- The problem
- The front safety belt buckle release buttons can break. These red plastic release buttons are marked "press." If a button breaks, pieces can fall into the buckle assembly causing the buckle to operate improperly.
- The risk
- The safety belts would not provide adequate protection to an occupant in a vehicle crash.
- The fix
- Owners should promptly check the condition and operation of both front safety belt buckles and carefully inspect the red release button for any breaks or cracks. They should ensure that both buckles are operating properly by inserting each latch plate into its buckle, tugging on the belt to make sure the latch is securely locked, and then pressing the release button. The latch plate should pop out of the buckle when the button is pressed. If either release button shows a sign of breaking or cracking or if either buckle fails to operate properly, owners should promptly contact their authorized dealer to schedule an appointment to have the buckle replaced or repaired, free of charge. The manufacturer is developing a remedy designed to prevent failure of the buttons that are not currently broken.
Vehicle safety record
1989 Eagle Summit Problems, complaints & recalls
Owners have filed 12 complaints about the 1989 Eagle Summit with NHTSA, most often about the seats & seat belts (9) and the engine & cooling (2). Those complaints describe 1 crash, 1 fire, 3 injuries and 1 death. It is covered by 1 recall, the latest in May 1995 for the buckle assembly. For comparison, the 1990 has 6.
NHTSA data checked
CAbout as many problems as a typical Summit year, for its age
#80 most complained-about 1989 vehicle
- Complaints
- 12
- Recalls
- 1
- Crashes
- 1
- Fires
- 1
- Injuries
- 3
- Deaths
- 1
Most common 1989 Eagle Summit problems
Share of all 12 complaints. One complaint can name more than one area. Tap an area for its complaints and recalls.
1989 Eagle Summit recalls 1
Recall repairs are free. Your dealer fixes them whether or not you bought the car there - check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see if yours is done. What to do
What owners say
Be the first Summit owner to share.
Problems or none - your experience is exactly what the next buyer is looking for. Write it now
12 complaints about the 1989 Eagle Summit
Newest first, as filed with NHTSA by owners.
I had problems ever since I bought this car, which was in exchange for a trade-in. This car was $200 exta dollars worth of problems that I never got resolved. I bought into a great deal of frustrations and headaches over a simple resolve. They saw me coming. Through bringing and leaving my car for days at the car lot to be fixed properly, and getting swindled out of my money to having the people at the car lot bring it to their mechanics, who led me to think that my car was actually going to be fixed, my...
Read the full complaint
frustrations and anger had reached a boiling point. The problem was the engine, when it got too hot the speedometer would waver up and down, threatening to shut the car off. This created a safety problem, and of course, I received two rejection stickers for this problem, which was the emissions. The second time was I thought the people at the car lot would fix up; so I brought it back to be inspected again, paying $60.00 For it. *Nm
The driver seat frame broke at the weld to the auto body. The rear left side closest to the door was where the weld joint broke.*Ak
The the front lap belt will not engage . Manufacturer contacted , there was a recall on the front shoulder belts. Shoulder belts have been repaired. *Ak
Failure of the driver's and passenger's side seat belts, consumer was involved in a head-on collision and the seat belts did not lock, resulting in injuries. *Ak
Oil sensor light failed, causing motor to throw a rod.
The car was parked the owner went to start the car and the car backfired and fire started. Tt
Passenger front shoulder/lap belt buckles inoperative, due to plastic pieces falling inside, male won't go into female portion. Tt
A piece of plastic broke off seat belt lock and remained lodged inside, causing seat belt to fail. *Ak
Passenger front lap belt buckle male to female won't lock in. Tt
The front passenger side seat belt buckle will not lock. Tt
Particles seemed to be stuck inside takata seat belt buckle; does not engage leaving occupant unrestrained. Tt
Both rear shoulder/lap belt buckles came undone when latched. Tt
Eagle Summit: every year compared
All Summit years1989 Eagle Summit vs rivals
| Vehicle | Complaints | Recalls | Grade | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 Eagle Summit | 12 | 1 | C | |
| 1989 Eagle Premier | 69 | 5 | D | Compare |
| 1989 Eagle Medallion | 8 | 2 | - | Compare |
| 1989 Eagle Medalion | 3 | 0 | - | Compare |
| 1989 Eagle Eagle | 1 | 0 | C | Compare |
More sales usually means more complaints, so compare similar vehicles of the same year. The grade compares each vehicle with its own model's other years.
Questions about the 1989 Eagle Summit
Does the 1989 Eagle Summit have any recalls?
Yes - NHTSA lists 1 recall for the 1989 Eagle Summit: buckle assembly (May 1995). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether yours has been fixed.
What are the most common problems with the 1989 Eagle Summit?
By the complaints owners filed with NHTSA, the most common problem areas are the seats & seat belts (9), engine & cooling (2).
How many complaints has the 1989 Eagle Summit had?
12 complaints have been filed with NHTSA, the first on February 17, 1995 and the latest on October 30, 2005. Of these, 1 describe a crash and 1 a fire, and together they report 3 injuries and 1 death.
Is the 1989 Eagle Summit a reliable vehicle?
Its Safety Index is 51 out of 100 (grade C: about as many problems as a typical Eagle Summit year, for its age). The index weighs complaints, crashes, fires, injuries, deaths and recalls against how long the vehicle has been on the road, compared with the same model's other years. It is not a measure of every repair - read the complaints and owner experiences, and have any used vehicle inspected before you buy.
Which Eagle Summit years have the most complaints?
1993 (92), 1992 (45), 1995 (31). See every Eagle Summit year compared.
What should I do if my 1989 Eagle Summit has a problem?
If it is a safety problem, stop driving it if it is unsafe and contact your dealer. Report it to NHTSA at nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem - enough reports start investigations and recalls - and share your experience here so other owners know what to look for.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked . Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data