Total Complaints
129 filings
CHEVROLET BERETTA · model year
1994 CHEVROLET BERETTA
129 NHTSA complaints, 11 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1994CHEVROLETBERETTA carries 129 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 11 crashes, 7 fires, 6 injuries, and 0 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 1994 BERETTA is service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip with 15 filings, followed by structure:body:door (9) and power train:automatic transmission (6). 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 1994 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.
129
Complaints
11
Crashes
7
Fires
6
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
11 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 |
|---|---|
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP | 15 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR | 9 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 6 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 6 |
| TIRES | 5 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS | 5 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS | 5 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC | 4 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL:SWITCH | 4 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN | 4 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 4 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 4 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH | 4 |
| SUSPENSION:FRONT | 3 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:HIGH/LOW BEAM DIMMER SWITCH | 3 |
Recent Complaints
20130911TIRES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 CHEVROLET BERETTA WITH KUMHO SOLUS TIRES. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHOOK AS THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE TIRE SHOP FOR DIAGNOSIS BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM . THE TIRE WAS REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 117,000. THE TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000.
Mileage: 117,000
20120305TIRES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A SET OF CORNELL 1000 TIRES, LINE SIZE: P185/75R14, WHICH WERE BEING UTILIZED ON A 1999 CHEVROLET BERETTA. WHILE TRAVELING 55 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD BEGUN TO VIBRATE ABNORMALLY. AFTER EXAMINING THE VEHICLE THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE BELTS ON ALL FOUR TIRES WERE SEPARATED. THE TIRES WERE TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TIRES COULD NOT BE REPAIRED AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE TIRES WERE NOT REPLACED. THE CURRENT AND THE FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 9,000.
Mileage: 9,000
20071115FireENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
1994 CHEVY BERETTA CAUGHT FIRE UNDER THE HOOD. CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD ONLY DRIVE 2 MPH. *KB (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT)*JB
20060503SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH THE RIGHT FRONT CONTROL ARM SEPARATED FROM THE SUSPENSION. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL, # 93V157000, REGARDING THE SUSPENSION FRONT. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL.*AK
Mileage: 81,000
20050616CrashSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
DT: TOTALED VEHICLE, THE BRAKES LOCKED UP, AND AFTER HITTING THE BRAKES THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT MOVE KEEP GOING STRAIGHT AND HIT AN EMBANKMENT. NOT SURE IF SOMETHING WAS WRONG WITH THE ABS SYSTEM. *AK
20041123SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
THE FRONT SEAT RELEASE LATCH DID NOT LOCK INTO PLACE. *JB THE BRAKE LIGHT MOUNTED ON THE WIND DEFLECTOR FAILED. THE UNDERSIDE OF THE VEHICLE MELTED AND CRACKED. *NM
Mileage: 102,000
20041123EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS
THE FRONT SEAT RELEASE LATCH DID NOT LOCK INTO PLACE. *JB THE BRAKE LIGHT MOUNTED ON THE WIND DEFLECTOR FAILED. THE UNDERSIDE OF THE VEHICLE MELTED AND CRACKED. *NM
Mileage: 102,000
20041123STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS
THE FRONT SEAT RELEASE LATCH DID NOT LOCK INTO PLACE. *JB THE BRAKE LIGHT MOUNTED ON THE WIND DEFLECTOR FAILED. THE UNDERSIDE OF THE VEHICLE MELTED AND CRACKED. *NM
Mileage: 102,000
20040316TIRES:TREAD/BELT
WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE TREAD SEPARATED WITHOUT WARNING. *AK
Mileage: 168,000
20040224ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH VEHICLE STALLED. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT ALTERNATOR FAILED. *AK
20040105CrashTIRES
FRONT PASSENGER TIRE SEPARATED FROM VEHICLE.*MR IN THE ACCIDENT, THE DOOR WAS DENTED AND ALL THE LUG NUTS WERE MISSING AND THREE OUT OF FIVE BOLTS WERE MISSING.*CB *JB
20040105CrashWHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS
FRONT PASSENGER TIRE SEPARATED FROM VEHICLE.*MR IN THE ACCIDENT, THE DOOR WAS DENTED AND ALL THE LUG NUTS WERE MISSING AND THREE OUT OF FIVE BOLTS WERE MISSING.*CB *JB
20030618SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
BRAKE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR, AND VEHICLE CONTINUES ON BEFORE COMING TO A VERY JERKY STOP. *NLM
Mileage: 107,000
20021105SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC
PREMATURE BRAKE WEAR AND ROTOR DISTORTION NEEDS REPLACING AT APPOX EVERY 11000MI. FRONT BRAKE DESIGN TOO SMALL FOR THIS VEHICLE. DT
20020904SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS WHEN BRAKING THE CARE DOES NOT STOP. IT ACTUALLY JUMPS, ESPECIALLY IN THE RAIN. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS, THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR IN 1994. COULD THERE BE A DEFECT?*AK
20020821SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
BRAKE PEDAL WOULD GO TO THE FLOOR, AND VEHICLE WOULD CONTINUE ON BEFORE STOPPING INTERMITTENTLY. DEALER NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
20020118STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
PASSENGER'S SIDE DOOR PANEL LIFT FRAME DOES NOT LINE UP PROPERLY WITH DOOR. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
20010320FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
ENTIRE INTERIOR OF CAR WENT UP IN FLAMES DUE TO FAULTY WIRING OR A SHORT IN THE DOME LIGHT INSIDE THE CAR AS PER THE FIRE INSPECTORS REPORT. *AK
20010320FireINTERIOR LIGHTING
ENTIRE INTERIOR OF CAR WENT UP IN FLAMES DUE TO FAULTY WIRING OR A SHORT IN THE DOME LIGHT INSIDE THE CAR AS PER THE FIRE INSPECTORS REPORT. *AK
20010208SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM
CAR WAS SQUAWKING AND VIBRATING ESPECIALLY WHEN BRAKE IS APPLIED. I TOOK IT TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. HE TOLD ME THAT LOWER CONTROL ARMS IS BADLY WORN OUT AND THE GMC SHOULD REPLACE IT FREE SINCE IT IS THE MOST SAFETY PART OF THE CAR. SO I CALLED GMC CONSUMER SECTION AND TALKED TO ONE ADVISER MS. GLORIA. (REF.#03027319) SHE INSISTED THAT GM WILL NOT COVER IT. I BELIEVE IT AS UNFAIR AND MUST BE COVERED. EARLIER I MADE A REPORT TO NHTSA (ODI-740067) SINCE IT WAS A SAFETY ISSUE I TOOK THE CAR TO LES STANFORD CHEVROLET IN DEARBORN MI AND GOT BOTH THE CONTROL ARMS REPAIRED. THEY CHARGED ME ABOUT 650.00 DOLLARS.(TEL# 313-565 6000) WILL YOU PLEASE HELP ME FOR GM TO REFUND THE MONEY.*AK
Compare 1994CHEVROLETBERETTA 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 1994 CHEVROLET BERETTA have?▼
The 1994 CHEVROLET BERETTA has 129 NHTSA complaints, 11 crashes, 7 fires, 6 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1994 CHEVROLET BERETTA?▼
The most-complained component for the 1994 CHEVROLET BERETTA is SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP with 15 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR and POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION.
Is the 1994 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.