U.S. public vehicle records

1989 Chevrolet CELEBRITY problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

39 owner complaints analyzed

1 distinct recall campaigns

Not available median reported failure mileage

Scope: 1989 model year. Data updated: 2026-09-30 (September 30, 2026). 0 complaints include usable failure mileage. View data status.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly is the most frequently named component, appearing in 4 of 39 complaints (10.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
Topic	Matching reports	Share of complaints
Braking behavior	9	23.1%
Electrical and battery issues	3	7.7%
Engine operation	2	5.1%
Transmission and shifting	1	2.6%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly

Tires

Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Drum

Electrical System:Ignition:Module

Latches/Locks/Linkages:Trunk Lid:Lock

Power Train:Automatic Transmission

Component breakdown data
Category	Count
Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly	4
Tires	4
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline	3
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components	3
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Drum	3
Electrical System:Ignition:Module	2
Latches/Locks/Linkages:Trunk Lid:Lock	2
Power Train:Automatic Transmission	2

Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly: 4; Tires: 4; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 3; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components: 3; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Drum: 3; Electrical System:Ignition:Module: 2; Latches/Locks/Linkages:Trunk Lid:Lock: 2; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 2

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000

25,000 to 49,999

50,000 to 74,999

75,000 to 99,999

100,000 to 149,999

150,000 and above

Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0

No usable failure mileage is recorded. 39 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2003

2008

1995: 14; 1996: 7; 1997: 4; 1998: 3; 1999: 2; 2000: 4; 2001: 3; 2003: 1; 2008: 1

Pattern summary

Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 9 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 3 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 2 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 481035 · 1995-02-06 (February 6, 1995)

INTERMITTENT BRAKE FAILURES. *SKD

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 481035 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 537150 · 1998-06-20 (June 20, 1998)

WHILE WAITING IN STOPPED TRAFFIC, HE CAR SUDDENLY TRIED TO LURCH FORWARD, THE IDLE BEGAN REVVING AS IF I WAS GOING EXTREMELY FAST AND I HAD TO PLACE ALL MY WEIGHT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL TO KEEP THE CAR FROM GOING FORWARD. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES. ONE PERIOD OF IT OCCURED EVERY DAY FROM 11/5/96 TO 11/30/96. ALSO AT TIMES THE ODORMETER HAS SUDDENLY STARTED CLICKING MILES VERY FAST. IN ONE MILE STRETCH 200 MILES WERE ADDED TO THE ODORMETER. THIS STOPPED AFTER COMPLETE STOP.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 537150 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 530609 · 1998-02-18 (February 18, 1998)

FUEL INJECTORS FAILED DUE TO FAULTY WIRING.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 530609 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 974720 · 1995-11-07 (November 7, 1995)

THE BATTERY KEEP GOING DEAD THIS IS THE THIRD BATTERY DEALER SAID THE COURTESY LIGHT DOESN'T KNOW HOW TO FIX IT . TT

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 974720 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 518941 · 1997-06-25 (June 25, 1997)

ENGINE STALLS UPON COMING TO A STOP.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 518941 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 962432 · 1995-03-23 (March 23, 1995)

WHILE DRIVING, ON HWY AT APPROX. 55-60MPH, THEN UPON APPLICATION OF BRAKE, ENGINE STALLS WITH NO PRIOR WARNING. TT

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 962432 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 967533 · 1995-06-22 (June 22, 1995)

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE, WOULD NOT ENGAGE IN GEAR. TT

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 967533 at NHTSA ↗

Explore the data

Vehicle analysis explorer

Inspect model-year patterns, reported mileage, monthly activity and the evidence behind each signal.

Data completeness

39 unique complaints in this selection. Analysis snapshot: 2026-09-30.

0.0%Usable mileage0 / 39 records

76.9%Valid incident date30 / 39 records

100.0%Valid filing date39 / 39 records

76.9%Ordered incident and filing dates30 / 39 records

Missing, zero and invalid mileage is excluded. Dates after the snapshot are excluded. Examples are limited selections, not a representative sample.

Problems by model year

Model-wide comparison of the eight most reported components across the model. Cells show counts and shares within each model year. Open a cell for source examples.

