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1996 Chevrolet Corsica Owner Complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full

Data refreshed

Complaints on fileComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
110
Latest Dec 29, 2014
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
8
Filed in the last 12 monthsReports filed with NHTSA in the trailing 365 days. Recent volume reflects attention and vehicle age as much as anything else.
0
Reports on file since Jan 2, 1996

What this page shows

Our database holds 110 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1996 Chevrolet Corsica. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Complaints, most recent first

Showing 1–25 of 110 · page 1 of 5

Fuel system
Filed Dec 29, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 CHEVROLET CORSICA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THERE WAS A FUEL ODOR COMING FROM THE INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON A DAILY BASIS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID
10668815
Incident
Dec 29, 2014
Engine
Filed Oct 8, 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 CHEVROLET CORSICA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEAD GASKET HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE TO NO AVAIL. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AND WAS TAKEN TO SERWE CHEVROLET. THEY REPLACED THE HEAD GASKET AT THE COST OF $500. LESS THAN TWO YEARS LATER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE HEAD GASKET WAS REPLACED AGAIN AT THE COST OF $577. DURING ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE HEAD GASKET WAS SEPARATING YET AGAIN. THE DEALER RECOMMENDED HAVING IT REPLACED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

NHTSA ID
10244745
Incident
Jul 10, 1999
Mileage
50,000 mi
Engine
Filed May 15, 2008

OUR 96 CORSICA BEGAN TO LOSE POWER OFF AND ON FOR SEVERAL MONTHS. SOMETIMES IT WOULD STALL. WE HAD THE CAR LOOKED AT AND FOUND AN COOLANT LEAK. COOLANT WAS LEAKING ON THE GROUND AS WELL AS INTO THE HEAD GASKET. THE MECHANIC SAID THAT THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR AND ENGINE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10227937
Incident
Feb 1, 2008
Mileage
170,000 mi
Engine
Filed Dec 17, 2007

1996 CHEVROLET CORSICA LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD DEFECT. CONSUMERS VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE GASKET FAILURE ON THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. WHEN HIS FAILED IT CAUSED ENGINE COOLANT TO GET INTO THE OIL PAN. *KB

NHTSA ID
10212769
Incident
Jan 1, 1901
Body & structure
Filed Jun 15, 2007

I OWN A 1996 CHEVROLET CORSICA. IT LOOKED MUCH OLDER THAT A 1996, BECAUSE THERE WERE MANY SPOTS OF PAINT THATCAME OFF. YOU COULD TELL THAT THE PAINT FAILED. IT MUST NOT HAVE BONDED TO THE CAR BECAUSE THE AREAS WERENOW RUSTING EVEN THOUGH I PUT WAX ON THERE TRYING TO PREVENT THE SPREAD OF THE FAILED PAINT. I DO MANY THINGS TO KEEP THE CAR LOOKING GOOD ,BUT THE PAINT JUST SLOWLY KEPT COMING OFF. I DIDN'T USE CAR WASHES ANYMORE BECAUSE THE PAINT CAME OFF WHEN IT WAS HIT WITH THE PRESSURIZED WATER. I HAVE SEEN MANY OTHER CORSICA CARS AROUND TOWN THAT SEEMED TO HAVE THIS SAME PROBLEM. I DIDN'T KNOW THE EXACT DATE BUT IT STARTED RUSTING MORE RECENTLY. THE PAINT FAILED FROM THE HOOD TO THE TRUNK. THERE WERE 22 LARGE SPOTS THAT WAS DOWN TO METAL OR TURNED TO RUST NOW. *AK

NHTSA ID
10193483
Incident
Jan 10, 2007
Filed Aug 14, 2006

CONSUMER WOULD LIKE INFORMATION FOR RECALLS REGARDING 1996 CHEVROLET CORSICA. *KB *JB

NHTSA ID
10165841
Incident
Jan 1, 1901
Body & structure
Filed Aug 11, 2004

THE PAINT IS PEELING OFF ON MY CAR. THESE SPOTS ARE NOT SMALL, BUT HUGE SPOTS THAT HAVE BUBBLED AND COME OFF FOR NO APPARENT REASON. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL ON THIS SINCE IT APPEARS TO BE A SERIOUS MANUFACTURER DEFEAT. PLEASE CONTACT ME AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. *JB

NHTSA ID
10086641
Incident
Aug 11, 2004
Brakes
Filed May 4, 2004
Crash reported

(1) FOR OVER A YEAR NOW MY ANTI-LOCK BRAKES ON 1998 CHEVROLET CORSICA HAVE FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE IN RAINY WET CONDITIONS. I CANNOT DRIVE THE VEHICLE WHEN RAINY OR WET. THE BRAKES CATCH AND RELEASE REPEATEDLY EVENTUALLY CAUSING THE CAR TO SLIDE (THIS EVEN HAPPENS WHEN DRIVING 10 MPH). AFTER THE FIRST 15 STOPS IT WILL EVENTUALLY BEGIN TO STOP WITHOUT DOING THIS. BUT IN THE CASE OF THE ACCIDENT I HAD BEEN DRIVING FOR 30 MINUTES AND THE CAR FAILED TO STOP. (2) I WAS DRIVING 20 MPH WITH 3-4 CAR LENGTHS BETWEEN MYSELF AND CAR IN FRONT OF ME. THE BRAKES DID NOT STOP IN TIME. I HIT THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. (3) I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE CHEVROLET DEALER ON 3 OCCASSIONS FOR THIS PROBLEM. THEY KEEP TELLING ME THAT THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE BRAKES. THEY SAY THAT THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO DO THAT. IF THAT WERE THE CASE, WE WOULD ALL BE DEAD. THE FIRST 3 YEARS THAT I HAD THE VEHICLE IT DID NOT DO THIS, SO OBVIOUSLY THIS IS NOT WHAT IT IS SUPPOSED TO DO. I EVEN HAD THE DEALERSHIP SIGN A PAPER STATING THAT HE COULD NOT DO ANYTHING TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM, SO THAT I WILL HAVE WHEN I DO HAVE TO HANDLE THIS IN A LEGAL MANNER. AFTER DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND EXPERIENCING THE BRAKE FAILURE, MY MECHANIC SAID THAT THE BRAKES ARE DANGEROUS BUT THAT HE CANNOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THEM WHEN HE TAKES THEM APART. THEREFORE HE CANNOT FIX IT.*AK

NHTSA ID
10068264
Incident
Feb 6, 2004
EngineVisibility
Filed Jan 15, 2004

MY MAIN CONCERN IS THE PAINT AND THE AIRCONDITIONING. THE PAINT BEGAN TO PEEL RIGHT AFTER I BOUGHT IT AND I WAS NOT AWARE OF A RECALL AND COULDN'T AFFORD TO HAVE IT REPAINTED. IT LOOKS LIKE IT HAS A DISEASE. THE AIR CONDITIONING QUIT LAST SUMMER AND I HAVE A HEART CONDITION. I HAD TO HAVE A BAG OF ICE WITH ME ALL THE TIME TO STAY COOL, BECAUSE, AGAIN I DID NOT HAVE THE FINANCES TO GET IT FIXED. THE POWER LOCKS AND MY HORN JUST QUIT WORKING AND THE FUSE IS IMPOSSIBLE TO FIND, SO I'M REALLY JUST HOPING SOMEONE CAN TELL ME HOW TO CHANGE THAT. I CAN'T FIND IT AND I HAVE A CORSICA AUTO BOOK FROM AUTO ZONE. I APPRECIATE ANY HELP YOU CAN GIVE. I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO GET MY CAR REPAINTED. I THINK I SHOULD BE ENTITLED TO THE RECALL.

NHTSA ID
10071084
Incident
Jun 15, 2002
Body & structureEnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Jan 15, 2004

WE HAVE HAD SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR, INCLUDING THE HEATING AND ELECTICAL SYSTEMS(ALTERNATOR, RADIO, ETC.)AND THE TRANSMISSION. THE MAIN ONE AT THIS POINT IS THE PEELING PAINT. THE CAR IS A VERY NICE MEDIUM BLUE, BUT IT LOOKS TERRIBLE DUE TO THE SPOTS OF GRAY WHERE THE PAINT JUST BUBBLED UP AND FLAKED OFF, VERY MUCH LIKE IT GOT A SUNBURN. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER IN OCTOBER 2000 FOR SOME WORK ON THE ALIGNMENT AND ASKED TO HAVE RESEARCHED WHETHER THERE WAS A POLICY ON FIXING THE PAINT, WHICH HAD ALREADY BEGUN PEELING OFF. HE TOLD ME HE WOULD LOOK INTO IT AND TOOK THE VIN NUMBER. ABOUT A WEEK LATER, THE TRANSMISSION BROKE AND I BECAME ABSORBED IN FIXING THAT PROBLEM, SO THE PAINT PROBLEM BECAME SECONDARY. SINCE I NEVER HEARD BACK FROM THAT DEALER, I CONTACTED ANOTHER ONE AND WAS TOLD RIGHT OFF THAT THERE WAS NO POLICY CONCERNING MY CAR, AND SUGGESTED THE PAINT WAS DAMAGED BY RAIN OR BIRD DROPPINGS. THE PROBLEM HAS CONTINUED TO GET WORSE. I HAVE ANOTHER BLUE CHEVY, A 1990 CAVALIER, WHICH HAS BEEN SUBJECTED TO THE SAME SUN AND RAIN AS THE CORSICA, AND IT HAS YET TO FLAKE ITS' PAINT. NOW I HEAR THAT GM HAD A 6/5 YEAR POLICY, BUT NOW THAT I HAVE FOUND OUT ABOUT IT, MY CAR IS TOO OLD. I AM VERY FRUSTRATED AND AM LOOKING FOR HELP.

NHTSA ID
10070594
Incident
Dec 15, 1999
Filed Jan 15, 2004

PAINT PEELING OFF HOOD,LOCAL DEALERSHIP WAS CONTACTED IN 2001 SAID NOTHING COULD BE DONE. THE DEALERSHIP (NEW OWNERS) CONTACTED SAID THE CAR WAS OUTSIDE OF THE "RECALL". CONTACT MADE WITH GM CUSTOMER SERVICE, THEY DO NOT HAVE A RECORD OF ANY PAINT PROBLEMS FOR THE 1996 CORSICA NOR ARE THERE ANY RECALLS ON THAT VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID
10069818
Incident
Aug 15, 2001
EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Dec 5, 2003

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. DEALER REPLACED DIFFERENTIAL SENSOR , BUT PROBLEM STILL RECURRING. *AK

NHTSA ID
10050130
Incident
Dec 5, 2003
Mileage
123,000 mi
Filed Nov 12, 2003

THE PAINT ON MY 1996 CHEVY CORSICA IS PEELING FOR NO REASON. MAY BE THE PRIMER OR PAINT DEFECT MOST OF THE PEELING IS ON THE HOOD, ROOF, TRUNCK LID, UPPER PARTS OF ALL FENDERS. SOME THE AREAS ARE LARGE. THE PROBLEM STARTED ABOUT 1 YEAR AGO. THE PAINT COLOR IS GREEN GRAY.

NHTSA ID
10046035
Incident
Nov 1, 2003
Mileage
90,000 mi
Filed Nov 5, 2003
Crash reported

THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE WAS STRUCK FROM BEHIND WHILE SITTING IN TRAFFIC.*MR THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED DAMAGE TO THE LEFT REAR BUMPER, TAIL LIGHT, QUARTER PANEL AND TRUNK. THE VEHICLE THAT IMPACTED THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE COMPLAINED OF BRAKE FAILURE. *PH *NLM

NHTSA ID
10046445
Incident
Jun 1, 2003
Body & structure
Filed Sep 4, 2003

THE PAINT IS PEELING OFF ON MY CAR. THESE SPOTS ARE NOT SMALL, BUT HUGE SPOTS THAT HAVE BUBBLED AND COME OFF FOR NO APPARENT REASON. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL ON THIS SINCE IT APPEARS TO BE A SERIOUS MANUFACTURER DEFEAT. PLEASE CONTACT ME AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. THANKS JR. *AK

NHTSA ID
10037237
Incident
Sep 4, 2003
Engine
Filed Aug 8, 2003

THE HEAD GASKET CRACKED/BROKE. I SMELT THE ANITFREEZE AND OPEN THE HOOD TO SEE IT DRIBBLE FROM THE HEAD GASKET. THE CAR DEALER IS FIXING IT FOR ~$800. THE CAR IS STILL YOUNG AT 95K MILES. PREVIOUSLY I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR 3-4 TIME TO CHECK THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE, WHICH NEVER MOVES ABOE THE 1/8TH MARK. SO I NEVER GOT ANY INDICATION THAT THE ENGINE HEATED UP TO LEAD TO THE GASKET FAILURE. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE FOR SUCH A LOW MILEAGE. THEY HAD A RECALL FOR 1995 CHEVY/PONTIAC SISTER CARS FOR THE SAME ISSUE, IS WHAT THE DEALER TOLD ME. SOUNDS LIKE THEY ARE ALL RELATED.

NHTSA ID
10031060
Incident
Aug 1, 2003
Mileage
95,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Jul 16, 2003

THE PAINT ON MY 1996 CHEVROLET CORSICA HAS BEEN PEELING OFF FOR OVER A YEAR NOW. FIRST I NOTICED LITTLE SPOTS HERE AND THERE, BUT NOW THEY ARE ALL OVER. THE ROOF TOP IS ALMOST COMPLETELY GONE! I CAN'T TAKE IT TO A CAR WASH BECAUSE I 'M AFRAID I'LL COME OUT WITH A PAINTLESS CAR! *AK

NHTSA ID
10028381
Incident
Jul 6, 2003
Engine
Filed Jul 14, 2003

THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED AT A USED CAR DEALERSHIP WITH 46,000 MILES ON IT. WHILE TRAVELING FLUID HAD TO BE REPLACED EVERY 800 MILES. ON 7/13/2003 THE HEAD GASKET BLEW. *AK

NHTSA ID
10027250
Incident
Jul 13, 2003
Filed Feb 10, 2003

THE PAINT WAS PEELING OFF OF THE VEHICLE.*JB

NHTSA ID
10006869
Incident
Sep 1, 2002
ElectricalEngine
Filed Aug 20, 2002

WHILE GOING UP A HILL IN TRAFFIC, THE ENGINE SUDDENLY DIED. THERE WAS NO WARNING. CONSUMER HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, THEY REPLACED BATTERY/ALTERNATOR AND THE TIMING BELT. *AK THE LIGHT HAD COME ON FOR COOLANT, BUT THE THERMOMETER NEVER GAVE WARNING, THE MECHANIC BLED THE LINES TO THE COOLANT AND THE LIGHT STILL REMAINED ON. CONSUMER FELT THAT SOMETHING WAS ELECTRICALLY WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE AND WANTED CHEVY TO OFFER A BUY BACK IN WHICH THEY REFUSED. *SCC

NHTSA ID
8016733
Body & structure
Filed Jul 13, 2002

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
764188
Engine
Filed Mar 12, 2002
1 injury reported

WHEN DRIVING VEHICLE WILL STALL OUT WITHOUT WARNING. CAUSE OF PROBLEM IS UNKNOWN. DEALER CONTACTED. *AK THERE WAS ONE INJURY. *YH

NHTSA ID
8005442
Incident
Feb 13, 2002
Engine
Filed Feb 25, 2002

VEHICLE STARTED OVERHEATING AND DRIVER SMELLED COOLANT. THIS WAS DUE TO A LEAKING HEAD GASKET. HEAD GASKET WAS REPLACED TWICE.*AK

NHTSA ID
8004447
Powertrain (other)
Filed Oct 29, 2001

WAS TOLD THIS WAS A BULLETIN AND RECALL ITEM/ PLEASE CONFIRM. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK

NHTSA ID
753820
Brakes
Filed Aug 4, 2001

ALL 4 BRAKES WENT OUT, NO PEDDLE, GARAGE FOUND DIRTY SENSORS ONLY, REST ALL GOOD. MASTER CLY. FULL, PULLED ABS FUSE, GOOD, REPLACED, THEN HAD PEDDLE BUT HAD GARAGE CHECK IT AS THATS WERE I STOPPED WITH NO BRAKES. SIMILAR PROB. 2 YEARS EARLIER ON FORD EXPLORER. FORMER US GOVT. CAR. *AK

NHTSA ID
749813
Incident
Jul 19, 2001

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

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