ENGINE NOISE AT STARTUP..LAST 3-5 MINUTES..SOUNDS LIKE PISTON OR ROD. *AK
1996 Chevrolet Corsica
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1996 Chevrolet Corsica do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 100.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Corsica years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 5 of 110 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 33 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 19 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Structure. Review the 15 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Engine And Engine Cooling complaints
33 reportsEVERY TIME YOU TURN THE TEMPERATURE BUTTON ON TO HOT OR TURN THE HEAT ON YOU CAN SMELL ANTIFREEZE. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR BACK MANY TIMES AND TO BE LOOKED AT AND I KEEP BEING TOLD THAT DEALER CAN NOT SMELL ANYTHING. FINALLY THEY SUPPOSEDLY REPLACED HEATER CORE, WATER PUMP AND INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKETS (TWICE).*AK
MY HUSBAND AND I HAVE TAKEN OUR CAR BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP BACK AND FORTH SINCE 06/19/00. EVERY TIME WE TAKE IT BACK THEN HERE IS A NEW PROBLEM WITH OUR VEHICLE . AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS FIXED IT STILL WAS LEAKING COOLANT AND NOT RETAINING IT. THEY SAID WHEN I PICKED MY VEHICLE UP THEY SAID IT NEEDS A WATER PUMP. NOT ONL…
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MY HUSBAND AND I HAVE TAKEN OUR CAR BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP BACK AND FORTH SINCE 06/19/00. EVERY TIME WE TAKE IT BACK THEN HERE IS A NEW PROBLEM WITH OUR VEHICLE . AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS FIXED IT STILL WAS LEAKING COOLANT AND NOT RETAINING IT. THEY SAID WHEN I PICKED MY VEHICLE UP THEY SAID IT NEEDS A WATER PUMP. NOT ONLY HAVE WE SPENT 1129.86 IN THE MATTER OF 4 WEEKS BUT THEY WANTED AN ADDITIONAL 275 -300 MORE FOR THE WATER PUMP. I FEEL AS THOUGH THAT THE TRUE PROBLEM WAS THE WATER PUMP TO BEGIN WITH BUT THEY DECIDED THAT I'M NOT SMART ABOUT WHAT IS GOING ON WITH CARS. I'D GREATLY APPRECIATE IT IF SOMEONE COULD INVESTIGATE THIS COMPANY OUT AND IF THEIR IS A WAY FOR THEM TO CORRECTLY FIX MY PROBLEMS OR REIMBURSE FOR MY SAME PROBLEM. MY VEHICLE IS STILL MAKING FUNNY NOISES AND STILL LEAKING COOLANT AFTER A 585.88 BILL . WE TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER ON 07/17/00 BUT ITS STILL DOING THE SAME THING . THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION IN THIS MATTER.*AK
VEHICLE WOULD STALL WITHOUT ANY PRIOR WARNING WHILE DRIVING. WOULD NEED TO WAIT APPROXIMATELY 1 HOUR BEFORE IT WOULD RESTART. VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER & MECHANIC PUT A NEW CRANKSHAFT SENSOR. PROBLEM REAPPEARED AGAIN & THIS TIME 2 HOURS WERE NEEDED TO RESTART. BEEN AT DEALERSHIP 2 MONTHS & PROBLEM NOT RESOLVED. IT IS AN INTERMIT…
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VEHICLE WOULD STALL WITHOUT ANY PRIOR WARNING WHILE DRIVING. WOULD NEED TO WAIT APPROXIMATELY 1 HOUR BEFORE IT WOULD RESTART. VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER & MECHANIC PUT A NEW CRANKSHAFT SENSOR. PROBLEM REAPPEARED AGAIN & THIS TIME 2 HOURS WERE NEEDED TO RESTART. BEEN AT DEALERSHIP 2 MONTHS & PROBLEM NOT RESOLVED. IT IS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. *AK
