Total Complaints
48 filings
VOLKSWAGEN CORRADO · model year
48 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1990VOLKSWAGENCORRADO carries 48 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 5 fires, 9 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 CORRADO is visibility:defroster/defogger/hvac system:heater core with 7 filings, followed by engine and engine cooling:cooling system (7) and seat belts (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 37 investigation files overlapping the 1990 CORRADO, 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
48 filings
Crashes Reported
0 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE | 7 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM | 7 |
| SEAT BELTS | 6 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH | 2 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR | 2 |
| POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION | 2 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY | 2 |
| WHEELS | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE | 1 |
| VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP | 1 |
| STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS | 1 |
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1990 VOLKSWAGEN CORRADO. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60-65 MPH WITH THE DEFROSTER ACTIVATED WHEN EXCESSIVE AMOUNTS OF STEAM BEGAN TO EMIT THROUGH THE VENTS. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED BY A CERTIFIED MECHANIC WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS A SMALL LEAK COMING FROM THE HEATER CORE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THERE WAS A RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 96V115000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM) BUT THE CONTACTS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 136,000.
Mileage: 136,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1990 VOLKSWAGEN CORRADO. THE HEATER CORE FAILED WHILE DRIVING. HE NOTICED STEAM EMITTING FROM THE VENTS AS WELL AS COOLANT ON THE WINDSHIELD. HE REFERENCED RECALL 96V115000 AND WAS TOLD THAT HIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL BUT THE DEALER REPAIRED THE VEHICLE FREE OF CHARGE IN 1998. HOWEVER, IN 2009, THE PART FAILED AGAIN. HE CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY WOULD NOT REPAIR THE VEHICLE FREE OF CHARGE THIS TIME AND REFERRED HIM TO THE MANUFACTURER. WHEN HE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER, HE WAS TOLD THAT SINCE THE WARRANTY EXPIRED, NO ASSISTANCE WOULD BE PROVIDED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 217,762. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 217,758.
Mileage: 217,758
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE HEATER CORE LEAKS. THERE IS AN NHTSA RECALL, # 96V115000, REGARDING THE ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING: COOLING SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL; HOWEVER IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN.
Mileage: 150,000
DRIVING ALONG AN INTERSTATE AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE HEATER CORE IN MY 1990 VW CORRADO DEVELOPED A MAJOR LEAK ALL OF A SUDDEN, CAUSING VERY HOT COOLANT TO POUR ON MY RIGHT LEG AND FOOT, AND SUBSEQUENTLY CAUSING THE WINDSHIELD TO STEAM UP INSTANTLY, CAUSING LOSS OF OUTWARD VISION AND LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE CAR. I WAS ABLE TO FIND THE SIDE OF THE ROAD USING THE "RUMBLE STRIPS", AND CALLED A TOW TRUCK. I AM AWARE OF A RECALL ON SOME 1990 VW CORRADOS, BUT ACCORDING TO MY DEALER MY VEHICLE IS NOT WITHIN THE VIN RANGE FOR THIS RECALL, REGARDLESS OF THE FACT MY VEHICLE USES THE SAME FAULTY HEATER CORE AS THE ONES THAT ARE COVERED BY THE RECALL. THE DEALER WILL NOT AGREE TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. *NM
Mileage: 124,300
WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER NOTICED DASHBOARD COOLANT INDICATOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED, INDICATING ENGINE OVERHEATED. WINDOWS BECAME STEAMY, CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY. RECALL 96V115000 WAS ISSUED ON THIS MAKE, MODEL, AND YEAR. HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED UNDER THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK
CONSUMER STATES COOLIANT IS LEAKING INTO THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING. PROBLEM IS DUE TO A HEATER COIL FAILURE, DEALER AND THE MFR HAS BEEN NOTIFIED AND INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE VIN# WAS NOT COVER. TS
CONSUMER STATES THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT STOP WORKING, IT STUCK IN THE OUT POSITION, WILL NOT RETRACT BACK INTO POSITION. LEAVING PASSENGER UN PROTECTED IN AN ACCIDENT. NLM
VOLKSWAGEN REFUSES TO PAY FOR SEATBELT DUE TO "AGE AND MILES" AND "OUTSIDE INFLUENCES." THERE ARE SEVERAL CORRADO OWNERS WHO HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM, THEREFORE SUBSTANTIAL EVIDENCE EXISTS THAT INDICATES A DEFECT. I AM REQUESTING BOTH DRIVER SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE SEATBELTS TO BE REPLACED BY THE MANUFACTURER, FREE OF CHARGE.*AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
