Recalls (4)
NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for the 1988 Chevrolet Corsica. Check whether yours was repaired with NHTSA's free VIN lookup ↗
Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. PlainVIN shows every recall campaign listed for a model year, with the official text and how many cars have been fixed so far.
Check on NHTSA ↗INTERIOR SYSTEMS:PASSIVE RESTRAINT:BELTS
- Summary
- 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.
STRUCTURE:HOOD ASSEMBLY
- Summary
- SECONDARY HOOD LATCH ASSEMBLY ON THESE VEHICLES MAY NOT BE PROPERLY ADJUSTED AND COULD BECOME BENT. THIS WILL LEAD TO A CONDITION WHERE FULL PRIMARY LATCH ENGAGEMENT IS NOT ATTAINED.
- Consequence
- A BENT SECONDARY HOOD LATCH COULD LEAD TO THE PRIMARYLATCH NOT BEING FULLY ENGAGED, ALLOWING THE HOOD TO UNEXPECTEDLY OPEN. IF THISWERE TO OCCUR WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, THE HOOD MAY CONTACT THEWINDSHIELD, REDUCING THE FORWARD VISION AREA OF THE DRIVER AND A VEHICLE CRASHCOULD OCCUR WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
- Remedy
- REPLACE THE PRIMARY HOOD LATCH ASSEMBLY, THE SECONDARY HOOD LATCH ASSEMBLY, AND THE SUPPORT BRACKET.
STRUCTURE:DOOR ASSEMBLY:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
- Summary
- A DOOR HINGE (UPPER OR LOWER) MAY BREAK WHILE OPENING OR CLOSING THE DOOR MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO REPOSITION AND CLOSE PROPERLY.
- Consequence
- HINGE SEPARATION MAY REDUCE THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OFTHE SIDE OF THE CAR AND INCREASE RISK OF INJURY IN CERTAIN TYPES OF ACCIDENTS.
- Remedy
- REPLACE DOOR HINGES ON BOTH DOORS.
STRUCTURE:HOOD ASSEMBLY:LATCHES
- Summary
- SECONDARY HOOD LATCH ASSEMBLY MAY NOT HAVE BEEN PROPERLY ADJUSTED RESULTING IN LATCH BECOMING BENT.
- Consequence
- A BENT SECONDARY HOOD LATCH COULD CAUSE THE PRIMARYLATCH TO MALFUNCTION. IF THIS OCCURED THE HOOD COULD UNEXPECTEDLY OPEN. IFTHIS HAPPENED WHILE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION REDUCTION OF FORWARD VISIBILITY COULDCAUSE A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
- Remedy
- INSPECT AND REPLACE SECONDARY HOOD LATCH ASSEMBLIES AS REQUIRED.
PlainVIN shows public government records for education. It isn't a vehicle inspection or legal advice. Check your own VIN with NHTSA or your dealer.
Owner complaints (46)
46 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The electrical system is mentioned most often.
As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.
Most-reported components
| Component | Complaints | % of 46 |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 12 | 26.1% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 7 | 15.2% |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 7 | 15.2% |
| Seat belts | 6 | 13% |
| Vehicle speed control | 6 | 13% |
| Visibility | 5 | 10.9% |
| Exterior lighting | 4 | 8.7% |
| Service brakes | 4 | 8.7% |
| Steering | 3 | 6.5% |
| Structure | 3 | 6.5% |
How 1988 compares with other Corsica years
Best and worst Corsica years →| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|
| 1987 | 2 | 6 |
| 1988 | 46 | 4 |
| 1989 | 64 | 5 |
| 1990 | 55 | 2 |
| 1991 | 108 | 1 |
| 1992 | 125 | 1 |
| 1993 | 100 | 0 |
| 1994 | 123 | 1 |
| 1995 | 102 | 0 |
| 1996 | 110 | 0 |
Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Owners are still filing reports for recent model years, so these counts will grow. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Fuel economy: up to 25 mpg combined
- EPA annual fuel cost
- $2,700
- CO₂ tailpipe
- 356 g/mi
- EPA class
- Compact Cars
What it costs you to run
Miles ÷ 25 mpg × $4.354 (EIA US average regular, week of Oct 5, 2026, all taxes included). Source: EPA · EIA.
EPA label estimates from lab tests; your mileage will vary.
Specs by configuration
| Engine · transmission | Drive | City / Hwy / Comb | EPA $/yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 L 4-cyl · 5-speed manual | Front-Wheel Drive | 22 / 32 / 25 | $2,700 | 356 |
| 2 L 4-cyl · 3-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 21 / 28 / 24 | $2,800 | 370 |
| 2.8 L 6-cyl · 3-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 18 / 24 / 20 | $3,350 | 444 |
| 2.8 L 6-cyl · 5-speed manual | Front-Wheel Drive | 17 / 26 / 20 | $3,350 | 444 |
| 2.8 L 6-cyl · 5-speed manual | Front-Wheel Drive | 17 / 27 / 20 | $3,350 | 444 |
Source: EPA fuel economy data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026. Configurations are listed when EPA and NHTSA records match.
Looking at a 1988 Corsica for sale?
Print a one-page buyer's checklist: each recall campaign with a box to tick when the seller shows proof of repair, the top complaint areas to inspect, crash stars, MPG, and a link back to this page.
Where to next
1988 Chevrolet Corsica FAQ
How many recalls does the 1988 Chevrolet Corsica have?
NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns: 91V206000 (seat belt), 91V135000 (structure), 89V225000 (structure), 88V039000 (latch). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.
What are the most common 1988 Chevrolet Corsica problems?
Owners filed 46 complaints with NHTSA. Electrical system (12), Engine and engine cooling (7), Latches/locks/linkages (7) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.
What mpg does the 1988 Chevrolet Corsica get?
EPA rates the 2 L 4-cyl · 5-speed manual version at 22 city, 32 highway and 25 combined mpg. Other configurations are listed in the fuel economy section.
How does the 1988 Corsica compare with other years?
Among the 1987–1996 Chevrolet Corsica model years at least five years old, the 1987 drew the fewest complaints (2) and the 1992 the most (125). The 1988 drew 46. Counts are owner reports, not failure rates.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.