Total Complaints
169 filings
CHEVROLET CORSICA · model year
169 NHTSA complaints, 8 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1996CHEVROLETCORSICA carries 169 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 8 crashes, 0 fires, 8 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 1996 CORSICA is service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip with 15 filings, followed by engine and engine cooling:engine (15) and engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline (10). 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 1996 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
169 filings
Crashes Reported
8 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP | 15 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 15 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 10 |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 10 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR | 7 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 6 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY | 5 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM | 5 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC | 4 |
| SUSPENSION:FRONT | 3 |
| SEATS | 3 |
| VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD | 3 |
| AIR BAGS:FRONTAL | 3 |
| STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS | 3 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 3 |
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 CHEVROLET CORSICA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THERE WAS A FUEL ODOR COMING FROM THE INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON A DAILY BASIS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 CHEVROLET CORSICA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEAD GASKET HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE TO NO AVAIL. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AND WAS TAKEN TO SERWE CHEVROLET. THEY REPLACED THE HEAD GASKET AT THE COST OF $500. LESS THAN TWO YEARS LATER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE HEAD GASKET WAS REPLACED AGAIN AT THE COST OF $577. DURING ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE HEAD GASKET WAS SEPARATING YET AGAIN. THE DEALER RECOMMENDED HAVING IT REPLACED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 140,000.
Mileage: 50,000
OUR 96 CORSICA BEGAN TO LOSE POWER OFF AND ON FOR SEVERAL MONTHS. SOMETIMES IT WOULD STALL. WE HAD THE CAR LOOKED AT AND FOUND AN COOLANT LEAK. COOLANT WAS LEAKING ON THE GROUND AS WELL AS INTO THE HEAD GASKET. THE MECHANIC SAID THAT THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR AND ENGINE. *TR
Mileage: 170,000
1996 CHEVROLET CORSICA LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD DEFECT. CONSUMERS VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE GASKET FAILURE ON THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. WHEN HIS FAILED IT CAUSED ENGINE COOLANT TO GET INTO THE OIL PAN. *KB
I OWN A 1996 CHEVROLET CORSICA. IT LOOKED MUCH OLDER THAT A 1996, BECAUSE THERE WERE MANY SPOTS OF PAINT THATCAME OFF. YOU COULD TELL THAT THE PAINT FAILED. IT MUST NOT HAVE BONDED TO THE CAR BECAUSE THE AREAS WERENOW RUSTING EVEN THOUGH I PUT WAX ON THERE TRYING TO PREVENT THE SPREAD OF THE FAILED PAINT. I DO MANY THINGS TO KEEP THE CAR LOOKING GOOD ,BUT THE PAINT JUST SLOWLY KEPT COMING OFF. I DIDN'T USE CAR WASHES ANYMORE BECAUSE THE PAINT CAME OFF WHEN IT WAS HIT WITH THE PRESSURIZED WATER. I HAVE SEEN MANY OTHER CORSICA CARS AROUND TOWN THAT SEEMED TO HAVE THIS SAME PROBLEM. I DIDN'T KNOW THE EXACT DATE BUT IT STARTED RUSTING MORE RECENTLY. THE PAINT FAILED FROM THE HOOD TO THE TRUNK. THERE WERE 22 LARGE SPOTS THAT WAS DOWN TO METAL OR TURNED TO RUST NOW. *AK
CONSUMER WOULD LIKE INFORMATION FOR RECALLS REGARDING 1996 CHEVROLET CORSICA. *KB *JB
THE PAINT IS PEELING OFF ON MY CAR. THESE SPOTS ARE NOT SMALL, BUT HUGE SPOTS THAT HAVE BUBBLED AND COME OFF FOR NO APPARENT REASON. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL ON THIS SINCE IT APPEARS TO BE A SERIOUS MANUFACTURER DEFEAT. PLEASE CONTACT ME AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. *JB
(1) FOR OVER A YEAR NOW MY ANTI-LOCK BRAKES ON 1998 CHEVROLET CORSICA HAVE FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE IN RAINY WET CONDITIONS. I CANNOT DRIVE THE VEHICLE WHEN RAINY OR WET. THE BRAKES CATCH AND RELEASE REPEATEDLY EVENTUALLY CAUSING THE CAR TO SLIDE (THIS EVEN HAPPENS WHEN DRIVING 10 MPH). AFTER THE FIRST 15 STOPS IT WILL EVENTUALLY BEGIN TO STOP WITHOUT DOING THIS. BUT IN THE CASE OF THE ACCIDENT I HAD BEEN DRIVING FOR 30 MINUTES AND THE CAR FAILED TO STOP. (2) I WAS DRIVING 20 MPH WITH 3-4 CAR LENGTHS BETWEEN MYSELF AND CAR IN FRONT OF ME. THE BRAKES DID NOT STOP IN TIME. I HIT THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. (3) I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE CHEVROLET DEALER ON 3 OCCASSIONS FOR THIS PROBLEM. THEY KEEP TELLING ME THAT THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE BRAKES. THEY SAY THAT THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO DO THAT. IF THAT WERE THE CASE, WE WOULD ALL BE DEAD. THE FIRST 3 YEARS THAT I HAD THE VEHICLE IT DID NOT DO THIS, SO OBVIOUSLY THIS IS NOT WHAT IT IS SUPPOSED TO DO. I EVEN HAD THE DEALE
PAINT PEELING OFF HOOD,LOCAL DEALERSHIP WAS CONTACTED IN 2001 SAID NOTHING COULD BE DONE. THE DEALERSHIP (NEW OWNERS) CONTACTED SAID THE CAR WAS OUTSIDE OF THE "RECALL". CONTACT MADE WITH GM CUSTOMER SERVICE, THEY DO NOT HAVE A RECORD OF ANY PAINT PROBLEMS FOR THE 1996 CORSICA NOR ARE THERE ANY RECALLS ON THAT VEHICLE.
