RoadVitals

1998 Chevrolet Metro

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
6
Latest Mar 4, 2018
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
0
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
0
1 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 6 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1998 Chevrolet Metro, most frequently naming the body & structure, airbags and engine categories. 18 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Body & structure466.7%
  • Airbags116.7%
  • Engine116.7%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

No recalls in our database for this model year

That does not guarantee a specific vehicle is unaffected — recalls are issued against VINs, and new campaigns are announced regularly. Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov.

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

Airbags
Filed Mar 4, 2018
1 injury reported

ON MARCH 3RD 2018 I STARTED MY VEHICLE IN STATIONARY POSITION PARKED AND MY AIRBAGS DEPLOYED WHEN I RECEIVE NO WARNING OR LIGHTS ON ABOUT IT I WAS NOT HIT BY ANOTHER VEHICLE NOR WAS I DRIVING. I WAS PARKED IN A PARKING STRUCTURE IN LOS ANGELES. I RECEIVED INJURY TO MY FACE AND WRIST. MY GLASSES WERE BROKEN DUE TO THE IMPACT

NHTSA ID
11076129
Incident
Mar 3, 2018
Mileage
188,756 mi
Body & structure
Filed Jan 13, 2011

1998 CHEVY METRO FRAME RUSTS OUT AND CAUSES CONTROL ARM TO BREAK AWAY MY CHEVY METRO BOTH SIDES ROTTED AND THE CONTROL ARMS BROKE AWAY IF THIS HAPPEN WHILE I WAS DRIVING I COULD HAVE BEEN HURT CONTACTED CHEVY AND THEY PRETTY MUCH SAID SORRY SO UNLESS I WANT TO SPEND THOUSANDS TO FIX MY CAR I HAVE TO BUY A NEW ONE IF GM CAN TAKE MY MONEY THEY NEED TO STAND BY THERE PRODUCT LIKE FORD DOES. *TR

NHTSA ID
10376488
Incident
Nov 5, 2010
Mileage
110,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Feb 24, 2010

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET METRO LSI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF RUST ON THE FRAME. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE TIRES HAVE FALLEN APART INCLUDING THE TIRE WHEEL FRAME. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY DID NOT CARE ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND WOULD NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE CONTACT ALSO SAYS THAT CHEVROLET WOULD BE AT FAULT IF A FATALITY OCCURRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 59,000.

NHTSA ID
10313790
Incident
Oct 1, 2009
Mileage
57,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Feb 5, 2010

CHEVY METRO 1998 .CAR WAS GOING 50MPH ON EXPRESSWAY WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED,VEHICLE DID NOT STOP BUT HOPPED OFF THE FREEWAY TO THE RIGHT. THOUGHT CAR AXLE HAD BROKE BUT,LATER, AFTER BEING TOWED TO A MECHANIC WAS TOLD CAR CANNOT BE FIXED BECAUSE BODY SEPARATED FROM THE FRAME! SIMILAR TO THE PERSON IN OHIO. *TR

NHTSA ID
10306235
Incident
Aug 5, 2009
Mileage
78,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Mar 30, 2009

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET METRO. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE ENTIRE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE BEGAN PULLING EXCESSIVELY TO THE RIGHT. HE NOTICED THAT SOMETHING FRACTURED UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE, WHICH HE THOUGHT WAS ONE OF THE CONTROL ARMS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC AND IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE UNIBODY THAT SUPPORTS THE LOWER CONTROL ARM WAS FRACTURED AND DETACHED FROM THE FRAME. THE MANUFACTURER WAS UNABLE TO ASSIST SINCE THERE WERE NO RECALLS AVAILABLE AND DUE TO THE AGE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VIN WAS NOT ACCEPTED BY THE SYSTEM. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 103,000.

NHTSA ID
10263599
Incident
Mar 29, 2009
Mileage
103,000 mi
Engine
Filed Jan 11, 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET METRO. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING AND THEN IMMEDIATELY RESTARTED AUTOMATICALLY. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED INTERMITTENTLY WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED OR WHEN SWITCHING GEARS. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS AND THEY INSPECTED THE VEHICLE, DUPLICATED THE FAILURE, BUT COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE. THE CONTACT ALSO NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE JERKED FORWARD WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. SHE FILED A FORMAL COMPLAINT WITH THE MANUFACTURER. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 31,000.

NHTSA ID
10214528
Incident
Aug 21, 2006
Mileage
31,000 mi

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

17-NA-073

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL

This warranty administration bulletin provides information regarding the field action courtesy transportation policy.

PIP4723F

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE; SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

This Preliminary Information communicates to the dealer the process for downloading or updating operating software for the Tire Pressure Monitor, Active Fuel Injector tester, multi media tester, PICO Scope, GR8 starting/charging tester  and Vehicle Data Recorder tools, giving website address and step by step instructions to complete the update.

PIP4723D

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

This Preliminary Information communicates to the dealer the process for downloading or updating operating software for the Tire Pressure Monitor, Active Fuel Injector tester, multi media tester, PICO Scope, GR8 starting/charging tester  and Vehicle Data Recorder tools, giving website address and step by step instructions to complete the update.

PIC4696E

EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:ANTI-THEFT DEVICES; EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.

This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician on how to unlock radios that are Delco TheftLock. Technician will use the radio to get the scrambled code. Technician will need to contact the radio unlock center to retrieve the unlock code from the scrambled code.  The PI update to version D is to advise the unlock procedure is temporarily unavailable.  E version update is to add administrative details.

17NA073

EQUIPMENT

This warranty administration bulletin provides information regarding the field action courtesy transportation policy.

PIC4696D

EQUIPMENT

This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician on how to unlock radios that are Delco TheftLock. Technician will use the radio to get the scrambled code. Technician will need to contact the radio unlock center to retrieve the unlock code from the scrambled code.  The PI update to version D is to advise the unlock procedure is temporarily unavailable.

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Chevrolet Metro by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2001000
2000300
1999300
1998Viewing600
1997100
1996000
1995000
1994000

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.