1989 Chevrolet CORSICA: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
44 owner complaints analyzed
5 distinct recall campaigns
96,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1989 model year. Data snapshot: . 2 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly is the most frequently named component, appearing in 7 of 44 complaints (15.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 5 | 11.4% |
| Steering behavior | 5 | 11.4% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 4.5% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly | 7 |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash | 4 |
| Unknown Or Other | 4 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 4 |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 3 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 3 |
| Seat Belts | 3 |
| Seat Belts:Front:Anchorage | 3 |
Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly: 7; Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash: 4; Unknown Or Other: 4; Vehicle Speed Control: 4; Electrical System:Ignition: 3; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 3; Seat Belts: 3; Seat Belts:Front:Anchorage: 3
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 0
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (1). 42 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 17 |
| 1996 | 10 |
| 2000 | 5 |
| 2001 | 5 |
| 2003 | 1 |
| 2004 | 5 |
| 2011 | 1 |
1995: 17; 1996: 10; 2000: 5; 2001: 5; 2003: 1; 2004: 5; 2011: 1
Pattern summary
Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 5 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 5 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 2 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10038700 · 2003-09-11 (September 11, 2003)
1989 CHEVEROLET CORSICA SILVER/GRAY PAINT IS PEELING AND CHIPPING OFF. I KNOW IT IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE, BUT I HAVE SEEN OTHER SIMILAR COMPLAINTS AND WAS WONDERING IF YOU HAD INFORMATION REGARDING ANY SOLUTIONS TO THIS PROBLEM.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10038700 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10062441 · 2004-03-17 (March 17, 2004)
SHOULDER BELT SEPARATED FROM THE LAP BELT WHERE A RIVET HAD BROKEN LOOSE. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10062441 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10062447 · 2004-03-17 (March 17, 2004)
GRAY PAINT PEELING FROM FRONT FENDERS. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10062447 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10071093 · 2004-01-15 (January 15, 2004)
THE PAINT STARTED BUBBLING AND THEN COMING OFF IN SEVERAL PLACES ON THE CAR, BEGINNING WITH THE HOOD. I FEEL THERE SHOULD BE A CLASS ACTION AGAINST GM BECAUSE I SEE MANY CORCICAS WITH THE PEELING PAINT. I WONDER WHAT KIND OF CHEAP OR DEFECTIVE PAINT THEY USED ON THESE CARS? THEY ALL HAVE THE PEELING PAINT FROM 1989 THRU 1996.
Owner-reported narrative. 92,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10071093 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10076065 · 2004-06-10 (June 10, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 45 -50 MPH, THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL BENT OUT. THIS OCCURRED BECAUSE OF THE FAILURE DESCRIBED IN THE WHEEL RECALL 91V2130000, BUT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 100,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10076065 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10082258 · 2004-07-20 (July 20, 2004)
THE HEADLIGHTS HAVE FAILED TO WORK 4 TIMES ON THE VEHICLE. DUE TO THIS FAILURE AT NIGHT THE DRIVER HAD TO HOLD THE BRIGHTEST ON WHILE DRIVING UNTIL THEY ALSO FAILED WHICH COULD HAVE RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT WHILE TRYING TO FIND SOMEWHERE SAFE TO PULL OVER. THE DIMMER SWITCH HAS BEEN REPLACED 4 TIMES SINCE I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE AND I AM TOLD BY THE PREVIOUS ORIGINAL OWNER THAT IT HAD BEEN REPLACED AT LEAST ONE OTHER TIME WHILE IN THEIR POSSESSION. THIS SEEMS TO BE A BIG PROBLEM THAT RENDERS THE VEHICLE EITHER INOPERABLE AT NIGHT OR UNSAFE TO DR…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10082258 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10395438 · 2011-04-11 (April 11, 2011)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1989 CHEVROLET CORSICA EQUIPPED WITH COOPER LIFELINER TOURING SLE TIRES, LINE SIZE 205/70/R14. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH WHEN ONE OF THE FRONT TIRES BLEW. THE CONTACT INSTALLED THE SPARE TIRE ABD PROCEEDED DRIVING 65 MPH. MOMENTS LATER, THE SECOND FRONT TIRE BLEW AND ANOTHER SPARE TIRE WAS INSTALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10395438 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 484976 · 1995-07-14 (July 14, 1995)
PIECE OF FOAM MATERIAL FROM AIR CONDITIONING DEFLECTOR ASSEMBLY BLEW OUT FROM A/C VENT INTO DRIVER'S EYE, CAUSING INJURY. *SKD
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 484976 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
5 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
88V189000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly
Reported: 1988-12-06 (December 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: IN PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, THIS CONDITION COULDRESULT IN A FIRE.
Remedy: REPLACE FUEL TANK.
NHTSA campaign record ↗89V034000 · Seat Belts
Reported: 1989-03-10 (March 10, 1989)
FRONT SEAT BELT LATCH PLATES MAY NOT ENGAGE THE BUCKLE ASSEMBLIES.
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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗89V087000 · Seats
Reported: 1989-05-22 (May 22, 1989)
THE FRONT SEAT FRAME ASSEMBLY MAY CONTAIN AN IMPROPER, MISSING AND/OR MISLOCATED WELD THAT COULD FRACTURE.
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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗91V206000 · Seat Belts
Reported: 1991-11-26 (November 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: 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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗91V213000 · Wheels
Reported: 1991-12-06 (December 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: 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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