Total Complaints
54 filings
CHEVROLET BERETTA · model year
1990 CHEVROLET BERETTA
54 NHTSA complaints, 5 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1990CHEVROLETBERETTA carries 54 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 5 crashes, 1 fire, 10 injuries, and 2 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 1990 BERETTA is electrical system:wiring:interior/under dash with 6 filings, followed by seat belts:front:buckle assembly (6) and vehicle speed control (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 1990 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.
54
Complaints
5
Crashes
1
Fires
10
Injuries
2
Deaths
Crashes Reported
5 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 |
|---|---|
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH | 6 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY | 6 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 4 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 4 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION | 4 |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 3 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL:SWITCH | 2 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS | 2 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE | 2 |
| STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS | 2 |
| WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS | 2 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:PEDALS AND LINKAGES | 1 |
| SEAT BELTS | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL) | 1 |
| STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20011113ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:GAS RECIRCULATION VALVE (EGR VALVE)
ELECTRONIC EGR VALVE IS SPRING-LOADED CLOSED. EXHAUST PRESSURE OVERCOMES SPRING PRESSURE, CAUSING UNDERHOOD EXHAUST LEAK. NOTICED PROBLEM BY SMELLING EXHAUST INSIDE CAR. SNAPPED THROTTLE OPEN AND SAW PUFF OF EXHAUST GAS FROM EGR VALVE. POTENTIAL ASPHYXIATION PROBLEM! *AK
20010323SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
BRAKE LINE PUNCTURED, RESULTING IN AN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK
20010316SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
THE SEATBELTS WILL NOT STAY HOOKED IN PLACE, LATCH BROKEN.
20010314SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
CLIP ON SEAT BELT BROKE OFF,SEAT BELT VERY EASILY RELEASED UNINTENTIONALLY FROM CLASP. *AK
20000925SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
BRAKING SYSTEM IN THE FRONT AND REAR/ HUB ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED CONTINUOUSLY. ALSO, TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED 4 TIMES. DEFECT KEPT OCCURRING. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
20000925POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
BRAKING SYSTEM IN THE FRONT AND REAR/ HUB ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED CONTINUOUSLY. ALSO, TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED 4 TIMES. DEFECT KEPT OCCURRING. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
20000925WHEELS:RIM
BRAKING SYSTEM IN THE FRONT AND REAR/ HUB ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED CONTINUOUSLY. ALSO, TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED 4 TIMES. DEFECT KEPT OCCURRING. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
20000911WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE'S WHEEL FELL OFF OF THE VEHICLE, DUE TO POSSIBLE LUG NUT FAILURE. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT) *MJS
19991229UNKNOWN OR OTHER
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK
19991224UNKNOWN OR OTHER
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
19991021SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
SEAT BELT ON THE DRIVER SIDE HAS COME APART. ALSO, EMERGENCY BRAKE HANDLE BUTTON TO ACTIVATE HAS COME APART. CONTACTED DEALER. *AK
19991021PARKING BRAKE:INDICATOR LIGHT
SEAT BELT ON THE DRIVER SIDE HAS COME APART. ALSO, EMERGENCY BRAKE HANDLE BUTTON TO ACTIVATE HAS COME APART. CONTACTED DEALER. *AK
19990907STEERING
THE STEERING BRACKET AND BOLTS ATTACHED TO THE FIREWALL SHEARED OFF WHICH CAUSED STEERING DIFFICULTIES AND MAY RESULT IN A CRASH. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
19990614STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
STEERING COLUMN COUPLING BROKE, CAUSING STEERING COLUMN TO FALL OFF. *AK
19990425EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR THIS VEHICLE.
19981110ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
THREE 3 ENGINE CYLINDER HEADS ARE CRACKED AS PER A MECHANIC. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
19980609WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE AT 30MPH THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL FELL OF DUE TO LUGS:NUTS:BOLTS LOOSENING. *AK
19980428ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS
WHILE DRIVING SMOKE IS COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL, POSSIBLY FROM TURN SIGNAL LIGHTS. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
19980420STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
PAINT PEELED OFF THE BODY OF A VEHICLE.
19980127SUSPENSION:REAR
REAR TRAILING ARM BROKE AT WELD. ALSO, LEFT FRONT SEAT BELTS FAILS TO OPERATE PROPERLY. *AK
Compare 1990CHEVROLETBERETTA 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 1990 CHEVROLET BERETTA have?▼
The 1990 CHEVROLET BERETTA has 54 NHTSA complaints, 5 crashes, 1 fires, 10 injuries, and 2 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1990 CHEVROLET BERETTA?▼
The most-complained component for the 1990 CHEVROLET BERETTA is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH with 6 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY and VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL.
Is the 1990 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.