The 1989 Pontiac Tempest has 4 recalls, the most serious being a fuel tank that can develop cracks on its underside and leak fuel, creating a fire risk if that fuel contacts an ignition source.
Three recalls affect the front seats and restraints. The front seatbelt latch plates may fail to engage their buckles properly, or require repeated wiggling before locking, leaving occupants without reliable restraint in a sudden stop or crash. On vehicles equipped with a passive restraint system, the automatic shoulder belt retractor can fail to lock during a crash or hard stop, meaning the front occupants are held only by the lap belt and can pitch forward into the dash or steering wheel. The front seat frame itself may also have missing, misplaced, or broken welds, which can allow the seat to shift or collapse unexpectedly while driving, affecting both the occupant's position and the driver's ability to maintain control of the vehicle.
At a glance
What can fail
The front shoulder belt retractor may fail to lock during a crash or sudden stop, leaving occupants restrained only by the lap belt and increasing injury risk.
What the fix does
Front shoulder belt retractors and belt assemblies will be replaced.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
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At a glance
What can fail
The front seat frame may have an improper, missing, or mislocated weld. If the weld fractures, the seat could move unexpectedly, which may cause injury or loss of vehicle control.
What the fix does
Both front seat assemblies will be replaced with properly welded units.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The front seat belt latch plates may not properly engage the buckle assemblies, or may only engage after wiggling the latch plate. This can prevent the seat belt from latching fully, leaving front occupants inadequately restrained in a crash.
What the fix does
Vehicles will be inspected and front seat buckle assemblies will be replaced as needed.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Small creases on the underside of the fuel tank can fatigue and crack over time, causing fuel to leak.
What the fix does
Your vehicle will be inspected and the fuel tank will be replaced if needed.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
