1993 Volkswagen Corrado

Defect. 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.

Remedy. 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.

Defect. 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.

Remedy. 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.

Defect. 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.

Remedy. REROUTE AND SECURE VARIOUS WIRING HARNESSES INSIDE THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT.

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: 98V295000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 190,000.

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 THE CAR AT ANY TIME. CORRADO USER GROUPS ON LINE CONSISTENTLY REPORT THIS AS A WELL KNOWN RECURRING PROBLEM. WHAT IS THE MANUFACTURER'S RESPONSIBILITY TO ITS CUSTOMERS IN THIS SITUATION? THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION.

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

FAILURE OF HEATER CORE IN 1993 VW CORRADO SLC RESULTING IN A NEAR INSTANTANEOUS FOGGING AND COMPLETE LACK OF VISIBILITY IN THE CAR.

CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT HEATHER CORE FALILURE. MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED AT THE TIME OF THIS CALL.*AK

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

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

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. I HAVE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS WITH ANY OTHER VEHICLE THAT I HAVE DRIVEN. MY VW CORRADO IS IN GREAT OVERALL CONDITION. IT IS TAKEN CARE OF QUITE WELL. IT DRIVES FINE, BUT I CAN NO LONGER USE THE HEATER OR VENT SYSTEM. I HAVE HEARD, THROUGH VW CLUBS, ETC. THAT RECALLS WERE INITIATED FOR THIS VEHICLE.*AK

THERE WAS SOME FUEL LEAKAGE COMING FROM VEHICLE, IT WAS LEAKING FROM THE FUEL LINES TO THE FUEL RAIL AND CAUSING A FUEL SMELL, DEALER REPLACED THE FUEL LINES. *SLC

WHITE THICK GAS WAS COMING FROM VENTS OF VEHICLE. THERE WAS A LITTLE ODOR. ALSO, THICK WHITE GAS MADE VISIBILITY POOR. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER INDICATED PROBLEM WAS HEATER CORE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING COOLING FAN BROKE, CAUSING ENGINE TO OVERHEAT AND VEHICLE TO STALL OUT. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP, AND MECHANIC INDICATED THAT THE WIRES FOR COOLING FAN HAD BEEN MISROUTED AND NEEDED TO BE CHANGED.*AK

RADIATOR FAN SEIZED UP, LOUD GRINDING NOISE HEARD, THEN IT STOPPED. CONTACTED DEALER. *AK CONSUMER WAS TOLD BY DEALERSHIP VEHICLE IS NOT COVERED UNDER RECALL, ALTHOUGH OTHER VEHICLES IN THE SAME YEAR HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. *JB

CONSUMER HAD BEEN HAVING PROBLEM WITH COOLING SYSTEM FAN JUST LIKE IN RECALL 98V295 000 COOLANT SYSTEM FAN. *AK

COOLANT LEAKAGE FROM DUCTS ONTO FLOOR AND STEAM RELEASED THROUGH FRONT WINDOW VENTS, CAUSING LOSS OF VISIBILITY. *AK

HEATER CORE FAILED SOON AFTER I STARTED ENGINE. THE ENGINE WAS COLD. FUMES/VAPOR STARTED COMING FROM THE VENTILATION SYSTEM INTO THE CAR. APPARENTLY THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH 1990 CORRADOS (NHTSA 96V115000 CORRADO RECALL) BUT THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL FOR LATER MODELS, DESPITE SIMILAR FAILURES REPORTED BY OTHER CORRADO OWNERS (AFTER 1990). *AK

WATER PUMP HAS BEEN REPLACED BY DEALER ONCE, AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. A RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED ON THE COOLING SYSTEM, HOWEVER, WATER PUMP WAS NOT INCLUDED UNDER THE CORRECTIVE ACTION.*AK

NO SUMMARY

AFTER HEATER CORE FAILURE REPAIRS VEHICLE EXPERIENCED INTERMITENT ELECTRICAL FUNCTION . CHECKED TO FIND COOLANT DAMAGE AND ADVISED NOT TO DRIVE DUE TO THREAT OF ELECTRICIAL SHORT LEADING TO DASH FIRE .*AK

AFTER REPAIRS ON HEATER CORE RECALL.NOW THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCING INTERMITENT ELECTRICAL FUNCTION IN DASH .*AK

HEATER CORE EXPLOTED STEAM AND ANTIFREEZ INTO INTERIOR OF CAR FLOOR AND THROUGH THE DUCTS. NOTE NOT ONLY THE HEATER CORE THAT FAILS BUT ALSO OTHER COOLANT COMPONETS ,INSTALL COOLANT PRESSURE THROTTLE .

