IllustrationTRANSMISSION SLIPPED OUT OF GEAR TWICE.
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 →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: 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
What owners actually said
72 reportsENGINE FAILED.
WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE PULLS TO THE RIGHT WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED AND ACCELERATES; THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO BE REMEDIED. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK
ODOR AND FUNGUS DEVELOPES IN VENTILATION SYSTEM DUE TO ENVIRONMENTAL STAGNANT AIR. MFR/DLR CANNOT REMENDY THE PROBLEM. *AK
WHEN APPLYING THE ABS BRAKES, THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR BOARD AND CAUSED VEHICLE TO HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE IN THE REAR; ALSO, THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED AND CAUSED BURNS AND INJURIES TO THE DRIVER. *AK *JB
CONSUMER STATES THAT VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO GEARS, ALSO THE CLUTCH FAILED WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING 30 MPH, CAUSING THE VEHILCE TO BECOME INOPERATIVE. *AK
EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS ENGAGED ACCIDENTALLY DUE TO LOCATION OF EMERGENCY BRAKE LEVER, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL/ROLLOVER.
DIFFICULTY SHIFTING 5 SPEED TRANSMISSION.
WHILE DRIVING, SUDDENLY ENGINE SURGED, LUNGED FORWARD, WHEELS SPUN, ACCELERATING OUT OF CONTROL, HITTING MEDIUM STRIP WITH FRONT LEFT TIRE AT APPROX. 30MPH. *AK
VEHICLE PULLS TO THE RIGHT, DEALER SAID IT IS THE ROAD. *AK
Official recalls
198V027000 · 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.