Owners filed 72 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the service brakes, hydraulic › antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip. It has been recalled 2 times.
What fails
Component
Reports
Crashes
Fires
Injuries
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
11
2
0
2
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline
8
0
0
0
Electrical System › Alternator/Generator/Regulator
4
0
0
0
Power Train › Manual Transmission
3
0
0
0
Fuel System, Gasoline › Fuel Injection System
3
0
0
0
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
3
0
0
0
Vehicle Speed Control
2
2
0
2
Suspension › Front
2
1
0
0
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Disc
2
0
0
0
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components
2
0
0
0
2 safety recalls
Part 573 reports
Fuel System, Other › Storage › Tank Assembly › Pressure Relief Devices07E021000
Filed Mar 12, 2007742 vehiclesDelphi
Defect. CERTAIN DELPHI FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS, P/NOS. FP10020-11B1, FP10026-11B1, AND FP10027-11B1, SOLD AFTER JANUARY 9, 2007, AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE UNIVERSAL PRESSURE REGULATORS (UPR) WERE PRODUCED WITHOUT AN O'RING AND RETAINER.
Risk. FUEL MAY LEAK, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A FIRE.
Remedy. DELPHI WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE UPR FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 23, 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT DELPHI AT 877-411-8770.
Interior Lighting98V027000
Filed Feb 17, 1998249,420 vehiclesGeneral Motors Corp.
Defect. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE VEHICLES WERE BUILT WITH THE POTENTIAL FOR THE INTERIOR LAMPS TO COME ON UNEXPECTEDLY WHILE THE VEHICLES ARE BEING DRIVEN. THIS DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 101, "CONTROLS AND DISPLAYS."
Risk. THE INTERIOR LAMPS COMING ON UNEXPECTEDLY COULD STARTLE A DRIVER CAUSING A MOMENTARY LOSS OF CONTROL INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
Remedy. DEALERS WILL RUN A DIAGNOSTIC TEST ON THE LAMP CONTROL MODULE AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE IT.
What owners reported
Newest filings
Engine
Filed Aug 22, 2018170,000 milesND
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.
Tires › Sidewall
Filed Jun 5, 2006116,448 milesWI
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.
Vehicle Speed ControlCrash1 injured
Filed Aug 4, 2005140,000 milesKY
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
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Filed Sep 2, 2004125,000 milesNC
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
Air Bags › FrontalCrash2 injured
Filed Jan 23, 200460,000 milesIL
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
Engine and Engine Cooling › Exhaust System › Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe
Filed Dec 22, 200376,000 milesNJ
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
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Filed Aug 8, 2003CA
WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED, THE ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD. *JB
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Aug 8, 2003CA
THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD. *JB
Electrical System › Alternator/Generator/Regulator
Filed Jun 29, 2003PA
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
Electrical System › Alternator/Generator/Regulator
Filed Jun 20, 200360,000 milesTX
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
Structure › Body
Filed Feb 28, 200355,000 milesOH
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
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed May 13, 2002PA
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
Exterior Lighting › Headlights
Filed Feb 1, 2002MA
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
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Filed Sep 26, 2001MA
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
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Master CylinderCrash
Filed Aug 22, 2001CA
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
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline
Filed May 4, 2001PA
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
Electrical System › Alternator/Generator/Regulator
Filed Jan 16, 2001TX
THE ALTERNATOR HAS GONE BAD TWICE SO FAR. ONCE AS INDICATED AND ALSO ON 12/18/2000, WITH 75140 MILES ON VEHICLE.*AK
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline › Belts and Associated Pulleys
Filed Nov 13, 2000FL
SERPENTINE BELT FAILED. NLM
Engine and Engine Cooling › Cooling System
Filed Oct 30, 2000IL
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
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Filed Oct 11, 2000OH
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
No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.
Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.
Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.
Most recent recall on file: Mar 12, 2007. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.