1989 Eagle Premier Problems

What owners report

Owners of this 1989 Eagle Premier most often describe heater core and heater valve problems, including coolant leaking or smelling inside the car, and say heater recall repairs did not always solve the problem. Other reports describe brake parts failing or not slowing the car, including in runaway situations. Most complaints in the sample do not list mileage; where mileage is listed, it is about 70,000 miles.

1. 1
   Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)

   Heater core recall did not resolve the problem

   • 14 complaints (21%)
   • typically at 7.2 yrs old
   • filed 1995–2003

   Owners who received recall 94V006000 work describe the heater or defroster problem returning or continuing afterward. Some say parts were unavailable, and others say the manufacturer or dealer would not cover the repair because the vehicle was not included or was too old with high mileage. Some complaints also describe a windshield film and antifreeze smell that continued after the recall work. Mileage is not listed; the complaints mention recall work done around 1994 and problems that continued in the following months.

   Recall 94V006000

   What to check: Check the recall status for this car's VIN and ask whether any heater core work was done under the recall and what it covered.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “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. The customer representative could not give me a reason when I told her this was the exact problem and why my vehicle was not included. It seems to be very convenient just to say that vehicle is not part of the recall. …”

   NHTSA complaint #729436, filed 2000-08

   “A faulty gasket caused coolant to leak and as a result the coolant could be smelled inside of the vehicle. 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.”

   NHTSA complaint #10003848, filed 2003-01
2. 2
   Engine cooling

   Coolant leaks or smells inside the cabin

   • 9 complaints (13%)
   • typically at 9.4 yrs old
   • filed 1995–2003

   Owners describe hot coolant or antifreeze getting into the passenger compartment from a heater core, control valve or gasket, often with a strong coolant smell and a film on the windshield. In a complaint where the heater core ruptured while driving at about 35 mph, hot antifreeze spilled onto the floor and the windows fogged, reducing the driver's visibility. Some owners say the dealer replaced the blower motor but would not repair the heater core. No mileage is listed; the complaints describe the smell or leak with the heater on, including a rupture while driving at about 35 mph.

   Recall 94V006000

   What to check: With the engine warm and the heater on, check the floor carpet and windshield for wetness or film and note any sweet coolant smell, then ask whether the heater core, control valve and gasket have been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “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.”

   NHTSA complaint #841670, filed 1999-07

   “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.”

   NHTSA complaint #8010005, filed 2002-05
3. 3
   Brakes

   Brake parts failing or not slowing the car

   • 8 complaints (12%)
   • typically at 9.0 yrs old
   • filed 1995–2000

   Owners describe brake parts coming loose or failing, including brake shoe parts that came off after a recall rotor repair and front rotors that separated from the hub so the car would not stop. Other complaints describe a master cylinder problem, with the ABS warning light on and the pedal going to the floor. In runaway situations, owners say the brakes did not slow the car while the throttle stayed open. No mileage is listed; the complaints describe brake problems after a recall rotor repair, at about 35 mph, and in a runaway that reached about 95 mph.

   Recall 98V005000

   What to check: Ask whether the front rotors, brake shoes and master cylinder have been inspected, and confirm the pedal stays firm and the ABS warning light is off. Ask for records of any rotor or brake repair done under a recall.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “While increasing in speed of about 5 to 10 miles per hour the car continued to increase in speed, applied brakes, but continued to pick up speed, applied emergency brake still didn't slow down. The car increased in speed up to 95 miles per hour. I'm not sure what I finally did or what happened to slow the car down. This is the third time that this has happened, I even tried reaching down and lifting gas pedal, to no avail.”

   NHTSA complaint #708207, filed 1999-07

   “Received recall notice #98v005000. Contacted dealership. Took vehicle for repair of brake rotors. Drove vehicle approximately 13,000 when the brakes shoe parts fell off in street. Vehicle was not touched by another mechanic since recall. Dealership indicated not responsible for shoe coming off. Owner brake shoes repaired. Owner has brake shoe parts.”

   NHTSA complaint #855342, filed 2000-01

Buying note. For a used 1989 Eagle Premier, ask for proof of any heater recall work and have the heater and brake systems inspected before buying. Complaints in this sample describe heater leaks that returned after repair and brake parts that failed, so an inspection focused on those systems is worthwhile.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 24 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.