1989 Chevrolet BERETTA: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
33 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
93,314 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1989 model year. Data snapshot: . 1 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline is the most frequently named component, appearing in 5 of 33 complaints (15.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 5 | 15.2% |
| Steering behavior | 5 | 15.2% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 6.1% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 3.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 3.0% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 5 |
| Seats | 4 |
| Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly | 3 |
| Electrical System:Wiring | 2 |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash | 2 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 2 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 1 |
| Child Seat:Shell:Booster | 1 |
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 5; Seats: 4; Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly: 3; Electrical System:Wiring: 2; Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash: 2; Vehicle Speed Control: 2; Air Bags:Frontal: 1; Child Seat:Shell:Booster: 1
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 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (1). 32 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 | 18 |
| 1996 | 5 |
| 2000 | 3 |
| 2001 | 4 |
| 2002 | 1 |
| 2003 | 1 |
| 2004 | 1 |
1995: 18; 1996: 5; 2000: 3; 2001: 4; 2002: 1; 2003: 1; 2004: 1
Pattern summary
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 5 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 5 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 10014004 · 2003-04-05 (April 5, 2003)
ON JAN,9 2003 I BOUGHT A 1989 CHEVY BERETTA WITH 90000 MILES ON IT FOR THE SUM OF 2300.00 DOLLARS. ON MARCH 31 2003 I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE WHEN THE VEHICLE BURST INTO FLAMES. THE FIRE MARSHAL TOLD ME THAT THE FIRE WAS CAUSED BY A FACTORY DEFECT IN THE REAR WINDOW DEFROSTER. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 93,314 miles reported. Look up ODI 10014004 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10050379 · 2004-01-08 (January 8, 2004)
CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING, THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT SLID BACKWARDS WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, CAUSING THE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL. THE VEHICLE FLIPPED OVER TWICE AND LANDED ON A BIG BOULDER.*AK THE CONSUMER STATED SHE WAS THROWN OUT OF THE BACK WINDSHIELD AND THE SEAT BELT DID NOT KEEP HER IN THE CAR. *CB *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10050379 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 481447 · 1995-03-06 (March 6, 1995)
ENGINE BLOCK CRACKED. *SKD
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 481447 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 482581 · 1995-03-24 (March 24, 1995)
DRIVER'S SEAT FRAME BROKE, RECALL REPAIRS REFUSED DUE TO VIN (89V-087). *SKD
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 482581 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 487204 · 1995-10-26 (October 26, 1995)
FRONT SEAT FRAME FAILED. *SD
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 487204 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 487738 · 1995-09-20 (September 20, 1995)
POWER BRAKE BOOSTER ASSEMBLY FAILED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 487738 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 489436 · 1995-04-12 (April 12, 1995)
STEERING COLUMN EMITS SMOKE. *SKD
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 489436 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 502182 · 1996-03-01 (March 1, 1996)
SHOULDER BELT ASSEMBLY SEPARATED. *DSH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 502182 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.
88V189000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly
Reported: 1988-12-06 (December 6, 1988)
A FUEL TANK LEAK COULD OCCUR DUE TO SMALL CREASES ON THE TANK UNDERSIDE CRACKING DURING PRESSURE CYCLING WHICH OCCURS DURING NORMAL OPERATION.
Consequence: IN PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, THIS CONDITION COULDRESULT IN A FIRE.
Remedy: REPLACE FUEL TANK.
NHTSA campaign record ↗89V034000 · Seat Belts
Reported: 1989-03-10 (March 10, 1989)
FRONT SEAT BELT LATCH PLATES MAY NOT ENGAGE THE BUCKLE ASSEMBLIES.
Consequence: IN EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT, UNBELTED OR IMPROPERLY BELTEDOCCUPANTS ARE MORE AT RISK TO INJURY THAN IF BELTS ARE PROPERLY BUCKLED.
Remedy: REPLACE IMPROPERLY FUNCTIONING BUCKLE ASSEMBLIES.
NHTSA campaign record ↗89V087000 · Seats
Reported: 1989-05-22 (May 22, 1989)
THE FRONT SEAT FRAME ASSEMBLY MAY CONTAIN AN IMPROPER, MISSING AND/OR MISLOCATED WELD THAT COULD FRACTURE.
Consequence: THIS COULD CAUSE UNEXPECTED SEAT MOVEMENT AND RESULT INPERSONAL INJURY AND/OR LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE CAR.
Remedy: REPLACE BOTH FRONT SEAT ASSEMBLIES.
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 ↗