1989 Toyota Camry Problems

What owners report

Complaints on this model year center on two long-running patterns: power door locks that stay locked and automatic seat belts that retire or fail to lock. Most reports come from vehicles with well over 100,000 miles, and many owners describe problems recurring even after the 1992 door-lock campaign was performed. Fuel leaks around a rusted or cracked tank and a sticking cruise-control/throttle linkage are the other recurring themes.

1. 1
   Latches, locks and linkages

   Power door locks stuck locked or inoperative

   • 15 complaints (13%)
   • median 109,000 mi at 20.9 yrs old (3 state mileage, few)
   • filed 1995–2014

   Owners describe power door locks that weld or fuse in the locked position, so a front door cannot be unlocked with the switch, the inside pull, or the key from outside. Several say the car had already been through the 1992 door-lock campaign and the problem came back, and that dealers told them the campaign was already performed or that a recall repair carries no warranty. Some report having to enter or exit through a rear door or the window. Reported across a wide mileage range, from roughly 40,000 to over 235,000 miles, often on cars already remedied once under the earlier campaign.

   Recall 92V135000

   What to check: Test every door from inside and outside with the switch, the manual pull and the key, and ask for paperwork showing whether the door-lock campaign was completed and when.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I have a 1989 Toyota Camry and I noticed that there was a recall(92v135000) on the door assembly with the latches and locks well I called the dealer and they told me that the maintenance was already done on the car but now I have both back doors that wont open at all, and I believe this is the cause of it I was wondering if the dealer can fix it again due to the same error on the vehicle.”

   NHTSA complaint #10520730, filed 2013-06

   “1989 Toyota Camry's driver side and passenger side power door locks stuck in locked position. Unable to exit vehicle from front seats. Unable to unlock front doors manually from inside vehicle. Unable to unlock front doors using key from outside vehicle. Safety issue along with inconvenience when entering and exiting vehicle from rear doors.”

   NHTSA complaint #10643066, filed 2014-10, 103,002 miles
2. 2
   Seat belts

   Automatic seat belts slow to move or not locking

   • 13 complaints (12%)
   • median 168,000 mi at 22.7 yrs old (2 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1995–2016

   Complaints describe the automatic shoulder-belt anchor that runs along the door track hesitating, stopping short, or failing to move into the locking position when the door closes, sometimes needing a hand to push it along. Others report lap belts that pop open or shoulder belts that do not lock or retract. Owners say dealers either could not find a listed recall for the car or did not repair it. Mostly reported on cars with high mileage; ages are not stated in most of these complaints.

   Recall 89V175000

   What to check: With the door open and closed, watch the shoulder-belt anchor travel the full track and confirm it locks; pull hard on each belt to check that the retractor holds.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The shoulder harness on this car moves in a track to get out of the way when the driver opens the door, and to move to the other end of the track to secure the driver when the door is closed. It is a dumb design. This car is old, and despite my mechanic's best efforts, the motion to get out of the way sometimes hesitates and the driver must use his hand to move the anchor along in the track. I am concerned that someday the anchor will fail to move into position to secure the driver properly.”

   NHTSA complaint #10910499, filed 2016-09, 173,000 miles

   “Recall 89v17500; while turning the vehicle was hit in the rear by another vehicle, lap seat belt did not retract properly, driver hit the steering wheel two times and suffered injuries. Dealer has not been notified of incident.”

   NHTSA complaint #827930, filed 1998-09
3. 3
   Electrical system

   Stalling, no-start and electrical faults

   • 9 complaints (8%)
   • median 72,500 mi at 22.6 yrs old (2 state mileage, few)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1996–2023

   Owners describe the engine dying at idle or at low speed, sometimes repeatedly and often in damp or wet weather, with several restart attempts needed. Others report blowing fuses that take out brake lights or headlights, a starter that grinds without engaging, and in two reports smoke or fire from the battery or engine bay. Complaints note that tune-ups and ignition parts did not resolve the stalling. Reported from very low indicated mileage up to about 250,000 miles; several owners link stalling to wet weather.