From model yearThrough model year

Component complaint heatmap
Component	1982	1983	1984	1985	1986	1987	1988	1989	1990	1991	1992
Steering:Rack And Pinion	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	16.7% ODI 977983 FAILURE OF THE RACK AND PINION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. TT Look up ODI 977983 at NHTSA ↗	39.1% ODI 482476 EXCESSIVE EFFORT NEEDED TO TURN STEERING WHEEL AFTER COLD START. *SKD Look up ODI 482476 at NHTSA ↗	36.8% ODI 480147 RACK AND PINION REPLACED DUE TO STIFF STEERING. *SKD Look up ODI 480147 at NHTSA ↗	615.4% ODI 480563 RACK AND PINION FAILED. *SD Look up ODI 480563 at NHTSA ↗	12.6% ODI 965794 FUEL FEED HOSE FAILURE. *AK Look up ODI 965794 at NHTSA ↗	114.3% ODI 487802 POWER STEERING RACK AND PINION SEAL FAILED, CAUSING ALL THE POWER STEERING FLUID TO LEAK OUT TWICE/BINDING. *SD Look up ODI 487802 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	320.0% ODI 478107 TRANSMISSION LEAKS. Look up ODI 478107 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	511.4% ODI 785750 CONSUMER STATES THAT THE ENGINE LIGHT IS ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE RUNS BAD, ALSO SAID VEHICLE MAKES A LOT OF NOISE, POSSIBLE ENGINE NOISE. *SLC Look up ODI 785750 at NHTSA ↗	25.1% ODI 516953 WHILE APPROACHING AN INTERSECTION THE ENGINE STOPED, WHEN STARTED AGAIN THE CAR JUMPED FORWARD, CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. Look up ODI 516953 at NHTSA ↗	37.7% ODI 481035 INTERMITTENT BRAKE FAILURES. *SKD Look up ODI 481035 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	320.0% ODI 500231 COOLANT ESCAPING FROM ENGINE DUE TO BROKEN HEAD BOLT. *SD Look up ODI 500231 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	36.8% ODI 848569 WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE BEGAN TO SMOKE FROM UNDER THE HOOD. PULLED VEHICLE OVER. ENGINE WAS LEAKING OIL DUE TO A CRACKED INTAKE MANIFOLD. HAS TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALER & WAS INFORMED BY MECHANIC THE LIFTERS WERE MAKING NOISE. *AK Look up ODI 848569 at NHTSA ↗	37.7% ODI 960521 MOTOR MOUNTS HAVE WORE OUT, CAUSING A JERKY MOTION WHEN CAR SLOWS DOWN. TT Look up ODI 960521 at NHTSA ↗	12.6% ODI 603297 MOTOR MOUNTS FAILED. Look up ODI 603297 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.
Electrical System:Ignition:Module	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	16.7% ODI 516382 BRAKE CABLE EXTENSION FAILED AND REPLACED. Look up ODI 516382 at NHTSA ↗	13.0% ODI 509848 RACK AND PINION LOCK STEERING SYSTEM LOCKS IN POSITION. Look up ODI 509848 at NHTSA ↗	36.8% ODI 482521 COMPUTER FAILED. *SKD Look up ODI 482521 at NHTSA ↗	25.1% ODI 962515 COMPUTER FAILURE, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STALL/ACCELERATE. THIS IS THE SECOND COND COMPUTER. *AK Look up ODI 962515 at NHTSA ↗	25.1% ODI 511362 ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT FAILED 4 TIMES. Look up ODI 511362 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.
