1995 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 107 complaints with NHTSA about the 1995 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	25%
Engine and engine cooling	9	8%
Structure	8	7%
Electrical system	7	7%
Fuel system	7	7%
Suspension	6	6%
Power train	6	6%
Steering	5	5%
Air bags	4	4%
Seats	4	4%

In owners' own words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.

WHILE PULLING INSIDE OF THE DRIVE WAY WITHOUT WARNING THE PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL SHEARED OFF. THE DRIVER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE GARAGE. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS NEEDED REPLACING DUE TO
NHTSA complaint: Suspension

I PURCHASED A 95 BARRETTE. I DID NOT START HAVING PROBLEMS UNTIL 2000. IT WAS A BRAKE RELATED PROBLEM. MY BRAKES WOULD LOCK UP AND THE ABS LIGHT WOULD COME ON. I HAD NO IDEA WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS BUT KNEW I HAD TO HAVE IT
NHTSA complaint: Suspension

AT 60 TO 65 MPH VEHICLE VIBRATES IN THE FRONT. IT'S A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH CHEVROLET, CONSUMER SAYS IF CONTROL ARM BREAKS IT MAY CAUSE SERIOUS INJURIES.*AK
NHTSA complaint: Suspension

LEFT REAR AXLE BROKE WHILE DRIVING CAUSING WHEEL TO SEPARATE FROM VEHICLE. DEALER WILL BE NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
NHTSA complaint: Power train

WHILE DRIVING 35-40 MPH REAR AXLE BROKE, AND LEFT REAR WHEEL CAME OFF AXLE. VEHICLE ROLLED A COUPLE OF TIMES, WAS TOTALLED. *AK
NHTSA complaint: Power train

WHILE TRAVELING 60MPH HEAD GASKETS BLEWOUT. VEHICLE WAS RUNNING ROUGH. SECOND TIME VEHICLE WAS DOING SAME THING AND IDLING FUNNY. COOLANT WAS SHOOTING OUT. THIRD TIME SAME PROBLEM. SPARK PLUGS CHANGED. STILL RAN FUNNY
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling

PER MY MECHANIC, THERE WAS A PROBLEM AND SUPPOSEDLY A RECALL REGARDING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE CABLE CUTTING THE WIRING HARNESS FOR THE REAR ABS BRAKE SYSTEM.. I NEVER RECEIVED ANYTHING ON THIS, AND I WAS WONDERING IF I SUB
NHTSA complaint: Parking brake

SMALL COOLANT LEAK ON RIGHT SIDE OF CYLINDER HEAD GASKET, DURING THE FALL LEAK WORSENED, GASKET REPLACED AT OWNER'S EXPENSE, OWNER WOULD LIKE TO BE REIMBURSED FOR CHARGES, OWNER BELIEVES THAT VEHICLE SHOULD BE COVERED U
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling

Recalls on record

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 1995 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.

Structure:body:door 94V176000

THE REINFORCEMENT PANEL THAT SERVES AS A LIFTPOINT FOR THE FRAME WAS OMITTED FROM THE RIGHT SIDE ROCKER ASSEMBLY OF THE FRAME THE VEHICLES DO NOT CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 208, "OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION."

Risk: CONSEQUENCE OF NON-COMPLIANCE: THE MISSING REINFORCEMENT PANEL REDUCES THE PROTECTION OF THE VEHICLE OCCUPANTS IN THE EVENT OF A SIDE IMPACT COLLISION.

Fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE VEHICLES FOR THE PRESENCE OF THE RIGHT SIDE ROCKER REINFORCEMENT PANEL. IF THE REINFORCEMENT PANEL IS NOT PRESENT, DEALERS WILL CONTACT CHEVROLET FOR FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS.

The seven scores

Reliability raw	82	excellent
Longevity est.	79	good
Maintenance	89	excellent
Depreciation	57	average
Performance	47	below average
Efficiency	46	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 1995 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 1995 Chevrolet Beretta?

Owners have filed 107 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and service brakes is the most reported area with 27 of them (25%). There is 1 recall on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.

Is the 1995 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 1995 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 1995 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.

Should I buy a 1995 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.