Total Complaints
108 filings
CHEVROLET BERETTA · model year
108 NHTSA complaints, 12 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1996CHEVROLETBERETTA carries 108 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 12 crashes, 0 fires, 12 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 1996 BERETTA is service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip with 13 filings, followed by engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline (11) and electrical system:alternator/generator/regulator (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 1996 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.
Total Complaints
108 filings
Crashes Reported
12 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP | 13 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 11 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR | 5 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 5 |
| AIR BAGS:FRONTAL | 4 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR | 4 |
| SUSPENSION:FRONT | 3 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 3 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 3 |
| POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION | 3 |
| SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER | 3 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM | 3 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC | 3 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION | 2 |
| POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY | 2 |
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.
Mileage: 170,000
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.
Mileage: 170,000
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.
Mileage: 116,448
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
Mileage: 140,000
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
Mileage: 125,000
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
Mileage: 60,000
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
Mileage: 76,000
WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED, THE ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD. *JB
THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD. *JB
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
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
Mileage: 60,000
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
Mileage: 55,000
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
THE ALTERNATOR HAS GONE BAD TWICE SO FAR. ONCE AS INDICATED AND ALSO ON 12/18/2000, WITH 75140 MILES ON VEHICLE.*AK
Loss of motive power due to engine failure
Loss of Motive Power due to the Battery Energy Control Module
Electric Vehicle Battery Fires
Outboard Front Seat Belt Anchor Cable Failure
Fuel Line Leak
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.