WE HAVE HAD SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR, INCLUDING THE HEATING AND ELECTICAL SYSTEMS(ALTERNATOR, RADIO, ETC.)AND THE TRANSMISSION. THE MAIN ONE AT THIS POINT IS THE PEELING PAINT. THE CAR IS A VERY NICE MEDIUM BLUE, BUT IT LOOKS TERRIBLE DUE TO THE SPOTS OF GRAY WHERE THE PAINT JUST BUBBLED UP AND FLAKED OFF, VERY MUCH LIKE IT GOT A SUNBURN. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER IN OCTOBER 2000 FOR SOME WORK ON THE ALIGNMENT AND ASKED TO HAVE RESEARCHED WHETHER THERE WAS A POLICY ON FIXING THE PAINT, WHICH HAD ALREADY BEGUN PEELING OFF. HE TOLD ME HE WOULD LOOK INTO IT AND TOOK THE VIN NUMBER. ABOUT A WEEK LATER, THE TRANSMISSION BROKE AND I BECAME ABSORBED IN FIXING THAT PROBLEM, SO THE PAINT PROBLEM BECAME SECONDARY. SINCE I NEVER HEARD BACK FROM THAT DEALER, I CONTACTED ANOTHER ONE AND WAS TOLD RIGHT OFF THAT THERE WAS NO POLICY CONCERNING MY CAR, AND SUGGESTED THE PAINT WAS DAMAGED BY RAIN OR BIRD DROPPINGS. THE PROBLEM HAS CONTINUED TO GET WORSE. I HAVE ANOTHER BLUE CHEVY,
WE HAVE HAD SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR, INCLUDING THE HEATING AND ELECTICAL SYSTEMS(ALTERNATOR, RADIO, ETC.)AND THE TRANSMISSION. THE MAIN ONE AT THIS POINT IS THE PEELING PAINT. THE CAR IS A VERY NICE MEDIUM BLUE, BUT IT LOOKS TERRIBLE DUE TO THE SPOTS OF GRAY WHERE THE PAINT JUST BUBBLED UP AND FLAKED OFF, VERY MUCH LIKE IT GOT A SUNBURN. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER IN OCTOBER 2000 FOR SOME WORK ON THE ALIGNMENT AND ASKED TO HAVE RESEARCHED WHETHER THERE WAS A POLICY ON FIXING THE PAINT, WHICH HAD ALREADY BEGUN PEELING OFF. HE TOLD ME HE WOULD LOOK INTO IT AND TOOK THE VIN NUMBER. ABOUT A WEEK LATER, THE TRANSMISSION BROKE AND I BECAME ABSORBED IN FIXING THAT PROBLEM, SO THE PAINT PROBLEM BECAME SECONDARY. SINCE I NEVER HEARD BACK FROM THAT DEALER, I CONTACTED ANOTHER ONE AND WAS TOLD RIGHT OFF THAT THERE WAS NO POLICY CONCERNING MY CAR, AND SUGGESTED THE PAINT WAS DAMAGED BY RAIN OR BIRD DROPPINGS. THE PROBLEM HAS CONTINUED TO GET WORSE. I HAVE ANOTHER BLUE CHEVY,
WE HAVE HAD SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR, INCLUDING THE HEATING AND ELECTICAL SYSTEMS(ALTERNATOR, RADIO, ETC.)AND THE TRANSMISSION. THE MAIN ONE AT THIS POINT IS THE PEELING PAINT. THE CAR IS A VERY NICE MEDIUM BLUE, BUT IT LOOKS TERRIBLE DUE TO THE SPOTS OF GRAY WHERE THE PAINT JUST BUBBLED UP AND FLAKED OFF, VERY MUCH LIKE IT GOT A SUNBURN. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER IN OCTOBER 2000 FOR SOME WORK ON THE ALIGNMENT AND ASKED TO HAVE RESEARCHED WHETHER THERE WAS A POLICY ON FIXING THE PAINT, WHICH HAD ALREADY BEGUN PEELING OFF. HE TOLD ME HE WOULD LOOK INTO IT AND TOOK THE VIN NUMBER. ABOUT A WEEK LATER, THE TRANSMISSION BROKE AND I BECAME ABSORBED IN FIXING THAT PROBLEM, SO THE PAINT PROBLEM BECAME SECONDARY. SINCE I NEVER HEARD BACK FROM THAT DEALER, I CONTACTED ANOTHER ONE AND WAS TOLD RIGHT OFF THAT THERE WAS NO POLICY CONCERNING MY CAR, AND SUGGESTED THE PAINT WAS DAMAGED BY RAIN OR BIRD DROPPINGS. THE PROBLEM HAS CONTINUED TO GET WORSE. I HAVE ANOTHER BLUE CHEVY,
