Model year record

1993 Volkswagen Corrado recalls & problems

The 1993 Volkswagen Corrado has 3 safety recalls and 48 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is engine and engine cooling (23 complaints).

Recalls3safety recalls

Complaints48filed by owners

Crashes · fires0 · 3reported in complaints

Injuries · deaths2 · 0reported in complaints

Safety recalls

Engine and engine coolingNov 13, 1998

Cooling system

Recall 98V2950006,217 vehiclesopened after NHTSA action (ODI)

Problem: 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.
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.

Engine and engine coolingSep 20, 1995

Cooling system › Fan

Recall 95V17800034,000 vehicles

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

Electrical systemJun 14, 1993

Wiring › Front underhood

Recall 93V1020004,300 vehicles

Problem: 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.
Risk: 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.
Fix: REROUTE AND SECURE VARIOUS WIRING HARNESSES INSIDE THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT.

Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.

Fuel economy

Corrado SLC

19mpg combined

City / highway	16 / 23 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

2.8 L · 6 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,550/year to fuel

Corrado SLC

19mpg combined

City / highway	16 / 23 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

2.8 L · 6 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,550/year to fuel

Corrado SLC

17mpg combined

City / highway	15 / 21 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

2.8 L · 6 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,950/year to fuel

EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.

What owners report

Problem area	Complaints	Fires	Injuries	Typical mileage*
Engine and engine coolingCooling system; Cooling system › Fan	23	2	1	110,000 mi
VisibilityDefroster/defogger/hvac system › Heater core; Defroster/defogger/hvac system	20	1	1	—
Electrical systemWiring › Interior/under dash; Ignition	6	1	0	—
Steering	1	1	0	—
Seat beltsFront › Retractor	1	0	0	—
Fuel system, gasolineDelivery	1	0	0	—

*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.

Recent owner complaints

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 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:…
Oct 18, 2022 · 190,000 miles
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 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…
Aug 17, 2004 · 110,000 miles
Visibility › 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
Apr 17, 2004 · 123,889 miles
Engine 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.
Sep 21, 2003 · 94,500 miles
Visibility › Defroster/defogger/hvac system › Heater core
CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT HEATHER CORE FALILURE. MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED AT THE TIME OF THIS CALL.*AK
Jul 16, 2003
Visibility › 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
Dec 19, 2002 · 62,000 miles
Visibility › 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
Sep 1, 2002
Visibility › 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.…
Jun 23, 2002

Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.