RoadVitals

1988 Renault Medallion

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
10
Latest Mar 6, 2001
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
3
Latest Dec 9, 1997
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
3
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
1

Overview

Our database contains 10 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1988 Renault Medallion, most frequently naming the engine, visibility and exterior lighting categories. 3 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 3 NHTSA investigations name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Engine425.0%
  • Visibility425.0%
  • Exterior lighting212.5%
  • Electrical212.5%
  • Transmission212.5%
  • Heating & air conditioning16.3%
  • Powertrain (other)16.3%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

3 campaigns cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
97V226000

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

Dec 9, 1997
32,000 units potentially affected
The defect: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE HEATER CORE END CAP CAN FAIL DUE TO MATERIAL STRENGTH DETERIORATION OCCURRING OVER TIME WITH EXPOSURE TO HIGH TEMPERATURE ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM FLUID.
The risk: FAILURE WILL ALLOW THE DISCHARGE OF COOLING SYSTEM STEAM INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT, CAUSING REDUCED DRIVER VISIBILITY.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A COOLANT TEMPERATURE CONTROLLED HEATER CORE FLUID BYPASS VALVE.
CHRYSLER CORPORATIONView on NHTSA.gov
91V037000

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS

Mar 4, 1991
30,000 units potentially affected
The defect: FUSE BLOCK WIRING TERMINALS MAY NOT ADEQUATELY CLAMP THE POSITIVE ELECTRICAL CONNECTION OF HEATER BLOWER MOTOR FUSE BLADES.
The risk: THIS COULD INCREASE ELECTRICAL RESISTANCE THAT COULDOVERHEAT AND IGNITE THE FUSE BLOCK AND TERMINAL WIRING, RESULTING IN ANINSTRUMENT PANEL FIRE.
The remedy: MODIFY FUSE BLOCK TERMINAL TO ENSURE ADEQUATE RETENTION CLAMP LOAD ON HEATER BLOWER FUSE BLADES.
CHRYSLER CORPORATIONView on NHTSA.gov
90V138000

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

Aug 9, 1990
30,000 units potentially affected
The defect: LOSS OF RETENTION OF AN INTEGRAL OVER-TRAVEL SPRING ON THROTTLE CABLE COULD CAUSE SPRING DISLOCATION.
The risk: A DISLOCATED SPRING CAN CAUSE INCREASED IDLE POSITIONTHROTTLE OPENING AND HIGHER THAN NORMAL IDLE SPEED.
The remedy: REPLACE THROTTLE CABLES WITH CABLES DESIGNED TO PROVIDE POSITIVE RETENTION OF THE OVER-TRAVEL SPRING.
CHRYSLER CORPORATIONView on NHTSA.gov

Safety investigations

NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.

PE90118ClosedPreliminary Evaluation

ELECTRICAL OVERLOAD

Opened Sep 18, 1990
Closed Mar 12, 1991

There is no summary currently available

EXTERIOR LIGHTINGLed to recall 91V037000
PE90081ClosedPreliminary Evaluation

THROTTLE LINKAGE FAILS

Opened May 11, 1990
Closed Aug 14, 1990

There is no summary currently available

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGESLed to recall 90V138000
PE88069ClosedPreliminary Evaluation

STALLING

Opened Jun 28, 1988
Closed Nov 16, 1988

===

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

View all 10
Electrical
Filed Mar 6, 2001

THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS IMPROPERLY MOUNTED CAUSING THE IGNITION FEED WIRE SWITCH TO TWIST FROM THE MOTION OF THE STEERING WHEEL, AS A RESULT THE WIRE GRADUALLY RUBBED BARE ON THE STEERING COLUMN AND SHORTED OUT CAUSING A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING. NLM

NHTSA ID
560303
Incident
Aug 8, 1988
Visibility
Filed Sep 10, 1998

RECALL REPAIR OF THE HEATER CORE NOT DONE BECAUSE NO PARTS AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID
539907
Heating & air conditioningElectricalEngine+1 more
Filed Aug 27, 1998

A/C FAILED DUE TO HOLE IN THE CONDENSOR.

NHTSA ID
537028
Incident
May 21, 1989
Visibility
Filed Jun 27, 1998

HEATER CORE FLUID BYPASS VALVE FAILED CAUSING DAMAGE TO HEATER CORE PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE.

NHTSA ID
536987
Visibility
Filed May 5, 1998

RECALL97V226000, HEATER CORE; CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT EXISTS AFTER THE RECALL WAS PERFORMED. DEALER SAYS IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH RECALL. *AK

NHTSA ID
823077
Visibility
Filed Apr 20, 1998

RECALL # 97V226000/CHRYSLER HEATER CORE; DEALER WAS NOT ABLE TO COMPLETE RECALL WORK BECAUSE OF BOTTLE CAP. CAP DOES NOT FIT BOTTLE AND REQUIRES REPLACEMENT WHICH DEALER STATES IS NOT COVERED UNDER RECALL NOTICE. *AK

NHTSA ID
822606
Incident
Apr 20, 1998
Exterior lightingTransmission
Filed Dec 30, 1997

VEHICLE STARTS WHEN SHIFTER IS IN DRIVE.

NHTSA ID
527200
Engine
Filed Oct 13, 1995
Fire reported

VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. *SD

NHTSA ID
487181
Incident
Jul 2, 1994

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Renault Medallion by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
1989131—
1988Viewing103357.4

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.