CHEVROLET CORSICA · model year

1990 CHEVROLET CORSICA

86 NHTSA complaints, 6 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1990CHEVROLETCORSICA carries 86 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 6 crashes, 4 fires, 6 injuries, 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 1990 CORSICA is electrical system:wiring:interior/under dash with 9 filings, followed by seats (7) and seat belts:front:retractor (6). 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 1990 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.

86
Complaints
6
Crashes
4
Fires
6
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

86 filings

Crashes Reported

6 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH9
SEATS7
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR6
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE5
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY4
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE4
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION4
SEAT BELTS3
STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR2
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL:SWITCH2
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING2
SEAT BELTS:FRONT2
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL2
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE2
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:INJECTORS2

Recent Complaints

20080109TIRES:VALVE

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1990 CHEVROLET CORSICA. THE VEHICLE HAS KELLY EXPLORER A/S (NA), SIZE P195/75/14 TIRES. ALL OF THE TIRES FLATTENED AND WERE REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VALVE STEMS WERE FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED ON THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDES. THE VALVES WERE REPLACED; HOWEVER, THE TIRES CONTINUED TO FLATTEN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 131,195 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 129,589.

Mileage: 129,589

20010828VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR

AFTER THE WINDSHIELD WIPER SWITCH HAS BEEN TURNED TO THE OFF POSITION THE WIPER'S CONTINUE TO SWIPE FOR ABOUT 14-22 TIMES BEFORE STOPPING, THE SWITCH WAS REPLACED BUT THE PROBLEM STILL OCCURED. NLM

20010828ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

THE ENGINE STALLS WHILE DRIVING AND JERKS, THIS PROBLEM OCCURS WHEN HITTING BUMPS AND CRACKS IN THE ROAD, THE DEALER HAS MADE SOME REPAIRS BUT THEY HAVE NOT CORRECTED THE PROBLEM, THIS STALLING PROBLEM OCCURS LESS WITH THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION, THE KEY CAN BE REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION WITH THE VEHICLE IN MOTION. NLM

20010828ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

THE ENGINE STALLS WHILE DRIVING AND JERKS, THIS PROBLEM OCCURS WHEN HITTING BUMPS AND CRACKS IN THE ROAD, THE DEALER HAS MADE SOME REPAIRS BUT THEY HAVE NOT CORRECTED THE PROBLEM, THIS STALLING PROBLEM OCCURS LESS WITH THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION, THE KEY CAN BE REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION WITH THE VEHICLE IN MOTION. NLM

20010828ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

THE ENGINE STALLS WHILE DRIVING AND JERKS, THIS PROBLEM OCCURS WHEN HITTING BUMPS AND CRACKS IN THE ROAD, THE DEALER HAS MADE SOME REPAIRS BUT THEY HAVE NOT CORRECTED THE PROBLEM, THIS STALLING PROBLEM OCCURS LESS WITH THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION, THE KEY CAN BE REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION WITH THE VEHICLE IN MOTION. NLM

20010828ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

THE ENGINE STALLS WHILE DRIVING AND JERKS, THIS PROBLEM OCCURS WHEN HITTING BUMPS AND CRACKS IN THE ROAD, THE DEALER HAS MADE SOME REPAIRS BUT THEY HAVE NOT CORRECTED THE PROBLEM, THIS STALLING PROBLEM OCCURS LESS WITH THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION, THE KEY CAN BE REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION WITH THE VEHICLE IN MOTION. NLM

20000725STEERING:RACK AND PINION

STEERING UNIT DISLOCATED FROM FIREWALL (WAS BOLTED)

20000725POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT

STEERING UNIT DISLOCATED FROM FIREWALL (WAS BOLTED)

19991109CrashSEAT BELTS

WHILE AT A STOP VEHICLE WAS HIT FROM BEHIND, BY A STANDARD 83 CHEVROLET TRUCK PICKUP(3/4 TON). DRIVER'S AND THE PASSENGER'S SEAT CAME OFF THE TRACK. ALSO, THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT DID NOT RETRAIN THE DRIVER, AND DRIVER'S HEAD HIT THE WINDSHIELD. THE VEHICLE WILL BE TOTALLED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