WE HAVE HAD SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR, INCLUDING THE HEATING AND ELECTICAL SYSTEMS(ALTERNATOR, RADIO, ETC.)AND THE TRANSMISSION. THE MAIN ONE AT THIS POINT IS THE PEELING PAINT. THE CAR IS A VERY NICE MEDIUM BLUE, BUT IT LOOKS TERRIBLE DUE TO THE SPOTS OF GRAY WHERE THE PAINT JUST BUBBLED UP AND FLAKED OFF, VERY MUCH LIKE IT GOT A SUNBURN. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER IN OCTOBER 2000 FOR SOME WORK ON THE ALIGNMENT AND ASKED TO HAVE RESEARCHED WHETHER THERE WAS A POLICY ON FIXING THE PAINT, WHICH HAD ALREADY BEGUN PEELING OFF. HE TOLD ME HE WOULD LOOK INTO IT AND TOOK THE VIN NUMBER. ABOUT A WEEK LATER, THE TRANSMISSION BROKE AND I BECAME ABSORBED IN FIXING THAT PROBLEM, SO THE PAINT PROBLEM BECAME SECONDARY. SINCE I NEVER HEARD BACK FROM THAT DEALER, I CONTACTED ANOTHER ONE AND WAS TOLD RIGHT OFF THAT THERE WAS NO POLICY CONCERNING MY CAR, AND SUGGESTED THE PAINT WAS DAMAGED BY RAIN OR BIRD DROPPINGS. THE PROBLEM HAS CONTINUED TO GET WORSE. I HAVE ANOTHER BLUE CHEVY,
WE HAVE HAD SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR, INCLUDING THE HEATING AND ELECTICAL SYSTEMS(ALTERNATOR, RADIO, ETC.)AND THE TRANSMISSION. THE MAIN ONE AT THIS POINT IS THE PEELING PAINT. THE CAR IS A VERY NICE MEDIUM BLUE, BUT IT LOOKS TERRIBLE DUE TO THE SPOTS OF GRAY WHERE THE PAINT JUST BUBBLED UP AND FLAKED OFF, VERY MUCH LIKE IT GOT A SUNBURN. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER IN OCTOBER 2000 FOR SOME WORK ON THE ALIGNMENT AND ASKED TO HAVE RESEARCHED WHETHER THERE WAS A POLICY ON FIXING THE PAINT, WHICH HAD ALREADY BEGUN PEELING OFF. HE TOLD ME HE WOULD LOOK INTO IT AND TOOK THE VIN NUMBER. ABOUT A WEEK LATER, THE TRANSMISSION BROKE AND I BECAME ABSORBED IN FIXING THAT PROBLEM, SO THE PAINT PROBLEM BECAME SECONDARY. SINCE I NEVER HEARD BACK FROM THAT DEALER, I CONTACTED ANOTHER ONE AND WAS TOLD RIGHT OFF THAT THERE WAS NO POLICY CONCERNING MY CAR, AND SUGGESTED THE PAINT WAS DAMAGED BY RAIN OR BIRD DROPPINGS. THE PROBLEM HAS CONTINUED TO GET WORSE. I HAVE ANOTHER BLUE CHEVY,
MY MAIN CONCERN IS THE PAINT AND THE AIRCONDITIONING. THE PAINT BEGAN TO PEEL RIGHT AFTER I BOUGHT IT AND I WAS NOT AWARE OF A RECALL AND COULDN'T AFFORD TO HAVE IT REPAINTED. IT LOOKS LIKE IT HAS A DISEASE. THE AIR CONDITIONING QUIT LAST SUMMER AND I HAVE A HEART CONDITION. I HAD TO HAVE A BAG OF ICE WITH ME ALL THE TIME TO STAY COOL, BECAUSE, AGAIN I DID NOT HAVE THE FINANCES TO GET IT FIXED. THE POWER LOCKS AND MY HORN JUST QUIT WORKING AND THE FUSE IS IMPOSSIBLE TO FIND, SO I'M REALLY JUST HOPING SOMEONE CAN TELL ME HOW TO CHANGE THAT. I CAN'T FIND IT AND I HAVE A CORSICA AUTO BOOK FROM AUTO ZONE. I APPRECIATE ANY HELP YOU CAN GIVE. I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO GET MY CAR REPAINTED. I THINK I SHOULD BE ENTITLED TO THE RECALL.
