1995 CHEVROLET BERETTA Recalls, Complaints & Safety

WHILE PULLING INSIDE OF THE DRIVE WAY WITHOUT WARNING THE PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL SHEARED OFF. THE DRIVER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE GARAGE. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS NEEDED REPLACING DUE TO CORROSION. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NM

I PURCHASED A 95 BARRETTE. I DID NOT START HAVING PROBLEMS UNTIL 2000. IT WAS A BRAKE RELATED PROBLEM. MY BRAKES WOULD LOCK UP AND THE ABS LIGHT WOULD COME ON. I HAD NO IDEA WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS BUT KNEW I HAD TO HAVE IT FIXED BEFORE IT CAUSED A ACCIDENT FROM BRAKE LOCK UP DURING HARD BRAKING. I ULTIMATELY BOUGHT A CD VERSION OF A AUTO REPAIR MANUAL. POPULAR MECHANICS REPAIR SOFTWARE. STILL NO ANSWERS UNTIL I WENT TO THE TSB AND SAFETY RECALL PORTION. I WAS SHOCKED TO FIND MY PROBLEM IN THERE. IT WAS HOW THE WIRING WAS ROUTED IT AND WOULD RUB ON THE GAS LINE AND WEAR THE WIRES DOWN TO CAUSE A SHORT IN RESPECT CAUSE THE ABS SYSTEM TO SHUT DOWN AND NOT OPERATE. I ALSO FOUND A SAFETY RECALL NOTICE ON MINE. BELOW LIST THE RECALLS BULLETINS FOR 1995 CHEVROLET BERETTA V6-3100 3.1L VIN M SFI SAFETY RECALLS TSB NUMBER ISSUE DATE TSB TITLE 95C03 SEP 94 RECALL - SUPPORT PANEL OMITTED FROM ROCKER PANEL GENERAL RECALLS TSB NUMBER ISSUE DATE TSB TITLE 95C08 OCT 94 CAMPAIGN - A/T DEFECTIVE 2ND CLUTCH REACTION PLATE 410103 SEP 94 CAMPAIGN - PRODUCT BULLETIN NUMBERING SYSTEM I AM ALSO HAVING PROBLEMS INVOLVING THE ENGINE THAT INVOLVES THE SERVICE BULLETINS. I AM OUTRAGED BECAUSE OF 2 REASONS. I PAID A LOT OF HARD EARNED MONEY FOR A VEHICLE WITH THE FAITH THAT THE MANUFACTURER WOULD STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT.. WELL I CALLED THEM TO FIND OUT WHAT I COULD DO TO HAVE THESE PROBLEMS CORRECTED. THEY TOLD ME THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO..IT WAS MY PROBLEM. NEEDLESS TO SAY I AM ONE VERY UPSET CUSTOMER. I NEED TO KNOW WHO I CAN CONTACT ABOUT THIS AND WRITE TO. THIS IS NOT RIGHT. I NEVER GOT A RECALL NOTICE ON MY CAR ABOUT ANY OF THE INVOLVED PROBLEMS. SO NOW I FIND OUT MY CAR COULD BE A DEATH TRAP. FROM WHAT I HAVE READ ON THE INTERNET THE ROCKER PANEL INVOLVES SIDE IMPACTS AND COULD CAUSE SOMEONE SERIOUS INJURY FOR WHOEVER IS DRIVING THIS TYPE OF CAR. TS

AT 60 TO 65 MPH VEHICLE VIBRATES IN THE FRONT. IT'S A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH CHEVROLET, CONSUMER SAYS IF CONTROL ARM BREAKS IT MAY CAUSE SERIOUS INJURIES.*AK

LEFT REAR AXLE BROKE WHILE DRIVING CAUSING WHEEL TO SEPARATE FROM VEHICLE. DEALER WILL BE NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

WHILE DRIVING 35-40 MPH REAR AXLE BROKE, AND LEFT REAR WHEEL CAME OFF AXLE. VEHICLE ROLLED A COUPLE OF TIMES, WAS TOTALLED. *AK

Crash

WHILE TRAVELING 60MPH HEAD GASKETS BLEWOUT. VEHICLE WAS RUNNING ROUGH. SECOND TIME VEHICLE WAS DOING SAME THING AND IDLING FUNNY. COOLANT WAS SHOOTING OUT. THIRD TIME SAME PROBLEM. SPARK PLUGS CHANGED. STILL RAN FUNNY.*AK