HEATER CORE FAILURE WHICH RESULTED IN STEAM INSIDE THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT AND ON THE INSIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD, BLOCKING VISIBILITY. CONTACTED LOCAL VOLKSWAGEN DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THERE IS NO RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM. WAS QUOTED $680.00 TO REPAIR.*AK
HEATER CORE FAILURE CAUSED WINDSHIELD TO FOG UP WHILE DRIVING. EVEN WITH VENTS CLOSED IT STILL CAUSED POOR VISIBILITY. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER A RECALL DUE TO VIN. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK
I PURCHASED THIS CAR 3 YEARS AGO AT A MILEAGE OF 109,000. ALL IN ALL I HAVE NOT DRIVEN THE CAR FOR MORE THAN 2 AND A HALF WEEKS SINCE I'VE HAD IT AND I HAVE ALREADY SPENT OVER $4000 DOLLARS ON IT. IS THAT FAIR FOR A CAR WITH A PRICE TAG OF 6,000 DOLLARS USED. I'VE SPENT THE REST OF THE 3 YEARS RAISING MONEY TRYING TO FIX ONE PROBLEM AFTER ANOTHER. I AM A STUDENT WITH A LEMON AND 2 PART-TIME JOBS TRYING TO FIX IT. THESE 2 RECALLS WERE DONE ON CORRADOS WITH VIN NUMBERS WITHIN THE FOLLOWING RANGES: WVW_ _ _50_KK000001 - WVW_ _ _50_LK012692 . MY CORRADO HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AND NEED THE SAME PARTS REPLACES AND DESPITE THIS VW DOES NOT WANT TO INVESTIGATE THIS MATTER FURTHER. PLEASE HELP ME, CAUSE I DONT KNOW WHAT TO DO. *AK
I PURCHASED THIS CAR 3 YEARS AGO AT A MILEAGE OF 109,000. ALL IN ALL I HAVE NOT DRIVEN THE CAR FOR MORE THAN 2 AND A HALF WEEKS SINCE I'VE HAD IT AND I HAVE ALREADY SPENT OVER $4000 DOLLARS ON IT. IS THAT FAIR FOR A CAR WITH A PRICE TAG OF 6,000 DOLLARS USED. I'VE SPENT THE REST OF THE 3 YEARS RAISING MONEY TRYING TO FIX ONE PROBLEM AFTER ANOTHER. I AM A STUDENT WITH A LEMON AND 2 PART-TIME JOBS TRYING TO FIX IT. THESE 2 RECALLS WERE DONE ON CORRADOS WITH VIN NUMBERS WITHIN THE FOLLOWING RANGES: WVW_ _ _50_KK000001 - WVW_ _ _50_LK012692 . MY CORRADO HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AND NEED THE SAME PARTS REPLACES AND DESPITE THIS VW DOES NOT WANT TO INVESTIGATE THIS MATTER FURTHER. PLEASE HELP ME, CAUSE I DONT KNOW WHAT TO DO. *AK
WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 45 MPH, ALL OF SUDDEN THERE WAS SMOKE IN VEHICLE. VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP, WHERE THE HEATER CORE WAS CHANGED. VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN 96V115000 VW/ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 45 MPH, ALL OF SUDDEN THERE WAS SMOKE IN VEHICLE. VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP, WHERE THE HEATER CORE WAS CHANGED. VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN 96V115000 VW/ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
$10,000 FIRE UNDER THE HOOD OF THE CORRADO WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH. NO BRAKES, NO SEATBELT OR HARNESS RELEASE. MY SON AND GRANDSON WERE TRAPPED.THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WAS GONE.CHP CAME OUT AS WELL AS THREE ENGINE COMPANIES.MY CORRADO WAS GUTTED UNDER THE HOOD AND THE FIRE WENT OUT BETWEEN THE HEADLAMPS AND UNDER THE CAR. *AK
HEATER CORE BLEW OUT, CAUSING ANTI-FREEZE TO LEAK INTO PASSENGER'S COMPARTMENT. A RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED ON VEHICLE'S MAKE/MODEL; HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN. *AK
AFTER RECALL REPAIRS COMPLETED (96V-115 AND 92V-058001), SEVERAL FAILURES DUE TO REPAIR PROBLEMS (FUEL SYSTEM,WIRING, SPEAKERS DAMAGED). *MJS
AFTER RECALL REPAIRS COMPLETED (96V-115 AND 92V-058001), SEVERAL FAILURES DUE TO REPAIR PROBLEMS (FUEL SYSTEM,WIRING, SPEAKERS DAMAGED). *MJS
ON JAN. 13, 2000 I CALLED A 1-8OO# TO VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA TO ASK FOR AN INVESTIGATOR TO COME AND INVESTIGATE[AS A COURTSEY] WHY ON JAN. 6, 2000 MY 1990 CORRADO WITH 39006 MILES STARTED AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE WHILE RUNNING 60 MILES AN HOUR ON AN INTERSTATE. THE CAR HAD BEEN DRIVEN 11 MILES ON THE DAY WHEN THE FIRE STARTED. THE POWER AND BRAKING SYSTEMS WERE GONE. THE RETRACTABLE SHOULDER HARNESS AND SEAT BELTS WOULD NOT RELEASE. THREE FIRE ENGINES FROM THREE DIFFERENT LOCATIONS RESPONDED, A CHP STOPPED TO HELP. THERE IS A REPORT THAT STATES WELL INVOLVED VEHICLE ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE. UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF FIRE WHICH INCLUDED FORM OF HEAT. I WAS TOLD I HAD TO MANY MILES ON MY CAR.I BOUGHT AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ON MY CAR FOR SEVEN YEARS OR SEVENTY THOUSAND MILES.ALL RECALLS THAT WE EVER RECEIVED NOTICE OF WERE TAKEN IN FOR RECALL CHECKS. MY WINDSHIELD HAD A FLAT SPOT IN IT THAT I COULD NEVER GET THEM TO EXCHANGE.THE WIPERS NEVER WORKED PROPERLY.JUST BEFORE THIS FIRE .
Inadvertent Automatic Emergency Braking
Inadvertent Door Opening
Fuel Leak due to Suction Jet Pump Failure within Fuel Tank (Remedy Effectiveness of Recall 16V647)
Inadvertent Automatic Emergency Braking
LGES High Voltage Battery Failures
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.