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
What owners actually said
48 reports
Mileage unknown · Dec 29, 1998
Visibility
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.
NHTSA ODI #701679
Mileage unknown · Dec 21, 1998
Engine And Engine CoolingFire
FAN MOTOR DEFECTIVE CAUSING WIRING TO OVERHEAT AND CATCH FIRE WHEN MOTOR SHORTED OUT.
NHTSA ODI #543083
Mileage unknown · Nov 17, 1998
Seat Belts
ALTHOUGH THE DEALER KNOWS OF THE PROBLEM, THEY HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO DUPLICATE IT SINCE IT IS INTERMITTENT. REPAIR HAS BEEN ATTEMPTED BY THE DEALER WITH NO IMPROVEMENT. VWOA HAS BEEN CONTACTED AND THEIR POSITION IS THE CAR MEETS FACTORY SPECIFICATIONS' SINCE THE DEALER CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. TO SAY THAT THE DEALER CANNOT …
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ALTHOUGH THE DEALER KNOWS OF THE PROBLEM, THEY HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO DUPLICATE IT SINCE IT IS INTERMITTENT. REPAIR HAS BEEN ATTEMPTED BY THE DEALER WITH NO IMPROVEMENT. VWOA HAS BEEN CONTACTED AND THEIR POSITION IS THE CAR MEETS FACTORY SPECIFICATIONS' SINCE THE DEALER CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. TO SAY THAT THE DEALER CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM IS NOT THE SAME AS 'MEETING FACTORY SPECIFICATIONS. I HAVE ASKED VWOA TO CONSIDER REPLACING THE MOTORIZED BELT, WHICH HAS HAD MANY PROBLEMS BASED ON REPORTS PROVIDED TO CAR ENTHUSIAST LISTS, WITH THE CANADIAN STYLE 3 POINT SYSTEM AND ELIMINATE THE PROBLEMATIC MOTORIZED SYSTEM. THEIR RESPONSE HAS BEEN TO SAY THAT THERE IS NO PROBLEM. ANY AND ALL HELP WOULD BE APPRECIATED. THANK YOU...
NHTSA ODI #700679
Mileage unknown · Oct 12, 1998
Visibility
HEATER CORE FAILED, CAUSING HOT COOLANT TO POUR ONTO FLOOR, WINDOWS BECAME STEAMED UP, AND DRIVER COULDN'T SEE OUT OF WINDOW.
NHTSA ODI #781160
Mileage unknown · Oct 1, 1998
Visibility
HOSE TO HEATER CORE BURSTED, RELEASING STEAM INTO VEHICLE CABIN, FILLING CABIN WITH STEAM AND FOGGING UP WINDOWS, SERIOUSLY COMPROMISING VISIBILITY, COMPROMISING VISIBILITY.
NHTSA ODI #539596
Mileage unknown · Aug 20, 1998
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.
NHTSA ODI #540159
Mileage unknown · Aug 10, 1998
Visibility
HEATER CORE MALFUNCTIONED.
NHTSA ODI #539642
Mileage unknown · Jul 12, 1998
Engine And Engine Cooling
ENGINE CYLINDER BLOCK CONSUMED OIL AND AN OVERHAUL WAS DONE AT 49000 MILES.
NHTSA ODI #538275
Mileage unknown · Jul 1, 1998
Engine And Engine Cooling
VEHICLE STARTED TO MAKE NOISE FROM THE ENGINE. CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALER. THE ENGINE COOLING FAN WAS GONE BAD. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
NHTSA ODI #824877
Mileage unknown · May 30, 1998
Engine And Engine Cooling
CLYINDER HEAD GASKET FAILURES ON EARLY VOLKSWAGON VR6 ENGINES ARE ALMOST GUARNATEED. FAILURE RESULTS IN OVERHEATED ENGINE.
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.
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.
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
0
No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
1993 Volkswagen Corrado Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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