WHILE TRAVELING NOTICED SMOKE WAS COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD, AND ENGINE OVERHEATED. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMTON.*AK

WHILE DRIVING THERE IS A RATTLING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COOLING FAN. DEALER/MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED ABOUT THE PROBLEM. OWNER WAS INFORMED THAT VEHCLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL CAMPAIGN 95V178000 ENGINE COOLING FAN. VEHICLE HAS THE SAME EXACT SYMPTOMS AS LISTED IN RECALL. *AK

I HAD CHECKED BEFORE HAND IF MY HEATER CORE WAS UNDER THE CURRENT RECALL FOR 93 CORRADOS, BUT IT WASN'T. NOW MY HEATER CORE IS HAVING PROBLEMS AND LEAKING INTO THE PASSENGER SIDE OF MY VEHICLE. I CANNOT AFFORD TO PAY FOR THE $600 THE DEALER IS ASKING FOR PUTTING IN A $60 PRODUCT. THEREFORE I HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO EXCHANGE THE HEATER CORE MYSELF WHICH IS GOING TO BE A MAJOR PAIN.

THE HEATER CORE FAILED, ALLOWING FLUIDS AND STEAM TO RELEASE INTO THE INSDE OF THE VEHICLE FROM THE VENTS . VEHICLE NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL 98V295000. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

HEATING CORE IS NOT WORKING, AND FOR THAT REASON THE HEATER DOESN'T WORK. CONSUMER HADN'T REPLACED IT YET. *AK

PRESSURE LIGHT KEPT COMING ON THE COOLING SYSTEM. THE COOLING SYSTEMS HOSES CAME OFF. RECALL #98V295000. DOES NOT AFFECT THIS VEHICLE, BUT HAS THE SAME TYPE OF PROBLEM. *AK

HEATER CORE EXPLODED IN STEAM, COMPONENT RECALLED BUT CONSUMER NOT NOTIFIED.

NO SUMMARY PROVIDED BY CONSUMER. *AK

THERE HAVE BEEN A SEVERAL SMALL DEFECTS, BUT THE LAST TWO WERE MAJOR. THEY WERE THE FAILURE OF THE IGNITION CONTROL MODULE IN OCT 1998 ($1,440), AND THE HEATER CORE RUPTURED IN JAN 1999 ($440). THE COOLING SYSTEM STILL SEEMS NOT TO BE OPERATING CORRECTLY BECAUSE IT OPERATES BETWEEN 215 AND 230 DEG F IN 25 TO 35 DEG F AMBIENT TEMPERATURES. ALSO, THERE IS STILL A SMALL LEAK IN THE COOLING SYSTEM NEAR THE TOP DRIVERS SIDE OF THE RADIATOR WHICH HAS NOT BEEN LOCATED PRECISELY YET. IN SPITE OF THESE NIGGLING PROBLEMS, I STILL GREATLY ENJOY DRIVING MY CORRADO AND WOULD LIKE TO KEEP IT FOR ANOTHER 5 YEARS. *AK

EXPERIENCING PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE WATER PUMP LEAKING. DEALER/MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED. DEALER INFORMED OF NO RECALL ON VEHICLE. MANUFACTURER ALSO INFORMED CONSUMER OF NO KNOWLEGE OF RECALL OF VW/ COOLANT SYSTEM, NHTSA # 98V-295 000. COULD I RECEIVED SOME HELP IN THIS MATTER? *AK

THIS SERVES AS NOTIFICATION OF AN INCIDENT WHICH I WAS URGED TO REPORT TO THE NHTSA VIA THE CORRADO CLUB OF AMERICA. THE OFFICIAL NHTSA INVESTIGATION NUMBER IS EA98-012. THE INCIDENT WAS NOT REPORTED TO VW OF AMERICA BY MYSELF, BUT PERHAPS BY THE DEALER WHO PERFORMED THE REPAIRS; VW OF SANTA MONICA WHOSE SERVICE WAS EXCELLENT. I WAS NOT CHARGED FOR MAIN PARTS OR LABOR, ONLY MINOR ITEMS SUCH AS GASKETS AND COOLANT. I ONLY HOPE THAT THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN AGAIN AND THAT THE REPLACEMENT PART WAS BETTER THAN THE ORIGINAL AS THIS OCCURED AT A MOST INCONVENIENT TIME.

