NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
72 reports170,000 miles · Aug 22, 2018
EngineFuel/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 MANU…
Read full complaint
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.
NHTSA ODI #11121662
116,448 miles · Jun 5, 2006
Tires
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, THRE…
Read full complaint
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.
NHTSA ODI #10159039
140,000 miles · Aug 4, 2005
Vehicle Speed ControlCrashInjury
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
NHTSA ODI #10131506
125,000 miles · Sep 2, 2004
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
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 FR…
Read full complaint
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
NHTSA ODI #10089031
60,000 miles · Jan 23, 2004
Air BagsCrashInjury
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
NHTSA ODI #10052046
76,000 miles · Dec 22, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling
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 …
Read full complaint
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
NHTSA ODI #10050930
Mileage unknown · Aug 8, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling
THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10032499
Mileage unknown · Aug 8, 2003
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED, THE ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10032493
Mileage unknown · Jun 29, 2003
Electrical System
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…
Read full complaint
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
NHTSA ODI #10023967
60,000 miles · Jun 20, 2003
Electrical System
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
NHTSA ODI #10023467
Illustration