Total Complaints
90 filings
CHEVROLET BERETTA · model year
1988 CHEVROLET BERETTA
90 NHTSA complaints, 4 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1988CHEVROLETBERETTA carries 90 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 4 crashes, 5 fires, 5 injuries, and 1 fatality. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1988 BERETTA is structure:body:door:hinge and attachments with 9 filings, followed by electrical system:wiring:interior/under dash (5) and latches/locks/linkages:hood:latch (5). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.
NHTSA currently has 57 investigation files overlapping the 1988 BERETTA, and 2 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
90
Complaints
4
Crashes
5
Fires
5
Injuries
1
Deaths
Crashes Reported
4 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS | 9 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH | 5 |
| LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH | 5 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS | 4 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 4 |
| STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR | 3 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR | 3 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING | 3 |
| SEAT BELTS | 3 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION | 2 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE | 2 |
| POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY | 2 |
| STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION) | 2 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 2 |
| VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR | 2 |
Recent Complaints
20031227STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
RECALL OF 1988 CHEVY BERETTA DOOR HINGES/SEAT BELTS/HOOD LATCHES.*AK
Mileage: 187,631
20031227SEAT BELTS
RECALL OF 1988 CHEVY BERETTA DOOR HINGES/SEAT BELTS/HOOD LATCHES.*AK
Mileage: 187,631
20031227STRUCTURE:BODY:HOOD:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
RECALL OF 1988 CHEVY BERETTA DOOR HINGES/SEAT BELTS/HOOD LATCHES.*AK
Mileage: 187,631
20021122ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
NO SUMMARY. DT
20010529SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
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
20000531LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH
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 T
20000518LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH
AFTER HOOD WAS JAMMED AND OPENED, COULD NOT CLOSE IT BECAUSE LATCH DID NOT WORK. *AK
19990921LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:TRUNK LID:LOCK
POSSIBLE DESIGN FLAW OF TRUNK DOOR FAILED CAUSING WATER TO LEAK INSIDE TRUNK. HOWEVER, VEHICLE STILL LEAKS AFTER REPAIRS WERE DONE. *YC
19990921POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION LEAKAGE CAUSING ROUGH IDLE / JERKING AND FUMES ENTERING COMPARTMENT CAUSING CONSUMER SOAR THROAT. *YC
19990921STRUCTURE:BODY:TRUNK LID
RECALL COMPONENT (89V-225) WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER FAILED WITH THE DOOR HINGE BREAKING. *YC
19990908STRUCTURE:BODY:HOOD
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.
19990730LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH
HOOD FLEW OFF AND DAMAGED WINDSHIELD. MJS
19990730ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
MUFFLER RUSTED OUT. MJS
19990730ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
ENGINE BURNED WHILE IN DRIVEWAY. MJS
19990623STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
PASSENGER'S SIDE DOOR BROKE AND CAME OFF THE FRAME BECAUSE ONE OR TWO OF THE HINGES BROKE. DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK
19990517ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
STALLS GOING AROUND CORNERS, WHEN YOU PUT THE BRAKE ON IT STAHLS, BUT DOESN'T DO IT ALL THE TIME. ALSO DOES IT IN REVERSE.
19990422STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
DOOR HINGES FAILED THIS GREATLY. THIS WOULD COMPROMISE THE STRUTURAL INTEGRETY OF THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT DURING A CRASH, RESULTING IN THE LOSS OF LIFE AND OR LIMB DEALER HAS INFORMED MYSELF OF SAFTY BULLETIN ON THIES PARTS FAILING IN 1988 BERETTAS & CORSICAS. *AK
19990421STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
WHEN OPENING VEHICLE'S DOOR IT CAME COMPLETELY OFF DUE TO HINGES BREAKING. OFF. DEALER HAS NOT SEEN. *AK
19990223ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
EITHER THE TEMPERTUR SENSOR OR THE GUAGE COULD BE A DEFECT ON A LOT THE SAME CARS
19980713STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
WELD ON RIGHT DOOR HINGE BROKE, CAUSING THE FENDER TO BUCKLE IN WHEN THE DOOR OPENED.
Compare 1988CHEVROLETBERETTA to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations 2 Open
EA25007Engineering AnalysisOpen
Loss of motive power due to engine failure
PE23022Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Loss of Motive Power due to the Battery Energy Control Module
PE20016Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Electric Vehicle Battery Fires
EA20002Engineering AnalysisClosed
Outboard Front Seat Belt Anchor Cable Failure
PE20011Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Fuel Line Leak
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1988 CHEVROLET BERETTA have?▼
The 1988 CHEVROLET BERETTA has 90 NHTSA complaints, 4 crashes, 5 fires, 5 injuries, and 1 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1988 CHEVROLET BERETTA?▼
The most-complained component for the 1988 CHEVROLET BERETTA is STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS with 9 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH and LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH.
Is the 1988 CHEVROLET BERETTA safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Vehicle Safety Guides
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.