ChevroletBeretta1991Overview/chevrolet/beretta/1991/base/

1991 Chevrolet Beretta

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1991 Beretta.

Body PASSENGER CAR

The 1991 Chevrolet Beretta is a passenger car designed around an engine requiring 4 quarts of 5W-30 API oil, establishing its straightforward mechanical baseline. Beyond this maintenance footprint, the car's reliability profile is defined by 71 owner complaints and a single recall, with the electrical system standing out as the top problem area. When situated within the model's broader 1990-2002 complaint history, the 1991 model sits well below the peak of 108 complaints seen in 1994, yet far above the single complaint recorded in 1997, indicating to researchers a vehicle with distinct electrical vulnerabilities rather than the extreme highs or lows of the platform's lifespan.

Model year199619951994199319921991198919881987

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity4 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type5W-30 APIOEM · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses OE oil filter 12731175. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter12731175 alt 12737092
Engine air filter19166102 alt 24577608
Fuel filter25121468
Spark plug19362247 alt 19354418
Front wiper blades22155381
Serpentine belt14090086 alt 24572563
Thermostat19435095 alt 22545290

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length187.4 in
Overall width68.1 in
Overall height55.1 in
Wheelbase103.5 in
Curb weight2626 lb
Weight distribution (front / rear)64/36

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the Beretta of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

7.5–9.2 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 7.50 sec — 1990 GTZ Coupe
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
1990GTZ Coupe 2.3L I-47.50 sec15.90 sec180 hpFWD
1990GTZ Coupe 2.3L I-47.70 sec16.10 sec180 hpFWD
1990GT Coupe 3.1L V68.50 sec16.30 sec140 hpFWD
1988GTU Coupe 2.8L V69.20 sec17.00 sec125 hpFWD
1987GT Coupe 2.8L V68.30 sec16.30 sec125 hpFWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 4 qt of 5W-30 API engine oil, DOT 3 brake fluid.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake FluidDOT 3
Engine CoolantETHYLENE GLYCOL
Engine Oil5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity4 qt
Engine Oil5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity4 qt
Engine Oil5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity4 qt

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter at 7,500 mi; coolant every 30,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 30,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

At 7,500 miEngine Oil Filter (replace) · Throttle Body (torque) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 7,500 miAxle Shaft Oil Seal (inspect) · Body Latches, Locks & Hinges (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect)
Every 15,000 miEngine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 30,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Distributor Cap (inspect) · EGR System (inspect) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Breather Filter (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
Every 100,000 miTransmission Fluid & Filter (replace)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 1991 Beretta sits in the early-middle of the generation, with 71 complaints—a notable increase from 1990’s 50 but slightly below 1992’s 74. The 8 investigations in 1991 are the highest of any year in the record, suggesting NHTSA was actively scrutinizing the model, yet only one recall was issued. The top complaint areas—electrical system (23), service brakes/hydraulic (11), and exterior lighting (11)—along with 7 crash and 4 fire complaints, point to systemic issues that the data does not specify as resolved. Compared to the 1994-1996 peak in complaints and recalls, 1991 sits in a rising arc but before the worst years; however, the high investigation count and moderate TSB volume (7) indicate unresolved problems. Given the elevated safety-related complaints and the lack of a clear fix trend from the data, this is not a recommended year to buy—consider a 1993 instead, which has fewer complaints and zero recalls.

1
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
7
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
8
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
71
Owner complaints
7 involved a crash · 4 a fire
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 71 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Electrical System23
Service Brakes, Hydraulic11
Exterior Lighting11
Engine & Engine Cooling4
Steering3
Vehicle Speed Control3
Fuel System, Gasoline3
Power Train2

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 1 of 1 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

91V083000Steering: Steering Wheel/Handle BarReported 10/06/1991

NUT ATTACHING STEERING WHEEL MAY NOT HAVE BEEN PROPERLY TIGHTENED DURING INSTALLATION. Remedy: TIGHTEN THE NUT TO THE PROPER TORQUE AS NECESSARY.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 7 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
9909410042000-01-01Air BagsINFORMATION REGARDING SWITCHES TO TURN OFF AND ON FRONTAL AIR BAGS FOR PASSENGER CARS AND…
9909400042000-01-01SeatsGENERAL MOTORS BEGAN PROVIDING CHILD RESTRAIN SEAT TOP TETHER HARDWARE PACKAGES TO…
990866002A2000-01-01Latches/Locks/LinkagesTHIS BULLETIN INFORMS DEALERSHIPS ABOUT THE TRAP RESISTANT REAR COMPARTMENT (TRUNK) KIT…
876002A1998-07-01Engine And Engine CoolingSOME V6 ENGINES MAY, ON A VERY INFREQUENT BASIS, HAVE AN OIL ODOR CONDITION THAT IS…
9709015015A1997-09-01Service Brakes, HydraulicCOMPLAINTS THAT THE ABS INDICATOR LAMP IS "ON". *YC

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Beretta. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 1991 Beretta take?

4 qt of 5W-30 API, per the factory manual.

Does the 1991 Beretta have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.