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1996 Chevrolet Beretta

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1996 Beretta.

The 1996 Chevrolet Beretta, built on GM’s mid‑size platform and powered by the era’s standard V‑six, carries a 4.5‑quart oil capacity and is best serviced with 5W‑30 API‑rated fluid. Across its production run, owners logged a total of 80 complaints, with the most frequent issues centered on engine and cooling‑system components, and the model was subject to two recalls. Compared with the broader 1990‑2002 complaint record—peaking at 108 reports in 1994 and dropping to a single complaint in 1997—1996 sits in the middle of the line, indicating a modest reliability standing that researchers should weigh against the higher‑complaint years that preceded it.

Model year1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1989 1988 1987

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity4.5 qtOEM · verified

Engine oil type5W-30 APIOEM · verified

Lug nut torque100 ft-lbsOEM · verified

Fitment & sizes

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

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 75 · 525 CCA battery, OE oil filter 12731175. Note the factory fuel filter is now discontinued — plan on a superseded or quality aftermarket equivalent, which the part pages below list where known. 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.

Battery groupBCI 75 · 525 CCAOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter	12731175
Engine air filter	25099735
Fuel filter	25121293 discontinued
Spark plug	19301813 alt 19301807
Front wiper blades	22155381
Serpentine belt	88986808 alt 88986809
Thermostat	24577299 alt 24507563

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length	187.4 in
Overall width	68.1 in
Overall height	53.1 in
Wheelbase	103.5 in
Curb weight	2989 lb
Track (front / rear)	55.9 / 56.7 in
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

Year	Trim / engine	0–60	¼ mile	HP	Drivetrain
1990	GTZ Coupe 2.3L I-4	7.50 sec	15.90 sec	180 hp	FWD
1990	GTZ Coupe 2.3L I-4	7.70 sec	16.10 sec	180 hp	FWD
1990	GT Coupe 3.1L V6	8.50 sec	16.30 sec	140 hp	FWD
1988	GTU Coupe 2.8L V6	9.20 sec	17.00 sec	125 hp	FWD
1987	GT Coupe 2.8L V6	8.30 sec	16.30 sec	125 hp	FWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

This engine holds 4.5 qt of 5W-30 API engine oil, DOT 3 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 100 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-2-3-4-5-6. Note the cylinder-head bolts finish on a torque angle (torque-to-yield) — they stretch permanently and should be replaced, not reused, during any head service.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake Fluid	DOT 3
Engine Oil	5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity	4.5 qt
Engine Oil	5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity	5 qt
Power Steering Fluid	USE GM PART NO. 1052884 OR EQUIVALENT
Power Steering Fluid	ATF

Engine torques

Crankshaft Position (CKP) Sensor Bolt(s)	6 ft-lbs
Camshaft Position (CMP) Sensor Bolt(s)	6-8.8 ft-lbs
Camshaft Sprocket and/or Gear Bolt(s)	81 ft-lbs
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts	77 code H ft-lbs
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts	75 ft-lbs
Engine Coolant Temperature (ECT) Sensor Bolt(s)	18.5 ft-lbs
Oxygen (O2S) Sensor Bolt(s)	30 ft-lbs
Knock Sense (KS) Bolt(s)	12-16 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts	100 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub	185 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order	1-3-4-2
Cylinder Firing Order	1-2-3-4-5-6
Ignition Coil Secondary Resistance	5000-8000 ohms
Ignition Coil Secondary Resistance	5000-7000 ohms
Spark Plug Manufacturer	AC Delco
Spark Plug Gap	0.040 in
Spark Plug Torque	13.0 ft-lbs
Spark Plug Manufacturer	AC Delco

Battery & A/C

Refrigerant	R134a
Refrigerant Capacity	2.00-2.30 lbs
Oil Group	PAG
Oil Type	150
Oil Capacity	8.00-9.00 oz
Standard BCI Group Number	75
Standard BCI Cranking Performance	525 cca
Optional BCI Group Number	75

Service checks

Pressure Test	15; Do not exceed 20 psi.
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief	15 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature	188-206 °F
Pressure Test	15; Do not exceed 20 psi.
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief	15 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature	185-205 °F
Fuel Pump Pressure Minimum	47.0 psi
Key ON Engine OFF (KOEO)	40.5-47

