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Model file · EagleUpdated · 6 sources

Selling a non-running Eagle Medallion

Owners have sent NHTSA only 12 complaints about the Eagle Medallion, 4 on the 1988 and 8 on the 1989. Its two recalls both land on the same system: coolant pressure and the heater core.

A faded maroon Medallion sedan, badged here as a Renault, parked in a lot under autumn trees
Photo: order_242 from Chile · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Model years (EPA)
1988-1989
Bodies
Sedan and wagon
Engine
2.2 L Douvrin four
Built in
Maubeuge, France
Related to
Renault 21
Complaints to NHTSA
12
Recall campaigns
2, both on cooling and the heater

Parked for good? Sell the whole car as it sits. We buy whole non-running and junk cars, and offer free pickup anywhere in the US.

What the Medallion was

Wikipedia ties the Medallion to the Renault 21 and puts its assembly in Maubeuge, France. Power came from a 2.2-liter Douvrin four, paired with five manual gears or a three-speed automatic, driving the front wheels of a sedan or wagon. EPA's data carries both Medallion and Renault Medallion names. For 1988, American Motors sold an optional Medallion-only warranty, Ultra Plan, that bundled scheduled maintenance.

Recalls and complaints

Owner complaint numbers come from NHTSA's file as downloaded October 10, 2026. Vehicle totals belong to each full campaign.

YearOwner complaintsComponents namedCampaigns
19884Visibility 2, exterior lighting 1, engine and cooling 12
19898Electrical 2, service brakes 2, seat belts 12

One 1988 report mentions a fire. With a dozen reports, no year stands apart.

88V087000 (240,000 vehicles in the campaign): an overheating engine could build cooling pressure beyond what some parts tolerate, since the cap vented too little. Dealers fitted a better cap. The Eagle Premier carries the same campaign number, so the total is not all Medallions.

97V226000 (32,000 vehicles in the campaign): the heater core end cap could lose strength over time from hot coolant. Dealers fitted a temperature-controlled bypass valve for the heater core.

Fix it or sell it?

Price the repair, then compare it with what a running Medallion brings. Close numbers point to selling it whole. Running hot or leaking coolant inside? Read head gasket or overheating, and search the VIN at NHTSA.

Selling it whole

  1. Note the VIN and mileage, plus sedan or wagon and whether it rolls.
  2. Get an offer online, or call (877) 421-6008.
  3. Tell us where it sits. The truck comes to the car, with free pickup anywhere in the US.
  4. Title plus ID at the curb finishes it. Plates are covered in after you sell.

No title? Read selling with no title. Other Eagles: Premier, Summit, Talon, Vision, or all Eagle models.

Questions people ask

Is the Eagle Medallion a Renault?
In most ways. EPA lists it under Renault Medallion as well as Medallion names, Wikipedia relates it to the Renault 21, and it was built at Maubeuge in France.
What were the Medallion's recalls?
Two, both on 1988-1989 cars. 88V087000 replaced a coolant pressure cap that vented too little when the engine overheated. 97V226000 added a bypass valve because the heater core end cap could weaken with age and heat. Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Will you buy a Medallion that has sat for years?
Yes. We buy whole non-running and junk cars, sedan or wagon, with free pickup anywhere in the US.

Sources

Every fact on this page comes from one of these. Checked October 11, 2026.

  1. EPA fuel economy data: Medallion and Renault Medallion sedan and wagon, 1988-1989 fueleconomy.gov
  2. NHTSA complaints flat file (FLAT_CMPL.zip), downloaded October 10, 2026 nhtsa.gov
  3. NHTSA: Check for recalls by VIN nhtsa.gov
  4. NHTSA recall 88V087000: cooling system pressure cap, 1988-1989 nhtsa.gov
  5. NHTSA recall 97V226000: heater core end cap, 1988-1989 nhtsa.gov
  6. Wikipedia: Eagle Medallion (plant, engine, Renault 21, Ultra Plan) en.wikipedia.org