Eagle Medallion: problems, complaints, bulletins

Summary for the Eagle Medallion across 2 model years: 12 owner complaints and 0 NHTSA service bulletins, plus repair videos. Pick a year for details.

Model years

Year	Owner complaints	involving a crash	Technical service bulletins (TSB)	YouTube repair videos
1989	8	0	0	0
1988	4	0	0	0

What fails most often

1 Engine and cooling 25% of all complaints
2 Electrical system 17% of all complaints
3 Service brakes 17% of all complaints
4 Visibility 17% of all complaints
5 Equipment 8% of all complaints
6 Exterior lighting 8% of all complaints
7 Powertrain 8% of all complaints
8 Seat belts 8% of all complaints

Circle size and colour show each component’s share of NHTSA complaints. Schematic only, not a drawing of the exact model.

Engine and cooling: 3 complaints (25% of all).
Electrical system: 2 complaints (17% of all).
Service brakes: 2 complaints (17% of all).
Visibility: 2 complaints (17% of all).
Equipment: 1 complaints (8% of all).

Engines and transmissions

US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.

2.2 L · petrol · 4 cyl 1989
automatic, 3-speed 1989
manual, 5-speed 1989

Drive: FWD

Symptoms owners describe

How many of the 12 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).

A/C or heater2 · 17%
stalls while driving1 · 8%
smoke, burning smell, fire1 · 8%
seat belts1 · 8%
rust, corrosion1 · 8%
overheating, coolant loss1 · 8%
headlights and tail lights1 · 8%
brake failure1 · 8%

Components owners complain about

Component	Owner complaints	involving a crash	Technical service bulletins (TSB)
Engine and cooling	3	0	0
Electrical system	2	0	0
Service brakes	2	0	0
Visibility	2	0	0
Equipment	1	0	0
Exterior lighting	1	0	0
Powertrain	1	0	0
Seat belts	1	0	0
Wheels	1	0	0

What owners report

Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.

Consumer states vehicle constantly stalls while driving. Dlr has replaced transmission 5 times.
Engine and cooling · 1989 · 2002-09-26 · NHTSA complaint #8019612
Consumer states vehicle suffers excessive brake failure.
Service brakes · 1989 · 2002-09-26 · NHTSA complaint #8019615
The brake fluid rusted the rear brake cylinders and the brake lines.
Service brakes · 1989 · 1999-03-23 · NHTSA complaint #833591
Vehicle engine overheated on occasion, possible failure resulted in vehicle fire.
Engine and cooling · 1988 · 1999-02-24 · NHTSA complaint #535279
Vehicle was lifted for repair, leaving wheels free to hang loose, resulting in damage to struts, also pulled anchoring bracket off fender.
Wheels · 1989 · 1997-03-25 · NHTSA complaint #514283
Electrical short when driving, causing the head lights to go off on the vehicle, (all lights in the vehicle).
Exterior lighting · 1988 · 1996-08-28 · NHTSA complaint #987158

When owners complained

NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.

19952
19962
19971
19981
19994
20022

What to check before buying

Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
Visibility. Wipers, mirrors, defrosters, cracked glass.

Other models of this make

Read also

Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.