1992 Chevrolet Corsica Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe brake problems, particularly with the ABS system — pedals that sink toward the floor, delayed or intermittent braking, and ABS warning lights. Many complaints also describe smoke or a burning smell from the steering column area, often when the turn signals or hazard flashers are used. Reporting is spread across many years of use rather than concentrated in the first months, and several complaints are filed long after the original purchase.

1. 1
   Brakes

   Brake pedal sinks to floor / brakes fail to stop

   • 23 complaints (18%)
   • typically at 4.0 yrs old
   • 4 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1995–2002

   Owners describe pressing the brake pedal and having it travel to the floorboard, sometimes with a delay before any braking occurs, requiring pumping or use of the parking brake. Some say the ABS light comes on and the system releases or locks intermittently. Dealers reportedly replaced ABS sensors and harnesses or reset codes, and in several cases could not reproduce or correct the problem. Complaints span a wide range of mileages and model years, with many filed after several years of ownership; several occur at low speed and in wet or damp conditions.

   What to check: Ask for service records on the ABS system and test the pedal feel at low speed on a safe surface. Check whether the ABS warning light stays on after start-up.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Owner has ABS brakes. When the ABS brake light comes on vehicle must be cut off, and restarted to reset ABS brakes. Also vehicle fails to slow down when brakes are applied. Dealers finds no fault with ABS brakes. Consumer states this has been an ongoing problem, pedal gives way and it is difficult to stop vehicle.”

   NHTSA complaint #819049, filed 1997-11

   “Abs brakes; on occasions when applying brakes pedal goes to floor w/delay in response. Brake shoes/pads replaced (3) sets.tt also power steering is whining, shift indicator was replaced, consumer states it was difficult taking gear out of park and putting in reverse, front end alignment was performed.”

   NHTSA complaint #974485, filed 1995-11
2. 2
   Electrical system

   Steering column smoke or burning smell

   • 19 complaints (15%)
   • typically at 3.7 yrs old
   • 5 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1995–1999

   Owners report smoke or a burning-plastic smell coming from the steering column, near the hazard flasher switch or turn signal area. Several describe it happening while driving with the signals on, and one says the column caught fire from an electrical short. Some complaints reference an engineering investigation notice on this area. Reports cluster in the mid-1990s on vehicles of various ages, most often when the turn signals or hazard flashers are in use.

   What to check: Operate the turn signals and hazard flashers and watch and smell for smoke from the column. Ask whether the turn signal switch or column wiring has ever been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “On 8/10/99 fuse blew that controlled signal lights/back up lights.replaced fuse and it worked for a few days. Then fuse blew each time car was backed up.took to pep boys and was told car was fixed but fuse #5 kept blowing and then smoke came out of sterring wheel column.smell of burning wires but not flame.afraid of air bag(does not deploy) and smoke. Need car repaired as it is my sole source of transportation. I am renting car at the moment and cannot afford to continue. …”

   NHTSA complaint #710581, filed 1999-08

   “While driving about 60 MPH, smoke came from under the 4- way flasher switch on steering column. Dealer is aware of the problem. Vehicle being checked by dealership.”

   NHTSA complaint #826812, filed 1998-08
3. 3
   Air bags

   Airbag did not deploy in a frontal crash

   • 14 complaints (11%)
   • typically at 4.1 yrs old
   • 13 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1995–2002

   Complaints describe frontal or front-corner impacts in which the driver or passenger airbag did not deploy, sometimes with the shoulder belt also failing to lock or retract. Several of these descriptions involve vehicle damage severe enough to total the car. Complaints generally do not describe a dealer diagnosis. Reports come from vehicles involved in crashes at various speeds, from about 10 to 35 mph, across the 1990s.

   What to check: Ask whether the airbag warning light behaves normally and whether the car has any crash or airbag service history. Have any airbag fault codes read before purchase.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My daughter was involved in an accident driving this car. She basically ran into a person backing out of their driveway. The left front of my her car hit the other persons car causing extensive damage to my daughters car. I am concerned, at this point that the air bag didnot deploy upon impact. Would like to know if there are any logged complaints of this nature.”

   NHTSA complaint #756855, filed 2002-01

   “Air bag: pulling into parking lot at approximately 10mph and another car pulled out in front. The front of car hit right on the driver's side door. The air bag did not deploy, and car was totaled. 2 people were injured in accident.”

   NHTSA complaint #816824, filed 1997-10
4. 4
   Exterior lighting

   Brake lights and turn signals stop working

   • 18 complaints (14%)
   • median 15,000 mi at 1.2 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1995–2003

   Owners report brake lamps that stop working because the stop lamp switch becomes inoperative, and turn signals that work only intermittently or need repeated replacement. Some complaints say the vehicle was not covered by a switch recall because of its VIN, and one notes parts were unavailable when a recall appointment was made. One complaint also mentions a fuel smell from leaking injectors alongside the lighting problems. Reports appear from the mid-1990s through the early 2000s, not tied to a particular mileage.

   Recall 92V185000

   What to check: With the engine off, have someone press the brake pedal and confirm all brake lamps light. Check whether recall 92V185000 was performed for this vehicle.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “After starting the car, the ABS and brake light will stay on. They won't go off until restarting the car several times./ when pulling away from a stop the car will jump forward and a loud bang can be felt and heard from the rear of the car./ when the turn signal is on or when making a turn, the high beams can n0t be turned on or off./ the car will not stay in alignment. I have replaced several sets of tires due to this. The ride is extremely rough!/ the paint is just peeling right off the car. …”

   NHTSA complaint #700177, filed 1998-10

   “Fuel injectors are leaking which is causing the entire vehicle to smell of fuel. Cause unknown. Also, vehicle jerks. Tail lights keep blowing out, and signal lights operate intermittently.”

   NHTSA complaint #831595, filed 1999-01

Buying note. A pre-purchase inspection should focus on the brake system, especially ABS behavior and pedal feel, and on the steering column wiring. Because these cars are now decades old, documented maintenance and any completed recall work matter more than the reported mileage.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 59 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.