1991 CHEVROLET BERETTA

1 recalls — 72 complaints — 3 TSBs

STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR

Defect Description

NUT ATTACHING STEERING WHEEL MAY NOT HAVE BEEN PROPERLY TIGHTENED DURING INSTALLATION.

Consequence

THIS COULD ALLOW STEERING WHEEL TO SEPARATE FROM STEERINGCOLUMN; LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL AND A CRASH COULD OCCUR WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.

Remedy

TIGHTEN THE NUT TO THE PROPER TORQUE AS NECESSARY.

36,364 vehicles affected

Manufacturer: GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

Complaint Statistics

72 total complaints 9 crashes 4 fires 4 injuries

Top Reported Components

Component	Complaints
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH	13
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL:SWITCH	6
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION	4
STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR	4
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL	3
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL:FLASHER UNIT	2
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS	2
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY	2
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER	2
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS	2

Incident date: Jul 13, 2009

THOUGHT IT WAS MY ALTERNATOR IT CHECKED TO BE GOOD THEN I BOUGHT A BATTERY THEN CHANGED THE FUZE AND THE CAR IS STILL DYEING THE BATTERY GAGE STILL GOES ALL THE WAY DOWN THEN THE TURN SIGNAL SWITCH THAT TURNS THE TURN SIGNAL OFF AND ON SMOKE WAS COMING OUT OF THE STEERING WHEEL COLUMN WHEN IT WAS ON... Read more

Incident date: Jul 15, 2000

THE MAIN PROBLEM WITH THE CAR IS THE PEELING PAINT. THE CLEAR COAT IS ALL OFF BY NOW AND LOOKS AWFUL. THE STEERING WHEEL ON THE CAR IS LOSS. I HAD THAT REPAIRED IN 2000 BUT IS LOSS AGAIN. THE SUPENSION HAS GIVEN PROBLEMS, I JUST REPLACED SOME PARTS THAT WERE BROKEN, LUCKILY THEY WEREN'T TO MUCH.

Incident date: Jul 15, 2000

Incident date: Jan 1, 1999

STEERING WHEEL COLUMN WAS REPLACED BECAUSE IF TURNING RIGHT OR LEFT WHEEL WILL WONDER IN OWN DIRECTION. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

LOCATION OF EXHASUT PIPE HAS CAUSED FUEL TANK TO MELT AND LEAK. EXHAUST PIPE BRACKETS WERE BROKEN. THERE WAS A SERVICE BULLETIN ON THIS SUBJECT, 912656F. OWNER VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY WHEN STARTING THIS VEHICLE. *AK

Incident date: Aug 1, 2000

VEHICLE JUMPS FORWARD WHEN CLUTCH IS DEPRESSED. VEHICLE JUMPS FURTHER WHEN IN LOWER GEAR. DEALER HAS NOT SEEN VEHICLE. *AK PLASTIC RETAINER ON THE CLUTCH LINKAGE DISINTEGRATED AND LINKAGE SEPARATED CAUSING THE VEHICLE IN MOTION AND REMAIN IN MOTION. *YH

Incident date: May 26, 1994

I HAVE ALSO HAD TO REPLACE MY TRANSMISSION AT 36021MILES,WINDOW MOTORS,POWER LOCKS,ALTERNATOR GENERATOR,HAD THEM REPLACE BACK APPLIQUES( WHICH STILL LEAK)DRIVE AXLE SHAFTAT32000,AM NOW HAVING PROBLEMS WITH CAR DYING BECAUSE CAR BACKFIRES AND HOSE BLOW OFF, NEED FUEL INJECTORS ,STEERING RACK HAS BEEN... Read more

Incident date: May 26, 1994

DURING FRONTAL CRASH AT APPROX. 25MPH, DRIVER'S AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. ALSO, PASSENGER SIDE SHOULDER HARNESS DID NOT RETRACT, WHICH CAUSED INJURIES TO PASSENGER. PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BACK ALSO BROKE WHEN PASSENGER RECOILED INTO IT. *AK

Crash 1 injured

HAD CAR FIXED AT NON DEALER GARAGE. CALLED DEALER THEY SAID IT WOULD NOT SHOW UP IF FIXED AND TURNED IN TO GENERAL MOTORS. SO I DON'T KNOW IF THE GARAGE MAY HAVE CHARGED ME ,THEN TURNED IT IN TO GMC.ITS THE SAME QUAD 4 MOTOR THAT WAS RECALLED IN THE OLDSMOBILE. *AK

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING BETWEEN 50 TO 60 MPH AND SHE APPLIED BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN,VEHICLE HIT THE CAR IN FRONT, AND THEN THERE WERE A CHAIN REACTIO N,THREE OTHER CARS WERE HIT. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. *AK

