← New search

1993 Volkswagen Corrado

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

About this comparison →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
Compare all Corrado 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: 5 of 48 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.

  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 23 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Visibility. Review the 20 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

0 crash reports3 fire reports2 injury reports

What owners actually said

48 reports
190,000 miles · Oct 20, 2022
Engine 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 il…

Read full complaint

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.

NHTSA ODI #11490158

110,000 miles · Aug 18, 2004
Engine 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 MEC…

Read full complaint

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.

NHTSA ODI #10088144

123,889 miles · Jun 9, 2004
Visibility

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. *…

Read full complaint

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

NHTSA ODI #10075058

94,500 miles · Sep 23, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling

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

NHTSA ODI #10039421

Mileage unknown · Jul 16, 2003
Visibility

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

NHTSA ODI #10029423

62,000 miles · Dec 23, 2002
Visibility

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

NHTSA ODI #10001427

Mileage unknown · Sep 20, 2002
Visibility

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-FRE…

Read full complaint

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

NHTSA ODI #767466

Mileage unknown · Jun 26, 2002
Visibility

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 WIND…

Read full complaint

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 VEHICLE.*AK

NHTSA ODI #763493

Mileage unknown · Sep 13, 2001
Fuel System, Gasoline

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

NHTSA ODI #896307

Mileage unknown · Sep 6, 2001
Visibility

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

NHTSA ODI #895927

Official recalls

3

98V295000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:cooling System

Nov 13, 1998

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH VR6 ENGINES. A COOLANT SYSTEM COMPONENT SUCH AS THE THERMO SWITCH, RADIATOR FAN, OR WATER PUMP, CAN MALFUNCTION CAUSING THE COOLANT TEMPERATURE AND COOLANT SYSTEM PRESSURE TO INCREASE SIGNIFICANTLY. OVER TIME, EXCESSIVE PRESSURE CAN CAUSE LEAKAGE OF COOLANT FROMTHE SYSTEM, INCLUDING LEAKAGE FROM THE HEAT EXCHANGER.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: LEAKAGE OF HOT COOLANT FROM THE HEAT EXCHANGER CAN CAUSE INJURY TO THE FEET OF THE DRIVER OR STEAM UP THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE TEMPORARILY IMPAIRING THE DRIVER'S VISION.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL IN THE COOLANT INLET HOSE TO THE HEATER CORE, A PRESSURE REDUCER WITH A 5MM DIAMETER SECURED BY A SPRING TENSIONED HOSE CLAMP. ALSO A NEW RELAY THAT WILL CHANGE THE OPERATION OF THE SECONDARY ELECTRICAL COOLANT PUMP WILL BE INSTALLED. DEALERS WILL ALSO PERFORM A FUNCTIONAL CHECK OF THE COOLING SYSTEM TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL COOLING SYSTEM COMPONENTS OPERATE PROPERLY.

95V178000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:cooling System:fan

Sep 20, 1995

IMPROPER MATERIAL WAS USED IN MANUFACTURING THE RADIATOR FAN MOTOR SHAFT CAUSING THE SHAFT TO WEAR AND BECOME NOISY.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A WORN AND NOISY FAN MOTOR SHAFT CAN SEIZE RENDERINGTHE FAN MOTOR INOPERATIVE, EVENTUALLY CAUSING THE ENGINE TO OVERHEAT AND STALL. A STALLED VEHICLE IN TRAFFIC CAN INCREASE THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE COMPLETE COOLING FAN ASSEMBLY ON VEHICLE HAVING THE POTENTIAL SHAFT MATERIAL PROBLEM. DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW FAN BLADE INCLUDING A NEW LOCK NUT ON VEHICLE WITH LOOSE FAN BLADE LOCK NUTS.

93V102000 · Electrical System:wiring:front Underhood

Jun 14, 1993

AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT ELECTRICAL WIRING HARNESS MAY HAVE BEEN ROUTED TOO CLOSE TO A SHEET METAL EDGE. THE WIRING CAN BECOME DAMAGED DURING NORMAL VEHICLE OPERATION DUE TO CHAFING, RESULTING IN AN ELECTRICAL SHORT.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF A SHORT OCCURS, EITHER THE ENGINE COULD STALL ORTHE RADIATOR FAN COULD STOP OPERATING CAUSING THE ENGINE TO OVERHEAT. EITHERCONDITION COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.

Remedy: REROUTE AND SECURE VARIOUS WIRING HARNESSES INSIDE THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT.

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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.