1991 Chevrolet Corsica

Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.

70/100

Worth a look

AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.

What owners actually report

Owners have filed 133 complaints with NHTSA about the 1991 Chevrolet Corsica, and it carries 1 recall. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.

Complaints by area, from NHTSA records for this model-year
Area	Complaints	Share
Exterior lighting	27	20%
Electrical system	27	20%
Air bags	20	15%
Steering	14	11%
Structure	11	8%
Service brakes	10	8%
Visibility	5	4%
Engine and engine cooling	3	2%
Power train	3	2%
Tires	2	2%

In owners' own words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.

HEADLIGHT SWITCH WHICH ENGAGES THE HIGH/LOW BEAM FAILED. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK
NHTSA complaint: Exterior lighting

1991 CORSICA IGNITION WILL NOT TURN BACK SO I CAN GET KEYS OUT OF THE IGNITION, I HAD MY CAR WORKED ON IN A DEALERSHIP 3 TIMES AND IT COST ME OVER $300.00, IT IS DOING THE SAME AGAIN AND ALSO IN 2002 ON A SNOWY ROAD I W
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system

STEERING IS VERY HARD TO TURN, DEALER REPLACED HOSE AND CONSUMER STATED AFTER REPAIRS THE STEERING WAS NOISY. *JG
NHTSA complaint: Steering

STEERING IS VERY DIFFICULT, IT TURNS VERY HARD. ALSO, CAR MAKES A LOT OF LOUD NOISES. *AK DEALER STATED PROBLEM WAS WITH THE STEERING RACK. *JB
NHTSA complaint: Steering

1 TIRE WAS DETECTED EARLY WITH A BUBBLE 2 WEEKS AFTER I BOUGHT THEM. I RETURNED IT AND WAS REPLACED AT NO COST. ANOTHERN TIRE BLEWOUT AND WAS DESCRIBED AS ( SEPARATED FROM THE INSIDE AND HAD BUBBLE AFTER IT WAS FILLED W
NHTSA complaint: Tires

VEHICLE STALLS AFTER GOING OVER 60 MPH AND COMES TO A STOP, CONSUMER HAS TAKEN VEHICLE IN FOR INSPECTION BUT DEALER UNABLE TO LOCATE THE PROBLEM, POSSIBILY ENGINE RELATED. *JB
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling

MY SON WAS ENTERING THE HIGHWAY FROM AN ON-RAMP, ACCELERATING TO THE SPEED OF TRAFFIC. THE HOOD LATCH ON THE VEHICLE FAILED AND THE HOOD POPPED OPEN SUDDENLY. IT SWUNG BACK AND HIT THE WINDSHIELD, CRACKING THE WINDSHIE
NHTSA complaint: Latches/locks/linkages

Recalls on record

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 1991 Chevrolet Corsica. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.

Steering: steering wheel/handle bar 91V083000

NUT ATTACHING STEERING WHEEL MAY NOT HAVE BEEN PROPERLY TIGHTENED DURING INSTALLATION.

Risk: THIS COULD ALLOW STEERING WHEEL TO SEPARATE FROM STEERINGCOLUMN; LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL AND A CRASH COULD OCCUR WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.

Fix: TIGHTEN THE NUT TO THE PROPER TORQUE AS NECESSARY.

The seven scores

Reliability raw	77	good
Longevity est.	77	good
Maintenance	89	excellent
Depreciation	57	average
Performance	47	below average
Efficiency	45	below average

How it compares in its class

Percentile ranks against other midsize & large cars in the catalog.

Reliability: better than 36% of midsize & large cars
Longevity: better than 49% of midsize & large cars
Running costs: better than 97% of midsize & large cars
Value retention: better than 36% of midsize & large cars

Which of these numbers are measured

What stands behind each score for this car:

Reliability 77: from NHTSA recalls and complaints. This one is a raw count: we do not have a sales figure for this model, so a high-volume car looks worse here than it should.
Longevity 77: an estimate from powertrain and brand record. No 200,000-mile population exists for a 1991 car yet, so this is a prior, not evidence.
Maintenance 89: repair-cost data where we have it for this model, otherwise a mechanical-complexity estimate from engine size, cylinder count and drivetrain.
Safety: no score. NHTSA crash testing thins out for older vehicles and we would rather show nothing than guess.

Common questions

What goes wrong with the 1991 Chevrolet Corsica?

Owners have filed 133 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and exterior lighting is the most reported area with 27 of them (20%). There is 1 recall on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.

Is the 1991 Chevrolet Corsica reliable?

AVOIR scores its reliability 77/100 (good) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.

How long will a 1991 Chevrolet Corsica last?

AVOIR scores its longevity 77/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 1991 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.

Should I buy a 1991 Chevrolet Corsica?

AVOIR's read: worth a look, because a solid ownership case with specific caveats below. Its overall ownership score is 70/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.

Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.