IllustrationSEAT BELTS FAILED. NLM
1988 Chevrolet Corsica
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1988 Chevrolet Corsica do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 100.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Corsica years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 0 of 46 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Electrical System. Review the 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Latches/locks/linkages. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
2 crash reports2 fire reports1 injury reports
Electrical System complaints
12 reportsIGNITION MODULE FAILED TWICE, CAUSING VEHICLE TO SHUT DOWN IN TRAFFIC. (QCAW)
FRONT BRAKES FAILED. *SD
NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM STEERING COLUMN ON 10 DIFFERENT TIMES. TT
EXPERIENCE STEERING COLUMN SMOKE, WHEN STARTING THE IGNITION SMALL AMOUNT OF SMOKE. TT
STEERING COLUMN SMOKE WHEN TURNING SIGNAL ENGAGED DUE TO MALFUNCTIONING OF GENERATOR. *AK
SMOKE COMING FROM THE STEERING ABOUT 2 YEARS AGO DEALER FIX CAR THERE IS NO MORE PROBLEM. TT
SMOKE APPEARS FROM STEERING WHEEL PERIODICALLY WHEN DRIVING. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TT
SMOKE GOES FROM STEERING COLUMN PERIODICALLY WHEN DRIVING CAUSING RESPRITORY AND VISUAL PROBLEMS. TT
STEERING COLUMN EMITTED SMOKE ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. TT
Official recalls
491V206000 · Seat Belts
Nov 26, 1991
THE FRONT SHOULDER BELT RETRACTORS MAY HAVE REDUCED SENSITIVITY OF THE LOCK-UP FEATURE AND WOULD NOT FUNCTION IN A SUDDEN DECELERATION OR CRASH.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: FAILURE OF THE SHOULDER BELT RETRACTOR WOULD RESULT INTHE SEAT OCCUPANT ONLY BEING RESTRAINED BY THE LAP BELT IN A CRASH OR SUDDENSTOP, AND AN INCREASED POSSIBILITY OF INJURY.
Remedy: Not supplied
91V135000 · Structure:body:hood
Aug 19, 1991
SECONDARY HOOD LATCH ASSEMBLY ON THESE VEHICLES MAY NOT BE PROPERLY ADJUSTED AND COULD BECOME BENT. THIS WILL LEAD TO A CONDITION WHERE FULL PRIMARY LATCH ENGAGEMENT IS NOT ATTAINED.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A BENT SECONDARY HOOD LATCH COULD LEAD TO THE PRIMARYLATCH NOT BEING FULLY ENGAGED, ALLOWING THE HOOD TO UNEXPECTEDLY OPEN. IF THISWERE TO OCCUR WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, THE HOOD MAY CONTACT THEWINDSHIELD, REDUCING THE FORWARD VISION AREA OF THE DRIVER AND A VEHICLE CRASHCOULD OCCUR WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
Remedy: REPLACE THE PRIMARY HOOD LATCH ASSEMBLY, THE SECONDARY HOOD LATCH ASSEMBLY, AND THE SUPPORT BRACKET.
89V225000 · Structure:body:door:hinge And Attachments
Dec 18, 1989
A DOOR HINGE (UPPER OR LOWER) MAY BREAK WHILE OPENING OR CLOSING THE DOOR MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO REPOSITION AND CLOSE PROPERLY.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: HINGE SEPARATION MAY REDUCE THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OFTHE SIDE OF THE CAR AND INCREASE RISK OF INJURY IN CERTAIN TYPES OF ACCIDENTS.
Remedy: REPLACE DOOR HINGES ON BOTH DOORS.
88V039000 · Latches/locks/linkages:hood:latch
Mar 23, 1988
SECONDARY HOOD LATCH ASSEMBLY MAY NOT HAVE BEEN PROPERLY ADJUSTED RESULTING IN LATCH BECOMING BENT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A BENT SECONDARY HOOD LATCH COULD CAUSE THE PRIMARYLATCH TO MALFUNCTION. IF THIS OCCURED THE HOOD COULD UNEXPECTEDLY OPEN. IFTHIS HAPPENED WHILE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION REDUCTION OF FORWARD VISIBILITY COULDCAUSE A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
Remedy: INSPECT AND REPLACE SECONDARY HOOD LATCH ASSEMBLIES AS REQUIRED.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
13EA92025 · Fr.seat Belt Buckle Fails
Opened Jul 16, 1992 · Closed Jul 8, 1993
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts
There is no summary currently available
EA92024 · Sticking Throttle
Opened Jun 26, 1992 · Closed Jan 31, 1994
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
There is no summary currently available
PE92048 · Seat Breaks From Track
Opened May 12, 1992 · Closed Sep 28, 1992
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seats
There is no summary currently available
PE92043 · Park Brake Handle Failure
Opened Apr 22, 1992 · Closed Aug 31, 1992
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic
There is no summary currently available
PE92021 · Sticking Throttle
Opened Feb 24, 1992 · Closed Jun 26, 1992
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
There is no summary currently available
EA92003 · Hinge Pin Failure
Opened Jan 17, 1992 · Closed Sep 9, 1992
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Structure
There is no summary currently available
EA90041 · Brake Performance
Opened Aug 29, 1990 · Closed Mar 30, 1992
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic
===
EA90026 · Hood Latch Failure
Opened May 11, 1990 · Closed Aug 28, 1991
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Structure
There is no summary currently available
DP90008 · Inadequate Brakes
Opened Apr 19, 1990 · Closed Aug 29, 1990
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic
INADEQUATE BRAKES
PE89096 · Windshield Wiper Failure
Opened Mar 2, 1989 · Closed Aug 21, 1989
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Visibility
===
EA89008 · Door Hinge Pins
Opened Jan 5, 1989 · Closed Mar 14, 1990
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Structure
There is no summary currently available
EA88040 · Rear Wheel Spindle
Opened Sep 13, 1988 · Closed Mar 14, 1990
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Suspension
There is no summary currently available
PE88087 · Door Hinge Pin Failure
Opened Aug 2, 1988 · Closed Jan 5, 1989
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Structure
There is no summary currently available