FAN MOTOR DEFECTIVE CAUSING WIRING TO OVERHEAT AND CATCH FIRE WHEN MOTOR SHORTED OUT.

ALTHOUGH THE DEALER KNOWS OF THE PROBLEM, THEY HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO DUPLICATE IT SINCE IT IS INTERMITTENT. REPAIR HAS BEEN ATTEMPTED BY THE DEALER WITH NO IMPROVEMENT. VWOA HAS BEEN CONTACTED AND THEIR POSITION IS THE CAR MEETS FACTORY SPECIFICATIONS' SINCE THE DEALER CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. TO SAY THAT THE DEALER CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM IS NOT THE SAME AS 'MEETING FACTORY SPECIFICATIONS. I HAVE ASKED VWOA TO CONSIDER REPLACING THE MOTORIZED BELT, WHICH HAS HAD MANY PROBLEMS BASED ON REPORTS PROVIDED TO CAR ENTHUSIAST LISTS, WITH THE CANADIAN STYLE 3 POINT SYSTEM AND ELIMINATE THE PROBLEMATIC MOTORIZED SYSTEM. THEIR RESPONSE HAS BEEN TO SAY THAT THERE IS NO PROBLEM. ANY AND ALL HELP WOULD BE APPRECIATED. THANK YOU...

HEATER CORE FAILED, CAUSING HOT COOLANT TO POUR ONTO FLOOR, WINDOWS BECAME STEAMED UP, AND DRIVER COULDN'T SEE OUT OF WINDOW.

HOSE TO HEATER CORE BURSTED, RELEASING STEAM INTO VEHICLE CABIN, FILLING CABIN WITH STEAM AND FOGGING UP WINDOWS, SERIOUSLY COMPROMISING VISIBILITY, COMPROMISING VISIBILITY.

VW STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER A HEATER CORE RECALL, ALTHOUGH THE HEATER CORE RUPTURED, DUMPED ANTI-FREEZE IN THE INTERIOR FOOTWELLS.

HEATER CORE MALFUNCTIONED.

ENGINE CYLINDER BLOCK CONSUMED OIL AND AN OVERHAUL WAS DONE AT 49000 MILES.

VEHICLE STARTED TO MAKE NOISE FROM THE ENGINE. CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALER. THE ENGINE COOLING FAN WAS GONE BAD. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

CLYINDER HEAD GASKET FAILURES ON EARLY VOLKSWAGON VR6 ENGINES ARE ALMOST GUARNATEED. FAILURE RESULTS IN OVERHEATED ENGINE.

HAD RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE (#95V178000), ENGINE COOLING FAN. THE RECALL WAS DONE OVER A YEAR AGO, BUT THE PART HAD FAILED. CONTACTED DEALERSHIP & DEALER REFUSED TO REPAIR IT AGAIN DUE TO 1 YR EXPIRATION. *AK

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE THE HEATER CORE BLEW UP, WHICH CAUSED WINDOWS TO STEAM UP AND SPRAYED HOT ENGINE COOLANT OVER THE FLOOR AND DRIVER'S FEET. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO AVOID A CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO OWNER'S HOME. *AK

HEATER CORE FAILED CAUSING COOLANT TO LEAK ONTO CONSUMER, CAUSING LOSS OF VISIBILITY/LOSS OF CONTROL/ACCIDENT.

MAIN POWER DISTRIBUTION MODULE FAILURE.

A SHORT IN EITHER THE POWER DISTRIBUTION MODULE NEAR THE ENGINE OR THE COOLING FAN CIRCUIT WHICH IS POWERED THROUGH THE POWER DISTRUBUTION MODULE CAUGHT FIRE. VEHICLE WAS PARKED AT TIME OF FIRE.

HEATER CORE LEAKED ANTI-FREEZE COOLANT AND STEAM THROUGHT VEHICLE'S DUCTWORK. IN ADDITION, PLASTIC HOUSING TO WHICH THE THERMOSTAT ATTACHES WARPED AND WAS LEAKING, AND RADIATOR FAN MOTOR WAS REPLACED WHEN IT STARTED SQUEALING AND SEIZED. *AK

ENGINE COOLING FAN FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL,, DRIVER'S VIN NOT INCLUDED AMONG THOSE RECALLED. *AK

ENGINE COOLING FAN FAILURE. FANS WERE RECALLED ON SOME VOLKSWAGON CORRADO'S BUT THIS VEHICLE'S VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED.