RoadVitals

1996 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.
88
Latest Feb 25, 2011
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.
0
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.
0
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.
32
22 injuries, 1 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 88 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1996 Geo Metro, most frequently naming the airbags, electrical and brakes categories. 14 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

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

No recalls in our database for this model year

That does not guarantee a specific vehicle is unaffected — recalls are issued against VINs, and new campaigns are announced regularly. Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov.

Recent owner complaints

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

Interior & seats
Filed Feb 25, 2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 GEO METRO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TWO REAR DOORS WOULD NOT UNLOCK FROM NEITHER THE INTERIOR NOR EXTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED FOR THE FAILURE NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED HER THAT THEY DID NOT HAVE HER VEHICLE LISTED IN THE DATABASE AND COULD PROVIDE NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 175,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. UPDATED 1/4/11 *CN

NHTSA ID
10384466
Incident
Feb 25, 2009
Mileage
175,000 mi
Body & structureSuspension
Filed Feb 21, 2009

I PURCHASED A 1996 GEO METRO SEDAN FROM A FRIEND AND I HAD DRIVEN IT FOR ABOUT 3 MONTHS. THE FRAME HAD ROTTED AWAY FROM THE CONTROL ARMS AND BROKE THE AXEL OUT OF THE TRANSMISSION. I HAVE ALSO STARTED TO SEE THIS IN OTHER METROS. I WAS WONDERING WHY THERE WASN'T A RECALL ON THIS FROM THE MANUFACTURER AND IF THERE WAS I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW BECAUSE NOW I AM WITHOUT A CAR. IF YOU COULD CONTACT ME THAT WOULD BE GREAT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10259525
Incident
Feb 21, 2009
Mileage
141,685 mi
Body & structure
Filed Aug 26, 2007

MY DAUGHTER WAS TURNING INTO A PRIVATE DRIVEWAY. LOST STEERING AND CAR CAME TO IMMEDIATE STOP. THE RIGHT FRONT FRAME HAD RUSTED THROUGH AND DROPPED CAR ONTO THE ASSEMBLY FOR THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE CAUSING IT TO BREAK AND ALLOWING THE TIRE TO TURN OUTWARDS AND STOP THE CAR. THERE IS NO REPAIR TO THIS, THE CAR WILL BE JUNKED. IF SHE HAD BEEN ON THE HIGHWAY THIS PROBABLY WOULD HAVE BEEN A VERY SERIOUS ACCIDENT. THIS REALLY SURPRISED US AS THE CAR HAD ONLY A SMALL AMOUNT OF RUST ON THE SURFACES THAT WE COULD SEE. WHEN THE GARAGE HAD THE CAR UP ON THE RACK TO SHOW ME THE PROBLEM I COULD SEE QUITE A BIT OF RUSTING ON ALL THE FRONT COMPONENTS, BUT NONE ON THE REAR. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THE CAR, WE HAVE TAKEN REASONABLY GOOD CARE OF IT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10200780
Incident
Aug 22, 2007
Mileage
116,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Nov 20, 2006

1996 GEO METRO FRAME RUSTED AND BROKE OFF WHILE DRIVING. *TS *JB

NHTSA ID
10174336
Incident
Jan 1, 1901
Tires & wheels
Filed Jul 7, 2006

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH THE PASSENGER FRONT TIRE BLEW OUT. THE SERVICE DEALER FOUND AIR COMING OUT BETWEEN THE VALVE STEM AND THE TIRE. AFTER TEN DAYS, THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT TIRE BLEW OUT WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH. THE SERVICE DEALER FOUND AIR COMING OUT IN THE SAME AREA. THERE WERE NO ACCIDENTS PRIOR TO THESE INCIDENTS. THE PROPER PRESSURE RECOMMENDED BY THE MANUFACTURER WAS UNKNOWN AND PRESSURE CHECKS WERE NOT PERFORMED. THERE WAS ALSO NO VIBRATION BEFORE THE INCIDENT. HE BRAND NAME OF THE TIRE IS TURISMO TWO.

