RoadVitals

1997 Geo Metro Engine Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Engine reportsComplaints 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.
14
Latest Jan 14, 2005
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
22%
of 63 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
1
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1997 Geo Metro submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 14 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming engine

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Engine
Filed Jan 14, 2005

THE CONSUMER SLOWED VEHICLE DOWN FROM 65 MPH AND HEARD A KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STALL. THE CONSUMER HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE MECHANIC, AND WAS INFORMED THAT NOISE WAS COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE MECHANIC THEN LOOSENED O RINGS TO STOP THE NOISE AND STALLING, BUT THE NOISE AND THE STALLING CONTINUED. THE STALLING OCCURRED WHENEVER THE VEHICLE HAD TO SLOW DOWN OR STOP FOR ANY REASON. *AK *SC

NHTSA ID
10103502
Incident
Jan 1, 2005
EnginePowertrain (other)Tires & wheels
Filed Jan 5, 2005

ONE OF THE WHEEL HUB CAPS CAME OFF AND THE TREAD OF TWO TIRES BEGAN PEELING OFF.*NM A TICKING SOUND WAS HEARD WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN AND GETTING LOUDER EVERY DAY. THE TRANSMISSION FLUID APPEARED BROWN INSTEAD OF PINK. THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING OIL. THE SPARK PLUGS WERE WORN OUT. THE DISTRIBUTOR CAP CRACKED, THE OIL SWITCH WAS BAD, AND THE PCV VALVE WAS BAD. THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED. THE ENGINE STALLED WHEN THE VEHICLE REACHEED THE 25 MPH MARK. NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. THE VEHICLE WILL NOT RESTART. *TC

NHTSA ID
10110924
Incident
May 7, 2004
Engine
Filed Jun 4, 2003

STALLING PROBLEMS. WHILE DRIVING ENGINE WILL STOP RUNNING. MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALLS.*AK

NHTSA ID
10022392
Engine
Filed May 8, 2001

WHEN PULLING OUT OR TRAVELING AT LOW SPEEDS ENGINE WILL STALL. THIS DEFECT TYPICALLY OCCURS DURING WARM TO HOT WEATHER ON A FREQUENT BASIS. DEALERSHIP INFORMED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE IS NOT BEING DRIVEN ENOUGH, AND THAT GAS COULD HAVE BEEN CONTAMINATED .*AK CONSUMER STATES THROTTLE AND DISTRIBUTION CAP WERE SPRAYED AND FUEL INJECTION CLEANER WAS USED FREQUENTLY, CONSUMER ALSO STATES A NEW AIR FILTER WAS PUT IN. *JB

NHTSA ID
887677
Incident
Apr 1, 2000
EngineFuel system
Filed Mar 23, 2001

VEHICLE STALLS WHEN STARTING FROM A COMPLETE STOP. VEHICLE SOMETIMES DOES NOT START. SOMETIMES GOES AWAY FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS, THEN COMES BACK. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER TUNED UP VEHICLE TO FIX PROBLEM. BUT, PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. *AK THE MANUFACTURER HAD AGREED TO REPLACE THE FUEL INJECTION HARNESS FREE OF CHARGE. *YH

NHTSA ID
883925
Incident
Feb 1, 2000
EngineTransmission
Filed Feb 2, 2001

RADIATOR AND WATER PUMP FAILED PREMATURELY. NLM

NHTSA ID
559360
Engine
Filed Sep 18, 2000

CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP BROKE DOWN 10+TIMES IN TWO YEAR'S. EVERYTIME THEY SAY IT IS FIXED SOMETHING ELSE HAPPEN'S I AM HANDYCAP AND ON OXYGEN I HAVE GOT STUCK OUT IN MY CAR AT LEAST THREE TIMES WAITING FOR HELP. THE REASON I BOUGHT THE METRO IS FOR SAFETY I HAVE HAD NOTING BUT TROUBLE. ALL MY LIFE MY FAMILY HAS WENT TO CHEVROLET BUT NOW I AM WONDERING WHY, I AM AFRAID TO GET OUT IN MY CAR ALONE BECAUSE FOR THE LAST TWO WEEK'S I HAVE HAD IT A TOTAL OF ONE NIGHT.

NHTSA ID
731833
Engine
Filed Apr 29, 2000

SOMETIMES FAILS TO START FOR NO REASON.WILL STOP RUNNING EVEN DURING DRIVING.PROBLEM HAS BEEN CHECKED AND RECHECKED AND CANNOT BE FOUND.UNDEPENDABLE AND UNSAFE. MANUFACTURER CONTACTED BUT WAS NO HELP. POSSIBLY COULD CAUSE SERIOUS ACCIDENT AND INJURIES. SHOULD BE RECALLED. *AK

NHTSA ID
722076
Engine
Filed Aug 16, 1999
Fire reported

CAR CAUGHT FIRE SUDDENLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY AFTER MAKING A BACKFIRE NOISE. HAD MY CHILDREN BEEN IN THE CAR IN THEIR CAR SEATS, THEY WOULD HAVE BURNED TO DEATH. THE CAR BURNED SO FAST MY WIFE ONLY HAD TIME TO SLAM IT IN PARK AND JUMP OUT. SHE DID NOT EVEN HAVE TIME TO PULL IT OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. IT MELTED INTO THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY.

