1989 Geo Metro Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1989 Geo Metro, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Body & structure827.6%
- Interior & seats827.6%
- Seat belts413.8%
- Visibility26.9%
- Fuel system26.9%
- Powertrain (other)13.4%
- Electrical13.4%
- Brakes13.4%
- Engine13.4%
- Exterior lighting13.4%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
1. HOOD FLEW UP ON FREEWAY AND SHATTERD WINDSHIELD AND DAMAGE HOOD BEYOND REPAIR. 2.FUEL SYSTEM THE CAR WOULD STALL 3. WOULD WEAR OUT BRAKE PADS UNEVENLY AND SCAR ROTERS
OWNER DID NOT RECEIVE RECALL NOTICE ON HOOD FAILURE BEFORE HOOD CAME OFF WHILE DRIVING.
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
ON OCTOBER 8, 2001, THE HOOD OF OUR 1989 GEO METRO FLEW UP AND CRACKED OUR WINDSHIELD, DESTROYED THE HOOD AND OBSCURED OUR VISION. AFTER TALKING WITH ANOTHER GEO OWNER WE WERE TOLD THERE WAS A RECALL ON GEO METROS FOR A HOOD LATCH DEFECT. WHEN LOOKING AT OUR HOOD IT WAS EVIDENT THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED HAS THE SPOT WELDS DID NOT HOLD. I CONTACTED THIS SITE FIRST AND IT APPEARS THERE WAS A CAMPAIGN FOR THIS DEFECT. HOWEVER, WHEN CALLING THE DEALER TO PROCEED I WAS TOLD MY CAR DID NOT COME UP FOR A RECALL IN THE SYSTEM. I THEN CONTACTED GM TO FURTHER DISCUSS THE SAFETY OF MY CAR. WE HAVE RELACED THE HOOD WITH A USED HOOD WHICH I AM SURE COULD POSSIBLY CONTAIN THE SAME DEFECT. I WAS TOLD THE CAMPAIGN NUMBER ON THE NHTSA SITE DID NOT MATCH THE GM CAMPAIGN AND FURTHER THAT THE CAMPAIGN WAS SO OLD THEY WOULD HAVE TO RESEARCH. I AM IN THE MEANTIME DRIVING WHAT COULD POSSIBLY BE A DEFECTIVE AND UNSAFE CAR. I HAVE NOT HEARD FROM GM UNLESS I CALL THEM FOR STATUS AND WHEN I DO THEY HAVE NOTHING NEW TO TELL ME. I HAVE REPLACED THE WINDSHIELD AND HOOD AT MY OWN COST AND WOULD LIKE TO BE REIMBURSED. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF MY CURRENT HOOD IS ALSO DEFECTIVE. I DO NOT SEE ANY BOLTS IN THE LATCH WHICH IS THE REMEDY FOR THE DEFECT. *AK
THE HOOD LATCH FAILED. CAUSING THE HOOD TO OPEN DURING VEHICLE OPERATION. RECAL NO 93 V 189 001 FOR THE HOOD LATCHES, HAD BEEN FIXED ON 2-17-96.*AK
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHEN THE SEATBELTS ARE IN USE THE BELTS LOCK UP TOO TIGHT AND WILL NOT LOOSEN UNTIL THE BELT BUCKLE COMES LOOSE. DEALER SAYS THAT IS HOW THEY WORK. *AK
SEAT BELT FAILED DURING ACCIDENT, CAUSING INJURIES.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
RIGHT PASSENGER SIDE HATCHBACK WINDOW FELL OUT WHILE DRIVING. *AK
THE DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW BLEW IN WHILE DRIVING AND CUT THE PASSENGERS DUE TO A RUSTED OUT CHANNEL THAT HOLDS THE WINDOW UP.TT CONSUMER WAS CUT ON THE LEFT LEG, SCALP AND THE KNUCKLES ON RIGHT HAND DUE TO GLASS BLOWING ACROSS, ALSO 2 YEAR OLD SON HAD GLASS BLOWN PAST HIM AND INTO HIS CAR SEAT.*JB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
1. HOOD FLEW UP ON FREEWAY AND SHATTERD WINDSHIELD AND DAMAGE HOOD BEYOND REPAIR. 2.FUEL SYSTEM THE CAR WOULD STALL 3. WOULD WEAR OUT BRAKE PADS UNEVENLY AND SCAR ROTERS
THE CONSUMER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH 0IL CARBURETOR. THE CONSUMER OIL SHOOTS UP INTO THE CARBURETOR, WHICH CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO DIE OUT. THE MANUFACTURER HAS YET TO BE CONTACTED. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
SPEEDOMETER CABLE WAS NOT SEALED DURING ASSEMBLY, CABLE PUMP BECAME LOOSE ACTING AS PUMP, PUMPING OIL FLUID INTO INSTRUMENT PANEL, CREATING POTENTIAL FOR FIRE. *JB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
COMPUTER BOX MAY CAUSE VEHICLE TO STALL/STOP WITH NO WARNING. PROBLEM REOCCURS INTERMITTENTLY. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TT
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
1. HOOD FLEW UP ON FREEWAY AND SHATTERD WINDSHIELD AND DAMAGE HOOD BEYOND REPAIR. 2.FUEL SYSTEM THE CAR WOULD STALL 3. WOULD WEAR OUT BRAKE PADS UNEVENLY AND SCAR ROTERS
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON FOR NO REASON AND THE DEALER CANNOT FIND THE PROBLEM. TT
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Exterior lighting
Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE DRIVING, PUSHES BUTTON AND LIGHT SWITCH POPS; KILLS HEADLIGHTS; IMPAIRS DRIVER'S VISION. TT
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
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.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .