RoadVitals

1990 Geo 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.
39
Latest Mar 26, 2003
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.
2
Latest May 24, 1995
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.
4
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.
5
3 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 39 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1990 Geo Metro, most frequently naming the interior & seats, seat belts and engine categories. 2 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; 4 NHTSA investigations name it; and 5 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

  • Interior & seats1944.2%
  • Seat belts1227.9%
  • Engine49.3%
  • Body & structure37.0%
  • Exterior lighting24.7%
  • Visibility12.3%
  • Steering12.3%
  • Airbags12.3%

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

2 campaigns cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
95V103007

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY

May 24, 1995
466,902 units potentially affected
The defect: THE FRONT SAFETY BELT BUCKLE RELEASE BUTTONS CAN BREAK. THESE RED PLASTIC RELEASE BUTTONS ARE MARKED "PRESS." IF A BUTTON BREAKS, PIECES CAN FALL INTO THE BUCKLE ASSEMBLY CAUSING THE BUCKLE TO OPERATE IMPROPERLY.
The risk: THE SAFETY BELTS WOULD NOT PROVIDE ADEQUATE PROTECTION TO AN OCCUPANT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
The remedy: OWNERS SHOULD PROMPTLY CHECK THE CONDITION AND OPERATION OF BOTH FRONT SAFETY BELT BUCKLES AND CAREFULLY INSPECT THE RED RELEASE BUTTON FOR ANY BREAKS OR CRACKS. THEY SHOULD ENSURE THAT BOTH BUCKLES ARE OPERATING PROPERLY BY INSERTING EACH LATCH PLATE INTO ITS BUCKLE, TUGGING ON THE BELT TO MAKE SURE THE LATCH IS SECURELY LOCKED, AND THEN PRESSING THE RELEASE BUTTON. THE LATCH PLATE SHOULD POP OUT OF THE BUCKLE WHEN THE BUTTON IS PRESSED. IF EITHER RELEASE BUTTON SHOWS A SIGN OF BREAKING OR CRACKING OR IF EITHER BUCKLE FAILS TO OPERATE PROPERLY, OWNERS SHOULD PROMPTLY CONTACT THEIR AUTHORIZED DEALER TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THE BUCKLE REPLACED OR REPAIRED, FREE OF CHARGE. THE MANUFACTURER IS DEVELOPING A REMEDY DESIGNED TO PREVENT FAILURE OF THE BUTTONS THAT ARE NOT CURRENTLY BROKEN.
GENERAL MOTORS CORP.View on NHTSA.gov
93V189001

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH

Nov 23, 1993
356,097 units potentially affected
The defect: MISLOCATED ATTACHING SPOT WELDS OF THE HOOD STRIKER ASSEMBLY CAUSE CRACKS TO START ON THE HOOD INNER PANEL. IF CRACKS OCCUR, THE HOOD STRIKER ASSEMBLY MAY NOT PROPERLY ENGAGE THE HOOD LATCH WHEN THE HOOD IS CLOSED.
The risk: AN IMPROPERLY ENGAGED HOOD LATCH MAY RESULT IN A HOODFLY-UP WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. THIS WOULD OBSTRUCT THE DRIVER'S VIEWAND COULD CAUSE A VEHICLE CRASH.
The remedy: GM DEALERS WILL (A) INSTALL TWO BOLTS AND NUTS TO SECURE THE STRIKER ASSEMBLY TO THE HOOD INNER PANEL, AND (B) ENSURE THAT THE HOOD LATCH ASSEMBLY FASTENERS ARE PROPERLY TIGHTENED.
GENERAL MOTORS CORP.View on NHTSA.gov

Safety investigations

NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.

EA95014ClosedEngineering Analysis

SEAT BELT BUCKLES FAILURE

Opened Apr 25, 1995
Closed Jul 28, 1995

There is no summary currently available

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLYLed to recall 95V103007
PE94092ClosedPreliminary Evaluation

TAKATA SEAT BLT BCKLS FAIL

Opened Dec 21, 1994
Closed Apr 25, 1995

There is no summary currently available

SEAT BELTS
EA93006ClosedEngineering Analysis

HOOD FLY-UPS

Opened Feb 26, 1993
Closed Nov 26, 1993

There is no summary currently available

STRUCTURELed to recall 93V189000
PE90084ClosedPreliminary Evaluation

REAR SUSPENSION FAILS

Opened May 30, 1990
Closed Aug 14, 1990

There is no summary currently available

SUSPENSION

Recent owner complaints

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

View all 39
Seat belts
Filed Mar 26, 2003

INQUIRING ABOUT WHETHER RECALL # 95V103007 IS AN ACTUAL RECALL .

NHTSA ID
10011458
Interior & seats
Filed Sep 19, 2001

THE DOOR LATCH HANDLES STAY UP WHEN OPENED. I HAVE 2 DOOR HANDLES DOING THIS, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE & REAR DRIVER'S SIDE. WHEN THE DOORS ARE OPENEN THE HANDLES STAY UP AND WHEN THE DOOR IS PULLED SHUT THE DOOR WILL NOT LATCH. THE WINDOW HAS TO BE ROLLED DOWN AND THE HANDLE PUSHED DOWN TO LATCH DOOR. NOTE: THIS IS NOT A POOR LUBRICATION PROBLEM. IT MAY IMPROVE SLIGHTLY, BUT ONLY TEMPRORARILY. IF THE PASSENGER THINKS THE DOOR IS LATCHED IT WILL OPEN SUDDENLY WHEN THE VEHICLE TURNS RISKING FALL OUT OF PASSENGER OR PROPERTY OR PERSONAL INJURY LIABILITY FROM THE DOOR SWINGING OPEN.

