RoadVitals

1990 Geo Storm Electrical Problems

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

Data refreshed

Electrical 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.
9
Latest Jun 7, 2002
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.
20%
of 45 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 electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1990 Geo Storm submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 9 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 electrical

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

Electrical
Filed Jun 7, 2002

SOME ONE SHOULD FIX THE PROBLEM SO I CAN BUY A NEW ECM. *AK

NHTSA ID
762758
Electrical
Filed Apr 17, 2001

I HAVE ALREADY HAD THE PICK-UP COIL AND IGNITOR MODULE REPLACE AT 132,563 MILES. NOW BEGINNING BEFORE 189,000 MILES AND AFTER THE PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR NOT STARTING (COLD OR HOT) ARE STARTING TO HAPPEN AGAIN. YESTERDAY, 4/17/2001 THE CAR WOULD NOT START I. *AK

NHTSA ID
744203
Incident
Apr 17, 2001
ElectricalSuspension
Filed Sep 5, 2000

WHILE TRAVELING ABOUT 65MPH ON HIGHWAY SPEEDOMETER DROPPED TO ZERO AND VEHICLE JUST SHUT OFF. WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. THEN, HE REALIZED THAT VEHICLE WOULDN'T RESPOND. VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED. *AK CONSUMER STATES IGNITION MODULE HAD TO BE REPLACED.*JB

NHTSA ID
869611
Incident
Sep 12, 1999
ElectricalEngine
Filed Apr 21, 2000

PROBLEM WITH THE ECU IS A GMC MANUFACTURING DEFECT. DEALER WILL NOT REPLACE ECU. ECU HAS PROBLEM WITH BOARD LAMINATE EXPANDING AND CONTRACTING WITH TEMPERATURE CHANGE WHICH CAUSES DAMAGE TO THE CIRCUIT BOARD AND CHIP CONNECTIONS. SHOULD BE RECALLED AND REPLACED BY GM FREE OF CHARGE FOR ALL GEO STORMS. EXHAUST HEADER IS MADE OF IRON AND RUSTS IMMEDIATELY AFTER INSTALLATION. A FEW YEARS AFTERWARDS, EXHAUST HEADER WILL CRACK AND MUST BE REPLACED AT OWNER'S COST. THIS PART SHOULD BE REPLACED BY DEALER WITH SAME PART, FREE OF CHARGE, EVERY TIME IT BREAKS, OR REPLACED WITH A COMPONENT THAT WILL NOT RUST AND CRACK. *AK

NHTSA ID
721759
Incident
Sep 20, 1998
Electrical
Filed Apr 15, 2000

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
721508
Incident
Mar 18, 2000
Electrical
Filed Feb 7, 2000

AC DELCO USED A INSULATIVE SPRAY ON THE CIRCUIT BOARDS IN THESE ECUS/COMPUTERS WHICH SHRINKS OVER TIME WHEN EXPOSED TO WARM AND COOL TEMPERATURE CONDITIONS, SUCH AS THE NORMAL CONDITIONS THAT AN AUTOMOBILE IS SUBJECTED TO. THE SHRINKING INSULATIVE SPRAY CONTRACTS AND PULLS THE ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS FROM THE CIRCUIT BOARD, BREAKING SOLDER CONNECTIONS AND CAUSING SHORTS. THE SYMPTOMS OF THIS FAULT ARE MOST NOTABLY ERRATIC IDLE, IDLE REVVING AND DROPPING, IDLE DIPPING OFTEN WITH ENGINE DYING, IDLE HANGING HIGH ABOVE 2,000 RPM, AND ENGINE DYING OR STALLING FOR NO REASON WITH NO TROUBLE CODES. *AK

NHTSA ID
718427
Electrical
Filed Jul 12, 1999

ECM FAILURE BEGAN SLIGHTLY AFTER I PURCHASED THE CAR WITH 80000 MILES ON IT. ENGINE WOULD RUN, THEN SHUT DOWN FOR NO APPARENT REASON, WHICH COULD BE A SEVERE HAZARD. MECHANIC IDENTIFIED PROBLEM, AND DEALERSHIP REPORTED THEY HAD SEEN MANY STORMS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. SINCE THEN I HAVE SPOKEN TO 20 OR 30 OTHER STORM OWNERS WHOS CARS DEVELOPED SIMIALR PROBLEMS AFTER 3 YEARS OR 80000 MILES DEPENDING ON HOW CAR WAS DRIVEN. WOULD ALSO LIKE TO RECIEVE FURTHER CORRESPONDANCE ON ABILITY TO HAVE CAR RECALLED ON SUCH PREMISES. *AK

NHTSA ID
708550
Body & structureElectrical
Filed Jun 25, 1998
Fire reported

VEHICLE FIRE DUE TO POSSIBLE ELECTRICAL WIRING FAILURE. A WIRING TO REAR TRAIL LIGHTING BURNT. (OHIO STATE POLICE REPORT). *AK

NHTSA ID
534349
Incident
Mar 24, 1998
Electrical
Filed Sep 22, 1995

REPLACE ALTERNATOR 4 TIMES, POSSIBLE BECAUSE A HEAT SHEILD IS NEEDED, VEHICLE RESULTS IN STALLING OUT. TT

NHTSA ID
972345
Incident
Jan 1, 1991

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

Airbags10

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .