1990 Volkswagen Corrado Owner Complaints

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1990 VOLKSWAGEN CORRADO. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60-65 MPH WITH THE DEFROSTER ACTIVATED WHEN EXCESSIVE AMOUNTS OF STEAM BEGAN TO EMIT THROUGH THE VENTS. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED BY A CERTIFIED MECHANIC WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS A SMALL LEAK COMING FROM THE HEATER CORE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THERE WAS A RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 96V115000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM) BUT THE CONTACTS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 136,000.

NHTSA ID

10369547

Incident

Dec 5, 2010

Mileage

136,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1990 VOLKSWAGEN CORRADO. THE HEATER CORE FAILED WHILE DRIVING. HE NOTICED STEAM EMITTING FROM THE VENTS AS WELL AS COOLANT ON THE WINDSHIELD. HE REFERENCED RECALL 96V115000 AND WAS TOLD THAT HIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL BUT THE DEALER REPAIRED THE VEHICLE FREE OF CHARGE IN 1998. HOWEVER, IN 2009, THE PART FAILED AGAIN. HE CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY WOULD NOT REPAIR THE VEHICLE FREE OF CHARGE THIS TIME AND REFERRED HIM TO THE MANUFACTURER. WHEN HE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER, HE WAS TOLD THAT SINCE THE WARRANTY EXPIRED, NO ASSISTANCE WOULD BE PROVIDED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 217,762. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 217,758.

NHTSA ID

10296053

Incident

Dec 14, 2009

Mileage

217,758 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE HEATER CORE LEAKS. THERE IS AN NHTSA RECALL, # 96V115000, REGARDING THE ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING: COOLING SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL; HOWEVER IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN.

NHTSA ID

10150726

Incident

Feb 21, 2006

Mileage

150,000 mi

DRIVING ALONG AN INTERSTATE AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE HEATER CORE IN MY 1990 VW CORRADO DEVELOPED A MAJOR LEAK ALL OF A SUDDEN, CAUSING VERY HOT COOLANT TO POUR ON MY RIGHT LEG AND FOOT, AND SUBSEQUENTLY CAUSING THE WINDSHIELD TO STEAM UP INSTANTLY, CAUSING LOSS OF OUTWARD VISION AND LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE CAR. I WAS ABLE TO FIND THE SIDE OF THE ROAD USING THE "RUMBLE STRIPS", AND CALLED A TOW TRUCK. I AM AWARE OF A RECALL ON SOME 1990 VW CORRADOS, BUT ACCORDING TO MY DEALER MY VEHICLE IS NOT WITHIN THE VIN RANGE FOR THIS RECALL, REGARDLESS OF THE FACT MY VEHICLE USES THE SAME FAULTY HEATER CORE AS THE ONES THAT ARE COVERED BY THE RECALL. THE DEALER WILL NOT AGREE TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. *NM

NHTSA ID

10141520

Incident

Oct 20, 2005

Mileage

124,300 mi

WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER NOTICED DASHBOARD COOLANT INDICATOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED, INDICATING ENGINE OVERHEATED. WINDOWS BECAME STEAMY, CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY. RECALL 96V115000 WAS ISSUED ON THIS MAKE, MODEL, AND YEAR. HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED UNDER THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK

NHTSA ID

10057728

CONSUMER STATES COOLIANT IS LEAKING INTO THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING. PROBLEM IS DUE TO A HEATER COIL FAILURE, DEALER AND THE MFR HAS BEEN NOTIFIED AND INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE VIN# WAS NOT COVER. TS

NHTSA ID

8022428

Incident

Sep 1, 2002

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT STOP WORKING, IT STUCK IN THE OUT POSITION, WILL NOT RETRACT BACK INTO POSITION. LEAVING PASSENGER UN PROTECTED IN AN ACCIDENT. NLM

NHTSA ID

8020031

Incident

Oct 2, 2001

VOLKSWAGEN REFUSES TO PAY FOR SEATBELT DUE TO "AGE AND MILES" AND "OUTSIDE INFLUENCES." THERE ARE SEVERAL CORRADO OWNERS WHO HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM, THEREFORE SUBSTANTIAL EVIDENCE EXISTS THAT INDICATES A DEFECT. I AM REQUESTING BOTH DRIVER SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE SEATBELTS TO BE REPLACED BY THE MANUFACTURER, FREE OF CHARGE.*AK

NHTSA ID

756434

Incident

Nov 15, 2001

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

745963

HEATER CORE FAILURE WHICH RESULTED IN STEAM INSIDE THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT AND ON THE INSIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD, BLOCKING VISIBILITY. CONTACTED LOCAL VOLKSWAGEN DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THERE IS NO RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM. WAS QUOTED $680.00 TO REPAIR.*AK

NHTSA ID

745471

Incident

Jan 17, 2001

HEATER CORE FAILURE CAUSED WINDSHIELD TO FOG UP WHILE DRIVING. EVEN WITH VENTS CLOSED IT STILL CAUSED POOR VISIBILITY. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER A RECALL DUE TO VIN. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK

NHTSA ID

879510

Incident

Jan 20, 2001

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 45 MPH, ALL OF SUDDEN THERE WAS SMOKE IN VEHICLE. VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP, WHERE THE HEATER CORE WAS CHANGED. VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN 96V115000 VW/ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ID

866946

Incident

Jul 26, 2000

I PURCHASED THIS CAR 3 YEARS AGO AT A MILEAGE OF 109,000. ALL IN ALL I HAVE NOT DRIVEN THE CAR FOR MORE THAN 2 AND A HALF WEEKS SINCE I'VE HAD IT AND I HAVE ALREADY SPENT OVER $4000 DOLLARS ON IT. IS THAT FAIR FOR A CAR WITH A PRICE TAG OF 6,000 DOLLARS USED. I'VE SPENT THE REST OF THE 3 YEARS RAISING MONEY TRYING TO FIX ONE PROBLEM AFTER ANOTHER. I AM A STUDENT WITH A LEMON AND 2 PART-TIME JOBS TRYING TO FIX IT. THESE 2 RECALLS WERE DONE ON CORRADOS WITH VIN NUMBERS WITHIN THE FOLLOWING RANGES: WVW_ _ _50_KK000001 - WVW_ _ _50_LK012692 . MY CORRADO HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AND NEED THE SAME PARTS REPLACES AND DESPITE THIS VW DOES NOT WANT TO INVESTIGATE THIS MATTER FURTHER. PLEASE HELP ME, CAUSE I DONT KNOW WHAT TO DO. *AK

NHTSA ID

726376

Incident

Mar 1, 2000

HEATER CORE BLEW OUT, CAUSING ANTI-FREEZE TO LEAK INTO PASSENGER'S COMPARTMENT. A RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED ON VEHICLE'S MAKE/MODEL; HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN. *AK

NHTSA ID

863973

Incident

Jun 7, 2000

$10,000 FIRE UNDER THE HOOD OF THE CORRADO WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH. NO BRAKES, NO SEATBELT OR HARNESS RELEASE. MY SON AND GRANDSON WERE TRAPPED.THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WAS GONE.CHP CAME OUT AS WELL AS THREE ENGINE COMPANIES.MY CORRADO WAS GUTTED UNDER THE HOOD AND THE FIRE WENT OUT BETWEEN THE HEADLAMPS AND UNDER THE CAR. *AK

NHTSA ID

724244

ON JAN. 13, 2000 I CALLED A 1-8OO# TO VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA TO ASK FOR AN INVESTIGATOR TO COME AND INVESTIGATE[AS A COURTSEY] WHY ON JAN. 6, 2000 MY 1990 CORRADO WITH 39006 MILES STARTED AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE WHILE RUNNING 60 MILES AN HOUR ON AN INTERSTATE. THE CAR HAD BEEN DRIVEN 11 MILES ON THE DAY WHEN THE FIRE STARTED. THE POWER AND BRAKING SYSTEMS WERE GONE. THE RETRACTABLE SHOULDER HARNESS AND SEAT BELTS WOULD NOT RELEASE. THREE FIRE ENGINES FROM THREE DIFFERENT LOCATIONS RESPONDED, A CHP STOPPED TO HELP. THERE IS A REPORT THAT STATES WELL INVOLVED VEHICLE ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE. UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF FIRE WHICH INCLUDED FORM OF HEAT. I WAS TOLD I HAD TO MANY MILES ON MY CAR.I BOUGHT AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ON MY CAR FOR SEVEN YEARS OR SEVENTY THOUSAND MILES.ALL RECALLS THAT WE EVER RECEIVED NOTICE OF WERE TAKEN IN FOR RECALL CHECKS. MY WINDSHIELD HAD A FLAT SPOT IN IT THAT I COULD NEVER GET THEM TO EXCHANGE.THE WIPERS NEVER WORKED PROPERLY.JUST BEFORE THIS FIRE . MY CAR HAD BEGAN TO BUCK AND SHUT OFF ONLY TO REFIRE AND START AND CONTINUE RUNNING. THE INSURANCE ADJUSTER WOULD NOT LISTEN TO ME ABOUT HAVING AN INVESTIGATION.AS I HAD JUST BURIED A FAMILY ON THE JAN. 3, AND MY SON AND GRANDSON WERE TRAMATIZED BY THE FIRE AND THE HEAT, PLUS BEING UNABLE TO GET THE SEAT BELTS AND HARNESSES RELEASED. I DON'T WANT ANOTHER THREE YEAR OLD CHILD TO EXPERIENCE WHAT NICKOLUS DID.EVERY DAY HE PLAYS OUT THE CARS BURNING AND THE CHILDREN BEING STUCK IN THE CAR. PERSONALLY, I WAS AMAZED BY THE RESPONSE THAT I GOT FROM VOLKSWAGON OF AMERICA. TWENTY THOUSAND DOLLARS SEEMED ENORMOUS WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR BUT I WAS SOLD ON A VW HAVING OWNED SEVERAL OTHERS OVER THE YEARS. AT PRESENT I OWN A 1990 TOYOTA TRUCK, 1946 FORD SEDAN AND A 1931 MODEL A RODSTER. I NEED SOME HELP AND I NEED THE MESSAGE TO GET OUT TO OTHER CORRADO OWNERS. AS A PREVIOUS BURN SURVIVOR WITH OVER SEVENTY[70] PERCENT SCARING AND DISFIGUREMENT I BELIEVE IN PREVENTION.SHERI THURMAN