SMALL COOLANT LEAK ON RIGHT SIDE OF CYLINDER HEAD GASKET, DURING THE FALL LEAK WORSENED, GASKET REPLACED AT OWNER'S EXPENSE, OWNER WOULD LIKE TO BE REIMBURSED FOR CHARGES, OWNER BELIEVES THAT VEHICLE SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY ISSUED IN MAY FOR CAVALIER'S AND S10'S, SAME ENGINE MODEL. CJ

PER MY MECHANIC, THERE WAS A PROBLEM AND SUPPOSEDLY A RECALL REGARDING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE CABLE CUTTING THE WIRING HARNESS FOR THE REAR ABS BRAKE SYSTEM.. I NEVER RECEIVED ANYTHING ON THIS, AND I WAS WONDERING IF I SUBMIT THE BILL TO SOMEONE AT CHEVROLET, IF I CAN GET REIMBURSED. *AK

VEHICLE BURST INTO FLAMES WITH NO WARNING, THE FIRE REPORT STATED ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FIRE. *SLC

Fire

VEHICLE BURST INTO FLAMES WITH NO WARNING, THE FIRE REPORT STATED ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FIRE. *SLC

Fire

THE SPRINGS OR WHATEVER THE COILS ARE ON THE BACK OF MY CAR SQUEAK WHEN SOMEONE IS GETTING INTO THE BACK OF THE CAR. THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THAT CHEVROLET HAD TROUBLE WITH THE CORSICA'S AND BERETTA'S OF THAT YEAR WITH THAT PARTICULAR PROBLEM. I HAVE FOUND NO PROOF OF THAT. THIS NOISE ALSO OCCURS WHEN GOING OVER ROUGH ROADS. IT ALMOST SOUND LIKE A SQUEAKY BED. AS FAR AS I KNOW IT DOESN'T OR HASN'T CAUSED ANY SAFETY PROBLEMS. MORE THAN ANYTHING IT IS ANNOYING. BUT, IF THIS CAN CAUSE A SAFETY PROBLEM I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW BECAUSE I HAVE A 5 YEAR OLD SON WHO RIDES IN THE BACK AS WELL AS CLIENTS ( I AM A REALTOR). I DIDN'T NOTICE ANY COMPLAINTS ON YOUR SITE THOUGH, ABOUT THIS PARTICULARLY ANNOYING PROBLEM.*AK

35000 MILES AND I NEED A NEW WATER PUMP? IT COST ME ALMOST $350.00 TO HAVE A NEW ONE PUT ON! ACCORDING TO MY UNCLE, WHO IS A MECANIC, THE WATER PUMP DID NOT NEED REPLACING! THE PRESSURE RELEASE VALVE FOR THE COOLANT HAD A LEAK UNDERNEATH THE BOLT. I TOLD THE MECHANIC THIS AND THEY STILL PUT A WATER PUMP ON IT! DO THESE DEALERSHIPS GET OFF WHEN A WOMAN COMES IN AND THEY CAN TAKE HER FOR ALL THAT SHE IS WORTH?! HAVE YOU HAD ANY OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE COOLANT LEAKING OUT FROM THE PRESSURE RELEASE VALVE?VALVE?*AK

I HAD MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP BECAUSE THE AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS WERE NOT ENGAGING WHEN I PUT MY CAR INTO DRIVE AS THEY SHOULD. SO, I TRIED IT MANUALLY ON THE AUTO LOCK SWITCH WITH NO REACTION I HAVE NOTICED THAT IT DOES THIS MAINLY WHEN IT IS COLD OUTSIDE. BUT, THE PROBLEM DID NOT OCCUR UNTIL THIS YEAR. THE MECHANIC GOT OUT HIS DIAGRAM BOOK ON THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS ON THE CAR AND DECIDED THAT IT WAS A RELAY, THAT'S THE ONLY THING THAT IT COULD BE, HE SAID. AFTER BEING CHARGED AROUND $80.00 FOR LABOR AND PARTS, I WAS CONFIDENT THAT THE PROBLEM WAS CORRECTED. THE NEXT MORNING, IT DID THE SAME THING. AGAIN, I FEEL THAT I WAS RAPED BY THE DEALERSHIP!*AK

