VOLKSWAGEN CORRADO · model year

1993 VOLKSWAGEN CORRADO

52 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1993VOLKSWAGENCORRADO carries 52 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, 2 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 1993 CORRADO is visibility:defroster/defogger/hvac system:heater core with 18 filings, followed by engine and engine cooling:cooling system (9) and engine and engine cooling:cooling system:fan (8). 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 1993 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.

52
Complaints
0
Crashes
5
Fires
2
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

52 filings

Crashes Reported

0 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE18
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM9
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN8
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH3
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM2
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING2
STEERING1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE1
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:HOSES/LINES/PIPING/FITTINGS1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD1

Recent Complaints

20221020ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

The contact owns 1993 Volkswagen Corrado. The contact stated that while parking the vehicle, he heard an abnormal popping sound. The contact then saw a significant amount of smoke coming through the front of the dashboard. The contact stated that he lost visibility of the surrounding of the vehicle. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact turned off the vehicle. The contact exited the vehicle and noticed that coolant was leaking onto the driver's side floorboard. Additionally, coolant was leaking onto the ground on the passenger's side of the vehicle. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 98V295000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 190,000.

Mileage: 190,000

20040818ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

MY 1993 VOLKSWAGEN CORRADO SLC OVERHEATS LEAK AND SOMETIMES FULLY EJECTING ALL ITS COOLANT FROM TIME TO TIME. IT HAS DONE THIS FOUR TIMES IN TWO YEARS. *JB I HAVE HAD THE RADIATOR, COOLING FANS AND HOSES REPLACED AS WELL AS MULTIPLE COOLANT SYSTEM TESTS PERFORMED. THE PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR PRIVATE MECHANICS HAVE BEEN ABLE TO RESOLVE IT. RECALLS REGARDING THIS ISSUES INCLUDE: NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER : 98V295000 AND NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER : 95V178000 VOLKSWAGEN CUSTOMER SERIVCE (1.800.822.8987) VERIFIED THAT BASED ON MY VIN NUMBER, THESE RECALLS APPLY AND THAT THE RECALL WORK HAS BEEN PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AS IT CAN SUDDENLY INCAPACITATE THE CAR AT ANY TIME. CORRADO USER GROUPS ON LINE CONSISTENTLY REPORT THIS AS A WELL KNOWN RECURRING PROBLEM. WHAT IS THE MANUFACTURER'S RESPONSIBILITY TO ITS CUSTOMERS IN THIS SITUATION? THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION.

Mileage: 110,000

20040609VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE

WHILE DRIVING VEH AT ON HIGHWAY APPROX 5 MINUTES, HEATER IN DASH STARTED PUTTING HOT STEAM INTO CABIN AND OVER WINDSHIELD. VEHICLE BECAME UNDRIVABLE. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER SAFELY, BUT VISION THROUGH WINDSHIELD WAS AFFECTED AND STEAM CONTACTED MY WIFE AND MY LEGS-NO INJURY DUE TO QUICKLY SHUTTING OFF ENGINE AND PULLING OVER. *AK

Mileage: 123,889

20030923ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

FAILURE OF HEATER CORE IN 1993 VW CORRADO SLC RESULTING IN A NEAR INSTANTANEOUS FOGGING AND COMPLETE LACK OF VISIBILITY IN THE CAR.

Mileage: 94,500

20030716VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE

CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT HEATHER CORE FALILURE. MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED AT THE TIME OF THIS CALL.*AK

20021223VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE

WHILE DRIVING, CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD "POP" NOISE AND VEHICLE FILLED UP WITH STEAM ELIMINATING CONSUMER'S VISIBILITY. PULLED OVER TO SIDE OF ROAD, NARROWLY AVOIDING A COLLISION. TS

Mileage: 62,000

20020924VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE

WHILE DRIVING I SUDDENLY FELT A BURNING SENSATION ON MY RIGHT FOOT THAT COINCIDED WITH THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT FILLING UP WITH WHAT APPEARED TO BE STEAM. I HAD TO TAKE IMMEDIATE EVASIVE ACTION TO PULL OFF ONTO THE STEEP SHOULDER OF A TWO LANE HIGHWAY. APPARENTLY THE HEATER CORE FAILED, AND WHAT I FELT ON MY FOOT WAS ANTI-FREEZE. FORTUNATELY I HAD SHOES ON SO I WAS NOT INJURED. DEALING WITH THE INTERIOR FACING A RAPID "FOG UP" CONDITION WAS POTENTIALLY VERY DANGEROUS. I DIDN'T KNOW SOMETHING LIKE THIS COULD HAPPEN!*AK