Crash

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING BETWEEN 50-60 MPH AND APPLIED THE BRAKES TO SLOWDOWN. BRAKES FAILED, AND VEHICLE HIT CAR IN FRONT. THIS LED TO A CHAIN REACTION, THREE OTHER CARS WERE HIT. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. *AK

Crash

Incident date: Oct 5, 1997

SMOKE WAS COMING FROM STEERING COLUMN WHILE DRIVING ON THE STREET AT 35 MPH. THIS COULD LEAD TO A VEHICLE COLLISION DUE TO POOR VISIBILITY. DEALER/MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED AT THIS TIME. ASKING NHTSA TO LOOK INTO THIS MATTER. *AK

Incident date: Sep 27, 1997

FLOOR GETS WET AND FEET ARE SLIPPING OFF PEDALS

WHILE STARTING VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDER THE DASHBOARD DUE TO TWO POSITIVE WIRES CONNECTING. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

Fire

WHEN GO TO START VEHICLE UP, SOMETHING WITHIN THE IGNITION CAUSES CATALYTIC CONVERTER TO OVERHEAT. THIS COULD CAUSE A FIRE. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED, THE CONVERTER HAS BEEN REPLACED ONCE. *AK

Incident date: Aug 10, 1999

BRAKING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING NO BRAKING ABILITY. BRAKE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR, CAUSING A REAR END COLLISION. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

Crash

Incident date: May 1, 1999

THE TURN SIGNAL/BLINKER OFTEN GOT STUCK BETWEEN BRIGHT AND DIM. WHEN THAT HAPPENED THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD BE OFF. WHEN THE SWITCH GOT STUCK THE ONLY WAY TO TURN THE LIGHTS BACK ON WOULD BE TO PULL THE BRIGHT SWITCH AGAIN. TWICE WHEN THIS HAPPENED THE SIGNAL SWITCH BROKE (I HAD IT REPLACED ONCE), LE... Read more

Incident date: Sep 4, 1998

THE IGNITION COIL FROM THE ENGINE THAT GOES TO THE DRIVER'S AIR BAG BURNED, CAUSING SMOKE TO COME FROM THE STEERING COLUMN, WHICH ALMOST RESULTED IN A FIRE. *AK

Incident date: Sep 9, 1998

WHILE CONSUMER HAD FOOT ON BRAKE AT A STOP SIGN THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED FORWARD. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO AVOID A CRASH. NO AMOUNT OF PRESSURE ON THE BRAKES WOULD STOP VEHICLE. DRIVER TURNED THE IGNITION OFF TO STOP VEHICLE. AFTER DRIVING THE VEHICLE HOME, OWNER EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM WHILE PARKING... Read more

Incident date: Mar 1, 1997

SCREWS FAILED CAUSING THE AIRBAG TO FALL OUT.

WHEN USING THE TURN SIGNALS, SMOKE EMITTED FROM STEERING COLUMN; TURN SIGNAL WILL AUTOMATICALLY CANCEL, BUT FLASHER IS STILL CLICKING UNDER DASH. HEADLIGHT DIMMER SWITCH ALSO VERY INTERMITTENT, AND HEADLIGHTS WILL GO OUT WHEN ATTEMPTING TO USE BRIGHT LIGHTS OR DIM THEM.

Incident date: Sep 3, 1998

STEERING COLUMN, WHERE THE HAZARD LIGHTS ARE, WHITE SMOKE COMES UP WHILE DRIVING. CAN SMELL SOMETHING BURNING. SPEED DOESN'T MATTER WHEN INCIDENT OCCURS. ALSO, THE MORE TURN SIGNAL IS USED THE MORE BURNING, DEALER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED OF PROBLEM. *AK

Incident date: Sep 3, 1998

BRAKE PEDAL TOUCHES FLOOR WHEN APPLIED. NEW BRAKES INSTALLED AND PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. VEHICLE ALSO STALLS DURING BRAKING AND DURING WET WEATHER.

Incident date: Oct 15, 1997

Y FUEL INJECTORS FAILED CAUSING VEHICLE TO DIE.

Incident date: Aug 22, 1997

LEFT FRONT TIRE CAME OFF. (OHIO STATE POLICE REPORT)

Incident date: Jan 24, 1997

DRIVER WAS HIT BROADSIDE AND PUSHED INTO A POLE AND DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DIDN'T DEPLOY . *AK

Crash

Incident date: Jan 1, 1996

WHEN TURNING ON THE BRIGHT LIGHTS, THE HEADLIGHTS TURN OFF AND IT IS DIFFICULT TO GET THEM BACK ON, AFFECTS VISIBILITY. *AK

Incident date: Mar 1, 1992

DRIVER'S SEAT BACK BROKE DURING REAR END COLLISION.

