RoadVitals

1989 Geo Spectrum

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.
8
Latest Mar 19, 1997
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.
2

Overview

Our database contains 8 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1989 Geo Spectrum, most frequently naming the electrical, interior & seats and body & structure categories.

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

  • Electrical330.0%
  • Interior & seats220.0%
  • Body & structure110.0%
  • Seat belts110.0%
  • Transmission110.0%
  • Fuel system110.0%
  • Engine110.0%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

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

Electrical
Filed Mar 19, 1997

THE GROUND WIRE GOING FROM ENGINE BLOCK TO CAR BODY CORRODED TO THE POINT THA TIT COULDN'T MAKE FULL CONNECTION TO BODY. *AK

NHTSA ID
515295
Incident
Feb 16, 1997
Electrical
Filed Feb 18, 1997
Fire reported

THE (ONLY) GROUND WIRE FROM THE ENGINE BLOCK TO THE VEHICLE BODE CORRODED.

NHTSA ID
546765
Incident
Feb 16, 1997
Body & structureInterior & seats
Filed Dec 6, 1996

STRUCTURE FAILURE TO FLOOR/ROOF/PILLARS. (MSP FLINT POST REPORT)

NHTSA ID
512366
Incident
Aug 8, 1996
ElectricalFuel system
Filed Jan 5, 1996
Fire reported

CONSUMER STARTS CAR TO WARM SAID CUTS OFF AND CAR STARTS TO SMOKE AND CAUGHT ON FIRE . TT

NHTSA ID
977478
Incident
Jan 2, 1996
Transmission
Filed Nov 24, 1995

5 SPD; FIRE WALL FAILS WHICH HOLDS CLUTCH CABLE.TT *JB

NHTSA ID
975375
Incident
Nov 24, 1995
Interior & seats
Filed Aug 28, 1995

DOOR LOCKS FAILED DUE TO DESIGN FLAW. *SKD

NHTSA ID
483323
Incident
Aug 28, 1995
Seat belts
Filed Mar 31, 1995

REAR PASSENGER SHOULDER/LAP BELTS EXHIBIT INTERMITTENT DIFFICULTY PULLING OUT AND RETRACTING, RENDERING INOPERATIVE, MFR'S TAKATA. TT

NHTSA ID
962870
Engine
Filed Mar 15, 1995

OIL PAN LEAKING ON BOTTOM OF OIL PAN. TT

NHTSA ID
961966
Incident
Mar 1, 1995

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Geo Spectrum by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
1989Viewing800—
1987100—

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.