NHTSA ID

719951

Incident

Jan 6, 2000

CAR HAS UNCONTROLLED IDLE SPEED. COULD CAUSE UNINTENDED ACCELLERATION. *AK

NHTSA ID

716040

Incident

Dec 11, 1999

AFTER RECALL REPAIRS COMPLETED (96V-115 AND 92V-058001), SEVERAL FAILURES DUE TO REPAIR PROBLEMS (FUEL SYSTEM,WIRING, SPEAKERS DAMAGED). *MJS

NHTSA ID

549867

Incident

Nov 8, 1999

RECALL 96V- 115 000/ ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM: VEHICLE EXPERIENCED PROBLEM WITH HOT COOLANT LEAKING INTO VEHICLE, MAY CAUSE BURNS ONTO THE FOOT OR LEG. MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE WAS NOT PART OF RECALL. *AK

NHTSA ID

851456

Incident

Oct 19, 1998

THE DRIVER'S WIPER DOESN'T WIPE 2/3RDS OF WINDSHIELD . NOTICED MANY OTHER CORRADO'S HAVING SAME PROBLEM IN CLUBS ON INTERNET. I'VE TRIED NEW BLADES AND BENDING THE ARM(WHERE THE PROBLEM IS), DOESN'T HELP ANY. THE ONLY THING LEFT IS TO GRIND ON THE BASE OF THE ARM TO MAKE THE ARM GO LOW ENOUGH TO MAKE FULL CONTACT WITH WINDSHIELD DURING IT'S FULL SWEEP. I DON'T FEEL LIKE I SHOULD HAVE TO TAMPER WITH A SAFETY ITEM. IT SHOULD WORK CORRECTLY NO MATTER WHAT.

NHTSA ID

712438

Incident

Aug 17, 1998

I HAVE BEEN TO THE HERITAGE VW/SUBARU DEALER IN OWINGS MILLS, MD TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM 3 TIMES AND HAD TO PAY FOR VARIOUS SERVICES.

NHTSA ID

709959

Incident

Aug 1, 1998

PASSENGER'S SIDE SHOULDER BELT DOESN'T WORK DUE A SHORTAGE IN MOTORIZED SHOULDER BELT. *AK

NHTSA ID

842443

Incident

Jul 7, 1999

POOR DESIGN OF REAR PANEL HOLDS LICENSE PLATE AS WELL,FALLS OFF WHILE DRIVING, LEAVING YOU WITHOUT A LICENSE PLATE IN THE REAR. I WORKED IN A VW DEALER AND THIS WAS A COMMON COMPLAINT ON CORRADO'S AND GOLFS.THE CORRADO OWNERS CLUB OF N.A. ALSO HAS NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON RECORD FOR THIS COMMON DEFECT,AND A SAFETY ISSUE,AS IT LEAVES VEHICLE WITHOUT A REAR LICENSE PLATE NOT TO MENTION POSSIBLE DAMAGES/ACCIDENTS TO ANYONE FOLLOWING THAT CAN BE STRUCK BY LICENSE PLATE AND PANEL FALLING OFF AT SPEED! *AK

NHTSA ID

706518

Incident

May 14, 1999

G60 ALUMINUM HOUSING WHERE REAR BRAKE OUTLET LINE FROM ABS UNIT LEAKS HAD TO REPLACE ENTIRE ABS UNIT

NHTSA ID

706179

Incident

Feb 1, 1999

HAD RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE 96V115000. HAD NOTIFIED THE DEALER. WAS INFORMED NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE TO REPAIR COOLING SYSTEM. CALLED THE MANUFACTURER & INFORMED PARTS WOULD BE AVAILABLE IN SEPT. 98. SAID VEHICLE DRIVABLE.. IT HAD OVERHEATED IN TRAFFIC. DEALER STILL HAS NO PARTS. *AK

NHTSA ID

832951

Incident

Oct 1, 1998