1989 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 1989 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
- Interior & seats914.3%
- Seat belts914.3%
- Brakes812.7%
- Electrical812.7%
- Engine69.5%
- Body & structure69.5%
- Fuel system34.8%
- Driver assistance34.8%
- Transmission23.2%
- Exterior lighting23.2%
- Airbags23.2%
- Steering23.2%
- Tires & wheels23.2%
- Heating & air conditioning11.6%
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
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING, THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT SLID BACKWARDS WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, CAUSING THE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL. THE VEHICLE FLIPPED OVER TWICE AND LANDED ON A BIG BOULDER.*AK THE CONSUMER STATED SHE WAS THROWN OUT OF THE BACK WINDSHIELD AND THE SEAT BELT DID NOT KEEP HER IN THE CAR. *CB *JB
FRONT SEAT HAS A BROKEN WELD ON THE SEAT FRAME CAUSING NO BACK SUPPORT. *SLC
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING, THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT SLID BACKWARDS WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, CAUSING THE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL. THE VEHICLE FLIPPED OVER TWICE AND LANDED ON A BIG BOULDER.*AK THE CONSUMER STATED SHE WAS THROWN OUT OF THE BACK WINDSHIELD AND THE SEAT BELT DID NOT KEEP HER IN THE CAR. *CB *JB
I'M GLAD I WAS IN MY DRIVEWAY WHEN I FOUND THAT I COULDN'T UN-BUCKLE MY SEATBELT. AN EMERGENCY SITUATION WOULD HAVE BEEN MUCH MORE INCONVEINIENT.*AK
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE CAR IS FALLING APART, AND I BELIEVE THAT IT IS DUE TO THE MANUFACTURING. I BELIEVE THAT IT IS OF POOR QUALITY. AND I NEVER RECEIVED AN OWNERS MANUAL FOR MY CAR, IT ALSO HAS AN ALARM IN IT, AND THE DEALER NEVER GAVE ME BOTH REMOTES FOR THE ALARM.I AM ALSO HAVING A PROBLEM WITH A LEAK IN MY CAR, AND I CAN'T FIND WHERE IT IS COMING FROM. THE BRAKES ARE ACTING UP ALSO, AND WE CAN'T FIGURE OUT WHAT IS WRONG WITH THEM. *AK
WHEN APPLYING THE ABS, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE WHICH CAUSED A COLLISION TO OCCUR. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
ON JAN,9 2003 I BOUGHT A 1989 CHEVY BERETTA WITH 90000 MILES ON IT FOR THE SUM OF 2300.00 DOLLARS. ON MARCH 31 2003 I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE WHEN THE VEHICLE BURST INTO FLAMES. THE FIRE MARSHAL TOLD ME THAT THE FIRE WAS CAUSED BY A FACTORY DEFECT IN THE REAR WINDOW DEFROSTER. *JB
WATER PUMP/TIMING BELT/COMPUTER/STARTER/TIRES/BRAKES AND FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED. *AK
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE DRIVING ENGINE WILL OVERHEAT, CAUSING TRANSMISSION TO LOCK UP, AND ENGINE TO STALL. THEN, AFTER TAKING VEHICLE TO DEALER, THEY SAID THAT DEFECT WAS WITH TORQUE CONVERTER CLUTCH. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION .*AK
WHILE DRIVING, CONSUMER HEARD A POP SOUND AND AFTER PULLING OVER, SAW SMOKE AND FIRE IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT. OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT. *SLC
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
DOORS ON THIS VEHICLE ARE COMING OFF AT THE HINGES. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
WHILE OPENING THE DOOR OF IT FELT AS IF THE HINGES FELL ONTO THE GROUND. IT WAS TO THE POINT THAT IF SOMEONE WAS TO LEAN ON THE DOOR WHILE VEHICLE WAS ROLLING HE WOULD HAVE FALLEN OUT OF VEHICLE. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
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
THIS PART FAILURE CAUSE A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF GAS TO FLOW ONTO A HOT ENGINE AND IT ALMOST CAUSED THE CAR TO CATCH FIRE. THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE GASOLINE COVERED THE PARKING LOT WHEN I TRIED TO CRANK THE CAR BEFORE I SAW SMOKE. I WAS JUST LUCKY THAT IT DID NOT START A FIRE THAT DAY.*AK
1987 BERETTA WAS GOING 90 MPH (A DRUNK DRIVER) WHO CRASHED INTO A LINCOLN CONTINENTAL 1989, IN WHICH THE 1987 BERETTA CRACKED IN HALF, EJECTING THE DRIVER WHO PASSED AWAY. WHILE THE FIRST PART OF THE VEHICLE DROVE OFF, THE SECOND PART OF THE BERETTA SLAMMED INTO THE PASSENGER SIDE OF CONTINENTAL IN WHICH THE PASSENGER'S FOOT GOT STUCK, AND THE FUEL TANK LEAKED AND EXPLODED, CAUSING A FIRE. PASSENGERS DID NOT MAKE IT OUT OF VEHICLE. MOTHER OF DRIVER WANTS TO KNOWIF SOME SORT OF MALFUNCTION OR DEFECT OCCURRED IN THIS INCIDENT, SUCH AS THE CAR SPLITTING IN HALF. *AK *ML
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
SUDDEN ACCELERATION ON ITS OWN, EVEN WITH BRAKES ON. *AK
TOOK FOOT OFF BRAKE TO PROCEED AND VEHICLE ACCELERATED AT HIGH SPEED. TT
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
WHILE DRIVING ENGINE WILL OVERHEAT, CAUSING TRANSMISSION TO LOCK UP, AND ENGINE TO STALL. THEN, AFTER TAKING VEHICLE TO DEALER, THEY SAID THAT DEFECT WAS WITH TORQUE CONVERTER CLUTCH. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION .*AK
IT SEEMS THAT YOU ALREADY HAVE TSB'S ON CLUTCH FAILURE BECAUSE OF GALLING BETWEEN THE THROWOUT BEARING AND INPUT SHAFT. I JUST WANTED TO ADD MINE TO YOUR DATABASE BECAUSE IT COST NEARLY 1,000.00 TO FIX.
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
HEADLIGHTS WORK SOMETIMES. THE DASHBOARD INDICATOR LIGHTS ALSO OPERATE OCCASIONALLY. CONSUMER DOES NOT DRIVE AT NIGHT. NOT HAVING LIGHTS WILL CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. *AK
THE STEERING COLUMN SMOKES WHEN YOU TRY TO TURN DUE TO TURN SIGNAL SWITCH SHORTING OUT. *AK
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
WHILE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING ANOTHER VECHICLE HIT HIM FROM THE SIDE WHILE GOING 45MPH. UPON IMPACT, AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. *AK
PASSENGERS AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY WHEN IN CAR ACCIDENT HIT ON FRONT LEFT. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TT
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
1987 BERETTA WAS GOING 90 MPH (A DRUNK DRIVER) WHO CRASHED INTO A LINCOLN CONTINENTAL 1989, IN WHICH THE 1987 BERETTA CRACKED IN HALF, EJECTING THE DRIVER WHO PASSED AWAY. WHILE THE FIRST PART OF THE VEHICLE DROVE OFF, THE SECOND PART OF THE BERETTA SLAMMED INTO THE PASSENGER SIDE OF CONTINENTAL IN WHICH THE PASSENGER'S FOOT GOT STUCK, AND THE FUEL TANK LEAKED AND EXPLODED, CAUSING A FIRE. PASSENGERS DID NOT MAKE IT OUT OF VEHICLE. MOTHER OF DRIVER WANTS TO KNOWIF SOME SORT OF MALFUNCTION OR DEFECT OCCURRED IN THIS INCIDENT, SUCH AS THE CAR SPLITTING IN HALF. *AK *ML
RACK IN THE STEERING BROKE, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO NOT BE TURNED OFF ONCE PLACED IN PARK. TT
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Tires & wheels
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.
From owner reports, verbatim
OUTER TREAD ON REAR RIGHT TIRE CAME LOOSE CAUSING DAMAGE TO RIGHT QUARTER PANEL AND CAUSED RUBBER HOSE TO GAS TANK TO COME OFF. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT) NLM
WATER PUMP/TIMING BELT/COMPUTER/STARTER/TIRES/BRAKES AND FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Heating & air conditioning
Reports naming the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system.
From owner reports, verbatim
AIR CONDITIONER FAILS CONTINUOUSLY DUE TO HOSES VIBRATING OFF.
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 .