Total Complaints
71 filings
CHEVROLET BERETTA · model year
1989 CHEVROLET BERETTA
71 NHTSA complaints, 12 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1989CHEVROLETBERETTA carries 71 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 12 crashes, 7 fires, 13 injuries, and 6 fatalities. 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 1989 BERETTA is engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline with 5 filings, followed by seats (4) and service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip (4). 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 1989 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.
71
Complaints
12
Crashes
7
Fires
13
Injuries
6
Deaths
Crashes Reported
12 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 |
|---|---|
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 5 |
| SEATS | 4 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP | 4 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH | 3 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY | 3 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING | 3 |
| AIR BAGS:FRONTAL | 3 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS | 3 |
| TIRES | 3 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 2 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS | 2 |
| SEAT BELTS | 2 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:VACUUM | 2 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE | 2 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION | 2 |
Recent Complaints
20031210CrashSEAT BELTS:FRONT
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
20031210CrashSEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
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
20030405FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
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
Mileage: 93,314
20020920SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
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
20010828FireENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
WHILE DRIVING, CONSUMER HEARD A POP SOUND AND AFTER PULLING OVER, SAW SMOKE AND FIRE IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT. OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT. *SLC
20010813ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
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
20010813POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
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
20010813POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:TORQUE CONVERTER
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
20010403FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM
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
20010301SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT WHEN TRYING TO REMOVE IT BECOMES STUCK IN LATCH HOUSING. THERE IS A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM. MANUFACTURER TOLD CONSUMER THAT THIS VEHICLE WILL NOT BE COVERED BY RECALL. *AK
20001017SEATS
FRONT SEAT HAS A BROKEN WELD ON THE SEAT FRAME CAUSING NO BACK SUPPORT. *SLC
20001017SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
TO AVOID CRASH, CONSUMER SLAMMED ON BRAKES CAUSING A PASSENGER WHO WAS STRAPPED INTO A SEATBELT TO HIT THEIR HEAD ON DASHBOARD, SEAT BELT LATCH BUCKLE DETACHED AND SEPARATED, BOTH FRONT SEAT BELTS DO NOT LOCK OR FUNCTION PROPERLY. *SLC
20000623ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
CAR KEEPS STALLING CAN'T FIND OUT WHY. *AK
20000427CHILD SEAT:SHELL:BOOSTER
THE PLASTIC BELT GUIDE ON THE BOOSTER SEAT BROKE. THE SEAT BELT NOW WILL NOT STAY WITHIN THE BELT GUIDE, THUS MAKING THE BOOSTER SEAT UNSAFE AND UNUSABLE.
19991129TIRES
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
19991129TIRES
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
19991129TIRES:TREAD/BELT
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
19991026EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
HEADLIGHTS WORK SOMETIMES. THE DASHBOARD INDICATOR LIGHTS ALSO OPERATE OCCASIONALLY. CONSUMER DOES NOT DRIVE AT NIGHT. NOT HAVING LIGHTS WILL CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. *AK
19991026INTERIOR LIGHTING
HEADLIGHTS WORK SOMETIMES. THE DASHBOARD INDICATOR LIGHTS ALSO OPERATE OCCASIONALLY. CONSUMER DOES NOT DRIVE AT NIGHT. NOT HAVING LIGHTS WILL CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. *AK
19990928CrashAIR BAGS:FRONTAL
WHILE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING ANOTHER VECHICLE HIT HIM FROM THE SIDE WHILE GOING 45MPH. UPON IMPACT, AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. *AK
Compare 1989CHEVROLETBERETTA 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 1989 CHEVROLET BERETTA have?▼
The 1989 CHEVROLET BERETTA has 71 NHTSA complaints, 12 crashes, 7 fires, 13 injuries, and 6 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1989 CHEVROLET BERETTA?▼
The most-complained component for the 1989 CHEVROLET BERETTA is ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE with 5 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SEATS and SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP.
Is the 1989 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.