% of all complaints
- Engine and cooling: 2 complaints (40% of all).
- Powertrain: 1 complaints (20% of all).
- Suspension: 1 complaints (20% of all).
- Tires: 1 complaints (20% of all).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine and cooling | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Tires | 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.
Tl* the contact owns a 1989 toyota pickup sr5. The contact performed routine maintenance on the vehicle and noticed there was excessive oil on the reservoir. The vehicle was not inspected by a dealer nor was it repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and advised him that his vehicle had no recalls.
1989 toyota sr5. Consumer states problem with head gasket the consumer stated the previous owner had the original head gasket repaired under recall at 90,000 miles. The consumer discovered another recall was issued on new head gasket, however toyota informed him his vehicle did not qualify for the recall replacement.
Vehicle's tires were disbonding within the ply in the rubber which has caused bubbles to form in tire (tire info: bridgestone, desert dueler at691, 31x10.5r15, replacement tires even wear on all tires 41k on tire). ....
The rear end failed and caused both rear wheels to totally lock-up making the vehicle come to a sudden and violent stop. This happened without warning in the middle of an intersection.
When driving the bracket holding the clutch pedal and brake pedal snapped preventing operation of the clutch. Please 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 14,282 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 39% most complained about).
On average one model year of the SR5 has 4 complaints (5 years in the data). This year has 5, above average.
What to check before buying
- 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.
- Suspension. Wheel alignment, control arms, subframe, even tire wear.
- Tires. Tire age by DOT code, bulges, wear pattern.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 1989 Toyota SR5?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: engine and cooling, powertrain, suspension. Total complaints: 5.
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 1989 Toyota SR5?
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 Toyota SR5 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.