Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 61 complaints with NHTSA about the 1989 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 10 | 16% |
| Seat belts | 10 | 16% |
| Service brakes | 7 | 11% |
| Seats | 5 | 8% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 4 | 7% |
| Structure | 4 | 7% |
| Tires | 3 | 5% |
| Air bags | 3 | 5% |
| Vehicle speed control | 3 | 5% |
| Seat belts | 1 | 2% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
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 STAT
NHTSA complaint: Seat belts
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
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
I'M GLAD I WAS IN MY DRIVEWAY WHEN I FOUND THAT I COULDN'T UN-BUCKLE MY SEATBELT. AN EMERGENCY SITUATION WOULD HAVE BEEN MUCH MORE INCONVEINIENT.*AK
NHTSA complaint: Seat belts
WHILE DRIVING ENGINE WILL OVERHEAT, CAUSING TRANSMISSION TO LOCK UP, AND ENGINE TO STALL. THEN, AFTER TAKING VEHICLE TO DEALER, THEY SAID THAT DEFECT WAS WITH TORQUE CONVERTER CLUTCH. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
WHILE DRIVING, CONSUMER HEARD A POP SOUND AND AFTER PULLING OVER, SAW SMOKE AND FIRE IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT. OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT. *SLC
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
THIS PART FAILURE CAUSE A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF GAS TO FLOW ONTO A HOT ENGINE AND IT ALMOST CAUSED THE CAR TO CATCH FIRE. THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE GASOLINE COVERED THE PARKING LOT WHEN I TRIED TO
NHTSA complaint: Fuel system
DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT WHEN TRYING TO REMOVE IT BECOMES STUCK IN LATCH HOUSING. THERE IS A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM. MANUFACTURER TOLD CONSUMER THAT THIS VEHICLE WILL NOT BE COVERED BY RECALL. *AK
NHTSA complaint: Seat belts
FRONT SEAT HAS A BROKEN WELD ON THE SEAT FRAME CAUSING NO BACK SUPPORT. *SLC
NHTSA complaint: Seats
NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for the 1989 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).
THE FRONT SEAT FRAME ASSEMBLY MAY CONTAIN AN IMPROPER, MISSING AND/OR MISLOCATED WELD THAT COULD FRACTURE.
Risk: THIS COULD CAUSE UNEXPECTED SEAT MOVEMENT AND RESULT INPERSONAL INJURY AND/OR LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE CAR.
Fix: REPLACE BOTH FRONT SEAT ASSEMBLIES.
FRONT SEAT BELT LATCH PLATES MAY NOT ENGAGE THE BUCKLE ASSEMBLIES.
Risk: IN EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT, UNBELTED OR IMPROPERLY BELTEDOCCUPANTS ARE MORE AT RISK TO INJURY THAN IF BELTS ARE PROPERLY BUCKLED.
Fix: REPLACE IMPROPERLY FUNCTIONING BUCKLE ASSEMBLIES.
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 | 84 | excellent |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 80 | excellent |
| 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 61 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and electrical system is the most reported area with 10 of them (16%). There are 5 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 84/100 (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 80/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 1989 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 73/100. 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.