Structure. Review the 15 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electrical System. Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Seat Belts. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

3 crash reports4 fire reports4 injury reports

Latches/locks/linkages complaints

8 reports

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Mileage unknown · May 22, 2000

Latches/locks/linkages

Read full complaint

ON THURSDAY, MAY 18, 2000, I FILED A COMPLAINT WITH NHTSA REGARDING A RECALL THAT WAS ISSUED FOR 1988 CHEVROLETS BERETTAS. I TRIED TO TALK TO GMC AND THE CHEVROLET DEALER NEAR MY HOUSE ABOUT FIXING THE LATCH ON THE CAR, IT WAS BENT. I HAD NO LUCK AND WAS TOLD THAT MY VIN # WAS NOT ONE OF THE ONES THAT WERE RECALLED. I WAS GOING TO TAKE THE CAR INTO A SHOP THAT SATURDAY TO TRY TO GET THE LATCH FIXED. I HAD TO WORK THE NEXT DAY AND SINCE THE HOOD WOULDN'T CLOSE ALL THE WAY, I STRAPPED IT DOWN. THE LATCH AND THE STRAP DIDN'T HOLD AND THE HOOD FLEW UP AND HIT THE WINDSHIELD, BREAKING IT AND BENT THE HOOD IN THE MIDDLE. I WAS DRIVING SLOW AND THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. MY PASSENGERS AND I WERE LUCKY. I KNOW MY CAR IS AN OLDER MODEL AND OLD CARS NEED REPAIRS BUT I DIDN'T WANT TO HAVE TO PAY FOR SOMETHING THAT WAS BROKE ON THE CAR WHEN IT LEFT THE PLANT. NOW I HAVE NO CAR TO DRIVE TO WORK AND STILL HAVE TO GET A NEW HOOD AND A NEW WINDSHIELD. PLEASE TELL ME WHAT I CAN DO ABOUT THIS. THANKS.*AK

NHTSA ODI #723041

Mileage unknown · May 18, 2000

Latches/locks/linkages

AFTER HOOD WAS JAMMED AND OPENED, COULD NOT CLOSE IT BECAUSE LATCH DID NOT WORK. *AK

NHTSA ODI #862141

Mileage unknown · Jun 29, 1999

Engine And Engine CoolingLatches/locks/linkages

HOOD FLEW OFF AND DAMAGED WINDSHIELD. MJS

NHTSA ODI #546476

Mileage unknown · Dec 24, 1996

Latches/locks/linkagesPower TrainStructure

POSSIBLE DESIGN FLAW OF TRUNK DOOR FAILED CAUSING WATER TO LEAK INSIDE TRUNK. HOWEVER, VEHICLE STILL LEAKS AFTER REPAIRS WERE DONE. *YC

NHTSA ODI #513824

Mileage unknown · Sep 18, 1996

Latches/locks/linkagesVisibility

BOTH DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S LOCKS BROKE, DOORS WILL NOT STAY OPEN/RATTLE, ALSO DRIVEWR'S SIDE WINDOW FELL OFF THE TRACK. *AK

NHTSA ODI #508802

Mileage unknown · Aug 30, 1996

Latches/locks/linkages

WHILE DRIVING THE HOOD FLEW UP AND SMASHED THE WINDSHIELD. *AK

NHTSA ODI #801692

Mileage unknown · Nov 27, 1995

Latches/locks/linkages

HOOD LATCH FAILURE, WHILE DRIVING HOOD FLEW UP HITTING THE WINDSHEILD BENT THE HOOD. TT

NHTSA ODI #975401

Mileage unknown · May 23, 1995

Latches/locks/linkages

DEFECTIVE HOOD LATCH, CAUSING HOOD TO OPEN/FLY BACKWARDS AND WRAP AROUND THE ROOF. *AK

NHTSA ODI #486386

Official recalls

91V206000 · Seat Belts

Nov 26, 1991

THE FRONT SHOULDER BELT RETRACTORS MAY HAVE REDUCED SENSITIVITY OF THE LOCK-UP FEATURE AND WOULD NOT FUNCTION IN A SUDDEN DECELERATION OR CRASH.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: FAILURE OF THE SHOULDER BELT RETRACTOR WOULD RESULT INTHE SEAT OCCUPANT ONLY BEING RESTRAINED BY THE LAP BELT IN A CRASH OR SUDDENSTOP, AND AN INCREASED POSSIBILITY OF INJURY.

