1994 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 1994 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 belts1620.5%
- Engine1316.7%
- Interior & seats1012.8%
- Brakes911.5%
- Body & structure79.0%
- Visibility45.1%
- Other / unspecified45.1%
- Tires & wheels33.8%
- Electrical22.6%
- Suspension22.6%
- Fuel system22.6%
- Driver assistance11.3%
- Steering11.3%
- Transmission11.3%
- Exterior lighting11.3%
- Heating & air conditioning11.3%
- Powertrain (other)11.3%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
SEAT BELT USE FOR PEOPLE OVER SIX FEET TALL. I RECEIVED THROAT INJURIES FROM THE SEAT BELT JUST BY HITTING A BUMP. IF THIS OCCURRED DURING A MINOR ACCIDENT, I WOULD BE DEAD. THE CAR WAS A GEO METRO 1994. THIS ALSO HAPPEN DURING HARD BREAKING. I HAVE SOLD THE CAR BUT STILL HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE SHOULDER BELT RAPPING AROUND MY NECK. I HAVE JUST RECEIVED A TICKET FOR WEARING THE SHOULDER STRAP UNDER MY ARM. THE SEAT BELT EXTENDER ARE A POOR DESIGN, AND WILL NOT WORK. I WOULD LIKE A LAW ALLOWING EVERYONE OVER SIX FEET TO BE ABLE TO WEAR A SEAT BELT UNDER THE ARM. DID YOU EVER DO A STUDY ON HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE KILLED BY BEING STRANGLED BY A SEAT BELT? *TR
WHEN CONSUMER UNLOCKED SEAT BELT IT FLEW OUT OF HER HAND AND SNATCHED BACK. SHE HEARD SOMETHING INSIDE OF THE LOCKING PART, SOUNDED AS IF IT BROKE. *AK
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
ALTERNATOR BELT KEEPS POPPING OFF, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL POSSIBLY DUE TO A DEFECT IN PULLEY , CONSUMER HAS REPLACED BELT 4 TIMES.*AK
MAP SENSOR FAILED CAUSEING STALLING AND POOR PERFORMANCE IN COLD WEATHER. *ET
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE HOOD RELEASED FROM LATCH AND FLEW UP AND SMASHED DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S FRONT WINDSHIELD. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO KEEP CONTROL OF VEHICLE. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER HAS NOT FOUND A REMEDY. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
THE METAL ATTACHMENT ON THE UNDERSIDE OF THE HOOD THAT LOCKS INTO THE HOOD LATCH IS RIPPING LOOSE FROM THE HOOD. THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN REPORTED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP WOULD NOT REPAIR THE PROBLEM BECAUSE OF LIABILITY. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE DRIVING ABOUT AT ANY MPH WOULD STEP ON BRAKES PEDAL, BUT BRAKES WILL NOT ACTIVATE ON TIME. MOST OF TIMES THIS HAPPENED IN THE MORNING. HAD CONTACTED DEALER, AND THEY SAID THIS PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED OFTEN TO THIS MAKE AND MODEL.*AK
IN DRIVING THE CAR 30.000 MILES, I HAVE PUT ON FOUR SETS OF ROTORS, SOMETHING THAT IS WRONG WITH THE CAR KEEPS MAKING THEM "RUT OUT"....A NEW SET OF ROTORS ONLY WORKS FOR ABOUT 3 MONTHS....I KNOW THERE HAS TO BE SOME TYPE OF DEFECT WITH THE FRONT END BRAKING SYSTEM, BUT CHEVY REFUSED TO CHECK INTO IT FOR ME
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
SEVERE CORROSION OF BODY FRAME HARD POINT TO REAR OF LOWER CONTROL ARM OF FRONT SUSPENSION CAUSED BOTH FRONT WHEELS TO SPLAY OUT WITH UNCONTROLLABLE CAMBER AND STEERING. BOTH FRONT TIRES WORE ON INNER HALF OF TIRES ONLY AND VEHICLE REQUIRED HARD LEFT FORCE ON STEERING WHEEL TO CONTROL. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 GEO METRO. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE CONTACT HEARD A NOISE WHEN SHE DROVE OVER A BUMP. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE FRAME WAS CORRODED, AND THE TIRE COULD FALL AT ANY MOMENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED; HOWEVER, THEY STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OLD AND THE CONTACT WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WILL BE TAKEN TO A BODY SHOP FOR REPAIR. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 159,000.
