SkipThatYearREAL DATA. SMARTER CAR DECISIONS.
← New search

1996 Chevrolet Beretta

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1996 Chevrolet Beretta do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 39.

About this comparison →
72Owner complaints

Model-year median: 39

1Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
37
199385
199493
199572
19961
19972
19981
1999
Compare all Beretta years →

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

What owners reported most

Engine And Engine Cooling
18Service Brakes, Hydraulic
16Electrical System
9Power Train
9Air Bags
5
All reported categories
Suspension
5Seats
4Vehicle Speed Control
4Exterior Lighting
3Fuel System, Gasoline
3Steering
3Visibility
3Structure
2Tires
2Engine
1Fuel/propulsion System
1Interior Lighting
1Parking Brake
1Seat Belts
1Service Brakes, Air
1Unknown Or Other
1

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: 8 of 72 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.

  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 18 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 16 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. 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.

9 crash reports0 fire reports8 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

9 reports
Clear category filter
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

Mileage unknown · Jan 16, 2001
Electrical System

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

NHTSA ODI #739494

Mileage unknown · Nov 13, 2000
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingTires

SERPENTINE BELT FAILED. NLM

NHTSA ODI #557261

Mileage unknown · Jun 27, 2000
Electrical System

AFTER A LENGTH DISCUSSION WITH SERVICE MANAGER, BRYAN RADIN, TODAY I WAS TOLD THE WORK WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY DUE TO THE SPACE IN THE REPAIR DATES AND I WOULD BE CHARGE THE FULL RATES. ONLY AFTER I POINTED OUT THAT MY IGNITION COILS HAVE BEEN PREVIOUSLY REPLACED AND HAVE A LIFE TIME WARRANTY A DEDUCTION IN THE BILL WAS MADE. I…

Read full complaint

AFTER A LENGTH DISCUSSION WITH SERVICE MANAGER, BRYAN RADIN, TODAY I WAS TOLD THE WORK WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY DUE TO THE SPACE IN THE REPAIR DATES AND I WOULD BE CHARGE THE FULL RATES. ONLY AFTER I POINTED OUT THAT MY IGNITION COILS HAVE BEEN PREVIOUSLY REPLACED AND HAVE A LIFE TIME WARRANTY A DEDUCTION IN THE BILL WAS MADE. I HAVE BEEN GIVEN EXCUSE UPON EXCUSE OF WHAT THE PROBLEM COULD BE BUT I STILL FIND MYSELF TOWING MY CAR BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP WEEKS LATER WITH THE SAME RECURRING PROBLEMS.*AK

NHTSA ODI #724663

Mileage unknown · Sep 8, 1997
Electrical System

CONSUMER HAVE HAD THREE ALTERNATORS REPLACED ON VEHICLE. VEHICLE WAS IN SHOP FROM 7-8-97 UNTIL CURRENT TIME. WHENEVER IGNITION IS SHUT OFF THERE IS A CHANCE THAT THE VEHICLE WILL NOT START. TERRY CULLINS OF CHEVROLET-77--968-4444 AND ANDY LEWIS-770-964-1313 CHEVROLET DID THE REPAIRS OF THIS VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #816104

Mileage unknown · Jun 26, 1997
Electrical SystemInterior LightingStructure

ELECTRICAL: TAKING THE KEY OUT OF IGNITION THE VEHICLE WILL NOT TURN COMPLETELY OFF IGNITION/ DOOR WILL NOT UNLOCK AUTOMATICALLY WHEN SHUTTING THE VEHICLE OFF/INTERIOR LIGHT WILL NOT SHUT OFF AT TIMES/ BATTERY DRAINS ITSELF CONTINUALLY. IN ADDITION, HAVING PROBLEMS WITH ACCELERATOR PEDAL STICKING. ALSO, VEHICLE PULLS TO …

Read full complaint

ELECTRICAL: TAKING THE KEY OUT OF IGNITION THE VEHICLE WILL NOT TURN COMPLETELY OFF IGNITION/ DOOR WILL NOT UNLOCK AUTOMATICALLY WHEN SHUTTING THE VEHICLE OFF/INTERIOR LIGHT WILL NOT SHUT OFF AT TIMES/ BATTERY DRAINS ITSELF CONTINUALLY. IN ADDITION, HAVING PROBLEMS WITH ACCELERATOR PEDAL STICKING. ALSO, VEHICLE PULLS TO THE RIGHT. HAS TAKEN IN FOR REPAIRS MANY TIMES, BUT CONTINUES TO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #812534

Mileage unknown · Feb 18, 1997
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling

ENGINE FAILED.

NHTSA ODI #602547

Mileage unknown · Mar 25, 1996
Electrical System

ENGINE DIES OUT WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. *AK

NHTSA ODI #981201

Official recalls

1

98V027000 · Interior Lighting

Feb 17, 1998

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE VEHICLES WERE BUILT WITH THE POTENTIAL FOR THE INTERIOR LAMPS TO COME ON UNEXPECTEDLY WHILE THE VEHICLES ARE BEING DRIVEN. THIS DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 101, "CONTROLS AND DISPLAYS."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THE INTERIOR LAMPS COMING ON UNEXPECTEDLY COULD STARTLE A DRIVER CAUSING A MOMENTARY LOSS OF CONTROL INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL RUN A DIAGNOSTIC TEST ON THE LAMP CONTROL MODULE AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE IT.

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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.