RoadVitals

1996 Chevrolet Beretta Owner Complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full

Data refreshed

Complaints on fileComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
72
Latest Aug 22, 2018
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
9
Filed in the last 12 monthsReports filed with NHTSA in the trailing 365 days. Recent volume reflects attention and vehicle age as much as anything else.
0
Reports on file since Mar 25, 1996

What this page shows

Our database holds 72 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1996 Chevrolet Beretta. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Complaints, most recent first

Showing 1–25 of 72 · page 1 of 3

EngineFuel system
Filed Aug 22, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 CHEVROLET BERETTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED THE SAME SYMPTOMS AS LISTED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 07E021000 (FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 170,000.

NHTSA ID
11121662
Incident
Nov 1, 2004
Mileage
170,000 mi
Tires & wheels
Filed Jun 5, 2006

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED DURING A ROUTINE MAINTENANCE CHECK IT WAS DISCOVERED ALL 4 TIRES ON THE VEHICLE WERE DRY ROTTING. THE INNER SIDEWALLS WERE CRACKED AND DRIED. THE DRY ROT WAS MORE SEVERE ON THE 2 FRONT TIRES. ALL FOUR TIRES WERE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT ALERTED. THE TIRE BRAND IS KELLY NAVIGATOR GOLD, THREE OF THE TIRES HAD THE SAME TIRE LINE PJT217KR3102 AND THE FOURTH TIRE IS PJT217KR3002.

NHTSA ID
10159039
Incident
May 23, 2006
Mileage
116,448 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Aug 4, 2005
Crash reported1 injury reported

ACCELERATOR STUCK, THIS WAS NOT THE FIRST TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED. IT HAS HAPPENED ABOUT 8 TIMES PREVIOUSLY. BUT THIS TIME, THE ACCELERATOR STUCK CAUSING THE DRIVER TO LOOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND RUN OFF THE ROAD AND CRASH INTO A CONCRETE BUCKNUM, DAMAGE DONE TO ENTIRE CAR. *NM

NHTSA ID
10131506
Incident
Jul 30, 2005
Mileage
140,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Sep 2, 2004

I HAVE A 1996 BERETTA Z26 3.1L V6 AND EVERY MORNING WHEN I GET UP AND GO TO WORK MY BACK BRAKES LOCKED UP ON ME UNTILL I GET THEM WARMED UP. AND MY ABS LIGHT STAYS ON IN THIS CAR ALL THE TIMES.ALSO SOMETIMES WHEN I HIT MY BRAKES I DONT HAVE ANY BRAKES THE FIRST TIME THEN I HIT THEM AGAIN AND THEY WORK I HAVE RECENTLY HAD BOTH FRONT AND BACK BRAKES REPLACED AND THIS DIDNT FIX THE PROBLEM THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM I FOUND OUT BY SURFING AND INVESTIGATING ON THE WEB. *AK

NHTSA ID
10089031
Incident
Sep 1, 2004
Mileage
125,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Jan 23, 2004
Crash reported2 injuries reported

THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS STOPPED TO MAKE A LEFT TURN WHEN HE WAS REAR ENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE AND CAUSED THE CONSUMER TO REAR END ANOTHER VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT, NEITHER OF THE FRONTAL AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. *AK *SC *JB

NHTSA ID
10052046
Incident
Dec 26, 2003
Mileage
60,000 mi
Engine
Filed Dec 22, 2003

MY 1996 CHEVROLET BERETTA HAS HAD CHRONIC LEAKING PROBLEMS AROUND THE LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD. FIRST IT WAS FROM VARIOUS BOLTS, THEN FROM THE MAIN GASKET EVEN THOUGH THE CAR ONLY HAS 75K MILES ON IT. I CALLED CAR SHOPS IN THE AREA AND EVERYONE I SPOKE TO SAID THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE GM 3.1L ENGINES. IT'S RIDICULOUS THAT THERE IS A FAULTY GASKET IN THESE CARS THAT COSTS ABOUT $600-800 TO REPLACE, BUT THERE IS NO RECALL. *AK

NHTSA ID
10050930
Incident
Dec 22, 2003
Mileage
76,000 mi
Engine
Filed Aug 8, 2003

THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD. *JB

NHTSA ID
10032499
Incident
Aug 8, 2003
Brakes
Filed Aug 8, 2003

WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED, THE ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD. *JB

NHTSA ID
10032493
Incident
Aug 8, 2003
Electrical
Filed Jun 29, 2003

ELECTRICAL PROBLEM; ALTERNATOR/ BATTERY BATTERY DISCHARGES WHEN A/C OR AIR COMPRESSOR IS RUN AT FULL POWER. HAVE HAD ALTERNATOR REPLACED (AC DELCO, NEW) TWICE IN PAST WEEK. ENTIRE SYSTEM HAS BEEN SCANNED AND NO CODES ARE PRESENT. REPLACED THE BATTERY AND STILL EXPERIENCING POWER FAILURE. ABLE TO RUN HEATER CONTROL ON FULL POWER, BUT UNABLE TO RUN A/C OR DEFROSTER ON FULL POWER (FAN/BLOWER CONTROL). *NLM