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
NOISY ENGINE DUE TO LOOSE FAN BELT.
DEFOGGER SYSTEM DOES NOT DEFOG THE WINDOW, DEALER CAN NOT LOCATE PROBLEM. TT
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
WHEN ROTATING TIRES EVERY 6000 MILES SEVERAL OF THE LUG STUDS BREAK OFF -
WHEEL STUDS/BOLTS BREAK OFF EVERY THREE MONTHS.. *SD
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
CONSUMER NOTICED A BUBBLE IN THE SIDEWALL OF THE REAR LEFT TIRE, AND A SLASH IN THE FRONT RIGHT TIRE. *JB *SCC
WHILE CHANGING ALL FOUR TIRES , (3) OUT OF (16) LUG NUTS BROKE. ALL ON THE BACK WHEELS.*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
TURN SIGNALS BEGAN TO WORK INTERMITTENTLY EVEN THOUGH I CLEANED SOCKETS AND REPLACED BULBS. THEN HEADLIGHTS FAILED AT 2AM 0N 11/15/99 AND I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER THAT AFTERNOON. THEY FOUND THE HARNESS SHORTING OUT INTERMITTENTLY AND THEY REPLACED IT. LOOKING AT THE PLUG-INS ONE OF THEM LOOKED DISCOLORED FROM THE SHORTING OUT. *AK
WATER PUMP FAILED.
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
SEVERE CORROSION OF BODY FRAME HARD POINT TO REAR OF LOWER CONTROL ARM OF FRONT SUSPENSION CAUSED BOTH FRONT WHEELS TO SPLAY OUT WITH UNCONTROLLABLE CAMBER AND STEERING. BOTH FRONT TIRES WORE ON INNER HALF OF TIRES ONLY AND VEHICLE REQUIRED HARD LEFT FORCE ON STEERING WHEEL TO CONTROL. *TR
MISALIGNMENT, CAUSING PREMATURE WEAR OF 4 TIRES. *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
CAR HAS GREAT GAS MILEAGE BUT HAS DEADLY STRUCTURAL,SAFETY AND COMFORT DESIGN FLAWS
BOTH FRONT DOOR LATCHES LOCKED UP/JAMMED; DOORS WOULD NOT OPEN; EXCESSIVE EFFORT. 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
VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATES OUT OF CONTROL, DEALER CAN NOT LOCATE 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
SEVERE CORROSION OF BODY FRAME HARD POINT TO REAR OF LOWER CONTROL ARM OF FRONT SUSPENSION CAUSED BOTH FRONT WHEELS TO SPLAY OUT WITH UNCONTROLLABLE CAMBER AND STEERING. BOTH FRONT TIRES WORE ON INNER HALF OF TIRES ONLY AND VEHICLE REQUIRED HARD LEFT FORCE ON STEERING WHEEL TO CONTROL. *TR
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.
From owner reports, verbatim
REAR MAIN OIL SEAL LEAKS, CAUSING CLUTCH TO SLIP.
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
HEADLIGHTS WOULD GO OUT WHILE DRIVING. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED AND INFORMED THAT NO RECALL IS OPEN FOR THAT PROBLEM, FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER.*AK
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.
From owner reports, verbatim
MISALIGNMENT, CAUSING PREMATURE WEAR OF 4 TIRES. *TT
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
WHILE DRIVING APPROX. 15MPH, THE FRONT AXLE FELL OUT OF THE HOLE. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SLAM TO THE GROUND DUE TO A DEFECTIVE BOLT IN THE AXLE. THE MECHANIC SAID IT SHOULD NOT HAVE FALLEN OUT & DID NOT KNOW WHAT HAD HAPPENED. *AK
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 .