The defect
COOLING SYSTEM PRESSURES DURING OVERHEATED ENGINE OPERATION MAY EXCEED THE STRENGTH CAPABILITY OF CERTAIN COMPONENTS DUE TO INADEQUATE VENTING CAPACITY OF THE SYSTEM PRESSURE CAP.
The risk
THE BUILDUP OF PRESSURE MAY CAUSE HEATER CORE TO RUPTUREAND DISCHARGE HOT COOLANT AND STEAM IN THE PROXIMITY OF THE DRIVERS LEGS.
The remedy
REPLACE ALL COOLANT SYSTEM PRESSURE CAPS WITH ONE HAVING ADEQUATE VENTING CAPACITY.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Eagle Medallion | 1988, 1989 |
| Eagle Premier | 1988 |
| Renault Alliance | 1985, 1986, 1987 |
| Renault Encore | 1985, 1986, 1987 |
Components: VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE
Model years in this recall
NHTSA complaints and the number of recall campaigns for each model year this recall covers.
| Model | Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eagle Medallion | 1988 | 4 | 2 |
| Eagle Medallion | 1989 | 8 | 2 |
| Eagle Premier | 1988 | 54 | 7 |
| Renault Alliance | 1985 | 10 | 3 |
| Renault Alliance | 1986 | 12 | 2 |
| Renault Alliance | 1987 | 6 | 2 |
| Renault Encore | 1985 | 2 | 3 |
| Renault Encore | 1986 | 1 | 2 |
| Renault Encore | 1987 | 0 | 2 |
Other visibility recalls in 1988
7 of the 197 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 1988 concerned the visibility; CHRYSLER CORPORATION filed 640 campaigns in all.
| 88V180000 18 Nov 1988 | AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO. |
| 88V155000 29 Sept 1988 | CHRYSLER CORPORATION |
| 88V146000 2 Sept 1988 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY |
| 88V121000 25 Jul 1988 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. |
| 88V047000 1 Apr 1988 | PACCAR, INCORPORATED |
| 88V026000 7 Mar 1988 | WAYNE CORPORATION |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 1988