<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2020-02-13</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000867773</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>SUNPOWER CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>SPWR</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0000879764</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>TOTAL S.A.</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>2, PLACE JEAN MILLIER</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>LA DEFENSE 6</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>92400 COURBEVOIE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>I0</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode></rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription>FRANCE</rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2020-02-13</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>100600</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>8.8486</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>81629373</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See footnote</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F5"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2020-02-14</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>576000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>8.4393</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>82205373</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See footnote</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F5"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The transactions reported in Table I of this Form 4 were effected pursuant to a Rule 10b-18 trading plan adopted by the reporting persons on January 10, 2020.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The price reported in Column 4 is a weighted average price. These shares were purchased in multiple transactions at prices ranging from $8.77 to $8.90. The reporting persons undertake to provide the Issuer, any security holder of the Issuer, or the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission, upon request, full information regarding the number of shares sold at each separate price within the range set forth in this footnote.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">The price reported in Column 4 is a weighted average price. These shares were purchased in multiple transactions at prices ranging from $8.27 to $8.68. The reporting persons undertake to provide the Issuer, any security holder of the Issuer, or the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission, upon request, full information regarding the number of shares sold at each separate price within the range set forth in this footnote.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Following the transactions reported herein, includes 3,628,691 shares of Common Stock held by Total Gaz Electricite Holdings France SAS.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">Total Solar Intl SAS is an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Total Gaz Electricite Holdings France SAS, which is an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Total S.A. As a result, each of Total Solar Intl SAS, Total Gaz Electricite Holdings France SAS and Total S.A. may be deemed to beneficially own the securities reported herein.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>TOTAL S.A., By: /s/ Aurelien Hamelle, Name: Aurelien Hamelle, Title: General Counsel</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2020-02-18</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>TOTAL GAZ ELECTRICITE HOLDINGS FRANCE SAS, By: /s/ Laurent Vivier, Name: Laurent Vivier, Title: Managing Director</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2020-02-18</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>TOTAL SOLAR INTL SAS, By: /s/ Noemie Malige, Name: Noemie Malige, Title: Managing Director</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2020-02-18</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