WHILE DRIVING ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. NOTICED A PUDDLE UNDER VEHICLE. WATER WAS COMING OUT OF EXHAUST PIPE & THE MUFFLER. VEHICLE WOULD FAIL TO PICK UP SPEED. ALSO, FLUID WAS LEAKING OUT OF ENGINE. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP & WAS INFORMED HEAD GASKETS WERE GONE. CONSUMER WANTS REFUND FOR PURCHASE OF PARTS. *A…
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WHILE DRIVING ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. NOTICED A PUDDLE UNDER VEHICLE. WATER WAS COMING OUT OF EXHAUST PIPE & THE MUFFLER. VEHICLE WOULD FAIL TO PICK UP SPEED. ALSO, FLUID WAS LEAKING OUT OF ENGINE. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP & WAS INFORMED HEAD GASKETS WERE GONE. CONSUMER WANTS REFUND FOR PURCHASE OF PARTS. *AK *ML
THE COOLANT (GLYCOL+WATER) STARTED SPRAYING FROM A HOLE IN THE RUBBER HOSE (~1/4" DIA) WHICH RETURNS THE COOLANT TO THE TOP OF THE COOLANT TANK. THE GLYCOL THEN PARTLY DISSOLVED THE OUTSIDE OF THE HOSE. I HAD BEEN SMELLING GLYCOL FOR MANY MONTHS. THEN A LOW COOLANT LIGHT CAME UP. I HAD THE HOSE REPLACED AT A MOBIL SERVICE STATI…
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THE COOLANT (GLYCOL+WATER) STARTED SPRAYING FROM A HOLE IN THE RUBBER HOSE (~1/4" DIA) WHICH RETURNS THE COOLANT TO THE TOP OF THE COOLANT TANK. THE GLYCOL THEN PARTLY DISSOLVED THE OUTSIDE OF THE HOSE. I HAD BEEN SMELLING GLYCOL FOR MANY MONTHS. THEN A LOW COOLANT LIGHT CAME UP. I HAD THE HOSE REPLACED AT A MOBIL SERVICE STATION 2 TIMES, THIRD TIME AT A FIRESTONE STATION. AGAIN, YESTERDAY I FOUND ALMOST ALL THE COOLANT GONE, AND HOSE DAMAGED AGAIN. I REPLENISHED THE COOLANT, AND WILL TAKE THE CAR TO THE DEALER SOON. I THINK THAT I KNOW THE CAUSE: DEFECTIVE HOOD AND HOSE LOCATION: THE SPACE IS TOO TIGHT. SOME METAL PART OF THE HOOD COMPRESSES THE HOSE, AND THE HOT GLYCOL SOFTENS THE HOSE. THEN A HOLE DEVELOPES. IT PRESENTS 3 HAZARDS: 1) A FIRE/EXPLOSION CAN OCCUR BECAUSE FINE SPRAY OF GLYCOL CAN BURN. ALSO, THE LEAKING GLYCOL HAS SATURATED THE INSULATION UNDER THE HOOD, AND CAN BURN, 2) EXPOSURE TO CAR OCCUPANTS OF A CARCINOGEN, GLYCOL, 3) THE ENGINE CAN GET TOO HOT, AND CAN BE DAMAGED. I DO NOT KNOW THE EXACT SOLUTION, BUT THINK THAT THE HOSE/TRUNK SPACE HAS TO BE ADJUSTED, AND A MORE COMPATIBLE HOSE MATERIAL HAS TO BE USED. *AK
I HAVE HAD MY VEHICLE FOR 2 YEARS THE FIRST TIME THIS FAILED IT WAS APPROXIMATELY AT 32000 MI. IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY AND IT NOW HAS 58000 MI ON AND HAS FAILED AGAIN WHICH I KNOW IT SHOULD NOT BE DOING THIS FOR THAT FEW MILES ON A VEHICLE. I AM ALSO AWARE THAT GM HAS CHEAPEND THIS MODEL. I HAD A 1990 CORISCA AND HAD NONE OF TH…
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I HAVE HAD MY VEHICLE FOR 2 YEARS THE FIRST TIME THIS FAILED IT WAS APPROXIMATELY AT 32000 MI. IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY AND IT NOW HAS 58000 MI ON AND HAS FAILED AGAIN WHICH I KNOW IT SHOULD NOT BE DOING THIS FOR THAT FEW MILES ON A VEHICLE. I AM ALSO AWARE THAT GM HAS CHEAPEND THIS MODEL. I HAD A 1990 CORISCA AND HAD NONE OF THESE TYPES OF PROBLEMS. THE DEALER WILL NOT SERVICE IT AND WANTS $650.00 IN REPAIR COSTS WHOSE TO SAY THAT WILL RESOLVE IT SINCE IT HAS FAILED 2 TIMES NOW. NO SAFETY DEFECT (S) MENTIONED INSUMMARY. *AK
CAR WILL SHUT DOWN SUDDENLY WHEN DRIVING, WILL NOT RESTART, HAPPENED ON 3 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. HAVE TAKEN CAR TO MECHANICS 5 TIMES AND THEY DO NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO. THEY HAVE REPLACED THE WHOLE COMPUTER, THE EGR VALVE, AND REPLACED A GROUND WIRE TO TRY AND REMEDY MY CARS PROBLEM. ALSO DID NOT START UP ONCE, TRIED FOR 45 MINUTES …
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CAR WILL SHUT DOWN SUDDENLY WHEN DRIVING, WILL NOT RESTART, HAPPENED ON 3 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. HAVE TAKEN CAR TO MECHANICS 5 TIMES AND THEY DO NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO. THEY HAVE REPLACED THE WHOLE COMPUTER, THE EGR VALVE, AND REPLACED A GROUND WIRE TO TRY AND REMEDY MY CARS PROBLEM. ALSO DID NOT START UP ONCE, TRIED FOR 45 MINUTES TO GET TO START AND THEN IT FINALLY STARTED LIKE NOTHING WAS WRONG. ALSO HAS DAY TIME RUNNING LIGHTS AND WHEN LIGHT KNOB IS NOT TURNED ON, LIGHTS WILL JUST COME ON BY THEMSELVES AND THEN SHUT OFF AGAIN BY THEMSELVES USUALLY ABOUT 4 OR 5 TIMES WHEN YOU ARE DRIVING ALONG. *AK
MY CAR INTERMITENTLY DOES NOT START OR QUITS WHILE DRIVING. DEALER SERVICE CANNOT FIND THE PROBLEM AND I AM SENT ON MY WAY FOR IT TO HAPPEN AGAIN. IT FIRST STARTED IN DECEMBER OF 1998, A COMPUTER MODULE WAS CHANGED IN JANUARY OF 1999, BUT THE PROBLEM IS BACK AND AS I SAID, THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT CAN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG. I F…
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MY CAR INTERMITENTLY DOES NOT START OR QUITS WHILE DRIVING. DEALER SERVICE CANNOT FIND THE PROBLEM AND I AM SENT ON MY WAY FOR IT TO HAPPEN AGAIN. IT FIRST STARTED IN DECEMBER OF 1998, A COMPUTER MODULE WAS CHANGED IN JANUARY OF 1999, BUT THE PROBLEM IS BACK AND AS I SAID, THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT CAN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG. I FEEL VERY UNSAFE WHILE DRIVING THIS CAR, AFRAID THAT IT WILL QUIT AND I WILL BE EITHER STRANDED OR INVOLVED IN A POTENTIALLY SERIOUS ACCIDENT.
WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR THERE WAS A SMALL LEAK OF PINK FLUID THINKING IT WAS TRANSMISSION FLUID I TOOK IT TO A GARAGE AND HE PUT A NEW TRASMISSION GASKET ON BUT DIDNOT STOP THE LEAK COME TO FIND OUT THIS WAS ALL COMING FROM THE HEAD GASGET WHICH SHOULD BE GOOD FOR ALOT LONGER THEN 45,000 MILES AND I THINK CHEVROLET SHOULD PA…
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WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR THERE WAS A SMALL LEAK OF PINK FLUID THINKING IT WAS TRANSMISSION FLUID I TOOK IT TO A GARAGE AND HE PUT A NEW TRASMISSION GASKET ON BUT DIDNOT STOP THE LEAK COME TO FIND OUT THIS WAS ALL COMING FROM THE HEAD GASGET WHICH SHOULD BE GOOD FOR ALOT LONGER THEN 45,000 MILES AND I THINK CHEVROLET SHOULD PAY TO REPLACE IT WHICH WILL COST $450.00
Official recalls
0No recalls in this snapshot.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
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