I'M SORRY THAT I CAN'T BE MORE DESCRIPTIVE ABOUT THIS, BUT I AM A WOMAN WHAT DO YOU EXPECT? ANYWAYS, I HAVE HAD MY FRONT BRAKE PADS REPLACED ABOUT 3 TIMES NOW! I JUST HAD ALL NEW BRAKES AND THE ROTORS TURNED 4 MONTHS AGO AND THE DEALERSHIP SAID ON MY LAST BRAKE INSPECTION, 12/4 /00, THAT I ONLY HAVE 40% LEFT ON THE FRONT AND 70% ON THE BACK! HOW CAN THIS BE? I COULD UNDERSTAND THIS IF I HAD A GIZILLION MILES ON MY CAR AND I RAN THE HELL OUT OF IT BUT 35,000 MILES AND 3 BRAKE JOBS?! WHAT'S WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE? WELL I GUESS THAT IT WILL BE A MERRY CHRISTMAS AT THE DEALERSHIP SEEINGS HOW THEY HAVE RIPPED ME OFF FOR HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS! *AK

FRONT END BANGS LOUDLY, REPLACED SPROCKET, FAILED AGAIN, PAINT IS COMING OF IN HUGE PATCHES, ALTERNATOR WENT OUT WITHOUT WARNING REPLACED. *AK

WHILE TRAVELING AND STEERING VEHICLE STARTED SHAKING/CONSUMER LOST CONTROL AND HIT A GUARDRAIL. DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT DID NOT LOCK, AND AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. CONSUMER FELT THAT THE SEAT BELTS SHOULD HAVE CAUGHT DRIVER ENOUGH AND DRIVER COULD HAVE AVOIDED HEAD INJURIES.*AK

Crash 1 injured

WHILE TRAVELING AND STEERING VEHICLE STARTED SHAKING/CONSUMER LOST CONTROL AND HIT A GUARDRAIL. DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT DID NOT LOCK, AND AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. CONSUMER FELT THAT THE SEAT BELTS SHOULD HAVE CAUGHT DRIVER ENOUGH AND DRIVER COULD HAVE AVOIDED HEAD INJURIES.*AK

Crash 1 injured

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY RATE OF SPEED VEHICLE WILL COMPLETELY SHUTDOWN WITHOUT WARNING . PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

AN OIL LEAK IS COMING FROM THE ENGINE. ALSO, THERE'S A TICKING NOISE.*AK

IN JULY 1999, I HAD THE ENGINE REPLACED @ 60,000 - LESS THAN A YEAR LATER THE TRANSMISSION WENT - I HAVE HAD TO PUT A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF MONEY IN A 4/5 YEAR OLD CAR.

TIRES ARE DAMAGED BY IMPROPER INSTALLATION OF LUGS/BOLTS. YH

A VERY LOUD NOISE COMING FROM FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. YH

VEHICLE WILL LOSE 2 QUARTS OF OIL ABOUT EVERY 1000 MILES. MECHANIC HAS PUT BLACK DYE IN ENGINE, BUT INDICTATED NO LEAK. DEALER COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE. *AK

COOLANT LEAK CAUSED HEAD GASKET TO CRACK. HENNA CHEV CLAIMED FOR A WEEK NOT TO KNOW WHAT WAS WRONG, THEN SAID IT WOULD COST ME $250 JUST TO TAKE APART THE ENGINE TO DISCOVER PROBLEM. HAD TO TAKE CAR TO ANOTHER REPAIR SHOP. REPAIRS COST ME OVER $900. CHEVROLET REFUSES RESPONSIBILITY. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT ABOUT 20MPH CAR DIED, CONSUMER HAD TO HAVE CAR TOWED. DEALER SAID COOLANT LEAKED INTO ENGINE, CAUSING IT TO FREEZE UP AND LOCK. CONSUMER HAD TO PAY FOR A NEW ENGINE. *AK *ML

WHILE DRIVING ABS LIGHT COMES ON. WHEN THE LIGHT COMES ON THE BRAKES FADE, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. *AK

BOTH FRONT OUTSIDE DOOR HANDLES BROKE OFF. *AK

BRAKES FAILED 3 TIMES WITHOUT WARNING. THE FIRST TIME MECHANIC REPLACED MASTER CYLINDER THAT HE SAYS WAS LEAKING. THE NEXT DAY BRAKES FAILED AGAIN & COMPUTER BOX NEXT TO MASTER CYLINDER WAS REPLACED. BRAKES WORKED FOR ONE MONTH & WITHOUT WARNING, WENT DOWN TO FLOOR AGAIN. COMPUTER HAS TO BE REPLACED AGAIN & WE ARE IN FEAR OF DRIVING IT SINCE THERE IS NO WARNING WHEN BRAKES FAIL. *AK

STEERING COLUMN WII LL NOT STEER AT ALL. WHEN DRIVING VEHICLE AROUND 35 TO 45 MILES, THE STEERING COLUMN IS WEAK. *AK

TRANSMISSION FAILED COMPLETELY AT 60,000 MILES HAD TO BE REPLACED; BRAKES HAVE BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES ROTORS ONCE, AT 70,000 MILES MORE BRAKE PROBLEMS, SUNVISER FELL OFF AT 100 MILES, SEAT BELTS LOCKED UP AT 100 MILES. THIS CAR IS COMPLETELY UNREAL. *AK