Steering	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	112.5% ODI 967328 DURING BRAKE APPLICATION STEERING LOCKS UP WHEN MAKING RIGHT HAND TURNS. TT Look up ODI 967328 at NHTSA ↗	213.3% ODI 10055880 EMAIL CONSUMER LETTER REGARDING GM POWER STEERING RECALL.MR 1985 EUROSPORT WAGON DEVELOPED A PROBLEM WHERE POWER STEERING WAS LOST WHILE MAKING LEFT TURNS AT LOW SPEEDS.MR Look up ODI 10055880 at NHTSA ↗	39.1% ODI 525613 POWER STEERING FAILURE. Look up ODI 525613 at NHTSA ↗	24.5% ODI 481862 'COLD POWER STEERING'. *DH Look up ODI 481862 at NHTSA ↗	12.6% ODI 807253 POWER STEERING FAILURE, RESULTING IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL DUE TO MALFUNCTION WITHIN THE RACK AND PINION. PLEASE GIVE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK Look up ODI 807253 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.
Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist System	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	112.5% ODI 713787 STEERING STICKS, POWER ASSIST IS REDUCED TO MANUAL MODE AFTER MOMENTARY JAMMING. ALMOST LEAVES THE ROAD BEFOR RECOVERY. Look up ODI 713787 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	26.1% ODI 481247 'COLD POWER STEERING'. *SD Look up ODI 481247 at NHTSA ↗	511.4% ODI 487350 POWER STEERING FAILED. *SD Look up ODI 487350 at NHTSA ↗	12.6% ODI 960426 STEERING IS DIFFICULT WHEN IT IS COLD. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TT Look up ODI 960426 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.
Electrical System:Ignition	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	412.1% ODI 959841 CAR STALLS WITH GAS IN THE VEHICLE, AND WHEN ON A HILL FACING DOWN, CAR WILL NOT START. TT Look up ODI 959841 at NHTSA ↗	12.3% ODI 958885 VEHICLE STALLS OUT WHEN DRIVING SLOWLY AND MAKING SHARP TURNS. TT Look up ODI 958885 at NHTSA ↗	25.1% ODI 958288 WIRING HARNESS TO THE IGNITION WAS IMPROPERLY INSTALLED, CAUSING CRANKSHAFT/IGNITION MODULE TO FAIL. *AK Look up ODI 958288 at NHTSA ↗	12.6% ODI 962432 WHILE DRIVING, ON HWY AT APPROX. 55-60MPH, THEN UPON APPLICATION OF BRAKE, ENGINE STALLS WITH NO PRIOR WARNING. TT Look up ODI 962432 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.
Structure:Frame And Members	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	112.5% ODI 490592 SUB-FRAME SEPARATED FROM BODY DUE TO RUSTY WASHERS HOLDING BOLTS IN PLACE, CAUSING STEERING LINKAGE TO SEPARATE/LOSS OF CONTROL OF VEHICLE. *DSH Look up ODI 490592 at NHTSA ↗	16.7% ODI 527369 LOCATION OF CRUISE CONTROL CAUSED ACCIDENTAL ENGAGEMENT OF R/A SWITCH ALMOST CAUSING ACCIDENT. Look up ODI 527369 at NHTSA ↗	26.1% ODI 825349 FRAME HAS RUSTED OUT DUE TO THE LACK OF UNDERCOATING UNDER VEHICLE. OWNER IS VERY CONCERNED FOR SAFETY. *AK Look up ODI 825349 at NHTSA ↗	24.5% ODI 482230 UNDER BODY FRAME MAKES LOUD NOISE UNDER DRIVER'S SEAT WHEN DRIVER SITS DOWN. *SKD Look up ODI 482230 at NHTSA ↗	12.6% ODI 960506 SUBFRAME ABSORBER FAILURE. *AK Look up ODI 960506 at NHTSA ↗	12.6% ODI 977758 THE WASHER THAT LEADS TO THE SUB FRAME BROKE PE94-048. TT Look up ODI 977758 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.