NHTSA ID
10161790
Incident
Jun 14, 2006
Engine
Filed Oct 31, 2005
Crash reported

DT: THE CONTACT COMPLAINED ABOUT A CRANK SHAFT PROBLEM IN THE ENGINE. THE CRANK SHAFT PULLEY HAS ALREADY BEEN REPLACED. AFTER HEARING A NOISE IN THE ENGINE, SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO BE CHECKED. THE MECHANIC SAID THAT A BELT BROKE. THE BELT WAS REPLACED, AND A WEEK LATER SHE HEARD ANOTHER NOISE IN THE ENGINE. THE MECHANIC SAID IT WAS THE CRANK SHAFT PULLEY. TWO WEEKS LATER, THE CAR WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH. AFTER THE CRASH THE VEHICLE STALLED. AFTER BEING INSPECTED THE BOLT CAME LOOSE IN THE CRANK SHAFT. THE CAR WAS EXPERIENCING A LOSS OF POWER. SHE COULD HAVE FOOT ON THE ACCELERATOR AND THE CAR WOULD NOT GET UP TO SPEED. ANOTHER MECHANIC TOLD HER IT WAS THE CRANK SHAFT. SHE HAS NOT MADE ANY ARRANGEMENT TO HAVE VEHICLE REPAIRED. *AK

NHTSA ID
10141300
Incident
Sep 12, 2005
Electrical
Filed Jun 1, 2005

THE HEADLIGHTS ON MY WIFE'S CAR, LIKE SO MANY OTHERS, HAVE BECOME ALMOST OPAQUE. AFTER HAVING THE LIGHTS REPAIRED AT SUBSTANTIAL COST I WAS TOLD THAT IT IS DUE TO UV EXPOSURE AND THAT IT DOES NOT AFFECT ALL MAKES. APPARENTLY SOME MANUFACTURERS PRODUCE LIGHTS THAT CONTINUE TO FUNCTION AFTER EXPOSURE TO SUNLIGHT. SOME DO NOT. I FEEL THIS IS A REAL SAFETY HAZARD. IT SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCES THE LIGHT OUTPUT AND IT ONLY TAKES A FEW MINUTES LOOKING ABOUT ANY PARKING LOT TO REALIZE THAT MOST GO UNCORRECTED. WHY CAN'T ALL MANUFACTURERS USE HEADLIGHTS THAT DO NOT TURN YELLOW?

NHTSA ID
10123831
Incident
Jan 28, 2005
Mileage
115,000 mi
Heating & air conditioningSuspension
Filed Mar 8, 2005

VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER FOR AN ALIGNMENT, AND THE MECHANIC NOTICED THAT THE AIR CONDITIONING WAS LEAKING FLUID ONTO THE FRONT RIGHT WHEEL FRAME. THERE WAS SO MUCH LIQUID THAT THE FRAME HOLDING THE WHEEL RUSTED, WHICH COULD CAUSE THE WHEEL TO FALL OFF.*AK

NHTSA ID
10113641
Incident
Feb 15, 2005

Manufacturer communications

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

PIP4723F

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE; SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

This Preliminary Information communicates to the dealer the process for downloading or updating operating software for the Tire Pressure Monitor, Active Fuel Injector tester, multi media tester, PICO Scope, GR8 starting/charging tester  and Vehicle Data Recorder tools, giving website address and step by step instructions to complete the update.

PIP4723D

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

This Preliminary Information communicates to the dealer the process for downloading or updating operating software for the Tire Pressure Monitor, Active Fuel Injector tester, multi media tester, PICO Scope, GR8 starting/charging tester  and Vehicle Data Recorder tools, giving website address and step by step instructions to complete the update.

PIC4696E

EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:ANTI-THEFT DEVICES; EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.

This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician on how to unlock radios that are Delco TheftLock. Technician will use the radio to get the scrambled code. Technician will need to contact the radio unlock center to retrieve the unlock code from the scrambled code.  The PI update to version D is to advise the unlock procedure is temporarily unavailable.  E version update is to add administrative details.

17NA073

EQUIPMENT

This warranty administration bulletin provides information regarding the field action courtesy transportation policy.

PIC4696D

EQUIPMENT

This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician on how to unlock radios that are Delco TheftLock. Technician will use the radio to get the scrambled code. Technician will need to contact the radio unlock center to retrieve the unlock code from the scrambled code.  The PI update to version D is to advise the unlock procedure is temporarily unavailable.

17NA073

EQUIPMENT

This warranty administration bulletin provides information regarding the field action courtesy transportation policy.

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
1996Viewing880048.8
19951091054.7
1994680042.3
1993501046.7
1992541149.3
1991502361.2
1990392460.6
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.