SMOKE WAS COMING FROM STEERING COLUMN WHILE DRIVING ON THE STREET AT 35 MPH. THIS COULD LEAD TO A VEHICLE COLLISION DUE TO POOR VISIBILITY. DEALER/MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED AT THIS TIME. ASKING NHTSA TO LOOK INTO THIS MATTER. *AK
1991 Chevrolet Beretta
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1991 Chevrolet Beretta do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 39.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Beretta years →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: 2 of 49 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 20 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Exterior Lighting. Review the 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
49 reportsFLOOR GETS WET AND FEET ARE SLIPPING OFF PEDALS
WHILE STARTING VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDER THE DASHBOARD DUE TO TWO POSITIVE WIRES CONNECTING. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
WHEN GO TO START VEHICLE UP, SOMETHING WITHIN THE IGNITION CAUSES CATALYTIC CONVERTER TO OVERHEAT. THIS COULD CAUSE A FIRE. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED, THE CONVERTER HAS BEEN REPLACED ONCE. *AK
BRAKING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING NO BRAKING ABILITY. BRAKE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR, CAUSING A REAR END COLLISION. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
THE TURN SIGNAL/BLINKER OFTEN GOT STUCK BETWEEN BRIGHT AND DIM. WHEN THAT HAPPENED THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD BE OFF. WHEN THE SWITCH GOT STUCK THE ONLY WAY TO TURN THE LIGHTS BACK ON WOULD BE TO PULL THE BRIGHT SWITCH AGAIN. TWICE WHEN THIS HAPPENED THE SIGNAL SWITCH BROKE (I HAD IT REPLACED ONCE), LEAVING ME STUCK ON THE ROAD WIT…
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THE TURN SIGNAL/BLINKER OFTEN GOT STUCK BETWEEN BRIGHT AND DIM. WHEN THAT HAPPENED THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD BE OFF. WHEN THE SWITCH GOT STUCK THE ONLY WAY TO TURN THE LIGHTS BACK ON WOULD BE TO PULL THE BRIGHT SWITCH AGAIN. TWICE WHEN THIS HAPPENED THE SIGNAL SWITCH BROKE (I HAD IT REPLACED ONCE), LEAVING ME STUCK ON THE ROAD WITH MY HEADLIGHTS OFF AT NIGHT. I HAD TO TAKE THE CAR TO THE DEALER TO FIX IT. *AK
THE IGNITION COIL FROM THE ENGINE THAT GOES TO THE DRIVER'S AIR BAG BURNED, CAUSING SMOKE TO COME FROM THE STEERING COLUMN, WHICH ALMOST RESULTED IN A FIRE. *AK
SCREWS FAILED CAUSING THE AIRBAG TO FALL OUT.
WHILE CONSUMER HAD FOOT ON BRAKE AT A STOP SIGN THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED FORWARD. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO AVOID A CRASH. NO AMOUNT OF PRESSURE ON THE BRAKES WOULD STOP VEHICLE. DRIVER TURNED THE IGNITION OFF TO STOP VEHICLE. AFTER DRIVING THE VEHICLE HOME, OWNER EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM WHILE PARKING THE VEHICLE. VEHICLE WAS TAKE…
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WHILE CONSUMER HAD FOOT ON BRAKE AT A STOP SIGN THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED FORWARD. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO AVOID A CRASH. NO AMOUNT OF PRESSURE ON THE BRAKES WOULD STOP VEHICLE. DRIVER TURNED THE IGNITION OFF TO STOP VEHICLE. AFTER DRIVING THE VEHICLE HOME, OWNER EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM WHILE PARKING THE VEHICLE. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC WHERE THE COMPUTER CHIP WAS REPLACED. THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN REPORTED TO THE MANUFACTURER. *AK
WHEN USING THE TURN SIGNALS, SMOKE EMITTED FROM STEERING COLUMN; TURN SIGNAL WILL AUTOMATICALLY CANCEL, BUT FLASHER IS STILL CLICKING UNDER DASH. HEADLIGHT DIMMER SWITCH ALSO VERY INTERMITTENT, AND HEADLIGHTS WILL GO OUT WHEN ATTEMPTING TO USE BRIGHT LIGHTS OR DIM THEM.
Official recalls
191V083000 · Steering: Steering Wheel/handle Bar
Jun 10, 1991
NUT ATTACHING STEERING WHEEL MAY NOT HAVE BEEN PROPERLY TIGHTENED DURING INSTALLATION.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS COULD ALLOW STEERING WHEEL TO SEPARATE FROM STEERINGCOLUMN; LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL AND A CRASH COULD OCCUR WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
Remedy: TIGHTEN THE NUT TO THE PROPER TORQUE AS NECESSARY.
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
6DP96014 · Defective Air Bag Crash Sensor
Opened Nov 14, 1996 · No close date supplied
Status: open (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags:frontal:sensor/control MODULE-INACTIVE
CFAS SENT A FOLLOW-UP LETTER ON DECEMBER 12, 1996, TO CHANGE THE INTENT OF THE PETITION TO AIRBAG AGGRESSIVITY AND DEPLOYMENT VARIABILITY.NHTSA RECEIVED THE LETTER ON 12/12/96; ACCORDINGLY, THE PETITION DUE DAY WAS CHANGED TO APRIL 12, 1997.CFAS PETITIONED THE AGENCY TO CONDUCT AN INVESTIGATION TO DETERMINE WHETHER THE AIRBAG CRASH SENSOR AND/OR DEPLOYMENT SYSTEMS FOR THE 1991-92 CHEVROLET CORSICA/BERETTA, 1990-92 FORD TAURUS, AND 1994-96 CHRYSLER MINIVANS ARE DEFECTIVE.CFAS ALLEGE THAT INFORMATION ON LOW SPEED CRASHES HERE OCCUPANTS HAVE SUFFERED FATAL INJURIES SUGGESTS [THAT THE ABOVE VEHICLES] HAVE DEFECTIVE AIRBAG CRASH SENSOR AND/OR DEPLOYMENT SYSTEMS.
PE94062 · Steering Column Smk/flames
Opened Aug 4, 1994 · Closed Dec 30, 1994
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering
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
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
EA91023 · Steering Wheel Separation
Opened Apr 10, 1991 · Closed Jun 5, 1991
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering
There is no summary currently available
PE91048 · Steering Wheel Separation
Opened Feb 20, 1991 · Closed Apr 10, 1991
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering
There is no summary currently available
Illustration