   3 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether the ignition components and battery cables have been serviced, and check that all lights, brake lights and accessories work with the key on.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Car stalls while either going down the street, or at a stoplight. My fear is that I will get rear-ended. And, also embarrassing and frustrating. This has happened since I bought the car in 1989 new. It happens several times a year. It is always when weather conditions are wet/damp. I can feel it start missing as I am driving down the city street. Sometimes, I have to go to a quiet neighborhood and keep driving around and chugging around. It stops, I have to pull over and try to start it several times, and go, and it dies. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11045960, filed 2017-11, 1,000 miles

   “Consumer has a faulty starter on vehicle. Consumer states the symptom of starting problem is a grinding and a starter motor winding without proper engagement of car engine, Toyota dealership has requested the ring gear be replaced, no one is sure of exact problem.”

   NHTSA complaint #815536, filed 1997-08
4. 4
   Fuel system

   Fuel smell and leaks at the tank

   • 14 complaints (12%)
   • typically at 8.7 yrs old
   • filed 1995–1997

   Owners report a gasoline smell near the car or in the garage, and in some cases fuel dripping on the ground after filling. Complaints describe the tank as rusted, corroded, or cracked at the filler neck or where the vent pipe connects, requiring tank replacement. Some owners noticed fumes entering the cabin while refueling and had not yet taken the car to a dealer. Typically reported on older, high-mileage cars; one owner had a tank replaced about a year before the leak returned.

   What to check: Inspect the tank, filler neck and vent connection for rust or seepage, and check for a gas smell after a fill-up.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Owner could smell gasoline whenever approaching vehicle, discovered by dealer, tank rusted/corroded/cracked, causing leak where vent pipe connects to tank. Entire tank assembly to be replaced.”

   NHTSA complaint #815718, filed 1997-08

   “When the gas tank is full, fuel leaks on garage floor, when tank is 3/4 full there is a strong odor of gas fumes in garage. Local dealer said tank was cracked at filler neck.”

   NHTSA complaint #521488, filed 1997-08
5. 5
   Vehicle speed control

   Sticking throttle or cruise-control linkage

   • 9 complaints (8%)
   • median 198,222 mi at 15.2 yrs old (3 state mileage, few)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1995–2014

   Complaints describe the accelerator or throttle linkage sticking, often with cruise control engaged, so engine speed stays high after the pedal is released and braking becomes difficult. In one report the cruise-control chain was found catching on the throttle body and was disconnected to stop it. Another owner describes the pedal being hard to press from a stop. Reported from moderate to very high mileage; conditions in the complaints are not consistent, though several tie it to cruise-control use.

   What to check: With the engine off, work the throttle linkage by hand and check that it returns freely, and test cruise control engagement and release only on an open road.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I have a friend that is a lady that had a 1989 Toyota Camry that would refuse to use the cruise control because the gas pedal would get stuck. I tried it and sure enough it did get stuck when you had the cruise control on and you accelerated. Applying the brakes did not unstick the pedal. I opened up the hood and the chain for the cruise control that pulled on the throttle would get stuck on the throttle body. I disconnected it and after that there no more problems but no cruise control. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10323844, filed 2010-04, 40,000 miles

   “I bought a 1989 Toyota Camry about 3 years ago from the original owner. It now has 250,000 miles on it. Since I bought the car I've had trouble with the gas pedal sticking. I did not see this year listed on the recall list. You really have to push hard on it when you put it in drive to get the car to move. Was this particular year recalled? I'm also having trouble with the driver's side window power switch you have to squeeze the whole plastic piece to get it to work, and what about the airbags? …”

   NHTSA complaint #10659447, filed 2014-11, 235,000 miles

Buying note. On a car this old, the door locks and automatic seat belts are the most useful things to verify in person, since owners report these recurring even after the earlier campaigns. Also inspect the fuel tank for rust and check that the throttle returns freely before driving.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 54 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.