NHTSA ID
710023
Incident
Jun 16, 1999
EngineFuel system
Filed May 31, 1999

CAR WOULD NOT REACH SAFE STARTING SPEED.IT WOULD NOT ACHIVE ANY POWER EVEN WHEN I PUT MY FOOT ALL THE WAY DOWN ON THE GAS PEDAL. THIS WAS A OPERATING HAZARD WHEN IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC. I TOOK MY CAR IN TO BE FIXED THEY SAID IT WAS MY FAULT THE CAR WAS NOT WORKING RIGHT THEY TOLD ME IT WAS A MAINTAINANCE PROBLEM. I TOLD THEM I HAD A MAJOR TUNE UP DONE.THEY SAID IT WAS THE FUEL FILTER,THAT CAUSED THE CATALITIC COVERTOR TO FAIL. THEY ALSO AJUSTED THE TIMMING BELT.THIS REPAIR WAS COVERED BY MY EXTENDED WARANTY.THEY TOLD ME THAT SINCE IT WAS MY FAULT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY THE COST OF THE RENTAL CAR.SO I PAID FOR THE REPAIR $ 50.00 PLUS THE COST OF THE RENTAL FOR THREE DAYS.ABOUT TWO WEEKS AFTER I TURNED ON MY AIR CONDITIONING THEN I WAS IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC AND THE SAME THING HAPPENED NO SPEED EVEN WITH MY FOOT FLOORING THE GAS PEDAL.THEN I STALLED IN TRAFFIC.ISHUT OFF MOTOR THEN TRIED TO RESTART IT FAILED.THEN I SHUT OFF A/C THEN TRIED TO START AGAIN IT STARTED.I TOOK IN MY CAR AGAIN THEY LOOKED AT IT FOR TWO DAYS SAID IT WAS THE TIMING AND THEY AJUSTED IT FOR FREE.THE CAR WORKED APROX TWO WEEKES AFTER THAT THEN THE SAME PROBEM HAPPENED AGAIN WITHOUT THE A/C ON IT WOULD TAKE A LONG TIME TO GET TO A SAFE STARTING SPEED.I WENT HOME WITH MY CAR AND TO SEE IF MY CAR WOULD STALL AGAIN I PUT ON THE A/C IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE AND WENT FOWARD ABOUT FIVE FEET,TAKING OF TO ABOUT 15MPH TOOK 10 TO 15 SECONDS THEN I PUT IT IN REVERSE WITH A/C ON AND IT MOVED BACK FROM GRAVITY EVEN WITH ME FLOORING THE GAS PEDAL I HAD NO SPEED AT ALL.SO I PUT ON THE BRAKES AND THE ENGINE STALLED.I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AGAIN AND EXPLAINED THE PROBLEM AGAIN.I HAD THE CAR IN THE SHOP FOR TWO DAYS WITH NO CALL BACK.SO I CALLED THEM AND TALKED ,TO MIKE ATKINS.HE SAID HE DIDNT KNOW IF THIS PROBLEM WAS COVERED BY WARRANTY SO I WOULD NEED T///// IF YOU ARE READING THIS I HAVE HAD MY CAR IN THE SHOP FOR OVER TWO WEEKS WITH LOTS OF QUESTIONS NO REAL ANSWERS E- MAIL ME FOR THE REST OF MY STORY THANKS.

NHTSA ID
707021
Incident
May 15, 1999
Engine
Filed Apr 19, 1999

WILL NOT CRANK EVERY TIME, BUT WILL TURN OVER. HAS BEEN IN SHOP SEVERAL TIMES, AND HAS NEVER BEEN FIXED.THE DEALERSHIP TELLS US IT'S SOMTHING ELSE EVERY TIME, AND THAT IT'S FIXED. IT WILL HESITATE AT TIMES LIKE IT'S OUT OF GAS, EVEN WHEN IT'S FULL. *AK

NHTSA ID
705753
Incident
Nov 13, 1998
Engine
Filed Feb 3, 1999

BALANCER BOLT ON THE ENGINE RUSTED/BROKE AND FELL INSIDE THE ENGINE, FIRST CAUSING LOSS OF ACCELERATION AND THEN THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY SHUTDOWN. *AK

NHTSA ID
832282
Incident
Dec 7, 1998
Engine
Filed Jan 31, 1999

VEHICLE JUST STOPS RUNING WHILE YOU ARE DRIVING

NHTSA ID
702779
Incident
Jan 27, 1999
BrakesHeating & air conditioningElectrical+2 more
Filed Sep 10, 1998

AT TIME OF SALE ALL OF THE GOODYEAR TIRES WERE WORN OUT.

NHTSA ID
540069
Incident
Sep 27, 1997

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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .