IllustrationHEATER CORE EXPLODED IN STEAM, COMPONENT RECALLED BUT CONSUMER NOT NOTIFIED.
1993 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: 5 of 48 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 23 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Visibility. Review the 20 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
0 crash reports3 fire reports2 injury reports
Visibility complaints
20 reportsTHERE HAVE BEEN A SEVERAL SMALL DEFECTS, BUT THE LAST TWO WERE MAJOR. THEY WERE THE FAILURE OF THE IGNITION CONTROL MODULE IN OCT 1998 ($1,440), AND THE HEATER CORE RUPTURED IN JAN 1999 ($440). THE COOLING SYSTEM STILL SEEMS NOT TO BE OPERATING CORRECTLY BECAUSE IT OPERATES BETWEEN 215 AND 230 DEG F IN 25 TO 35 DEG F AMBIENT T…
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THERE HAVE BEEN A SEVERAL SMALL DEFECTS, BUT THE LAST TWO WERE MAJOR. THEY WERE THE FAILURE OF THE IGNITION CONTROL MODULE IN OCT 1998 ($1,440), AND THE HEATER CORE RUPTURED IN JAN 1999 ($440). THE COOLING SYSTEM STILL SEEMS NOT TO BE OPERATING CORRECTLY BECAUSE IT OPERATES BETWEEN 215 AND 230 DEG F IN 25 TO 35 DEG F AMBIENT TEMPERATURES. ALSO, THERE IS STILL A SMALL LEAK IN THE COOLING SYSTEM NEAR THE TOP DRIVERS SIDE OF THE RADIATOR WHICH HAS NOT BEEN LOCATED PRECISELY YET. IN SPITE OF THESE NIGGLING PROBLEMS, I STILL GREATLY ENJOY DRIVING MY CORRADO AND WOULD LIKE TO KEEP IT FOR ANOTHER 5 YEARS. *AK
THIS SERVES AS NOTIFICATION OF AN INCIDENT WHICH I WAS URGED TO REPORT TO THE NHTSA VIA THE CORRADO CLUB OF AMERICA. THE OFFICIAL NHTSA INVESTIGATION NUMBER IS EA98-012. THE INCIDENT WAS NOT REPORTED TO VW OF AMERICA BY MYSELF, BUT PERHAPS BY THE DEALER WHO PERFORMED THE REPAIRS; VW OF SANTA MONICA WHOSE SERVICE WAS EXCELLENT. I…
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THIS SERVES AS NOTIFICATION OF AN INCIDENT WHICH I WAS URGED TO REPORT TO THE NHTSA VIA THE CORRADO CLUB OF AMERICA. THE OFFICIAL NHTSA INVESTIGATION NUMBER IS EA98-012. THE INCIDENT WAS NOT REPORTED TO VW OF AMERICA BY MYSELF, BUT PERHAPS BY THE DEALER WHO PERFORMED THE REPAIRS; VW OF SANTA MONICA WHOSE SERVICE WAS EXCELLENT. I WAS NOT CHARGED FOR MAIN PARTS OR LABOR, ONLY MINOR ITEMS SUCH AS GASKETS AND COOLANT. I ONLY HOPE THAT THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN AGAIN AND THAT THE REPLACEMENT PART WAS BETTER THAN THE ORIGINAL AS THIS OCCURED AT A MOST INCONVENIENT TIME.
HEATER CORE FAILED, CAUSING HOT COOLANT TO POUR ONTO FLOOR, WINDOWS BECAME STEAMED UP, AND DRIVER COULDN'T SEE OUT OF WINDOW.
HOSE TO HEATER CORE BURSTED, RELEASING STEAM INTO VEHICLE CABIN, FILLING CABIN WITH STEAM AND FOGGING UP WINDOWS, SERIOUSLY COMPROMISING VISIBILITY, COMPROMISING VISIBILITY.
VW STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER A HEATER CORE RECALL, ALTHOUGH THE HEATER CORE RUPTURED, DUMPED ANTI-FREEZE IN THE INTERIOR FOOTWELLS.