IT HAS HAPPENDED 2 TIMES. WHEN IT IS RAINING, AND I GO TO STOP AT A STOP LIGHT, I HAVE APPLIED THE BRAKE, AND WHEN I DO, THE REAR WHEELS LOCK UP. *AK

ORIGINAL PAINT IS FALLING OFF THE ROOF OF THE CAR, REST OF VEHICLE PAINT IS FINE / CHILDREN ARE PLAYING WITH THE CHUNKS OF PAINT FALLING ON THE GROUND. *AK

ABS SYSTEM IS WORKING INTERMITTENTLY. WHEN DRIVING DOWN A HILL, THE CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES ,AND THE ABS SYSTEM GAVE OUT. BRAKE PEDAL WAS HARD, AND THE REAR WHEELS LOCKED UP. CONSUMER HAD TO KEEP PUMPING THE BRAKES TO BRING THE VEHICLE TO A STOP. *AK

WHEN ACCELERATING CAR STARTS TO HESITATE AS IF IT IS GOING TO CUT OFF. TOOK TO VEHICLEMECHANIC AND MECHANIC DOES NOT KNOW THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK

WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

ANTI-LOCK BRAKES LOCKED UP REPEATEDLY. SENSOR WORN THROUGH ON THE RIGHT FRONT BRAKE.

ALTHOUGH THIS DEFECT/FAILURE DID NOT RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT, IT COULD HAVE ENDED DISASTROUSLY. THE CRUISE CONTROL CABLE BECAME BINDED, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CONTINUE TO ACCELERATE. AS I WAS GOING TO WORK, I REALIZED THE CAR WAS NOT STOPPING LIKE IT SHOULD. FORTUNATELY, I DID NOT HIT ANY STOPLIGHTS. THE VEHICLE SEEMED TO BE RUNNING SMOOTHLY; THE IDLE WAS NOT EXTRAORDINARILY HIGH. HOWEVER, ONCE I GOT ONTO THE HIGHWAY AND BEGAN ACCELERATING, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO IDLE HIGHER AND BEGAN TO ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN. APPLYING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND THE REGULAR BRAKES, I WAS ABLE TO SLOW THE CAR TO ONLY 50 MILES PER HOUR. I GOT OFF OF THE HIGHWAY AND TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF AND COASTED TO SAFE PLACE. BY THIS TIME, I HAD LITTLE IF ANY BRAKES LEFT. I CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP BY HITTING A CURB. ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED, THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THE PROBLEM WAS THE CRUISE CONTROL CABLE HAD BECOME BINDED AND STUCK ON THE ACCELERATE POSITION. I DID NOT HAVE THE CRUISE CONTROL ON WHEN THIS OCCURRED AND I RARELY USE THIS FUNCTION WHEN DRIVING. THIS COULD BE A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS PROBLEM. I HAVE JUST SENT A LETTER TO CHEVROLET DETAILING THIS EVENT. I LISTED PROPERTY DAMAGE ON THIS FORM BECAUSE I HAVE BRAKE DAMAGE TO MY VEHICLE DUE TO MY EFFORTS TO SLOW THE VEHICLE. THERE IS ALSO BUMPER DAMAGE WHEN I RAN INTO THE CURB. THESE ARE MY APPROXIMATIONS. THE VEHICLE IS STILL AT CITY CHEVROLET BEING REPAIRED. *AK

WHEN DRIVING AND TRYING TO TURN THE LOW OR HIGH BEAMS ON, THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE SWITCH, WHICH IS HARD TO PULL OUT. *AK

AIR CONDITIONER HOSE IS IN A BAD PLACE, RIGHT NEXT TO AIR COMPRESSOR PULLY.PULLY WORE A HOLE IN AIR CONDITIONER HOSE. DRIVER'S DOOR HANDLE BROKE OFF, TALKED TO MECHANIC, SAID THIS WAS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE BERRETA.

HAD TAKEN VEHICLE IN AT 36,000 DUE TO DEFECTIVE ENGINE HEAD GASKETS. MANUFACTURER DID THE REPAIRS UNDER GOODWILL POLICY. AT 10,000 MILES LATER, ENGINE HEAD GASKETS HAD BLOWN AGAIN & MANUFACTURER IS REFUSING TO REPAIR THEM. NOT UNDER RECALL OR TSB. *AK