RoadVitals

1996 Chevrolet Beretta Engine Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Engine reportsComplaints 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.
19
Latest Aug 22, 2018
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
26%
of 72 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1996 Chevrolet Beretta submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 19 reports on file name it.

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

Owner reports naming engine

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

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
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
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
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
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
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
Engine
Filed Mar 10, 2000

LOSS OF ANTI-FREEZE DUE TO DEFECTIVE ENGINE INTAKE GASKET, AND EGR GASKET. *AK

NHTSA ID
719917
Incident
May 1, 1999
BrakesEngine
Filed Dec 14, 1999

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
716038
Incident
Dec 9, 1999
EnginePowertrain (other)Suspension
Filed Mar 19, 1999

BEARING AND HUB ASSEMBLY IS LOOSE IN THE LEFT FRONT.

NHTSA ID
544485
Incident
Aug 7, 1998
Engine
Filed Dec 5, 1998

ENGINE BLOCK MAKES LOUD NOISE. YH

NHTSA ID
781619
Incident
Aug 1, 1996
Engine
Filed Aug 11, 1997

INTERMITTENT STALLING. *AK

NHTSA ID
518893
EngineInterior & seats
Filed Aug 1, 1997

CONSUMER HAS BEEN HAVING ENGINE TROUBLE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. PASSENGER'S SEATS ROCKS FORWARD AND BACK. MANUFACTURER PROVIDED NO SATISFACTION. *AK

NHTSA ID
814656
Incident
Jul 18, 1997
ElectricalEngine
Filed Feb 18, 1997

ENGINE FAILED.

NHTSA ID
602547
Incident
Apr 26, 1996

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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .