1988 Chevrolet Beretta Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1988 Chevrolet Beretta, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Body & structure1518.3%
- Interior & seats1417.1%
- Seat belts911.0%
- Brakes78.5%
- Steering78.5%
- Engine78.5%
- Electrical56.1%
- Visibility56.1%
- Transmission44.9%
- Exterior lighting22.4%
- Fuel system22.4%
- Powertrain (other)11.2%
- Other / unspecified11.2%
- Suspension11.2%
- Airbags11.2%
- Driver assistance11.2%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
RECALL OF 1988 CHEVY BERETTA DOOR HINGES/SEAT BELTS/HOOD LATCHES.*AK
MY HOOD FLEW UP WHILE I WAS DRIVING AND SMASHED THE WINDSHIELD. I WAS DRIVING IN THE RAIN AND IT IS ONLY BY THE GRACE OF GOD THAT I DID NOT HAVE AN ACCIDENT AS THE TRAFFIC WAS SLOWING AHEAD OF ME I SLOWED DOWN AND THIS OCCURED. I HAD TWO PASSENGERS THAT WERE TOTALLY STARTLED BUT LUCKILY NO ONE WAS INJURED. I DID NOT KNOW THAT THIS VEHICLE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE HOOD LATCH UNTIL I HAPPENED UPON THIS WEB SITE. THANK YOU FOR PROTECTING THE INTEREST OF THE CONSUMER. FINALLY I HAVE NOT DRIVEN MY CAR SINCE THIS HAPPENED BECAUSE OF THE DAMAGE TO THE HOOD AND WINDSHIELD. I JUST LAST WEEK HAD A COMPANY COME OUT AND REPLACE THE WINDSHIELD FOR ABOUT $135.00 I DO NOT HAVE ANY ESTIMATES FOR THE HOOD YET.
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
ON THURSDAY, MAY 18, 2000, I FILED A COMPLAINT WITH NHTSA REGARDING A RECALL THAT WAS ISSUED FOR 1988 CHEVROLETS BERETTAS. I TRIED TO TALK TO GMC AND THE CHEVROLET DEALER NEAR MY HOUSE ABOUT FIXING THE LATCH ON THE CAR, IT WAS BENT. I HAD NO LUCK AND WAS TOLD THAT MY VIN # WAS NOT ONE OF THE ONES THAT WERE RECALLED. I WAS GOING TO TAKE THE CAR INTO A SHOP THAT SATURDAY TO TRY TO GET THE LATCH FIXED. I HAD TO WORK THE NEXT DAY AND SINCE THE HOOD WOULDN'T CLOSE ALL THE WAY, I STRAPPED IT DOWN. THE LATCH AND THE STRAP DIDN'T HOLD AND THE HOOD FLEW UP AND HIT THE WINDSHIELD, BREAKING IT AND BENT THE HOOD IN THE MIDDLE. I WAS DRIVING SLOW AND THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. MY PASSENGERS AND I WERE LUCKY. I KNOW MY CAR IS AN OLDER MODEL AND OLD CARS NEED REPAIRS BUT I DIDN'T WANT TO HAVE TO PAY FOR SOMETHING THAT WAS BROKE ON THE CAR WHEN IT LEFT THE PLANT. NOW I HAVE NO CAR TO DRIVE TO WORK AND STILL HAVE TO GET A NEW HOOD AND A NEW WINDSHIELD. PLEASE TELL ME WHAT I CAN DO ABOUT THIS. THANKS.*AK
AFTER HOOD WAS JAMMED AND OPENED, COULD NOT CLOSE IT BECAUSE LATCH DID NOT WORK. *AK
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
RECALL OF 1988 CHEVY BERETTA DOOR HINGES/SEAT BELTS/HOOD LATCHES.*AK
FEMALE SIDE OF DRIVER SEAL BELT COVER BROKE OFF 1-2 YEAERS AGO, SO I HAVE BEEN BUCKLING DRIVER BELT INTO PASSENGER BELT. COVER ON FEMALE SIDE BROKE OFF SO ANY PRESSURE APPLIED TO FEMALE SIDE WITH A BELT BUCKLED INTO IT RELEASES THE BELT. THE DRIVER HARNESS BROKE TODAY WHERE THE SHOULDER HARNESS MEETS THE LAP BELT. BOTH PIECES THAT BROKE WERE PLASTIC. THE BELT MAY HAVE BEEN REPLACED UNDER CAMPAIGN 90C36. *AK
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
STRUT MOUNTS/TAIL PIPE/REAR SHOCKS/CLUTCH/EMERGENCY BRAKE AND BRAKING SYSTEM FAILED.
WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED THE PEDAL BECOMES HARD, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. CONSUMER HAS HAD THE ROTORS AND THE BRAKE PADS RELACED. THE DEALER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
DIFFICULT TO CONTROL POWER STEERING WHEN WEATHER IS COOL.
AFTER TURNING KEY TO OFF POSITION, VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHUT OFF STEERING COLUMN HAD TO BE REPLACED. *AK *JB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
NO SUMMARY. DT
HOOD FLEW OFF AND DAMAGED WINDSHIELD. MJS
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT FAILED.
PARKED IN DRIVEWAY, CUT OFF, IGNITION SMOKE STARTED COMING FROM STEERING COLMUMN. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE WINDOW ON THE PASSENGER'S SID ECAME OUT OF THE TRACK. IT WILL GO UP/DOWN.
BOTH DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S LOCKS BROKE, DOORS WILL NOT STAY OPEN/RATTLE, ALSO DRIVEWR'S SIDE WINDOW FELL OFF THE TRACK. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
STRUT MOUNTS/TAIL PIPE/REAR SHOCKS/CLUTCH/EMERGENCY BRAKE AND BRAKING SYSTEM FAILED.
POSSIBLE DESIGN FLAW OF TRUNK DOOR FAILED CAUSING WATER TO LEAK INSIDE TRUNK. HOWEVER, VEHICLE STILL LEAKS AFTER REPAIRS WERE DONE. *YC
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Exterior lighting
Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.
From owner reports, verbatim
NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM STEERING COLUMN AROUND THE FLASHER BUTTON. TT
SMOKE COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN DUE TO A SHORT. TT
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE DRIVING, SMOKE COMES OUT OF THE STEERING COLUMN. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK
ALTERNATOR FAILED.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
ALTERNATOR FAILED.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE WHEEL RIMS ARE CRACKED, THIS IS THE THIRD TIME THAT THIS HAPPENED. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
STRUT MOUNTS/TAIL PIPE/REAR SHOCKS/CLUTCH/EMERGENCY BRAKE AND BRAKING SYSTEM FAILED.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
POSSIBLE DESIGN FLAW OF TRUNK DOOR FAILED CAUSING WATER TO LEAK INSIDE TRUNK. HOWEVER, VEHICLE STILL LEAKS AFTER REPAIRS WERE DONE. *YC
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
DOOR HINGE FAILED. *SD
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .