I HAVE BEEN TO THE HERITAGE VW/SUBARU DEALER IN OWINGS MILLS, MD TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM 3 TIMES AND HAD TO PAY FOR VARIOUS SERVICES.
1990 Volkswagen Corrado
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Corrado 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: 4 of 39 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 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Visibility. Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Seat Belts. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
39 reportsPASSENGER'S SIDE SHOULDER BELT DOESN'T WORK DUE A SHORTAGE IN MOTORIZED SHOULDER BELT. *AK
POOR DESIGN OF REAR PANEL HOLDS LICENSE PLATE AS WELL,FALLS OFF WHILE DRIVING, LEAVING YOU WITHOUT A LICENSE PLATE IN THE REAR. I WORKED IN A VW DEALER AND THIS WAS A COMMON COMPLAINT ON CORRADO'S AND GOLFS.THE CORRADO OWNERS CLUB OF N.A. ALSO HAS NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON RECORD FOR THIS COMMON DEFECT,AND A SAFETY ISSUE,AS IT LEAV…
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POOR DESIGN OF REAR PANEL HOLDS LICENSE PLATE AS WELL,FALLS OFF WHILE DRIVING, LEAVING YOU WITHOUT A LICENSE PLATE IN THE REAR. I WORKED IN A VW DEALER AND THIS WAS A COMMON COMPLAINT ON CORRADO'S AND GOLFS.THE CORRADO OWNERS CLUB OF N.A. ALSO HAS NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON RECORD FOR THIS COMMON DEFECT,AND A SAFETY ISSUE,AS IT LEAVES VEHICLE WITHOUT A REAR LICENSE PLATE NOT TO MENTION POSSIBLE DAMAGES/ACCIDENTS TO ANYONE FOLLOWING THAT CAN BE STRUCK BY LICENSE PLATE AND PANEL FALLING OFF AT SPEED! *AK
G60 ALUMINUM HOUSING WHERE REAR BRAKE OUTLET LINE FROM ABS UNIT LEAKS HAD TO REPLACE ENTIRE ABS UNIT
HAD RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE 96V115000. HAD NOTIFIED THE DEALER. WAS INFORMED NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE TO REPAIR COOLING SYSTEM. CALLED THE MANUFACTURER & INFORMED PARTS WOULD BE AVAILABLE IN SEPT. 98. SAID VEHICLE DRIVABLE.. IT HAD OVERHEATED IN TRAFFIC. DEALER STILL HAS NO PARTS. *AK
STARTER WOULD NOT ENGAGE RESULTING IN TRYING TO START CAR THREE TIME AND IT STILL WOULD NOT START, IGNITION SWITCH FAILED ALSO.
HEATER CORE FAILED.
RADIATOR FAN MOTOR IS WORN AND HAS BECOME NOISY AND SEIZING.
FACTORY INSTALLED SUN ROOF WOULD NOT RETRACT. *AK
GEAR SYNCHRO FAILS CAUSING SECOND GEAR FAILURE.
Official recalls
396V115000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:cooling System
Jul 1, 1996
IN THE EVENT THE ENGINE OVERHEATS AND THE VEHICLE IS OPERATED CONTINUOUSLY IN THAT CONDITION, THE COOLANT PRESSURE WILL RISE TO A LEVEL AT WHICH THE HEAT EXCHANGER COULD LEAK.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A LEAKING HEAT EXCHANGER WILL ALLOW HOT COOLANT TO ESCAPE CAUSING INJURY TO THE DRIVER'S FEET OR COULD STEAM UP THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE TEMPORARILY IMPAIRING THE DRIVER'S VISIBILITY, INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE HEAT EXCHANGER ON THESE VEHICLES.
92V058000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings
Apr 14, 1992
THE FUEL HOSE ATTACHED TO THE FUEL DISTRIBUTION RAIL ON THE ENGINE MAY SHRINK BEYOND THE CLAMP FORCE OF THE FUEL HOSE CLAMPS, ALLOWING FUEL TO LEAK.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT CAN CAUSE AN UNDERHOOD FIRE IF THE FUEL COMES IN CONTACT WITH A SOURCE OF IGNITION.
Remedy: REPLACE THE FUEL HOSE ATTACHED TO THE FUEL RAIL AND INSTALL A NEW SPRING TYPE SELF-TIGHTENING CLAMP.
91V068000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:fuel Pump
Apr 22, 1991
THE FUEL FILTER HOUSING, WHICH SERVES AS THE BASE FOR THE FUEL PUMP (LOCATED IN THE FUEL TANK) COULD DEFORM, RESULTING IN THE FUEL PUMP BECOMING LOOSE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A LOOSE AND IMPROPERLY SEATED FUEL PUMP CAN CAUSEREDUCED FUEL FLOW TO THE ENGINE RESULTING IN POSSIBLE DRIVABILITY PROBLEMS ANDSTALLING OF THE VEHICLE.
Remedy: REPLACE FUEL FILTER.
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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