1 injured

Incident date: Jul 27, 1996

CONSUMER WAS DRIVNIG ON A OFF RAM WHEN HE APPLIED THE BRAKE ANDTHERE WERE NO BRAKES, CAUSING AN ACCIDENT . PLEASE DESCRIBE .*AK

Crash

Incident date: Jun 1, 1993

SMOKE CAME FROM STEERING COLUMN TWICE. *DH

Incident date: Apr 27, 1996

DRIVING VEHICLE, PUT ON AIR CONDITIONER, BLACK SMOKE POURED OUT, PULLED OVER, POPPED HOOD, FLAMES SHOT OUT, FIRE DEPT. PUT OUT FLAMES, *AK

Fire

Incident date: Aug 1, 1995

STARTER FAILED. *SD

Incident date: Aug 1, 1995

IGNITION MODULE FAILED. *SD

Incident date: Jan 14, 1996

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE THE STEERING COLUMN SMOKES AND THE CONSUMER CAN SMELL A VERY BAD ODOR. TT

Incident date: Jul 15, 1995

SMOKE FROM BURNING WIRES IS EMITTED FROM STEERING WHEEL WHEN DIRECTIONAL SIGNAL IS USED. *AK

Incident date: Jul 6, 1992

HEAD GASKETS LEAK ANTI FREEZE. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TT

Incident date: Aug 1, 1995

CONSUMER IS UNABLE TO DRIVE CAR AT ALL SHE SAYS CAR CUTS OFF OR WILL STALL DURING DRIVING ,HER 5 YEAR WARRANTY IS UP THE DEALER WON'T HELP HER. TT CONSUMER STATES STALLING HAS CONTINUED EVEN THOUGH WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED. *SLC

Showing 50 of 72 complaints.

EPA Fuel Economy — 1991 CHEVROLET BERETTA

Trim / Engine	City MPG	Highway MPG	Combined MPG	Fuel Type	Annual Fuel Cost
2.2L 4-cyl, Automatic 3-spd (Front-Wheel Drive)	21.0	28.0	24.0	Regular	$2,800
2.2L 4-cyl, Manual 5-spd (Front-Wheel Drive)	21.0	30.0	24.0	Regular	$2,800
2.3L 4-cyl, Manual 5-spd (Front-Wheel Drive)	21.0	30.0	24.0	Premium	$3,400
3.1L 6-cyl, Automatic 3-spd (Front-Wheel Drive)	18.0	25.0	20.0	Regular	$3,400
3.1L 6-cyl, Manual 5-spd (Front-Wheel Drive)	17.0	26.0	20.0	Regular	$3,400

CO2 Emissions: -1.0 g/mile (Compact Cars)

Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Actual fuel economy may vary based on driving conditions.

Technical Service Bulletins — 1991 CHEVROLET BERETTA

3 manufacturer communications from 3 unique bulletins. TSBs describe known problems and recommended fixes from the manufacturer.

Most Affected Components

Component	Bulletins
010000 STEERING	1
036000 SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP	1
061100 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE	1

061100 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

SOME V6 ENGINES MAY, ON A VERY INFREQUENT BASIS, HAVE AN OIL ODOR CONDITION THAT IS GENERALLY ENCOUNTERED AFTER THE ENGINE'S OIL HAS BEEN CHANGED.TYPICALLY THE ODOR LASTS APPROXIMATELY 1000 MILES AFTER THE CHANGE OF OIL AND THEN DOES NOT RE

036000 SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

COMPLAINTS THAT THE ABS INDICATOR LAMP IS "ON". *YC

010000 STEERING

CRUNCH NOISE FROM RIGHT SIDE DASH AREA WHEN TURNING STEERING WHEEL. *TW

NHTSA Safety Investigations — CHEVROLET BERETTA

Investigations opened by NHTSA into potential safety defects. These are separate from recalls and may or may not result in a recall.

DP — Open — Model Year: 1991

DEFECTIVE AIR BAG CRASH SENSOR

CFAS SENT A FOLLOW-UP LETTER ON DECEMBER 12, 1996, TO CHANGE THE INTENT OF THE PETITION TO AIRBAG AGGRESSIVITY AND DEPLOYMENT VARIABILITY.NHTSA RECEIVED THE LETTER ON 12/12/96; ACCORDINGLY, THE PETITION DUE DAY WAS CHANGED TO APRIL 12, 1997.CFAS PETITIONED THE AGENCY TO CONDUCT AN INVESTIGATION TO D... Read more

PE — Closed — Model Year: 1991

STEERING COLUMN SMK/FLAMES