HEATER CORE MALFUNCTIONED.
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE THE HEATER CORE BLEW UP, WHICH CAUSED WINDOWS TO STEAM UP AND SPRAYED HOT ENGINE COOLANT OVER THE FLOOR AND DRIVER'S FEET. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO AVOID A CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO OWNER'S HOME. *AK
HEATER CORE FAILED CAUSING COOLANT TO LEAK ONTO CONSUMER, CAUSING LOSS OF VISIBILITY/LOSS OF CONTROL/ACCIDENT.
HEATER CORE LEAKED ANTI-FREEZE COOLANT AND STEAM THROUGHT VEHICLE'S DUCTWORK. IN ADDITION, PLASTIC HOUSING TO WHICH THE THERMOSTAT ATTACHES WARPED AND WAS LEAKING, AND RADIATOR FAN MOTOR WAS REPLACED WHEN IT STARTED SQUEALING AND SEIZED. *AK
Official recalls
398V295000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:cooling System
Nov 13, 1998
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH VR6 ENGINES. A COOLANT SYSTEM COMPONENT SUCH AS THE THERMO SWITCH, RADIATOR FAN, OR WATER PUMP, CAN MALFUNCTION CAUSING THE COOLANT TEMPERATURE AND COOLANT SYSTEM PRESSURE TO INCREASE SIGNIFICANTLY. OVER TIME, EXCESSIVE PRESSURE CAN CAUSE LEAKAGE OF COOLANT FROMTHE SYSTEM, INCLUDING LEAKAGE FROM THE HEAT EXCHANGER.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: LEAKAGE OF HOT COOLANT FROM THE HEAT EXCHANGER CAN CAUSE INJURY TO THE FEET OF THE DRIVER OR STEAM UP THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE TEMPORARILY IMPAIRING THE DRIVER'S VISION.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL IN THE COOLANT INLET HOSE TO THE HEATER CORE, A PRESSURE REDUCER WITH A 5MM DIAMETER SECURED BY A SPRING TENSIONED HOSE CLAMP. ALSO A NEW RELAY THAT WILL CHANGE THE OPERATION OF THE SECONDARY ELECTRICAL COOLANT PUMP WILL BE INSTALLED. DEALERS WILL ALSO PERFORM A FUNCTIONAL CHECK OF THE COOLING SYSTEM TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL COOLING SYSTEM COMPONENTS OPERATE PROPERLY.
95V178000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:cooling System:fan
Sep 20, 1995
IMPROPER MATERIAL WAS USED IN MANUFACTURING THE RADIATOR FAN MOTOR SHAFT CAUSING THE SHAFT TO WEAR AND BECOME NOISY.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A WORN AND NOISY FAN MOTOR SHAFT CAN SEIZE RENDERINGTHE FAN MOTOR INOPERATIVE, EVENTUALLY CAUSING THE ENGINE TO OVERHEAT AND STALL. A STALLED VEHICLE IN TRAFFIC CAN INCREASE THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE COMPLETE COOLING FAN ASSEMBLY ON VEHICLE HAVING THE POTENTIAL SHAFT MATERIAL PROBLEM. DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW FAN BLADE INCLUDING A NEW LOCK NUT ON VEHICLE WITH LOOSE FAN BLADE LOCK NUTS.
93V102000 · Electrical System:wiring:front Underhood
Jun 14, 1993
AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT ELECTRICAL WIRING HARNESS MAY HAVE BEEN ROUTED TOO CLOSE TO A SHEET METAL EDGE. THE WIRING CAN BECOME DAMAGED DURING NORMAL VEHICLE OPERATION DUE TO CHAFING, RESULTING IN AN ELECTRICAL SHORT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF A SHORT OCCURS, EITHER THE ENGINE COULD STALL ORTHE RADIATOR FAN COULD STOP OPERATING CAUSING THE ENGINE TO OVERHEAT. EITHERCONDITION COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
Remedy: REROUTE AND SECURE VARIOUS WIRING HARNESSES INSIDE THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT.
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.