RoadVitals

1993 Geo Metro Problems

Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component

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.
50
Latest Dec 22, 2011
Components namedHow many of our component categories appear on at least one report for this model year. One report can name several.
16
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.
6

What this page shows

Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1993 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

  • Seat belts47.8%
  • Visibility35.9%
  • Electrical35.9%
  • Engine35.9%
  • Exterior lighting35.9%
  • Airbags35.9%
  • Brakes23.9%
  • Transmission12.0%
  • Other / unspecified12.0%
  • Driver assistance12.0%
  • Suspension12.0%
  • Tires & wheels12.0%
  • Heating & air conditioning12.0%
  • Fuel system12.0%

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.

12
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

THE LEFT FRONT A FRAME ROTTED OUT. I LOST CONTROL OF THE STEERING. *TR

NHTSA ID 10441006 · filed Dec 22, 2011

FRONT PASSENGER'S DOOR HANDLE BROKE OFF. SPRING CAME OUT OF HANDLE. DEALER CONTACTED. PLEASE ADD VIN. *AK

NHTSA ID 8004361 · filed Feb 21, 2002
All 12 reports naming body & structure

Interior & seats

Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.

11
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

DT: CONSUMER STATES HE FOUND A RECALL ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE, #93V189001. THE HOOD FLEW UP AND OFF, HITTING THE ROOF AND DAMAGED THE HOOD. HE WAS GOING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH. THERE WAS NO WARNING; IT HAD BEEN ABOUT A WEEK SINCE THE HOOD WAS OPENED. THE DEALERSHIP SAID IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND HE WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR IT HIMSELF AND THE VIN WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL. THERE IS A CASE FILE NUMBER,1-348-257471. THERE WAS ALMOST A ACCIDENT AND THERE WAS NOT A POLICE REPORT. *NM

NHTSA ID 10128334 · filed Jul 11, 2005

HOOD BLEW COMPLETELY OFF GOING 55 MPH, BREAKING WINDSHIELD, AND DAMAGING TOP OF CAR. *AK

NHTSA ID 714614 · filed Nov 10, 1999
All 11 reports naming interior & seats

Seat belts

Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.

4
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

DURING A FRONT END COLLISION THE SEAT BELT RESTRAINT DID NOT PROVIDE CONSUMER WITH PROTECTION RESULTING IN AN INJURY, CONSUMER STRUCK THE STEERING WHEEL. *SLC

NHTSA ID 785145 · filed Dec 21, 2000

I WAS CHARGED $186.00 TO REPLACE THE SEAT BELT. I WAS TOLD IT IS NOT WARRANTED.

NHTSA ID 737027 · filed Nov 29, 2000

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.

3
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

WINDOWS SLIPPING OUT OF METAL FRAME.

NHTSA ID 509504 · filed Oct 4, 1996

THE HEATER CONTROL UNIT HAS GONE OUT. *AK *SLC

NHTSA ID 803006 · filed Sep 30, 1996

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.

3
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

KEYS BREAK OFF IN THE IGNITION, DUE TO FAULTY DESIGN OF KEY BEING NARROW IN LOCATIONS.

NHTSA ID 525104 · filed Nov 19, 1997

CONSUMER STATES THE CIRCUIT BOARD WITHIN THE FUSE BOX CORRODED, CAUSING VARIOUS ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTIONS. HEAD LIGHT BECOME INOPERATIVE, VEHICLE WILL CONTINUE TO RUN WITH KEY OUT THE IGNITION. *AK CONSUMER STATES THE FUSE BOX IS HOT ALL THE TIME AND IT DESTOYED THE IGNITION BOX. *SLC

NHTSA ID 818336 · filed Nov 5, 1997

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.

3
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

OIL PAN HAS FAILED AT BASE WHERE SCREW IS FOUR TIME IN TWO MONTHS.

NHTSA ID 531062 · filed Feb 19, 1998

DRIVING ON HWY, HEARD LARGE THUMP, POWER IN VEHICLE WAS GONE, VEHICLE JUST DIED ON HWY, GUIDED VEHICLE TO SIDE OF ROAD, HAD VEHICLE TOWED, WAS INFORMED A PIECE OF ENGINE CAME APART, BOUNCED WITHIN THE ENGINE AND DESTROYED ENGINE. *AK

NHTSA ID 806198 · filed Dec 11, 1996

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.

