IllustrationTHE 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
1988 Renault Medallion
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Medallion years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 0 of 10 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Visibility. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
0 crash reports1 fire reports0 injury reports
What owners actually said
10 reportsRECALL REPAIR OF THE HEATER CORE NOT DONE BECAUSE NO PARTS AVAILABLE.
A/C FAILED DUE TO HOLE IN THE CONDENSOR.
HEATER CORE FLUID BYPASS VALVE FAILED CAUSING DAMAGE TO HEATER CORE PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE.
RECALL97V226000, HEATER CORE; CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT EXISTS AFTER THE RECALL WAS PERFORMED. DEALER SAYS IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH RECALL. *AK
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
VEHICLE STARTS WHEN SHIFTER IS IN DRIVE.
VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. *SD
THE BOX THAT HOLDS THE ANTI FREEZE BURST SPRAYING CONTENTS ON ENGINE CAUSING IT TOO OVERHEAT. TT
RADIATOR CLEANED AND FLUSHED DUE TO BEING PLUGGED UP.
Official recalls
397V226000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:cooling System
Dec 9, 1997
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: FAILURE WILL ALLOW THE DISCHARGE OF COOLING SYSTEM STEAM INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT, CAUSING REDUCED DRIVER VISIBILITY.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A COOLANT TEMPERATURE CONTROLLED HEATER CORE FLUID BYPASS VALVE.
91V037000 · Electrical System:wiring:fuses And Circuit Breakers
Mar 4, 1991
FUSE BLOCK WIRING TERMINALS MAY NOT ADEQUATELY CLAMP THE POSITIVE ELECTRICAL CONNECTION OF HEATER BLOWER MOTOR FUSE BLADES.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS COULD INCREASE ELECTRICAL RESISTANCE THAT COULDOVERHEAT AND IGNITE THE FUSE BLOCK AND TERMINAL WIRING, RESULTING IN ANINSTRUMENT PANEL FIRE.
Remedy: MODIFY FUSE BLOCK TERMINAL TO ENSURE ADEQUATE RETENTION CLAMP LOAD ON HEATER BLOWER FUSE BLADES.
90V138000 · Vehicle Speed Control
Aug 9, 1990
LOSS OF RETENTION OF AN INTEGRAL OVER-TRAVEL SPRING ON THROTTLE CABLE COULD CAUSE SPRING DISLOCATION.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A DISLOCATED SPRING CAN CAUSE INCREASED IDLE POSITIONTHROTTLE OPENING AND HIGHER THAN NORMAL IDLE SPEED.
Remedy: REPLACE THROTTLE CABLES WITH CABLES DESIGNED TO PROVIDE POSITIVE RETENTION OF THE OVER-TRAVEL SPRING.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
3PE90118 · Electrical Overload
Opened Sep 18, 1990 · Closed Mar 12, 1991
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Exterior Lighting
There is no summary currently available
PE90081 · Throttle Linkage Fails
Opened May 11, 1990 · Closed Aug 14, 1990
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
There is no summary currently available
PE88069 · Stalling
Opened Jun 28, 1988 · Closed Nov 16, 1988
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
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