The 1992 Volkswagen Corrado has 3 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 368,517 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 72 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the visibility. Last updated July 5, 2026.
Recall campaigns
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING98V2950001998-11-136,217 affected
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…
Consequence
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…
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.
Consequence
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.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:HOSES/LINES/PIPING/FITTINGS
2
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:FOG LIGHTS
2
UNKNOWN
1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
1
Total complaints72
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“Dt: consumer was driving and a cloud of smoke came from behind steering wheel. Prior to this vehilce had been running hot. Consumer took vehicle to dealer for a coolant flush, and had the belt replaced around the fan. Also, had a new radiator installed. Consumer was in the car 5-10 minutes and the…”
“Consumer had the same problem as mentioned in nhtsa recall 98v295000. 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…”
“The temperature gauge flashed. The consumer heard a noise, and at that point the vehicle's cabin became filled with steam and hot radiator fluid was on the floor board. It was determined the heater core failed. *nlm”
“The vehicle experienced the same defect with the engine cooling system as stated in recall 98 v 295 000, but the vin number was not included. *nlm”
“Heater core recall repairs done. 1 year later it broke, causing radiator fluid to leak and front windshield to steam up.*ak”
“My heater core failed spilling radiator fluid into the passenger compartment and vapor through the hvac system.. I have been told this is a part that consistantly failed in my type of vehicle and am hoping that the manufacturer of the vehicle will be responsable and replace the part as a recall…”
“Heater core located behind ventilation system blew up, hot coolant hit vent and white smoke and coolant entered into vehicle, chemicals were very strong. Took vehicle to dealer ,and they will replace heater core, consumer indicated that he could have been injuried, because liquid was hot,consumer…”
“Fog lights overheat. Vwoa has refused hella oem fog light replacement design. Heated outside rear view mirror delaminates.*ak”
Defect investigations
InvestigationEA98012 Opened 1998-05-27 · closed 1998-11-20
HEATER CORE REPTURE
HEATER CORE ALLEGEDLY RUPTURES AND RELEASES HOT COOLANT INTO THE VEHICLE INTERIOR, RESULTING IN IMPAIRED VISIBILITY AND POTENTIAL BURN INJURIES TO OCCUPANTS.
InvestigationPE98006 Opened 1998-02-05 · closed 1998-05-27
HEATER CORE RUPTURE
HEATER CORE ALLEGEDLY RUPTURES AND RELEASES HOT COOLANT INTO THE VEHICLE INTERIOR, RESULTING IN IMPAIRED VISIBILITY AND POTENTIAL BURN INJURIES TO OCCUPANTS.
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1992 Volkswagen Corrado as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
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