NHTSA ID
10023967
Incident
Jun 15, 2003
Electrical
Filed Jun 20, 2003

HAVE REPLACE ALTERNATOR ABOUT SIX TIMES. MAKES NO DIFFERENCE AT TO OEM, MAKE OR DELCO AUTHORIZED DEALER. ALWAYS TEST GOOD BUT FAILS SHORTLY THEREAFTER WITH NECESSITY TO REPLACE BATTERY AT TIMES. HEARD IT WAS A DESIGN PROBLEM DUE TO EXCESSIVE HEAT BUT CAN FIND NO SUCH REFERENCE. *NLM

NHTSA ID
10023467
Incident
Apr 7, 2003
Mileage
60,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Feb 28, 2003

THE EXTERIOR PAINT ON THE HOOD, TRUNK, AND ROOF SHOWS SIGNS OF EXCESSIVE CHIPPING. THE PROBLEM IS ONCE A SINGLE CHIP OCCURS THEN THE PAINT PEELS ALL THE WAY AROUND IT. THE PEELING OF THE PAINT IS OUT OF CONTROL. IT IS RIDICULOUS AS THIS CAR HAS BEEN GARAGE KEPT FOR 6 OUT OF 7 YEARS.*JB

NHTSA ID
10008253
Incident
Sep 1, 2002
Mileage
55,000 mi
Engine
Filed May 13, 2002

3 HEAD GASKET FAILURES ON THIS VEHICLE. 1ST REPAIR WAS UNDER WARRANTY ON 12/16/98 AT 27392 MILES. 2ND REPAIR WAS AFTER WARRANTY PERIOD, PAID BY MYSELF, ON 2/01 AT 62253 MILES. BOTH REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED AT VALLEY CHEVROLET SERVICE CENTER, 221 CONYNGHAM AVE, WILKES-BARRE, PA 18702. HEAD GASKET IS NOW LEAKING AGAIN AT 77000 MILES AND THE 1 YEAR WARRANTY ON THE LAST REPAIR EXPIRED IN FEBRUARY OF 2002, 3 MONTHS AGO. I CONTACTED CHEVROLET CORPORATION, AND HAVE A COPY OF THEIR EMAIL RESPONSE STATING THEY WILL NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS REPAIR. THEY STATED THAT COVERED PROBLEMS OCCUR "EARLY" IN THE VEHICLES USAGE, (THE FIRST REPAIR WAS UNDER THE ORIGINAL WARRANTY PERIOD) AND THAT THIS VEHICLE IS TOO OLD AND HAS TOO MANY MILES FOR THEM TO TAKE RESPONSIBLITY AT THIS TIME.*AK

NHTSA ID
761856
Incident
May 8, 2002
Exterior lighting
Filed Feb 1, 2002

HEADLIGHTS KEEP COMING ON AND OFF AT ANYTIME DURING THE DAY, THERE IS NO WAY TO TURN THE LIGHTS OFF. PEOPLE THINK I AM FLASHING MY HEADLIGHT AT THEM. *AK

NHTSA ID
757626
Incident
Nov 30, 1998
Brakes
Filed Sep 26, 2001

THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM SINCE I PURCHASED THE VECHICLE. I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER AND WAS TTOLD THEY "LUBED THE ROTORS". THE ABS LIGHT HAS BEEN COMING ON AND OFF RECENTLY. TODAY I WENT TO STOP AND THE BRAKES KEPT GOING I HAD TO PUT ON THE EMERGENCY BRAKE.*AK

NHTSA ID
752606
Incident
Sep 26, 2001
Brakes
Filed Aug 22, 2001
Crash reported

HAD VEHICLE IN A GM REPAIR SHOP ON THREE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS WHILE UNDER WARRANTY. THIS IS A INTERMITTENT PROBLEM DEALER COULD NO FIND ANYTHING WRONG, BECAUSE IT IS INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. THAT PROBLEM IS BRAKE PEDAL GOES TO FLOOR. (BRAKE FLUID IS FULL ) THIS SEAM TO HAPPEN AFTER VEH. HAS SET OVERNIGHT, OR DRIVING AT HIWAY SPEED ON A LONG TRIP. FINALLY INVOLVED IN A REAR END COLLISION AS LISTED ABOVE. FORTUNATLY NO ONE HURT THIS TIME.THIS HAS HAPPENED TO MY SELF, MY WIFE AND MY SIXTTEEN YEAR OLD SON. THIS THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG AND NOBODY SEEMS TO CARE OR REALLY LOOK INTO THIS UNTILL SOME IS KILLED. I HAVE CHECKED @ ASKJEEVES ? FOUND 1 ACCURANCE OF 1996 CHEV BERETTA BRAKE FAILURE .W/ONE INJURY. SO I KNOW THAT IS OUT THERE. YOUR HELP MUCH APPRECIATED. THANK YOU. *AK

NHTSA ID
750949
Incident
Aug 17, 2001
Engine
Filed May 4, 2001

OIL SHOULD BE CHANGED EVERY 3000 MILES, I HAVE TO ADD OIL EVERY 1000 - 1500 MILES, NOT UNDER WARRANTY ANYMORE, IT SHOULD NOT LEAK AFTER SEAL WAS REPLACED. *AK

NHTSA ID
744931
Electrical
Filed Jan 16, 2001

THE ALTERNATOR HAS GONE BAD TWICE SO FAR. ONCE AS INDICATED AND ALSO ON 12/18/2000, WITH 75140 MILES ON VEHICLE.*AK

NHTSA ID
739494
Incident
Aug 14, 1998
ElectricalEngineTires & wheels
Filed Nov 13, 2000

SERPENTINE BELT FAILED. NLM

NHTSA ID
557261
Engine
Filed Oct 30, 2000

CAVALIERS/SUNFIRES AND S-10 PICKUPS ARE COVERED BY AN EXTENDED WARRANTY TO 100,000 MILES FOR THIS COMMON FAILURE. I AM TOLD THAT THE BERETTA IS NOT *AK

NHTSA ID
735429
Incident
Oct 9, 2000
BrakesEngine
Filed Oct 11, 2000

CONSUMER HAS MULTIPLE PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE. BRAKES & ROTORS HAD TO BE REPLACED AT 17,495 MILES. DEALER SAID IT WAS NORMAL WEAR. ON OCTOBER 5TH, THE VEHICLE WAS IN FOR A LUBE JOB, AND DEALER NEVER DETECTED THAT HEAD GASKET & FREEZE PLUG WERE LEAKING. CONSUMER TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC TO BE CHECKED. VEHICLE HAS NOW 19,000 MILES.*AK

NHTSA ID
872708
Incident
May 8, 2000
Engine
Filed Aug 12, 2000

VEHICLE HAS INTERMITENT LOSS OF POWER WHICH CAN OCCUR AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. VEHICLE HAS BEEN SERVICED FIVE TIMES; YET, THE PROBLEM IS RECURRING. THE ENGINE MAKES A TICKING NOISE, AND POWER DROPS TO ABOUT 35 MPH. DEALER REPLACED FUEL FILTER, FUEL PUMP, FUEL GUAGE, O2 SENSOR. THIS TIME, THE DEALER INSISTS THAT IT MUST BE A CLOGGED CATALYTIC CONVERTER. IT IS DANGEROUS TO LOSE VEHICLE POWER ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY, AND IT IS AGGRAVATING TO BE TOLD BY A DEALER THAT THE "PROBLEM" HAS BEEN "FIXED" FOR THE FIFTH TIME."

NHTSA ID
727645
Incident
Aug 9, 2000
Engine
Filed Jul 18, 2000

ENGINE HEAD GASKET FALIURE. ENGINE DAMAGE SEVERE. DEALER AND GM CONTACTED WITH NO RESULTS.*AK

NHTSA ID
725655
Incident
Apr 15, 1999
Electrical
Filed Jun 27, 2000

AFTER A LENGTH DISCUSSION WITH SERVICE MANAGER, BRYAN RADIN, TODAY I WAS TOLD THE WORK WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY DUE TO THE SPACE IN THE REPAIR DATES AND I WOULD BE CHARGE THE FULL RATES. ONLY AFTER I POINTED OUT THAT MY IGNITION COILS HAVE BEEN PREVIOUSLY REPLACED AND HAVE A LIFE TIME WARRANTY A DEDUCTION IN THE BILL WAS MADE. I HAVE BEEN GIVEN EXCUSE UPON EXCUSE OF WHAT THE PROBLEM COULD BE BUT I STILL FIND MYSELF TOWING MY CAR BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP WEEKS LATER WITH THE SAME RECURRING PROBLEMS.*AK

NHTSA ID
724663
Incident
Jun 26, 2000
Engine
Filed Apr 26, 2000

VEHICLE IDLED AT ABOUT 3000 RPM FOR NO REASON. NO ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON, AND NO FAULTY CODES WERE DETECTED. CONSUMER HAD AIR CONTROL VALVE REPLACED, BUT IT DID NOT FIX THE DEFECT. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK

NHTSA ID
860981
Incident
Dec 10, 1998
Engine
Filed Mar 29, 2000

LOSS OF OIL (TWO QUARTS) EVERY 1000 MILES OF WEAR. THERE ARE NO SIGN OF LEAKAGES. DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. *AK

NHTSA ID
859412
Incident
Sep 15, 1999

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.

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