1989 model year · NHTSA recalls, manufacturer TSBs, and owner forum reports · Updated September 2026
1989 · All trims · All engines
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According to Au7o's research across NHTSA recalls, manufacturer TSBs, and owner forum reports, the 1989 Chrysler LeBaron has 9 documented known issues, with 6 rated critical. The most serious are Auto Shutdown (ASD) Relay Failure — Cranks but Won't Start (No Spark/No Fuel) ($30-$150 repair), Chronic Overheating — Wrong-Rotation Water Pump (1989+) & Cooling System Neglect ($120-$700 repair), Distributor Hall-Effect Pickup Heat-Soak Failure — Intermittent No-Spark Stall ($80-$350 repair), Engine Controller Failure (Logic/Power Module, SMEC, SBEC) — No-Start / Stalling ($150-$600 repair), Timing Belt Wear and Breakage (2.2L/2.5L/3.0L) — Stranding No-Start ($250-$750 repair) and Turbocharger Bearing/Seal Failure (Oil Starvation, Blue Smoke) ($400-$1,500 repair). Across all issues with published estimates, repair costs range from $30 to $1,500. DIY maintenance guides at au7o.io.
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
THE OWNER'S MANUAL INCORRECTLY STATES THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR CANNOT BE OPENED FROM THE INSIDE IF THE DOOR IS LOCKED UNTIL THE LOCK CONTROL HANDLE HAS BEEN PULLED UP. ON THESE VEHICLES, THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR CAN BE OPENED BY THE INSIDE DOOR HANDLE EVEN IF THE DOOR IS LOCKED.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
FRONT OUTBOARD SAFETY BELT MAY BECOME DIFFICULT TO LATCH AND OR UNLATCH DUE TO A WEBBING STIFFENER ENTERING THE BUCKLE HOUSING AND DISLODGING THE BUCKLE LATCH GUIDE.
PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL:MECHANICAL:LINKAGE AND CABLE
MISMATCHED PARKING BRAKE CABLE LENGTHS TO THE REAR WHEELS REDUCES BRAKING ABILITY OF ONE OF THE REAR WHEELS, IN VIOLATION OF FMVSS 105.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE-INACTIVE
THE TWO AIR BAG SYSTEM FRONT IMPACT SENSORS MAY NOT BE SECURED TO THEIR MOUNTING BRACKETS.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER
FRONT DISC BRAKE CALIPER GUIDE PIN BOLTS MAY NOT HAVE BEEN ADEQUATELY TORQUED AND COULD LOOSEN.
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According to Au7o's research across NHTSA recalls, manufacturer TSBs, and owner forum reports, the 1989 Chrysler LeBaron has 9 documented issues. The most frequently reported are: Auto Shutdown (ASD) Relay Failure — Cranks but Won't Start (No Spark/No Fuel), Chronic Overheating — Wrong-Rotation Water Pump (1989+) & Cooling System Neglect, Distributor Hall-Effect Pickup Heat-Soak Failure — Intermittent No-Spark Stall. Of these, 6 are rated critical and should be addressed promptly.
The 1989 Chrysler LeBaron has 9 known issues compiled from NHTSA recalls, manufacturer TSBs, and owner forum reports. 6 issues are rated critical: Auto Shutdown (ASD) Relay Failure — Cranks but Won't Start (No Spark/No Fuel) and Chronic Overheating — Wrong-Rotation Water Pump (1989+) & Cooling System Neglect and Distributor Hall-Effect Pickup Heat-Soak Failure — Intermittent No-Spark Stall and Engine Controller Failure (Logic/Power Module, SMEC, SBEC) — No-Start / Stalling and Timing Belt Wear and Breakage (2.2L/2.5L/3.0L) — Stranding No-Start and Turbocharger Bearing/Seal Failure (Oil Starvation, Blue Smoke). Prospective buyers should inspect for these issues and factor potential repair costs into their purchase decision. Regular maintenance following the manufacturer's schedule helps prevent many common problems.
Repair costs for known Chrysler LeBaron issues range from $30 to $1,500, depending on the specific problem and whether you choose DIY or professional repair. The most critical issue, Auto Shutdown (ASD) Relay Failure — Cranks but Won't Start (No Spark/No Fuel), typically costs $30-$150 to repair. Au7o provides step-by-step DIY maintenance guides that can help reduce repair costs.
The Auto Shutdown (ASD) relay powers the ignition coil, fuel injectors, and (via the fuel-pump relay) the fuel pump. When the ASD relay fails, contacts wear, or its connector corrodes, the engine cranks but gets no spark and no fuel and will not start; failure can also be intermi… Repairs typically run $30-$150. Severity: high.
LeBaron overheating is common and one trap is unique to these cars: in 1989 the 2.2/2.5 switched to a counter-rotating (reverse-rotation) water pump driven off the back side of the timing/accessory belt, whereas 1980–1988 used a clockwise pump. Installing the wrong-rotation pump… Repairs typically run $120-$700. Severity: high.
The distributor pickup is a three-wire Hall-effect sensor that tells the engine computer the engine is turning so it can fire spark and injectors. These pickups are prone to heat-related, intermittent failure: the car runs fine cold but suddenly stalls once the engine bay heats u… Repairs typically run $80-$350. Severity: high.
Early LeBarons use a two-box system (separate logic module in the kick panel and power module near the battery); 1988+ cars use the combined SMEC, and later cars the SBEC. The power-module/driver section is a known weak point: heat and vibration crack solder joints and fail the i… Repairs typically run $150-$600. Severity: high.
All LeBaron engines are belt-driven overhead-cam designs with a rubber timing belt that has a finite service life (roughly 60,000 miles). The Chrysler 2.2L/2.5L four-cylinder engines are non-interference designs, so a snapped or skipped belt leaves the car stranded but does not b… Repairs typically run $250-$750. Severity: high.
The turbocharged LeBarons (Garrett T3-based Turbo I and the higher-boost Turbo II) suffer turbo center-bearing and oil-seal wear from oil starvation at cold start and shutdown, and from coking when the engine is shut off hot without a cool-down. Worn seals let engine oil pass int… Repairs typically run $400-$1,500. Severity: high.
The two-prong engine coolant temperature (ECT) sensor at the thermostat housing feeds temperature data to the engine computer for fuel mixture and to the cooling-fan and gauge circuits. When it fails or its connector corrodes, the computer mis-fuels the engine: the car runs rough… Repairs typically run $40-$180. Severity: medium.
Chrysler's throttle-body and MPI fuel-injection LeBarons use an Automatic Idle Speed (AIS) motor (idle air control) that meters air around the closed throttle to keep the engine idling and to catch the idle when the A/C compressor cycles or when the throttle snaps shut. The AIS p… Repairs typically run $60-$250. Severity: medium.
The heater/AC blower resistor block that controls the lower fan speeds is a common failure on these cars. When it burns out, the low and medium fan settings stop working and the blower runs only on High (which bypasses the resistor). The resistor typically overheats and fails bec… Repairs typically run $40-$250. Severity: low.
Content on this page was compiled with AI assistance using NHTSA complaints, TSBs, owner reports, and public automotive data. While we strive for accuracy, this information may contain errors. Always verify repair procedures and specifications with your vehicle's service manual or a qualified mechanic.