20020701VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM

AS MY 11 YEAR OLD SON AND I WERE DRIVING SLOWLY, DURING INTERMITTENT COMMUTE TRAFFIC, IN THE SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA, MY 1993 VOLKSWAGEN CORRADO BLEW HOT STEAM AND MOISTURE OUT OF THE VENTING SYSTEM INSIDE THE VEHICLE. WINDOWS SUDDENLY FOGGED UP AND I COULD NOT SEE OUT OF THE WINDOWS UNTIL I WIPED THEM DOWN. AFTER WIPING THE WINDOWS DOWN (WHILE STUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FREEWAY!) AND VENTING THE STEAM OUT OF THE VENTING SYSTEM AND CHECKING COOLANT SYSTEM, I MOVED OVER TO THE FREEWAY SHOULDER. ANY TIME I USE THE HEATER OR VENT FAN, THE VEHICLES WINDOWS FOG UP IMMEDIATELY. THIS LEAD ME TO BELIEVE THAT THERE MIGHT BE A RECALL IN PLACE OR THAT A RECALL COULD BE MADE BY STATING THIS INFORMATION. I HAVE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS WITH ANY OTHER VEHICLE THAT I HAVE DRIVEN. MY VW CORRADO IS IN GREAT OVERALL CONDITION. IT IS TAKEN CARE OF QUITE WELL. IT DRIVES FINE, BUT I CAN NO LONGER USE THE HEATER OR VENT SYSTEM. I HAVE HEARD, THROUGH VW CLUBS, ETC. THAT RECALLS WERE INITIATED FOR THIS VE

20010913FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY

THERE WAS SOME FUEL LEAKAGE COMING FROM VEHICLE, IT WAS LEAKING FROM THE FUEL LINES TO THE FUEL RAIL AND CAUSING A FUEL SMELL, DEALER REPLACED THE FUEL LINES. *SLC

20010906VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE

WHITE THICK GAS WAS COMING FROM VENTS OF VEHICLE. THERE WAS A LITTLE ODOR. ALSO, THICK WHITE GAS MADE VISIBILITY POOR. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER INDICATED PROBLEM WAS HEATER CORE. *AK

20010803ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN

WHILE DRIVING COOLING FAN BROKE, CAUSING ENGINE TO OVERHEAT AND VEHICLE TO STALL OUT. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP, AND MECHANIC INDICATED THAT THE WIRES FOR COOLING FAN HAD BEEN MISROUTED AND NEEDED TO BE CHANGED.*AK

20010507ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN

RADIATOR FAN SEIZED UP, LOUD GRINDING NOISE HEARD, THEN IT STOPPED. CONTACTED DEALER. *AK CONSUMER WAS TOLD BY DEALERSHIP VEHICLE IS NOT COVERED UNDER RECALL, ALTHOUGH OTHER VEHICLES IN THE SAME YEAR HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. *JB

20010117VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE

COOLANT LEAKAGE FROM DUCTS ONTO FLOOR AND STEAM RELEASED THROUGH FRONT WINDOW VENTS, CAUSING LOSS OF VISIBILITY. *AK

20010111ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

CONSUMER HAD BEEN HAVING PROBLEM WITH COOLING SYSTEM FAN JUST LIKE IN RECALL 98V295 000 COOLANT SYSTEM FAN. *AK

20001120VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE

HEATER CORE FAILED SOON AFTER I STARTED ENGINE. THE ENGINE WAS COLD. FUMES/VAPOR STARTED COMING FROM THE VENTILATION SYSTEM INTO THE CAR. APPARENTLY THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH 1990 CORRADOS (NHTSA 96V115000 CORRADO RECALL) BUT THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL FOR LATER MODELS, DESPITE SIMILAR FAILURES REPORTED BY OTHER CORRADO OWNERS (AFTER 1990). *AK

20001018ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

WATER PUMP HAS BEEN REPLACED BY DEALER ONCE, AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. A RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED ON THE COOLING SYSTEM, HOWEVER, WATER PUMP WAS NOT INCLUDED UNDER THE CORRECTIVE ACTION.*AK

20000831ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

NO SUMMARY

20000825ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH

AFTER HEATER CORE FAILURE REPAIRS VEHICLE EXPERIENCED INTERMITENT ELECTRICAL FUNCTION . CHECKED TO FIND COOLANT DAMAGE AND ADVISED NOT TO DRIVE DUE TO THREAT OF ELECTRICIAL SHORT LEADING TO DASH FIRE .*AK

20000825ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH

AFTER REPAIRS ON HEATER CORE RECALL.NOW THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCING INTERMITENT ELECTRICAL FUNCTION IN DASH .*AK

20000824ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

HEATER CORE EXPLOTED STEAM AND ANTIFREEZ INTO INTERIOR OF CAR FLOOR AND THROUGH THE DUCTS. NOTE NOT ONLY THE HEATER CORE THAT FAILS BUT ALSO OTHER COOLANT COMPONETS ,INSTALL COOLANT PRESSURE THROTTLE .

Compare 1993VOLKSWAGENCORRADO to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 2 Open

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1993 VOLKSWAGEN CORRADO have?
The 1993 VOLKSWAGEN CORRADO has 52 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 5 fires, 2 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1993 VOLKSWAGEN CORRADO?
The most-complained component for the 1993 VOLKSWAGEN CORRADO is VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE with 18 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM and ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN.
Is the 1993 VOLKSWAGEN CORRADO 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.