1992 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 74 complaints with NHTSA about the 1992 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
Service brakes	27	36%
Engine and engine cooling	11	15%
Electrical system	8	11%
Steering	7	9%
Exterior lighting	6	8%
Visibility	3	4%
Power train	3	4%
Fuel system	2	3%
Seat belts	1	1%
Service brakes	1	1%

In owners' own words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.

THE LEVER USED TO ENGAGE THE HIGH AND LOW BEAM BROKE THREE TIMES WITHOUT EXCESSIVE FORCE BEING APPLIED. WHEN THE LEVER BROKE IT DISENGAGED THE CRUISE CONTROL AND THE LIGHT REMAINED ON. *JB *MR
NHTSA complaint: Exterior lighting

WHILE DRIVING A COLUMN OF SMOKE DEVELOPED FROM THE TOP OF THE STEERING COLUMN, DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF THE DRIVER. THIS OCCURRED APPROXIMATELY ONE MILE AFTER NOTICING THAT THE TURN SIGNAL DID NOT SEEM TO OPERATE PROPERLY D
NHTSA complaint: Exterior lighting

BRAKE SYSTEM SQUEAKS AND JERKS WHEN STARTING TO DRIVE VEHICLE FOR THE DAY. *AK FRONT ROTORS WERE RESURFACED AND BRAKES WERE ADJUSTED, BUT JERKING AND NOISE STILL CONTINUE. *YH
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes

I HAVE HEARD OF PROBLEMS WITH BRETTAS AND CAVALIERS WITH HEAD GASKETS AND CRACK HEADS. *AK
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling

HAVE SEEN NUMEROUS BULLETINS ON SAME PROBLEMS. WHY WON'T GM FIX THESE? NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED WITHIN SUMMARY. *AK
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes

VEHICLE EXPERIENCES EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCES DUE TO FAULTY ABS BRAKING SYSTEM, WHILE CONSUMER WAS BACKING OUT OF DRIVEWAY BRAKES GAVE OUT CAUSING CONSUMER TO SIDE SWIPE AN ELECTRICAL POWER BOX ACROSS THE STREET. NLM
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes

WHILE MAKING A "COMPLETE" STOP VEHICLE HAD A "CLICKING" NOISE, AND THE BRAKING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH. DEALER COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLE
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes

STEERING COLUMN AND TURN SIGNAL BECAME LOOSE DUE TO LOOSE BOLTS WITHIN THE STEERING COLUMN. DEALER INDICATED BOLTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK
NHTSA complaint: Steering

Recalls on record

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 1992 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.

Exterior lighting:brake lights:switch 92V185000

THE SERVICE BRAKE STOP LAMP SWITCH BECOMES INOPERATIVE.

Risk: THE INOPERATIVE STOP LAMP SWITCH WILL NOT ILLUMINATE THESTOP LAMPS WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED. THIS WOULD NOT ADEQUATELY INFORMOTHER DRIVERS OF THE VEHICLE OPERATOR'S INTENT TO STOP OR SLOW DOW

Fix: REPLACE THE STOP LAMP SWITCH AND CORRECT THE WIRING IN THE CONNECTOR OF THE STOP LAMP SWITCH WIRING HARNESS.

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 1992 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 1992 Chevrolet Beretta?

Owners have filed 74 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and service brakes is the most reported area with 27 of them (36%). There is 1 recall on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.

Is the 1992 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 1992 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 1992 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.

Should I buy a 1992 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.