1991 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 1991 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
- Interior & seats1930.6%
- Seat belts1524.2%
- Body & structure58.1%
- Engine46.5%
- Electrical46.5%
- Visibility34.8%
- Airbags34.8%
- Suspension23.2%
- Fuel system23.2%
- Brakes11.6%
- Driver assistance11.6%
- Tires & wheels11.6%
- Steering11.6%
- Other / unspecified11.6%
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
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE GETTING INTO THE VEHICLE DRIVER'S SEAT RECLINED. DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. *AK
RESEARCHED THE NHTSA WEBSITE AND SHOWED A RECALL ON THE HOOD STRIKER ASSEMBLY UNIT! MY HOOD FLUNG OPEN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INSTERSTATE, CAUSING THE HOOD TO HIT THE MAIN WINSHIELD AND CRACK! LUCKILY THE WINDSHIELD ITSELF DID NOT IMPLODE AND CAUSE SERIOUS DAMAGE OR DEATH TO ME! AND LUCKILY THE INTERSTATE WAS NOT BUSY, TO HAVE CAUSED A MAJOR ACCIDENT! I DID VIEWED MY VEHICLE. THE LATCH ITSELF IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY! ACCORDING TO THE RECALL, GM DEALER WILL REPLACE THE "BOLTS" TO PREVENT THE HOOD TO FLY OPEN. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM IS THE WITHIN THE HOOD LATCH "ASSEMBLY" UNIT, THE LATCH ITSELF IS DEFECTIVE. IT DOES NOT "CATCH" ONTO THE "PRIMARY" LOCK OF THE HOOD LATCH. I BELIEVE IT IS ACTUALLY THE ENTIRE "HOOD LATCH" UNIT THAT NEEDS RECALL/REPLACEMENT. I AM GETTING THE IMPRESSION, CHEVROLET IS NOT WILLING TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS DEFECT, STATING THAT PERHAPS IT WAS DUE TO A RECENT OIL CHANGE THAT THE HOOD WAS NOT PROPERLY SHUT. I HAVE HAD THE CAR FOR CLOSE TO 10 YEARS AND HAVE CHANGED THE OIL MYSELF AND OTHERS, MANY TIMES. I KNOW THAT CAR INSIDE AND OUT, AND INFACT TOOK THE CAR ON THE INTERSTATE THE NIGHT PRIOR TO THE HOOD FLYING OPEN (1/24/01). I BELIEVE THE DEFECT IS IN THE HOOD LATCH ITSELF, BECAUSE IT IS PART OF THE HOOD LATCH ASSEMBLY UNIT!*AK
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A SINGLE CAR COLLISION WHERE BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEAT BELTS BECAME UN-BUCKLED, WHICH RESULTED IN THE PASSENGER BEING EJECTED FROM THE VEHICLE AND KILLED. RELATED RECALL 95V103007, MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS NOT INCLUDED. *JB
DRIVER'S SEATBELT MALFUNCTIONED. IN A CRASH DRIVER WAS SEATBELTED, BUT SHOULDER BELT DID NOT RETRACT, WHICH CAUSED THE DRIVER TO HIT THE WINDSHIELD. PRIOR TO THE CRASH, DEALER HAD FIXED THE DEFECTIVE DRIVER'S SHOULDER BELT FOR THE RETRACTOR. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
CONSUMERS HUSBAND WAS IN MOTION WHEN THERE WAS A POPPING SOUND, FOLLOWED BY LOST OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. ALL BRAKING AND STEERING POWER WAS LOST. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC WHO INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE UNISTRUT FRAME ON THE VEHICLE HAD BROKEN. CHEVROLET DETERMINED THAT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS ENVIRONMENTAL AND NO REIMBURSEMENT OR REPLACEMENT VEHICLE WILL BE INCURRED. CONSUMER REQUESTS REIMBURSEMENT FOR MONIES PAID. *JG
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE FELT LIKE IT HAD A FLAT, VEERING TO RIGHT. ALSO GRINDING NOISE. WHEEL ASSEMBLY WAS TORN AND RUBBED ON WHEEL WELL FRAME. *AK CONSUMER STATES THAT THE FRAME WHERE CONTROL ARM ATTACHES FAILED DUE TO EXTENSIVE CORROSION. *SLC
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
EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION OF STALLING AND DECELERATION DUE TO FACTORY INSTALLED FAULTY PARTS. NATIONAL SERVICE BULLETINS 92-362-6A & 91-442-6E (BOTH ISSUED WHILE MY CAR WAS UNDER ORIGINAL WARRANTY) INDICATE THE NEED FOR "REVISED" PARTS. I RECEIVED NO NOTIFICATION OF THIS POTENTIAL PROBLEM INHERENT IN MY CAR. BY THE TIME MY CAR BEGAN MANIFESTING THESE HIGHLY DANGEROUS STALLS, WARRANTY EXPIRED. NO WILLINGNESS FROM CHEVY GEO TO REPAIR THE CAR TO MAKE IT SAFE FOR USE, WHEN OBVIOUSLY THEY ARE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. HELP ME! THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
2 CATALYTIC CONVERTERS WERE REPLACED WITHIN A SIX YEAR PERIOD. *AK
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
DRIVER/PASS. WINDOW SLIPS OFF TRACK AND FALLS INSIDE DOOR, ALSO EXPERIENCES KEY BREAKAGE IN IGNITION AND HATCHBACK DOOR. *AK
DRIVER/PASS. WINDOW SLIPS OFF TRACK AND FALLS INSIDE DOOR, ALSO EXPERIENCES KEY BREAKAGE IN IGNITION AND HATCHBACK DOOR. *AK
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
THE MECHANICS WITHIN DRIVER'S/PASSENGER DOORS ARE CAUSING THE WINDOWS TO BE SCRATCHED AND LIMITED VISIBILITY. *AK
DRIVER/PASS. WINDOW SLIPS OFF TRACK AND FALLS INSIDE DOOR, ALSO EXPERIENCES KEY BREAKAGE IN IGNITION AND HATCHBACK DOOR. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
VEHICLE WAS INVOLED IN AN ACCIDENT IN WHICH THE ANOTHER VEHICLE STRUCK CONSUMER'S VEHICLE ON DRIVER'S SIDE . SPEED WAS UNDETERMINED AT THE TIME. UPON IMPACT, DRIVER'S AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. DEALER/MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED AT THIS TIME. *AK
DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY DURING CRASH. DOES RECALL EXSIST.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE FELT LIKE IT HAD A FLAT, VEERING TO RIGHT. ALSO GRINDING NOISE. WHEEL ASSEMBLY WAS TORN AND RUBBED ON WHEEL WELL FRAME. *AK CONSUMER STATES THAT THE FRAME WHERE CONTROL ARM ATTACHES FAILED DUE TO EXTENSIVE CORROSION. *SLC
PURCHASED USED CAR AND FOUND OUT IT WAS A REBUILT, BURNED UP ENGINE, DEALER CLAIMS HE FIXED THE PROBLEM BUT STILL HAVING THE PROBLEM. TT
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
GUARDS THAT COVER FUEL LINES UNDERNEATH VEHICLE FELL OFF WHILE DRIVING. *AK *SLC
THERE IS A FUEL LEAK IN THE VEHICLE DUE TO THE LOCATION/POSITIONING OF THE FUEL FILLER NECK. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER. RUBBER COATING ON THE FILLER TUBE FAILED, ALLOWING SALT FROM THE ROAD TO COME IN DIRECT CONTACT WITH METAL FILLER TUBE. TUBE IS LESS THAN 6 INCHES FROM LEFT REAR WHEEL IN PERFECT SPOT FOR ROAD SPRAY TO HIT IT. *AK
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
THE FRONT BRAKE STARTS TO MAKE NOISE (GRINDING) THE ROTOR WAS FALLING APART . TT
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHEN CAR IS WARM PRESSING ON THE ACCELERATOR GETS NO RESPONSE. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Tires & wheels
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.
From owner reports, verbatim
PURCHASED USED CAR AND FOUND OUT IT WAS A REBUILT, BURNED UP ENGINE, DEALER CLAIMS HE FIXED THE PROBLEM BUT STILL HAVING THE PROBLEM. TT
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
CONSUMER WAS DRIVING APPROX. 35MPH WHEN SHE WAS REARENDED. AT THE IMPACT OF THE CRASH, THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEATBACK BROKE, CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE, RESULTING IN HITTING A POLE AND A TREE. CONSUMER WAS INJURED DUE TO LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE FELT LIKE IT HAD A FLAT, VEERING TO RIGHT. ALSO GRINDING NOISE. WHEEL ASSEMBLY WAS TORN AND RUBBED ON WHEEL WELL FRAME. *AK CONSUMER STATES THAT THE FRAME WHERE CONTROL ARM ATTACHES FAILED DUE TO EXTENSIVE CORROSION. *SLC
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 .