Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 89 complaints with NHTSA about the 1988 Chevrolet Beretta, and it carries 5 recalls. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Structure | 15 | 17% |
| Electrical system | 10 | 11% |
| Steering | 10 | 11% |
| Service brakes | 9 | 10% |
| Seat belts | 8 | 9% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 7 | 8% |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 7 | 8% |
| Power train | 5 | 6% |
| Visibility | 4 | 4% |
| Fuel system | 3 | 3% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
RECALL OF 1988 CHEVY BERETTA DOOR HINGES/SEAT BELTS/HOOD LATCHES.*AK
NHTSA complaint: Seat belts
FEMALE SIDE OF DRIVER SEAL BELT COVER BROKE OFF 1-2 YEAERS AGO, SO I HAVE BEEN BUCKLING DRIVER BELT INTO PASSENGER BELT. COVER ON FEMALE SIDE BROKE OFF SO ANY PRESSURE APPLIED TO FEMALE SIDE WITH A BELT BUCKLED INTO IT
NHTSA complaint: Seat belts
ON THURSDAY, MAY 18, 2000, I FILED A COMPLAINT WITH NHTSA REGARDING A RECALL THAT WAS ISSUED FOR 1988 CHEVROLETS BERETTAS. I TRIED TO TALK TO GMC AND THE CHEVROLET DEALER NEAR MY HOUSE ABOUT FIXING THE LATCH ON THE CAR,
NHTSA complaint: Latches/locks/linkages
AFTER HOOD WAS JAMMED AND OPENED, COULD NOT CLOSE IT BECAUSE LATCH DID NOT WORK. *AK
NHTSA complaint: Latches/locks/linkages
MY HOOD FLEW UP WHILE I WAS DRIVING AND SMASHED THE WINDSHIELD. I WAS DRIVING IN THE RAIN AND IT IS ONLY BY THE GRACE OF GOD THAT I DID NOT HAVE AN ACCIDENT AS THE TRAFFIC WAS SLOWING AHEAD OF ME I SLOWED DOWN AND THIS
NHTSA complaint: Structure
PASSENGER'S SIDE DOOR BROKE AND CAME OFF THE FRAME BECAUSE ONE OR TWO OF THE HINGES BROKE. DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK
NHTSA complaint: Structure
STALLS GOING AROUND CORNERS, WHEN YOU PUT THE BRAKE ON IT STAHLS, BUT DOESN'T DO IT ALL THE TIME. ALSO DOES IT IN REVERSE.
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
DOOR HINGES FAILED THIS GREATLY. THIS WOULD COMPROMISE THE STRUTURAL INTEGRETY OF THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT DURING A CRASH, RESULTING IN THE LOSS OF LIFE AND OR LIMB DEALER HAS INFORMED MYSELF OF SAFTY BULLETIN ON THIES
NHTSA complaint: Structure
NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for the 1988 Chevrolet Beretta. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.
CERTAIN REPLACEMENT FUEL FILTERS, FRAM BRAND NAME P/N G3727, WITH DATE CODES X52911 THROUGH X60801 SEQUENTIALLY OR X600141 AND A MEXICO COUNTRY OR ORIGIN MARKING ON THE FUEL FILTER HOUSING MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 18, 2005, THROUGH MARCH 21, 2006, SOLD FOR USE ON THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE AND ON CE
Risk: THIS CONDITION MAY CAUSE AN INADEQUATE SEAL AT THE CONNECTION, POTENTIALLY LEADING TO A FUEL LEAK. IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, A FIRE COULD OCCUR.
Fix: HONEYWELL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE FUEL FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 18, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FRAM CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-890-2075 (OPTION 1).
A DOOR HINGE (UPPER OR LOWER) MAY BREAK WHILE OPENING OR CLOSING THE DOOR MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO REPOSITION AND CLOSE PROPERLY.
Risk: HINGE SEPARATION MAY REDUCE THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OFTHE SIDE OF THE CAR AND INCREASE RISK OF INJURY IN CERTAIN TYPES OF ACCIDENTS.
Fix: REPLACE DOOR HINGES ON BOTH DOORS.
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.
Risk: 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 T
Fix: REPLACE THE PRIMARY HOOD LATCH ASSEMBLY, THE SECONDARY HOOD LATCH ASSEMBLY, AND THE SUPPORT BRACKET.
THE FRONT SHOULDER BELT RETRACTORS MAY HAVE REDUCED SENSITIVITY OF THE LOCK-UP FEATURE AND WOULD NOT FUNCTION IN A SUDDEN DECELERATION OR CRASH.
Risk: 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.
| Reliability raw | 83 | excellent |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 79 | good |
| Maintenance | 90 | excellent |
| Depreciation | 57 | average |
| Performance | 45 | below average |
| Efficiency | 45 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other compact cars in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 89 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and structure is the most reported area with 15 of them (17%). There are 5 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 83/100 (excellent) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.
AVOIR scores its longevity 79/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 1988 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: worth a look, because a solid ownership case with specific caveats below. Its overall ownership score is 72/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.