NHTSA ID
9004455
Engine
Filed May 1, 2000

ENGINE IS BURNING OIL WHILE DRIVING, AND SMOKE COMES OUT REALLY BADLY. DRIVER CAN'T SEE TRAFFIC BEHIND HER. CONSUMER FEELS UNSAFE. *AK

NHTSA ID
861153
Incident
Feb 1, 2000
Body & structure
Filed Mar 1, 2000

WHILE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN AT 75 MPH, LATCH ON THE HOOD ON DRIVER'S SIDE BROKE, CAUSING THE HOOD TO FLY UP AND BREAK WINDSHIELD. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO PULL TO SHOULDER SAFELY. MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED ABOUT THE PROBLEM. HOOD AND WINDSHIELD HAVE NOT BEEN REPLACED. CONSUMER BELIEVES THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE HOOD LATCH YEARS AGO, BUT IS UNSURE AS TO WHETHER OR NOT IT WAS DONE. *AK *ML

NHTSA ID
857690
Incident
Feb 20, 2000
Interior & seatsExterior lighting
Filed Sep 29, 1999

THE HEADLIGHTS AND DASH LIGHTS WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING. THE DASH LIGHTS CAME BACK ON BUT THE HEADLIGHTS DID NOT. DEALER HAS NOT SEEN VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
849053
Interior & seats
Filed Jul 29, 1999

HOOD LATCH STRIKER BROKE AFTER TWO YEARS. *AK

NHTSA ID
843775
Incident
Jul 7, 1999
Seat belts
Filed Jun 29, 1999

DEALER HAS NOT HONORED NHTSA RECALL 95V-103.007/MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 91C-52, CONCENING SEAT BELT BUCKLE FAILURE SINCE AUGUST 10, 1997 UP TO THE PRESENT. CONSUMER HAS BEEN TOLD ON SERVERAL OCCASIONS THAT THE KIT HAS NOT BEEN RECEIVED, OR THEY WOULD CONTACT CONSUMER WHEN IT ARRIVED, NEED NHTSA'S HELP IN THIS MATTER. *AK

NHTSA ID
841380
Incident
Aug 10, 1997
Interior & seats
Filed Jun 20, 1999

IT'S BEEN 1 MONTH SINCE CONTACTING THE DEALER CONCERNING HOOD LATCH ASSEMBLY RECALL. HOOD LATCH IS BROKEN SO BADLY THAT THE ENTIRE HOOD NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER IS GIVING ME THE RUN AROUND. I'VE CALLED THEM 3 TIMES ALREADY THIS WEEK. THE DEALER IS SAYING THAT THEY NEED APPROVAL TO REPAIR IT AND THAT THE MAIN OFFICE IS CHECKING TO SEE IF RECALL IS STILL IN EFFECT. I'VE BEEN HAVING TO DRIVE MY CAR FOR A MONTH FEARING THAT THE HOOD WILL FLY UP AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. *AK

NHTSA ID
707687

Manufacturer communications

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

MSG01145

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE

UNKNOWN

CAMP/90C51

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL

THE ADMINISTRATOR OF THE US ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (EPA) AND GENERAL MOTORS HAVE DETERMINED THAT CERTAIN 1990 GEO METRO VEHICLES WITH 1.0L ENGINES MAY EXCEED HIGH ALTITUDE CARBON MONOXIDE FEDERAL EMISSION STANDARDS. THIS CONDITION APPLIES TO VEHICLES REGISTERED IN COLORADO, NEVADA NEW MEXICO AND UTAH (VEHICLES WHICH HAVE MOVED TO THES STATES FROM CALIFORNIA WHICH ARE EQUIPPED WITH RPO YF5 DO NOT REQUIRE THIS CAMPAIGN REPAIR). THESE STANDARDS WERE ESTABLISHED TO PROTECT THE THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE FROM DANGERS OF AIR POLLUTION. EXCESS EMISSION OF POLLUTANTS MAY CAUSE A VEHICLE TO FAIL STATE MANDATED EMISSION TESTS. TO CORRECT THIS CONDITION, VEHICLES REGISTERED IN THE FOUR AFFECTED STATES WILL HAVE A REDESIGNED OXYGEN SENSOR INSTALLED. *TW

MSG01398

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM

MESSAGE ANNOUNCING MANUFACTURER RECALL 90C51. *TW

MSG01383

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM

MESSAGE ANNOUNCING MANUFACTURER RECALL 90C51. *TW

MSG01396

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM

MESSAGE TO DEALERS CORRECTING INCORRECT INFORMATION CONTAINED IN MANUFACTURER RECALL 90C51. *TW

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

Geo Metro by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2001600—
2000190040.4
1999230039.1
1998330039.2
1997631049.3
1996880048.8
19951091054.7
1994680042.3
1993501046.7
1992541149.3
1991502361.2
1990Viewing392460.6
1989272562.3
1988001—
1987001—
1986001—

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.