Model year guide

1989 Jeep comanche

Recalls, most-reported problems, crash-test ratings, fuel economy and what a 1989 Jeep comanche is worth — from official NHTSA and EPA data. 1 on record.

1989 Jeep comanche — representative photo
Representative photo · via Wikimedia Commons

1989 Jeep comanche at a glance

Safety recalls1
Owner complaints12
Combined15–21 mpg

Included: that car's specs and build sheet, model-year recall campaigns and a fair price.

1989 Jeep comanche recalls 1

Vehicle Speed Control:cruise Control NHTSA Campaign #90V177000 · 02/10/1990

MALFUNCTION OF FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM THROTTLE POSTITION SENSOR COULD CAUSE INTERMITTENT HIGH ENGINE IDLE SPEED IMMEDIATELY AFTER STARTING ENGINE.

Fix: REPLACE THROTTLE POSITION SENSORS WITH SENSORS THAT WOULD SEND CORRECT SIGNALS TO THE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM.

Source: U.S. NHTSA, checked 4 Nov 2026. A campaign covers the model year; to see whether a particular car still needs the repair, check its VIN on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer.

1989 Jeep comanche common problems

The most-reported problem areas across all 12 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — and what to check before you buy.

Tires
Check tread depth, the DOT age date, and that all four tires match with even wear. Look for bulges or cracks.
Power Train
Drive through every gear: watch for slipping, hard or delayed shifts, and shudder. Check for transmission/driveline leaks and noises.
Steering
Steering should be tight and centered — no play, clunks or wandering. Test at low and highway speed; listen for power-steering whine.
Vehicle Speed Control
Test cruise control and throttle response, and watch for any hesitation or unintended acceleration.
Engine And Engine Cooling
Check coolant level and color, look for leaks, and confirm the engine reaches normal temperature without overheating.
Equipment
Test all accessories — sunroof, climate, seats, electronics — for proper operation.

1989 Jeep comanche MPG & running costs

Combined15–21 mpg
City17 mpg
Highway22 mpg
Est. annual fuel cost$3,671
EPA size classStandard Pickup Trucks
Transmission3 options
5-yr fuel cost vs average new car$6,357 more

Source: U.S. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov. The EPA lists 14 versions of this model year; combined is shown as a range and the other figures are averages.

Estimated 5-year cost to own

A rough guide to what running a 1989 Jeep comanche costs over five years and 75,000 miles.

Fuel (5 yrs)$18,355
Fuel only$18,355
Per mile$0.24

How this is estimated: fuel is the U.S. EPA annual cost at 15,000 miles a year. There aren't enough comparable listings to estimate depreciation for this model, so it is left out. Not included: insurance, maintenance, repairs, taxes, registration and finance costs. Treat it as a comparison guide, not a quote.

Dimensions & weight

Length
179.1–194.1 in
Width
71.7 in
Height
64.6 in
Wheelbase
113.0–119.3 in
Curb weight
3,089–3,188 lb
Front track
57.1 in
Rear track
57.1 in

Manufacturer-reported figures for the 1989 Jeep comanche — ranges cover the 2 body / drivetrain versions on record. Source: Transport Canada vehicle specifications via NHTSA.

Investigations & service bulletins

Manufacturer service bulletins 11

Technical notes the manufacturer sent to dealers about known issues and fixes. Useful to mention to a mechanic — they are not recalls and repairs may not be covered. Showing the 10 most recent of 11.

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FLUID USAGE ATF+4. *TT *MJ

Bulletin 2100601 · Power Train · Mar 2001

SUBJECT REGARDING WIRE SPLICE REPAIRS. *SB

Bulletin 0800600REV · Electrical System · Dec 2000

THIS BULLETIN PROVIDES A REVISED WIRE SPLICE PROCEDURE AND RELATED PARTS. *TT

Bulletin 080600 · Electrical System · Feb 2000

INFORMATION ON INSTALLATION OF RADIO TRANSMITTING EQUIPMENT. *AK

Bulletin 081698 · Equipment · Apr 1998

VARIOUS CAR OWNER'S HAVE EXPRESSED INTEREST IN USING ENGINE COOLANTS MADE WITH PROPYLENE GLYCOL INSTEAD OF ETHYLENE GLYCOL. *YC

