Total Complaints
86 filings
CHEVROLET CORSICA · model year
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.
Total Complaints
86 filings
Crashes Reported
6 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH | 9 |
| SEATS | 7 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR | 6 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 5 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY | 4 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 4 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION | 4 |
| SEAT BELTS | 3 |
| STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR | 2 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL:SWITCH | 2 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING | 2 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT | 2 |
| AIR BAGS:FRONTAL | 2 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE | 2 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:INJECTORS | 2 |
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
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
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
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
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
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
STEERING UNIT DISLOCATED FROM FIREWALL (WAS BOLTED)
STEERING UNIT DISLOCATED FROM FIREWALL (WAS BOLTED)
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
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
THE ENGINE HEAD GASKETS WERE LEAKING WATER (COOLANT) WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE APPROXIMATELY AT 45MPH. TOOK TO DEALER & THE MECHANIC REPAIRED THE HEAD GASKETS. *AK
CRUISE CONTROL FAILED. MJS
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.
SEAT BELTS IN THE FRONT SEAT DO NOT WORK, AND THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT IS TOTALY BROKEN. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
VEHICLES HOOD STRUCK WINDSHIELD AND ROOF WHILE DRIVING, CONSUMER STATED HOOD RELEASE DID NOT OPEN HOOD AT EARLIER DATE. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT)
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
A PLASTIC GLUED PIECE CAME OFF BOTH FRONT SEAT BELTS/THEY COME APART NOW.
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.
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.
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.
Loss of motive power due to engine failure
Loss of Motive Power due to the Battery Energy Control Module
Electric Vehicle Battery Fires
Outboard Front Seat Belt Anchor Cable Failure
Fuel Line Leak
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.