Darker cells indicate a larger share of submitted complaints. Components overlap. This measures complaint composition, not failure probability.

Failure mileage by component

Median and middle 50% of usable owner-reported mileages. Ranges require at least five records.

Component failure mileage distribution
Component	Mileage range (25th–75th percentile)	Median	Usable records	Examples
No usable records for this analysis.

Complaint and recall timeline

Explore monthly filing activity alongside recall announcements. Up to ten years of monthly history is available.

ComponentPeriod

Solid line: filed complaints. Dashed amber lines: recall announcement dates for this vehicle selection; markers include all recall components. The latest month is partial. Temporal proximity does not establish causation.

Monthly counts, recall campaigns and complaint examples

Monthly complaint and recall timeline
Month	Campaigns announced	Examples
2024-10	None	No examples available for this selection.
2024-11	None	No examples available for this selection.
2024-12	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-01	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-02	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-03	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-04	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-05	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-06	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-07	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-08	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-09	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-10	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-11	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-12	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-01	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-02	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-03	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-04	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-05	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-06	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-07	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-08	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-09 (partial)	None	No examples available for this selection.

Emerging complaint spikes

Complete months in the latest six months with at least 10 complaints, at least twice the preceding 12-month average, and at least three square-root deviations above that average.

This is a descriptive screening rule, not a statistical defect finding. Publicity and reporting changes can increase submissions.

No complete months meet the spike thresholds for this selection.

Equal-age model-year comparison

Model-wide cumulative reports during the first three or five calendar years, starting with the model year (age 0). Only fully elapsed windows are compared.

Observation windowFirst model yearSecond model year

1991: 0 complaints · 1992: 0 complaints

Equal observation windows
Model year	Through age 0	Through age 1	Through age 2
1991	0	0	0
1992	0	0	0

Date coverage across each selected cohort

Date basis for all complaints in selected model years
Year	Incident dates used	Filing date fallbacks	Excluded dates
1991	0	1	0
1992	1	0	0

Incident date is preferred when valid and no later than filing; otherwise filing date is used. Model year approximates age. Equal observation time does not adjust for sales, distance driven or reporting delays. One complaint linked to multiple model years can appear in each cohort.

Components reported together

Each cell counts unique complaints naming both components. Open a nonzero cell for examples.

Component co-occurrence matrix
Component	Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly	Tires	Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline	Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components	Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Drum	Electrical System:Ignition:Module	Latches/Locks/Linkages:Trunk Lid:Lock	Power Train:Automatic Transmission
Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly	—	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Tires	0	—	0	0	0	0	0	0
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline	0	0	—	1 ODI 481035 INTERMITTENT BRAKE FAILURES. *SKD Look up ODI 481035 at NHTSA ↗	0	0	0	0
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components	0	0	1 ODI 481035 INTERMITTENT BRAKE FAILURES. *SKD Look up ODI 481035 at NHTSA ↗	—	0	0	0	0
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Drum	0	0	0	0	—	0	0	0
Electrical System:Ignition:Module	0	0	0	0	0	—	0	0
Latches/Locks/Linkages:Trunk Lid:Lock	0	0	0	0	0	0	—	0
Power Train:Automatic Transmission	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	—

Co-reporting does not establish that one component caused another concern.

Recurring narrative patterns

Specific keyword mentions beyond broad component labels. Matching includes negations and comparisons and does not confirm a diagnosis.

Search patterns

3 patterns with matching reports.

Brake response concerns

5 mentions · 12.8% of complaints

Median mileage: Unavailable (0 usable records).

ODI 481035

INTERMITTENT BRAKE FAILURES. *SKD

Look up ODI 481035 at NHTSA ↗

ODI 537150

Look up ODI 537150 at NHTSA ↗

ODI 717107

FOLLOWING REPLACEMENT OF THE REAR DRUMS, SHOES AND WHEEL CYLINDERS, ONLY MODERATE BRAKE PEDAL PRESSURE WILL CAUSE THE REAR WHEELS TO LOCK UP AND SKID. IN WET CONDITIONS THE REAR END CAN FISHTAIL LEADING TO POTENTIAL DISASTER. PROBLEM WAS NEVER NOTICED IN PREVIOUS 9 YEARS OF OWNERSHIP. THE FRONT DISC BRAKES APPEAR TO BE OPERATING AND THE PEDAL FEEL DOES NOT INDICATE AIR IN THE SYSTEM. THE GARAGE HAS LOOKED AT THE BRAKES ON TWO OCCASIONS AND MADE MINOR ADJUSTMENTS AND REPLACED THE SHOES ONCE (LESS THAN A YEAR), BUT COULD FIND NOTHING ELSE. P…

Look up ODI 717107 at NHTSA ↗

Matching rule

Stalling or loss of power

2 mentions · 5.1% of complaints

Median mileage: Unavailable (0 usable records).

ODI 518941

ENGINE STALLS UPON COMING TO A STOP.

Look up ODI 518941 at NHTSA ↗

ODI 962432

WHILE DRIVING, ON HWY AT APPROX. 55-60MPH, THEN UPON APPLICATION OF BRAKE, ENGINE STALLS WITH NO PRIOR WARNING. TT

Look up ODI 962432 at NHTSA ↗

Matching rule

\b(stall\w*|loss of power|lost power|engine shut\w* off)\b

Hard or delayed shifting

1 mentions · 2.6% of complaints

Median mileage: Unavailable (0 usable records).

ODI 537150

Look up ODI 537150 at NHTSA ↗

Matching rule