Total Complaints
82 filings
CHEVROLET CORSICA · model year
1988 CHEVROLET CORSICA
82 NHTSA complaints, 2 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1988CHEVROLETCORSICA carries 82 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 2 crashes, 2 fires, 1 injury, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1988 CORSICA is electrical system:wiring:interior/under dash with 6 filings, followed by latches/locks/linkages:hood:latch (6) and vehicle speed control (5). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.
NHTSA currently has 57 investigation files overlapping the 1988 CORSICA, and 2 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
82
Complaints
2
Crashes
2
Fires
1
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
2 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH | 6 |
| LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH | 6 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 5 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 5 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION | 4 |
| LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH | 3 |
| VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD | 3 |
| VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE | 2 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL:SWITCH | 2 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY | 2 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM | 2 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 2 |
| SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER | 2 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS | 2 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE | 2 |
Recent Complaints
20010403EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
IN 8/98 WE BEGAN TO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE A/C. WE HAVE SPENT ALMOST $2000, IN REPAIRS AND IT IS STILL NOT WORKING. WE ARE NOW BEING TOLD IT IS THE COMPRESSOR, EVEN THOUGH WE HAD IT REPLACED IN 8/98, ALONG WITH THE ACCUMULATOR. WE HAVE HAD FAN MOTORS AND FAN BLADES REPLACED. ALSO WE HAD THE EVAPORATOR CLEANED AND SERVICED. WE NO CANNOT AFFORD TO PURCHASE A NEW VEHICLE AT THIS TIME. WE JUST SOMEONE TO HELP US WITH OUR PROBLEM. WE LIVE IN FLORIDA AND REALLY NEED THE A/C WHEN IT IS 98DEGREES OUTSIDE!*AK
20010305LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
LOCK PROBLEMS WOULD NOT UNLOCK WITH OR WITHOUT A KEY AND PAINT PROBLEMS ON THE HOOD. *AK
20000724SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
SEAT BELTS FAILED. NLM
20000724LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH
HOOD LATCH AND DOOR LATCHES FAILED. NLM
20000724LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
HOOD LATCH AND DOOR LATCHES FAILED. NLM
20000724VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
SIDE WINDOWS FAULTY. NLM
20000724EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL:SWITCH
BLINKER SWITCH FAILED. NLM
20000724ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
IGNITION FAILED. NLM
20000724VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
CRUISE CONTROL FAILED. NLM
20000322LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH
HOOD LATCH FAILED WHILE DRIVING CAUSING DAMAGE TO ROOF AND WINDSHIELD WHEN HOOD OPENED. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT). MJS
19990920VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
WHEN IT RAINS THE VEHICLE IS FLOODED ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE ONLY. WATER IS COMING IN FROM THE WINDSHIELD, BUT THE DEALER CAN'T FIND OUT THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK
19990616SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
MECHANISM THAT RETRACTS AND LOCKS THE SEATBELTS IN PLACE, DOES NOT FUNCTION FOR FRONT DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDES SEATBELTS. *AK
19990427CrashVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
COMING OUT OF PARKING LOT THE GAS PEDAL GOT STUCK, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SUDDENLY ACCELERATE, RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT. *AK
19990217ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
VEHICLE STALLS AT IDLE AND ON DECELERATION.
19990113SEATS
BRACKET HOLDING THE FRONT OF DRIVER'S SEAT BROKE.
19990113UNKNOWN OR OTHER
UNSPECIFIED.
19981119STEERING:RACK AND PINION
LEFT BRACKET BROKE AWAY FROM THE BOTTOM MOUNTING BOLT, TO THE MOUNTING BRACKET FOR THE POWER STEERING RACK AND PINION.
19981118STEERING:RACK AND PINION
LEFT BRACKET BROKE AWAY FROM THE BOTTOM MOUNTING BOLT, TO THE MOUNTING BRACKET FOR THE POWER STEERING RACK AND PINION.
19980917ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
IGNITION MODULE FAILED TWICE, CAUSING VEHICLE TO SHUT DOWN IN TRAFFIC. (QCAW)
19980828STRUCTURE:BODY
PAINT ON BODY AND TOP OF VEHICLE APPEARS TO BE OXIDIZING. WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR 1990 AND EARLIER MODELS.
Compare 1988CHEVROLETCORSICA to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations 2 Open
EA25007Engineering AnalysisOpen
Loss of motive power due to engine failure
PE23022Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Loss of Motive Power due to the Battery Energy Control Module
PE20016Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Electric Vehicle Battery Fires
EA20002Engineering AnalysisClosed
Outboard Front Seat Belt Anchor Cable Failure
PE20011Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Fuel Line Leak
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1988 CHEVROLET CORSICA have?▼
The 1988 CHEVROLET CORSICA has 82 NHTSA complaints, 2 crashes, 2 fires, 1 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1988 CHEVROLET CORSICA?▼
The most-complained component for the 1988 CHEVROLET CORSICA is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH with 6 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH and VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL.
Is the 1988 CHEVROLET CORSICA safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Vehicle Safety Guides
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.