1991 Chevrolet Beretta

Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.

72/100

Worth a look

AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.

What owners actually report

Owners have filed 71 complaints with NHTSA about the 1991 Chevrolet Beretta, and it carries 1 recall. 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.

Complaints by area, from NHTSA records for this model-year
Area	Complaints	Share
Electrical system	23	32%
Service brakes	11	15%
Exterior lighting	11	15%
Engine and engine cooling	4	6%
Steering	3	4%
Vehicle speed control	3	4%
Fuel system	3	4%
Power train	2	3%
Steering	1	1%
Visibility	1	1%

In owners' own words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.

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 SI
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system

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 PROB
NHTSA complaint: Steering

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

WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK INTERMITTENTLY; THIS COULD RESULT IN INOPERATIVE WINDSHIELD WIPERS AND REDUCED DRIVER'S VISIBILITY, INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH. *AK CAUSED BY BAD WIPER PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARDS THAT AR
NHTSA complaint: Visibility

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 VEHI
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling

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 VEHIC
NHTSA complaint: Power train

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 BECA
NHTSA complaint: Steering

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 REC
NHTSA complaint: Air bags

Recalls on record

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 1991 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.

Steering: steering wheel/handle bar 91V083000

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

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

Fix: TIGHTEN THE NUT TO THE PROPER TORQUE AS NECESSARY.

The seven scores

Reliability raw	82	excellent
Longevity est.	79	good
Maintenance	89	excellent
Depreciation	57	average
Performance	47	below average
Efficiency	45	below average

How it compares in its class

Percentile ranks against other compact cars in the catalog.

Reliability: better than 38% of compact cars
Longevity: better than 54% of compact cars
Running costs: better than 82% of compact cars
Value retention: better than 31% of compact cars

Which of these numbers are measured

What stands behind each score for this car:

Reliability 82: from NHTSA recalls and complaints. This one is a raw count: we do not have a sales figure for this model, so a high-volume car looks worse here than it should.
Longevity 79: an estimate from powertrain and brand record. No 200,000-mile population exists for a 1991 car yet, so this is a prior, not evidence.
Maintenance 89: repair-cost data where we have it for this model, otherwise a mechanical-complexity estimate from engine size, cylinder count and drivetrain.
Safety: no score. NHTSA crash testing thins out for older vehicles and we would rather show nothing than guess.

Common questions

What goes wrong with the 1991 Chevrolet Beretta?

Owners have filed 71 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and electrical system is the most reported area with 23 of them (32%). There is 1 recall on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.

Is the 1991 Chevrolet Beretta reliable?

AVOIR scores its reliability 82/100 (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.

How long will a 1991 Chevrolet Beretta last?

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 1991 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.

Should I buy a 1991 Chevrolet Beretta?

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.