1988 Eagle Premier Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe heater core and coolant problems, including coolant or steam entering the cabin, foggy windows, and overheating. These reports often describe recall work that was incomplete, waiting on parts, or that did not stop the symptoms. Mileage is not listed in these complaints, and the sample is small, so the pattern is limited.

1. 1
   Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)

   Coolant leaks into cabin, fogging, and overheating

   • 11 complaints (20%)
   • typically at 8.4 yrs old
   • filed 1995–1999

   Owners describe a failed heater core or leaking cooling system that lets hot coolant or steam into the passenger compartment, fogging the windows and reducing visibility. Other reports describe the engine running hot after recall work, including a motor that overheated and stalled, with the air conditioner also reported as not working. According to complaints, dealers bled the system or installed a heater core bypass, and an owner was quoted a repair without being told which part was needed, while the problem continued. No mileage is given in these complaints, and some describe symptoms that continued after recall work.

   Recall 94V006000Recall 88V087000

   What to check: Check the windows for fog and the cabin for a coolant smell, and watch the temperature gauge during a test drive. Ask whether the heater core and cooling system recall work has been completed, and whether the problem returned afterward.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Recall #94v00600 was done, but problem still exist, dealer said it will cost 800.00 to repair the car, do not know what part. Consumer states the heating core of the vehicle heating system has failed and allows the engine cooling sysem steam to enter the passenger compartment, which has caused reduced driving visibility, clouds up from windshield.”

   NHTSA complaint #979654, filed 1996-02

   “Hot coolant is leaking into the passenger's compartment, causing the windows to fog up. A recall has been issued on the vehicle. The recall was discontinued because the parts are no longer available( per the dealership). Manufacturer will be notified. Recall 94v006000.”

   NHTSA complaint #850056, filed 1999-10
2. 2
   Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)

   Recall or repair parts unavailable or incomplete

   Mentioned in 6 of 17 sampled complaints

   Owners describe recall work that was not finished, was dropped because parts were no longer available, or left the problem in place after the work was done. A complaint describes waiting about a year for parts after a recall, with the repair still on backorder at the dealer. Another complaint describes a lap belt connector that would not stay fastened, with the dealer saying the replacement part was discontinued. No mileage is given in these complaints, and some describe a wait for recall parts lasting about a year.

   Recall 94V006000Recall 88V087000

   What to check: Look up the vehicle's recall status with the NHTSA recall lookup, and ask whether each remedy is available and completed. Ask the dealer for written proof that the heater core or cooling system recall work was done, and whether any parts are back ordered.

   An excerpt from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Drivers side lap belt female connector does not stay fastened. Dealer advises part discontinued and not available. Thus, I am forced to violate the law and endanger all drivers of vehicle due to mfr. Decision and lack of foresight. The mfr specifically states that lap belt should be worn in addition to passive restraint (motorized shouldder belt); yet they discontinue part that permits me to wear lap belt. The passive restraint system has twice been recalled and mfr. Has repaired it. …”

   NHTSA complaint #700346, filed 1998-11

Buying note. Someone considering this model year may want to check whether heater core and cooling system recall work has been completed, since parts availability and repeat symptoms are common topics in these complaints. Watch the temperature gauge and check the windows for fog during a test drive.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 17 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.