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1989 Chevrolet Beretta

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1989 Chevrolet Beretta do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 39.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 1 of 51 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Electrical System. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Seat Belts. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

8 crash reports5 fire reports5 injury reports

Fuel System, Gasoline complaints

3 reports
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Mileage unknown · Mar 22, 2001
Fuel System, Gasoline

THIS PART FAILURE CAUSE A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF GAS TO FLOW ONTO A HOT ENGINE AND IT ALMOST CAUSED THE CAR TO CATCH FIRE. THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE GASOLINE COVERED THE PARKING LOT WHEN I TRIED TO CRANK THE CAR BEFORE I SAW SMOKE. I WAS JUST LUCKY THAT IT DID NOT START A FIRE THAT DAY.*AK

NHTSA ODI #742859

Mileage unknown · Feb 16, 1999
Fuel System, GasolineSteeringStructureCrashFireInjury

1987 BERETTA WAS GOING 90 MPH (A DRUNK DRIVER) WHO CRASHED INTO A LINCOLN CONTINENTAL 1989, IN WHICH THE 1987 BERETTA CRACKED IN HALF, EJECTING THE DRIVER WHO PASSED AWAY. WHILE THE FIRST PART OF THE VEHICLE DROVE OFF, THE SECOND PART OF THE BERETTA SLAMMED INTO THE PASSENGER SIDE OF CONTINENTAL IN WHICH THE PASSENGER'S FOOT …

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1987 BERETTA WAS GOING 90 MPH (A DRUNK DRIVER) WHO CRASHED INTO A LINCOLN CONTINENTAL 1989, IN WHICH THE 1987 BERETTA CRACKED IN HALF, EJECTING THE DRIVER WHO PASSED AWAY. WHILE THE FIRST PART OF THE VEHICLE DROVE OFF, THE SECOND PART OF THE BERETTA SLAMMED INTO THE PASSENGER SIDE OF CONTINENTAL IN WHICH THE PASSENGER'S FOOT GOT STUCK, AND THE FUEL TANK LEAKED AND EXPLODED, CAUSING A FIRE. PASSENGERS DID NOT MAKE IT OUT OF VEHICLE. MOTHER OF DRIVER WANTS TO KNOWIF SOME SORT OF MALFUNCTION OR DEFECT OCCURRED IN THIS INCIDENT, SUCH AS THE CAR SPLITTING IN HALF. *AK *ML

NHTSA ODI #834877

Mileage unknown · Oct 25, 1997
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingFuel System, Gasoline

WATER PUMP/TIMING BELT/COMPUTER/STARTER/TIRES/BRAKES AND FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #526254

Official recalls

4

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

89V087000 · Seats

May 22, 1989

THE FRONT SEAT FRAME ASSEMBLY MAY CONTAIN AN IMPROPER, MISSING AND/OR MISLOCATED WELD THAT COULD FRACTURE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS COULD CAUSE UNEXPECTED SEAT MOVEMENT AND RESULT INPERSONAL INJURY AND/OR LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE CAR.

Remedy: REPLACE BOTH FRONT SEAT ASSEMBLIES.

89V034000 · Seat Belts

Mar 10, 1989

FRONT SEAT BELT LATCH PLATES MAY NOT ENGAGE THE BUCKLE ASSEMBLIES.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IN EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT, UNBELTED OR IMPROPERLY BELTEDOCCUPANTS ARE MORE AT RISK TO INJURY THAN IF BELTS ARE PROPERLY BUCKLED.

Remedy: REPLACE IMPROPERLY FUNCTIONING BUCKLE ASSEMBLIES.

88V189000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly

Dec 6, 1988

A FUEL TANK LEAK COULD OCCUR DUE TO SMALL CREASES ON THE TANK UNDERSIDE CRACKING DURING PRESSURE CYCLING WHICH OCCURS DURING NORMAL OPERATION.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IN PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, THIS CONDITION COULDRESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy: REPLACE FUEL TANK.

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

6

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