Bulletin 070397 · Engine And Engine Cooling · May 1997

CONCERNS WITH ENGINE COOLANT USAGE. *NLM

Bulletin 070397 · Engine And Engine Cooling · May 1997

DIFFICULT TO CLEAN LIGHT COLORED "CHALKY" RESIDUE FROM PLASTIC BODY COMPONENTS THAT ARE MOLDED IN BLACK. *TW

Bulletin 230397 · Structure · Feb 1997

UNKNOWN

Bulletin RCL/617 · Engine And Engine Cooling · May 1995

IT HAS BEEN DETERMINED THAT THE OXYGEN SENSOR ON CERTAIN 1989 JEEP CHEROKEE, COMANCHE AND WRANGLER MODELS EQUIPPED WITH A 2.5L ENGINE MAY BE SUSCEPTIBLE TO FAILURE. FAILURE OF THE OXYGEN SENSOR MAY CAUSE YOUR VEHICLE TO BE IN VIOLATION OF FEDERAL EMISSIONS STA…

Bulletin RCL/616 · Engine And Engine Cooling · Dec 1994

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION TO MANUFACTURER'S RECALL #556. *TW

Bulletin 011395 · Engine And Engine Cooling · Dec 1994

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, listed for the COMANCHE. Model-year data, not specific to one car.

Canadian recalls 4

Transport Canada recall campaigns for the 1989 Jeep comanche. Relevant if the car was first sold in, or imported from, Canada.

Emissions

NOTE: VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 2.5 LITRE ENGINES. THESE VEHICLES DO NOT COMPLY WITH C.M.V.S.S. 1103 - EXHAUST EMISSIONS. CATALYSTS AND OXYGEN SENSORS MAY BE DEFECTIVE. CORRECTION: CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND OXYGEN SENSOR WILL BE REPLACED WITH REDESIGNED COMPONENTS.

Transport Canada #1995062 · Apr 1995

Emissions

THESE VEHICLES DO NOT COMPLY WITH C.M.V.S.S 1103 - EXHAUST EMISSIONS. CATALYSTS AND OXYGEN SENSORS MAY BE DEFECTIVE. CORRECTION: CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND OXYGEN SENSOR WILL BE REPLACED WITH REDESIGNED COMPONENTS.

Transport Canada #1994195 · Dec 1994

Emissions

NOTE: JEEP VEHICLES WITH 4.0 LITRE ENGINES, RENAULT VEHICLES WITH 2.0 LITRE ENGINES AND EAGLE PREMIER VEHICLES WITH 2.5 AND 3 LITRE ENGINES. THESE VEHICLES DO NOT COMPLY WITH C.M.V.S.S. 1103 - EXHAUST EMISSIONS. FAULTY OXYGEN SENSOR COULD LEAD TO POOR FUEL/AIR CONTROL AND REDUCED CATALYST EFFICIENCY WHICH MAY INCREASE TAILPIPE EMISSIONS. CORRECTION: OXYGEN SENSOR WILL BE REPLAC…

Transport Canada #1993071 · May 1993

Engine

ON VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A 4 LITRE ENGINE AND AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, A FAULTY THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR (TPS) CAN RESULT IN AN INTERMITTENT HIGH IDLE CONDITION IMMEDIATELY AFTER ENGINE START UP. IF THE TRANSMISSION IS PLACED IN GEAR DURING A PERIOD OF HIGH IDLE SPEED, LOSS OF CONTROL COULD OCCUR. CORRECTION: TPS WILL BE REPLACED ON ALL INVOLVED VEHICLES.

Transport Canada #1991018 · Jan 1991

Source: Transport Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Recalls Database.

About the Jeep comanche

The Jeep Comanche is a compact pickup truck variant of the Cherokee compact SUV (1984–2001) manufactured and marketed by Jeep from 1986 to 1992 in rear wheel (RWD) and four-wheel drive (4WD) models as well as two cargo bed lengths: six-foot and seven-foot.

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Describes the model line in general, not this model year specifically.

1989 Jeep comanche trims & engines on record

Engines
4.0L 6-cyl 177 hp

1989 Jeep comanche vehicles on record

1989 Jeep comanche 1989 Jeep comanche1J4FT66L9KL539804

Other Jeep comanche model years

1986

1989 Jeep comanche — frequently asked questions

Does the 1989 Jeep comanche have any safety recalls?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 1989 Jeep comanche. Whether an individual car still needs a recall repair depends on its VIN — check it on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer. Recall repairs are done at no charge.

What are the most common problems with the 1989 Jeep comanche?

Across all 12 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas are tires, power train, steering.

What gas mileage does the 1989 Jeep comanche get?

The 1989 Jeep comanche has U.S. EPA estimates of 15–21 mpg combined, depending on engine and trim (14 versions).

Sources: NHTSA (recalls, complaints, crash tests), U.S. EPA (fuel economy). Vehicle data only — CarLogs never shows owner information.