3
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

THE TAIL LIGHTS AND DASH LIGHTS HAVE GONE OUT WHILE DRIVING, AND WILL NOT COME BACK ON. DEALER HAS NOT SEEN VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID 849052 · filed Sep 29, 1999

CONSUMER STATES THE CIRCUIT BOARD WITHIN THE FUSE BOX CORRODED, CAUSING VARIOUS ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTIONS. HEAD LIGHT BECOME INOPERATIVE, VEHICLE WILL CONTINUE TO RUN WITH KEY OUT THE IGNITION. *AK CONSUMER STATES THE FUSE BOX IS HOT ALL THE TIME AND IT DESTOYED THE IGNITION BOX. *SLC

NHTSA ID 818336 · filed Nov 5, 1997

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.

3
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

CONSUMER STATED THAT SHE HIT A DEER AND THE AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY UPON COLLISION. TS

NHTSA ID 10002230 · filed Jan 7, 2003

DRIVING DOWN MIDDLE OF STREET, ANOTHER VEHICLE HIT REAR OF DRIVER SIDE VEHICLE, FRAME BUCKLED, SEAT FELL BACKWARDS, SEAT BELT HELD, AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK

NHTSA ID 982421 · filed Apr 8, 1996

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.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

BRAKE FAILURE, BRAKE BOOSTER, THE PEDAL BECOMES VERY HARD WHEN STARTING UP AND AFTER DRIVING FOR ABOUT 20 MPH, PEDAL HEATS UP AND BECOMES NORMAL, REROUTED THE HOSE TO THE BOOSTER.

NHTSA ID 805871 · filed Dec 4, 1996

WHEN AIR CONDITIONER IS RUNNING, BRAKES DON'T SEEM TO BE VERY RESPONSIVE, ESPECIALLY IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC; CAUSED ACCIDENT;HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE AT STANDSTILL.

NHTSA ID 969934 · filed Aug 7, 1995

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Transmission

Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

5 SPD-TRANSMISSION; SPEED 42 MPH ATTEMPTING TO DOWN SHIFT, DRIVER HAD DIFFICULTY. DRIVER LOST CONTROL SPINNING OUT. TT

NHTSA ID 959477 · filed Feb 2, 1995

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.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

LUG NUTS/BOLTS SNAPPED. *DSH

NHTSA ID 488348 · filed Sep 23, 1995

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.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

THE VEHICLE HAS AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE WILL ACCELERATE WITHOUT WARNING AND WITHOUT PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR. *AK

NHTSA ID 809953 · filed Mar 13, 1997

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.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

THE LEFT FRONT A FRAME ROTTED OUT. I LOST CONTROL OF THE STEERING. *TR

NHTSA ID 10441006 · filed Dec 22, 2011

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.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

WHILE DRIVING THE LEFT FRONT TIRE BLEWOUT CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO VEER OFF THE ROADWAY, HIT AN OFFRAMP MEDIAN AND BECOME AIRBORN APPROXIMATELY 30 FEET, THE VEHICLE THEN STRUCK A TREE BEFORE COMING TO A STOP, THE DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE NECK, BRAIN, AND LEG (3RD DEGREE BURNS) (GOODYEAR TIRE). NLM

NHTSA ID 556804 · filed Aug 7, 2001

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Heating & air conditioning

Reports naming the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

AIR CONDITIONER FAILED DUE TO FREON LEAK. *SD

NHTSA ID 488288 · filed Sep 16, 1995

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.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

DROVE VEHICLE HOME, VEHICLE LOST FUEL & RAN OUT OF FUEL ON THE WAY HOME, VEHICLE WAS STARTED & GAS SPEWED OUT HEAVY, WET THE DRIVEWAY, GRASS & FLASHLIGHTS. *AK

NHTSA ID 985346 · filed Aug 20, 1996

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

Data on this page last refreshed .