1993 Chevrolet Beretta

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

73/100

Worth a look

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

What owners actually report

Owners have filed 48 complaints with NHTSA about the 1993 Chevrolet Beretta, and it carries no 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.

Complaints by area, from NHTSA records for this model-year
Area	Complaints	Share
Service brakes	16	33%
Steering	4	8%
Structure	4	8%
Engine and engine cooling	4	8%
Electrical system	4	8%
Exterior lighting	3	6%
Air bags	3	6%
Seat belts	2	4%
Vehicle speed control	2	4%
Service brakes	1	2%

In owners' own words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.

SIDE IMPACT FAILURE, STEERING FAILURE, ANTI-LOCK BRAKE FAILURE. SEVERE RIGHT SIDE IMPACT ON FEBRUARY 28, 2005 MODERATE WEATHER CONDITIONS. ANTI-LOCK BRAKES FAILED TO STOP THE CAR. WHICH CAUSED THE CAR HARD TO STEER.
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes

DT: ON THE FIREWALL, WHERE THE STEERING LINKAGE HOOKS UP AND IT BOLTS TO THE FIREWALL, CRACKED AROUND ALL OF THE BOLTS. WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL IT MOVES AROUND. *AK
NHTSA complaint: Steering

VEHICLE WAS PARKED WITH CONSUMER BEING INSIDE THE VEHICLE. WHILE MOVING THE STEERING WHEEL BACK AND FORTH FOR ADJUSTMENT CONSUMER NOTICED PLAY IN THE STEERING. THE STEERING RACK MOUNTING BRACKET PULLED FROM THE FIREWAL
NHTSA complaint: Steering

STEERING COLUMN SMOKES WHILE DRIVING CAUSING GAS FUMES TO SEEP THROUGH THE VENTS. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK
NHTSA complaint: Steering

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT 55MPH AND NO WARNING THE BACK LEFT TIRE TREAD STARTED TO SEPARATE WHICH CAUSE THE TIRE TO BLOW OUT AND THE CONSUMER HAD TO PULL OVER. DUNLOP MODEL SIZE# UNKNOWN. DOT# UNKNOWN. *TT
NHTSA complaint: Tires

STEERING UNIT PULLED AWAY FROM FIREWALL CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL. MY MECHANIC TOLD ME THE FIREWALL HAD RUSTED OUT AND ASKED ME IF THE CAR HAD BEEN IN A FLOOD, WHICH IT HAD NOT. HOWEVER, SHORTLY AFTER I HAD BOUGHT THE CA
NHTSA complaint: Structure

WHILE TRAVELING AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT BROKE. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK
NHTSA complaint: Seat belts

CONSUMER BELIEVES THERE IS A DESIGN FLAW WITH THE DISC BRAKE SYSTEM, CONSUMER STATES THAT IF THE BRAKES DRAG LONG ENOUGH THEY CAN GET HOT AND LOCK UP, HE BELIEVES THAT IF A SPRING IS INSTALLED INTO THE CALIPER THAT THIS
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes

The seven scores

Reliability raw	86	excellent
Longevity est.	81	excellent
Maintenance	89	excellent
Depreciation	57	average
Performance	47	below average
Efficiency	43	below average

How it compares in its class

Percentile ranks against other compact cars in the catalog.

Reliability: better than 50% of compact cars
Longevity: better than 69% 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 86: 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 81: an estimate from powertrain and brand record. No 200,000-mile population exists for a 1993 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 1993 Chevrolet Beretta?

Owners have filed 48 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and service brakes is the most reported area with 16 of them (33%). No recalls are on record for it.

Is the 1993 Chevrolet Beretta reliable?

AVOIR scores its reliability 86/100 (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 1993 Chevrolet Beretta last?

AVOIR scores its longevity 81/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 1993 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.

Should I buy a 1993 Chevrolet Beretta?

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.