1989 Jeep Wrangler Transmission and drivetrain Problems
- Complaints
- 7about this part
- Share
- 11%of 62 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 4,000miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 7 complaints about the transmission and drivetrain of the 1989 Jeep Wrangler, 11% of the 62 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 4,000 miles.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“Rear differential e-locker seized causing rear wheels to lock up, this happened luckily while the vehicle was in tow behind a motor-home going 20 miles per hour on a dirt road turning into a campground. Had this happened while driving on the highway it may have caused the vehicle to loose control and possible cause a fatal accident. The risk is internal parts inside the eaton e-locker were able to become loose and cause this jamb in the ring gear causing both rear wheels to lock up.”
NHTSA complaint #11302973, filed 2020-01, 4,000 milesTransmission and drivetrain: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | 8% |
| 2025 | 13 | 18% |
| 2024 | 179 | 24% |
| 2023 | 51 | 14% |
| 2022 | 68 | 17% |
| 2021 | 149 | 16% |
| 2020 | 47 | 8% |
| 2019 | 80 | 11% |
| 2018 | 177 | 10% |
| 2017 | 50 | 16% |
| 2016 | 74 | 16% |
| 2015 | 51 | 11% |
| 2014 | 88 | 13% |
| 2013 | 230 | 35% |
| 2012 | 282 | 34% |
| 2011 | 40 | 8% |
| 2010 | 68 | 10% |
| 2009 | 34 | 9% |
| 2008 | 67 | 8% |
| 2007 | 46 | 8% |
| 2006 | 57 | 8% |
| 2005 | 41 | 6% |
| 2004 | 26 | 14% |
| 2003 | 22 | 22% |
| 2002 | 14 | 13% |
| 2001 | 23 | 14% |
| 2000 | 70 | 28% |
| 1999 | 20 | 9% |
| 1998 | 33 | 12% |
| 1997 | 53 | 13% |
| 1995 | 32 | 16% |
| 1994 | 19 | 13% |
| 1993 | 13 | 12% |
| 1992 | 11 | 14% |
| 1991 | 8 | 11% |
| 1990 | 5 | 6% |
| 1989 | 7 | 11% |
| 1988 | 2 | 4% |
| 1987 | 2 | 5% |
Other parts of the 1989 Jeep Wrangler
19 complaintsBrakes
12 complaintsEngine cooling
10 complaintsElectrical system
7 complaintsSeats
5 complaintsSeat belts
4 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
4 complaintsOther or unknown
2 complaintsTires
2 complaintsVehicle speed control
2 complaintsExterior lighting
1 complaintsBody and structure
1 complaints
← All problems reported for the 1989 Jeep Wrangler
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology