IllustrationI HAVE REPLACED ALTENATOR IN MY CAR 3 TIMES WITH IN 30,000 MILES. I HAVE NO SIGNIFICANT DRAIN ON MY CAR EXCEPT A CD PLAYER.*AK
1989 Chevrolet Corsica
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1989 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: 2 of 64 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.
- Seat Belts. Review the 18 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Vehicle Speed Control. 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.
5 crash reports3 fire reports8 injury reports
Electrical System complaints
14 reportsWHILE DRIVING SMOKE STARTED TO COME FROM UNDER THE DRIVER'S SIDE DASHBOARD. CAR FILLED UP WITH SMOKE. CONSUMER TURNED OFF THE CAR AND HEADLIGHTS, AND CAR KEPT SMOKING. CONSUMER SAW A TRICKLE OF FIRE UNER THER DASHBOARD. THEN DROPS OF FIRE DROPPED DOWN INTO THE VEHICLE, AND ENTIRE CAR WAS UP IN FLAMES. *AK
WHEN DRIVING AND TURNING OFF THE VEHICLE THE ENGINE WILL STILL RUN, AND THE CONSUMER CAN'T GET THE ENGINE TO STOP RUNNING. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP THREE TIMES. *AK
WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 5 MPH THE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME AND STAYED ON, AND VEHICLE CUT OFF. THE CONSUMER HAD TO USE THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE GAS PEDAL AT THE SAME TIME IN ORDER FOR THE VEHICLE TO STOP CUTTING OFF UNTIL THE COSUMER GOT TO THE DEALER, THE DEALER REPLACED TWO PARTS AFTER DETERMINING THE PROBLEM WAS WITHIN THE ELE…
Read full complaint
WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 5 MPH THE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME AND STAYED ON, AND VEHICLE CUT OFF. THE CONSUMER HAD TO USE THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE GAS PEDAL AT THE SAME TIME IN ORDER FOR THE VEHICLE TO STOP CUTTING OFF UNTIL THE COSUMER GOT TO THE DEALER, THE DEALER REPLACED TWO PARTS AFTER DETERMINING THE PROBLEM WAS WITHIN THE ELECTRICAL COMPUTER DEPARTMENT. *AK
IGNITION SWITCH FAILED NOT ALLOWING IGNITION TO SHUT OFF.
STARTER MALFUNCTIONED; ALSO, HOOD LATCH FAILED, CAUSING HOOD TO RAISE UP AND DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT . *AK
RIGHT WINDSHIELD WIPER ARM HITS WINDSHIELD.
SOMETIMES WHEN DRIVING, VEHICLE ENGINE SHUTS DOWN. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK
IGNITION MODULE; VEHICLE WILL SHUT OFF AT ANY SPEED. DEALERSHIP HAS CHANGED SEVERAL COMPONENTS WITH NO CHANGE IN CONDITION. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TT
SMOKE COMES FROM THE STEERING COLUMN WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED IN RANDOM INSTANCES. TT
Official recalls
591V213000 · Wheels
Dec 6, 1991
THE STYLED STEEL WHEELS CAN HAVE CRACKS DEVELOPING AT THE OUTER EDGES OF THE WHEEL WHERE THE SPOKES MEET THE RIM. THE CRACKS PROPAGATE FROM EACH SIDE OF A SPOKE TOWARD EACH OTHER, AND EVENTUALLY MEET. THE MEETING OF THE CRACKS RESULTS IN COMPLETE SEAPARATION OF A SPOKE FROM THE WHEEL.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE CRACKING CONDITION CAN OCCUR ON EVERY SPOKE ON THEWHEEL, CAUSING COMPLETE SEPARATION OF THE WHEEL FROM THE VEHICLE, AND RESULTINGIN LOSS OF STEERING AND BRAKING CONTROL.
Remedy: REPLACE THE INVOLVED WHEEL ASSEMBLIES.
91V206000 · 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
89V087000 · Seats
May 22, 1989
THE FRONT SEAT FRAME ASSEMBLY MAY CONTAIN AN IMPROPER, MISSING AND/OR MISLOCATED WELD THAT COULD FRACTURE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS COULD CAUSE UNEXPECTED SEAT MOVEMENT AND RESULT INPERSONAL INJURY AND/OR LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE CAR.
Remedy: REPLACE BOTH FRONT SEAT ASSEMBLIES.
89V034000 · Seat Belts
Mar 10, 1989
FRONT SEAT BELT LATCH PLATES MAY NOT ENGAGE THE BUCKLE ASSEMBLIES.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IN EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT, UNBELTED OR IMPROPERLY BELTEDOCCUPANTS ARE MORE AT RISK TO INJURY THAN IF BELTS ARE PROPERLY BUCKLED.
Remedy: REPLACE IMPROPERLY FUNCTIONING BUCKLE ASSEMBLIES.
88V189000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly
Dec 6, 1988
A FUEL TANK LEAK COULD OCCUR DUE TO SMALL CREASES ON THE TANK UNDERSIDE CRACKING DURING PRESSURE CYCLING WHICH OCCURS DURING NORMAL OPERATION.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IN PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, THIS CONDITION COULDRESULT IN A FIRE.
Remedy: REPLACE FUEL TANK.
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
6EA92025 · 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