19991109CrashSEATS

WHILE AT A STOP VEHICLE WAS HIT FROM BEHIND, BY A STANDARD 83 CHEVROLET TRUCK PICKUP(3/4 TON). DRIVER'S AND THE PASSENGER'S SEAT CAME OFF THE TRACK. ALSO, THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT DID NOT RETRAIN THE DRIVER, AND DRIVER'S HEAD HIT THE WINDSHIELD. THE VEHICLE WILL BE TOTALLED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

19990827ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

THE ENGINE HEAD GASKETS WERE LEAKING WATER (COOLANT) WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE APPROXIMATELY AT 45MPH. TOOK TO DEALER & THE MECHANIC REPAIRED THE HEAD GASKETS. *AK

19990823VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

CRUISE CONTROL FAILED. MJS

19990510ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD

WIRING COVER MELTED/ DEALER SAID I TOOK IT OFF TO AVOID REPLACING IT. THEY WANTED 2,400.00 DOLLARS TO REPLACE IT. IT MELTED I DID NOT REMOVE IT.

19990421SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE

SEAT BELTS IN THE FRONT SEAT DO NOT WORK, AND THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT IS TOTALY BROKEN. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

19990405STRUCTURE:BODY:HOOD

VEHICLES HOOD STRUCK WINDSHIELD AND ROOF WHILE DRIVING, CONSUMER STATED HOOD RELEASE DID NOT OPEN HOOD AT EARLIER DATE. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT)

19990217FireFUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:INJECTORS

WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED THE FUEL INJECTORS CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN DRIVEN AND PARKED FOR 5 MINUTES WHEN THE FIRE STARTED. VEHICLE IS BEING LOOKED AT BY THE DEALERSHIP. *AK

19990216SEAT BELTS:FRONT

A PLASTIC GLUED PIECE CAME OFF BOTH FRONT SEAT BELTS/THEY COME APART NOW.

19990112ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH

SMOKE FROM STEERING COLUMN FIRST NOTED ON 5/95 - REPAIRED AND NOW IT IS HAPPENING AGAIN (SECOND TIME). ON 1/6/99 NOTICE SMOKE AFTER CAR WAS STARTED. CONTACTED DEALERSHIP THAT REPAIRED VEHICLE THE FIRST TIME TO SEE IF MAYBE THERE WERE ANY RECALLS FOR DEFECTED EQUIPMENT. THEY STATED THERE WERE NONE. ALSO, I WAS TOLD THAT SINCE THE 12,000/12 MOS. WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED THAT IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY NOW. AS STATED EARLIER THIS IS THE SECOND TIME IN LESS THAN FOUR YEARS THAT I HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM. I ALSO NOTICED ON THE WEB THAT OTHERS HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THIS MAKE AND YEAR.

19981203SUSPENSION:FRONT

1. ENGINE WAS REBUILT 1995 OR '96. VEHICLE WILL NOT IDLE PROPERLY IN DRIVE DESPITE REPEATED TUNE-UPS/REPAIRS. NON-ADJUSTABLE IDLE SPEED. 2. VEHICLE CONTINUES TO DRIFT TO THE RIGHT AT HIGHWAY SPEED DESPITE NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS AT ALIGNMENT AND FRAME ADJUSTMENT. NON-ADJUSTABLE CASTOR. 3. PARTS THAT COMPRISE HANDBRAKE UNIT ARE SO CHEAP THEY BREAK EASILY; HANDBRAKE TOO WEAK TO HOLD VEHICLE ON GRADE.

19981203ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

1. ENGINE WAS REBUILT 1995 OR '96. VEHICLE WILL NOT IDLE PROPERLY IN DRIVE DESPITE REPEATED TUNE-UPS/REPAIRS. NON-ADJUSTABLE IDLE SPEED. 2. VEHICLE CONTINUES TO DRIFT TO THE RIGHT AT HIGHWAY SPEED DESPITE NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS AT ALIGNMENT AND FRAME ADJUSTMENT. NON-ADJUSTABLE CASTOR. 3. PARTS THAT COMPRISE HANDBRAKE UNIT ARE SO CHEAP THEY BREAK EASILY; HANDBRAKE TOO WEAK TO HOLD VEHICLE ON GRADE.

Compare 1990CHEVROLETCORSICA to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 2 Open

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1990 CHEVROLET CORSICA have?
The 1990 CHEVROLET CORSICA has 86 NHTSA complaints, 6 crashes, 4 fires, 6 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1990 CHEVROLET CORSICA?
The most-complained component for the 1990 CHEVROLET CORSICA is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH with 9 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SEATS and SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR.
Is the 1990 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.