Brakes

Torque Caliper to Bracket	38 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle	100 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad Thickness	Front: 0.030; Rear: 0.030 specification
Rotor Max Parallel Variation	0.0005 in
Rotor Runout Limit	0.003 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness From	0.796 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness To	0.796 in
Rotor Minimum Machining	0.751 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 2 stages

1	long bolts 46 ft. lbs.; short bolts 43 ft. lbs.	46 ft. lbs
2	90

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 2 stages

1	33 ft. lbs.	33 ft. lbs
2	90 degrees; Coat threads with sealant.	90 degrees

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 7,500 mi; spark plugs every 100,000 mi; coolant every 100,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 100,000 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 mi	Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 7,500 mi	Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Parking Brake Cable (lubricate) · Shift Linkage (inspect) · Steering Linkage (inspect) · Suspension System (inspect)
Every 15,000 mi	Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 30,000 mi	EGR System (inspect) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Breather Filter (replace) · Fuel Line (inspect) · Fuel Tank (inspect) · Fuel Tank Filler Cap (inspect)
Every 60,000 mi	Accessory Drive Belt (inspect)
Every 100,000 mi	Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Spark Plug Wires (replace) · Spark Plugs (replace) · Transmission 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 Chevrolet Beretta's federal complaint record shows a clear arc: complaints rose from 50 in 1990 to a peak of 108 in 1994 and 107 in 1995, then declined to 80 in the 1996 model year. Recalls remained intermittent, with 1996 recording 2 recalls, matching the highest single-year count seen in 1990 and 1994. Investigations, which were present from 1990 to 1993, dropped to zero for 1994 onward, while TSBs climbed to 22 for 1996—the highest among active production years—indicating accumulated technical guidance. The 1996 model's top complaint areas are engine and engine cooling (16), service brakes (12), and electrical system (8), with 9 crash-related complaints and no fire complaints. As the final model year, 1996 shows a decline in overall complaints from the peak, but the data does not specify root causes for the remaining issues. This year appears to be a better choice than the troublesome 1994–1995 models, yet the 80 complaints and 2 recalls suggest that some problems persisted, making a thorough pre-purchase inspection essential.

Open recalls

NHTSA campaigns

Service bulletins

Manufacturer communications

ODI investigations

Office of Defects Investigation

Owner complaints

9 involved a crash · 0 a fire

Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

’90 ’91 ’92 ’93 ’94 ’95’96’97 ’98 ’99 ’02

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 80 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Engine & Engine Cooling16

Service Brakes, Hydraulic12

Electrical System8

Power Train7

Air Bags3

Steering3

Suspension3

Fuel System, Gasoline3

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 2 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

07E021000Fuel System, Other:Storage:Tank Assembly:Pressure Relief DevicesReported 12/03/2007

CERTAIN DELPHI FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS, P/NOS. FP10020-11B1, FP10026-11B1, AND FP10027-11B1, SOLD AFTER JANUARY 9, 2007, AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE UNIVERSAL PRESSURE… Remedy: DELPHI WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE UPR FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 23, 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT DELPHI AT 877-411-8770.

98V027000Interior LightingReported 17/02/1998

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE VEHICLES WERE BUILT WITH THE POTENTIAL FOR THE INTERIOR LAMPS TO COME ON UNEXPECTEDLY WHILE THE VEHICLES ARE BEING DRIVEN. THIS DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO… Remedy: DEALERS WILL RUN A DIAGNOSTIC TEST ON THE LAMP CONTROL MODULE AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE IT.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 22 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

Bulletin	Date	Component	Summary
PIP4723D	2020-01-31	Electrical System	This Preliminary Information communicates to the dealer the process for downloading or…
PIC4696E	2019-11-22	Equipment	This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician on how…
17NA073	2019-09-18	Equipment	This warranty administration bulletin provides information regarding the field action…
PIC4696D	2019-09-05	Equipment	This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician on how…
17NA073	2019-02-15	Equipment	This warranty administration bulletin provides information regarding the field action…

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.

Group 75 battery Vehicles taking 4.5 qt Engine oil filter 12731175 Engine air filter 25099735 Fuel filter 25121293 Spark plug 19301813

Reference guides

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

Vehicle recalls & TSBs OBD-II trouble codes Torque specifications Maintenance schedules Fluid capacities & specs

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 1996 Beretta take?

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

Does the 1996 Beretta have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.