CHEVROLET BERETTA · model year

1996 CHEVROLET BERETTA

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.

108
Complaints
12
Crashes
0
Fires
12
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

108 filings

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

ComponentCount
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP13
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE11
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR5
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE5
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL4
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR4
SUSPENSION:FRONT3
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL3
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION3
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION3
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER3
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM3
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC3
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION2
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY2

Recent Complaints

20180822ENGINE

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

20180822FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

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

20060605TIRES:SIDEWALL

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

20050804CrashVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

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

20040902SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

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

20031229CrashAIR BAGS:FRONTAL

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

20031222ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE

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

20030808SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED, THE ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD. *JB

20030808ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD. *JB

20030629ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR

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

20030620ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR

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

20030228STRUCTURE:BODY

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

20020515ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

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

20020205EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

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

20011002SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

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

20011002SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR

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

20010827CrashSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER

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

20010827CrashSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

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

20010509ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

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

20010125ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR

THE ALTERNATOR HAS GONE BAD TWICE SO FAR. ONCE AS INDICATED AND ALSO ON 12/18/2000, WITH 75140 MILES ON VEHICLE.*AK

Compare 1996CHEVROLETBERETTA to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 2 Open

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1996 CHEVROLET BERETTA have?
The 1996 CHEVROLET BERETTA has 108 NHTSA complaints, 12 crashes, 0 fires, 12 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1996 CHEVROLET BERETTA?
The most-complained component for the 1996 CHEVROLET BERETTA is SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP with 13 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE and ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR.
Is the 1996 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.