Remedy: Not supplied

91V135000 · Structure:body:hood

Aug 19, 1991

SECONDARY HOOD LATCH ASSEMBLY ON THESE VEHICLES MAY NOT BE PROPERLY ADJUSTED AND COULD BECOME BENT. THIS WILL LEAD TO A CONDITION WHERE FULL PRIMARY LATCH ENGAGEMENT IS NOT ATTAINED.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A BENT SECONDARY HOOD LATCH COULD LEAD TO THE PRIMARYLATCH NOT BEING FULLY ENGAGED, ALLOWING THE HOOD TO UNEXPECTEDLY OPEN. IF THISWERE TO OCCUR WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, THE HOOD MAY CONTACT THEWINDSHIELD, REDUCING THE FORWARD VISION AREA OF THE DRIVER AND A VEHICLE CRASHCOULD OCCUR WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.

Remedy: REPLACE THE PRIMARY HOOD LATCH ASSEMBLY, THE SECONDARY HOOD LATCH ASSEMBLY, AND THE SUPPORT BRACKET.

89V225000 · Structure:body:door:hinge And Attachments

Dec 18, 1989

A DOOR HINGE (UPPER OR LOWER) MAY BREAK WHILE OPENING OR CLOSING THE DOOR MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO REPOSITION AND CLOSE PROPERLY.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: HINGE SEPARATION MAY REDUCE THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OFTHE SIDE OF THE CAR AND INCREASE RISK OF INJURY IN CERTAIN TYPES OF ACCIDENTS.

Remedy: REPLACE DOOR HINGES ON BOTH DOORS.

88V039000 · Latches/locks/linkages:hood:latch

Mar 23, 1988

SECONDARY HOOD LATCH ASSEMBLY MAY NOT HAVE BEEN PROPERLY ADJUSTED RESULTING IN LATCH BECOMING BENT.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A BENT SECONDARY HOOD LATCH COULD CAUSE THE PRIMARYLATCH TO MALFUNCTION. IF THIS OCCURED THE HOOD COULD UNEXPECTEDLY OPEN. IFTHIS HAPPENED WHILE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION REDUCTION OF FORWARD VISIBILITY COULDCAUSE A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.

Remedy: INSPECT AND REPLACE SECONDARY HOOD LATCH ASSEMBLIES AS REQUIRED.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

EA92025 · Fr.seat Belt Buckle Fails

Opened Jul 16, 1992 · Closed Jul 8, 1993

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts

There is no summary currently available

EA92024 · Sticking Throttle

Opened Jun 26, 1992 · Closed Jan 31, 1994

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages

There is no summary currently available

PE92048 · Seat Breaks From Track

Opened May 12, 1992 · Closed Sep 28, 1992

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seats

There is no summary currently available

PE92043 · Park Brake Handle Failure

Opened Apr 22, 1992 · Closed Aug 31, 1992

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic

There is no summary currently available

PE92021 · Sticking Throttle

Opened Feb 24, 1992 · Closed Jun 26, 1992

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages

There is no summary currently available

EA92003 · Hinge Pin Failure

Opened Jan 17, 1992 · Closed Sep 9, 1992

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Structure

There is no summary currently available

EA90041 · Brake Performance

Opened Aug 29, 1990 · Closed Mar 30, 1992

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic

===

EA90026 · Hood Latch Failure

Opened May 11, 1990 · Closed Aug 28, 1991

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Structure

There is no summary currently available

DP90008 · Inadequate Brakes

Opened Apr 19, 1990 · Closed Aug 29, 1990

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic

INADEQUATE BRAKES

EA90007 · Loss Of Steering

Opened Nov 15, 1989 · Closed Oct 29, 1990

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Suspension

There is no summary currently available

DP89014 · Safety Belts

Opened Sep 22, 1989 · Closed Feb 27, 1990

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts

SAFETY BELTS

PE89161 · Steering Binds

Opened Sep 8, 1989 · Closed Nov 15, 1989

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Suspension

There is no summary currently available

PE89096 · Windshield Wiper Failure

Opened Mar 2, 1989 · Closed Aug 21, 1989

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Visibility

===

EA89008 · Door Hinge Pins

Opened Jan 5, 1989 · Closed Mar 14, 1990

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Structure

There is no summary currently available

EA88040 · Rear Wheel Spindle

Opened Sep 13, 1988 · Closed Mar 14, 1990

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Suspension

There is no summary currently available

PE88087 · Door Hinge Pin Failure

Opened Aug 2, 1988 · Closed Jan 5, 1989

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Structure

There is no summary currently available

PE88045 · Left Rear Wheel Spindle

Opened Apr 12, 1988 · Closed Sep 13, 1988

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Suspension

There is no summary currently available