1988 Chevrolet BERETTA: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
42 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
187,631 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1988 model year. Data snapshot: . 1 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash is the most frequently named component, appearing in 5 of 42 complaints (11.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 9 | 21.4% |
| Braking behavior | 3 | 7.1% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 4.8% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 2.4% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 2.4% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash | 5 |
| Latches/Locks/Linkages:Hood:Latch | 4 |
| Structure:Body:Door:Hinge And Attachments | 4 |
| Seat Belts | 3 |
| Seat Belts:Front:Webbing | 3 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components | 3 |
| Structure:Body:Door | 3 |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 2 |
Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash: 5; Latches/Locks/Linkages:Hood:Latch: 4; Structure:Body:Door:Hinge And Attachments: 4; Seat Belts: 3; Seat Belts:Front:Webbing: 3; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components: 3; Structure:Body:Door: 3; Electrical System:Ignition: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 1
150,000 and above miles has the most reports with usable mileage (1). 41 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 27 |
| 1996 | 10 |
| 2000 | 2 |
| 2001 | 1 |
| 2002 | 1 |
| 2003 | 1 |
1995: 27; 1996: 10; 2000: 2; 2001: 1; 2002: 1; 2003: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 9 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 3 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 2 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10051168 · 2003-12-27 (December 27, 2003)
RECALL OF 1988 CHEVY BERETTA DOOR HINGES/SEAT BELTS/HOOD LATCHES.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 187,631 miles reported. Look up ODI 10051168 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 458108 · 1996-06-12 (June 12, 1996)
TRANSMISSION SLIPS. *SD
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 458108 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 480197 · 1995-02-06 (February 6, 1995)
DRIVER'S SEAT BELT FAILED DURING ACCIDENT, CAUSING INJURY. *SKD
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 480197 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 480277 · 1995-01-30 (January 30, 1995)
VEHICLE STALLS INTERMITTENTLY.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 480277 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 481925 · 1995-02-16 (February 16, 1995)
DRIVER'S DOOR MISALIGNED, CAUSING DIFFICULTY CLOSING DOOR PROPERLY. *SKD
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 481925 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 482828 · 1995-03-11 (March 11, 1995)
STEERING COLUMN SMOKES, CAUSING LEFT TURN SIGNAL AND COOLANT LIGHT TO MALFUNCTION. *SKD
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 482828 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 483498 · 1995-08-31 (August 31, 1995)
WHEN AIR CONDITIONER IS ON LOOSE DEBRIS ENTERS VEHICLE FROM VENTS IN DASHBOARD, COULD GET INTO DRIVER'S EYES, AFFECTING VISIBILITY. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 483498 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 483927 · 1995-09-14 (September 14, 1995)
ELECTRICAL SEAT BELT FAILED TO RETRACT PRIOR TO RECALL (91V-206). *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 483927 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
4 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
88V039000 · Latches/Locks/Linkages:Hood:Latch
Reported: 1988-03-23 (March 23, 1988)
SECONDARY HOOD LATCH ASSEMBLY MAY NOT HAVE BEEN PROPERLY ADJUSTED RESULTING IN LATCH BECOMING BENT.
Consequence: A BENT SECONDARY HOOD LATCH COULD CAUSE THE PRIMARYLATCH TO MALFUNCTION. IF THIS OCCURED THE HOOD COULD UNEXPECTEDLY OPEN. IFTHIS HAPPENED WHILE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION REDUCTION OF FORWARD VISIBILITY COULDCAUSE A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
Remedy: INSPECT AND REPLACE SECONDARY HOOD LATCH ASSEMBLIES AS REQUIRED.
NHTSA campaign record ↗89V225000 · Structure:Body:Door:Hinge And Attachments
Reported: 1989-12-18 (December 18, 1989)
A DOOR HINGE (UPPER OR LOWER) MAY BREAK WHILE OPENING OR CLOSING THE DOOR MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO REPOSITION AND CLOSE PROPERLY.
Consequence: HINGE SEPARATION MAY REDUCE THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OFTHE SIDE OF THE CAR AND INCREASE RISK OF INJURY IN CERTAIN TYPES OF ACCIDENTS.
Remedy: REPLACE DOOR HINGES ON BOTH DOORS.
NHTSA campaign record ↗91V135000 · Structure:Body:Hood
Reported: 1991-08-19 (August 19, 1991)
SECONDARY HOOD LATCH ASSEMBLY ON THESE VEHICLES MAY NOT BE PROPERLY ADJUSTED AND COULD BECOME BENT. THIS WILL LEAD TO A CONDITION WHERE FULL PRIMARY LATCH ENGAGEMENT IS NOT ATTAINED.
Consequence: A BENT SECONDARY HOOD LATCH COULD LEAD TO THE PRIMARYLATCH NOT BEING FULLY ENGAGED, ALLOWING THE HOOD TO UNEXPECTEDLY OPEN. IF THISWERE TO OCCUR WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, THE HOOD MAY CONTACT THEWINDSHIELD, REDUCING THE FORWARD VISION AREA OF THE DRIVER AND A VEHICLE CRASHCOULD OCCUR WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
Remedy: REPLACE THE PRIMARY HOOD LATCH ASSEMBLY, THE SECONDARY HOOD LATCH ASSEMBLY, AND THE SUPPORT BRACKET.
NHTSA campaign record ↗91V206000 · Seat Belts
Reported: 1991-11-26 (November 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: 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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