1989 Dodge Daytona Basic model from North America - Comments

Electric windows have a hard time rolling up in the winter.

Rust is forming all over the underneath.

Rust on bolts and hard to see places.

Windows leak since the rubber is becoming old.

The original paint job is a joke. I know people who have had to paint their Daytona because of bad "Clear Coat" on the paint. My clear coat has just about had it. I have tried all the recomended waxes for it, it's just a lousy paint job.

The ride is not smooth. This isn't a luxury car anyway.

My gauges go wacky and sometimes get stuck on my dashboard. My speedometer has to be tapped in the winter for it too work.

The plastics do not hold up very much, but I must say my dashboard is perfect.

No room for comfort for people that are 6 ft. tall. It's O.K. if you have small kids.

Replaced a timing chain and map sensor, oxygen sensor, EGR valve, and a few minor things.

I would say it's been a great car. Excellent on gas.

I'm going to keep it and paint it.

The gas mileage is great.

The body rot is the only thing!!!

It still has a lot of power and is great in the snow.

I just test drove a Daytona and I am 6'5. I agree that the back seat is way too small for a taller person, but I believe that the front is one of the most comfortable I have been in. :)

I'm the 2nd owner of 89 Daytona ES. I also have the same problems with some of the gauges sticking in winter (I, too, tap the dash to get them going.) My power windows are also having a hard time getting up, especially the driver's side. I've never parked the car in a garage and the paint on the roof is only just starting to fail. I attribute it to having used automatic car washes in the past 2 years or so; scratched up the finish pretty good.

I am 16 and I don't know a lot about cars, but I own a 1989 dodge daytona ES in my learning of cars this car is not the greatest car made by dodge first of all my car shakes, the timing chain is out of whack, the engine knocks. But besides that and my door sticks on the passenger side it is an excellent car for me.

Matt R. Lordemann

Omaha, NE.

I don't know how many people owned this car before me. At 110,000 miles, it had the engine replaced, due to a blown head gasket. That's when I bought it.

My passenger's side door sticks from the outside handle, but the inside handle works fine.

It has rusted panels. The worst is the undercarriage under the passenger side door.

I've replaced the heater control valve, the oxygen sensor, the thermostat, and the temperature control valve in the radiator.

My indicators stick, sometimes.

The fuel pump went out at 118,500 miles.

The paint job needs work.

The power steering pump failed at 107,600 miles, but you can drive the car without it if you remove the belt.

The rear hatch lifters have also been replaced.

I drive an average of 100 miles per day with this car. I get 20 mpg in heavy city traffic. Stability is great. improved shocks and struts have evened out the road feel. It's responsive and fun to drive.