1988 Renault Medallion Recalls, Complaints & Specs
3 safety recalls list the 1988 Renault Medallion, and owners have filed 10 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
3 safety recalls for the 1988 Renault Medallion
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
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Cooling system (engine and engine cooling)
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.
Remedy: Dealers will install a coolant temperature controlled heater core fluid bypass valve.
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Fuses and circuit breakers (electrical system)
Fuse block wiring terminals may not adequately clamp the positive electrical connection of heater blower motor fuse blades.
Remedy: Modify fuse block terminal to ensure adequate retention clamp load on heater blower fuse blades.
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Vehicle speed control
Loss of retention of an integral over-travel spring on throttle cable could cause spring dislocation.
Remedy: Replace throttle cables with cables designed to provide positive retention of the over-travel spring.
10 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 1988 Renault Medallion have filed 10 complaints with NHTSA; 1 describe a fire. Complaints peaked in 1998 with 5 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“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 s”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, March 6, 2001 · Electrical system
“Recall repair of the heater core not done because no parts available.”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, September 10, 1998 · Visibility
Compare Renault Medallion model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Renault Medallion model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 1988 Renault Medallion | 3 | 10 |
| 1989 Renault Medallion | 3 | 1 |
Checking a specific 1988 Renault Medallion
How do I know if my 1988 Renault Medallion has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 3 campaigns currently list the 1988 Renault Medallion; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Renault dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 90V138000).
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other Renault models
- Alliance36 complaints
- Encore5 complaints
- Renault2 complaints
- Duster1 complaints
- Gta1 complaints
- 120 complaints
- 150 complaints
- 160 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.