MY MAIN CONCERN IS THE PAINT AND THE AIRCONDITIONING. THE PAINT BEGAN TO PEEL RIGHT AFTER I BOUGHT IT AND I WAS NOT AWARE OF A RECALL AND COULDN'T AFFORD TO HAVE IT REPAINTED. IT LOOKS LIKE IT HAS A DISEASE. THE AIR CONDITIONING QUIT LAST SUMMER AND I HAVE A HEART CONDITION. I HAD TO HAVE A BAG OF ICE WITH ME ALL THE TIME TO STAY COOL, BECAUSE, AGAIN I DID NOT HAVE THE FINANCES TO GET IT FIXED. THE POWER LOCKS AND MY HORN JUST QUIT WORKING AND THE FUSE IS IMPOSSIBLE TO FIND, SO I'M REALLY JUST HOPING SOMEONE CAN TELL ME HOW TO CHANGE THAT. I CAN'T FIND IT AND I HAVE A CORSICA AUTO BOOK FROM AUTO ZONE. I APPRECIATE ANY HELP YOU CAN GIVE. I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO GET MY CAR REPAINTED. I THINK I SHOULD BE ENTITLED TO THE RECALL.
MY MAIN CONCERN IS THE PAINT AND THE AIRCONDITIONING. THE PAINT BEGAN TO PEEL RIGHT AFTER I BOUGHT IT AND I WAS NOT AWARE OF A RECALL AND COULDN'T AFFORD TO HAVE IT REPAINTED. IT LOOKS LIKE IT HAS A DISEASE. THE AIR CONDITIONING QUIT LAST SUMMER AND I HAVE A HEART CONDITION. I HAD TO HAVE A BAG OF ICE WITH ME ALL THE TIME TO STAY COOL, BECAUSE, AGAIN I DID NOT HAVE THE FINANCES TO GET IT FIXED. THE POWER LOCKS AND MY HORN JUST QUIT WORKING AND THE FUSE IS IMPOSSIBLE TO FIND, SO I'M REALLY JUST HOPING SOMEONE CAN TELL ME HOW TO CHANGE THAT. I CAN'T FIND IT AND I HAVE A CORSICA AUTO BOOK FROM AUTO ZONE. I APPRECIATE ANY HELP YOU CAN GIVE. I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO GET MY CAR REPAINTED. I THINK I SHOULD BE ENTITLED TO THE RECALL.
MY MAIN CONCERN IS THE PAINT AND THE AIRCONDITIONING. THE PAINT BEGAN TO PEEL RIGHT AFTER I BOUGHT IT AND I WAS NOT AWARE OF A RECALL AND COULDN'T AFFORD TO HAVE IT REPAINTED. IT LOOKS LIKE IT HAS A DISEASE. THE AIR CONDITIONING QUIT LAST SUMMER AND I HAVE A HEART CONDITION. I HAD TO HAVE A BAG OF ICE WITH ME ALL THE TIME TO STAY COOL, BECAUSE, AGAIN I DID NOT HAVE THE FINANCES TO GET IT FIXED. THE POWER LOCKS AND MY HORN JUST QUIT WORKING AND THE FUSE IS IMPOSSIBLE TO FIND, SO I'M REALLY JUST HOPING SOMEONE CAN TELL ME HOW TO CHANGE THAT. I CAN'T FIND IT AND I HAVE A CORSICA AUTO BOOK FROM AUTO ZONE. I APPRECIATE ANY HELP YOU CAN GIVE. I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO GET MY CAR REPAINTED. I THINK I SHOULD BE ENTITLED TO THE RECALL.
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. DEALER REPLACED DIFFERENTIAL SENSOR , BUT PROBLEM STILL RECURRING. *AK
Mileage: 123,000
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. DEALER REPLACED DIFFERENTIAL SENSOR , BUT PROBLEM STILL RECURRING. *AK
Mileage: 123,000
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.