RoadVitals

1991 Geo Storm

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.
90
Latest Jan 16, 2014
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.
2
Latest May 24, 1995
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.
2
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.
20
16 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 90 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1991 Geo Storm, most frequently naming the engine, electrical and driver assistance categories. 2 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; 2 NHTSA investigations name it; and 2 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

2 campaigns cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
95V103007

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY

May 24, 1995
466,902 units potentially affected
The defect: THE FRONT SAFETY BELT BUCKLE RELEASE BUTTONS CAN BREAK. THESE RED PLASTIC RELEASE BUTTONS ARE MARKED "PRESS." IF A BUTTON BREAKS, PIECES CAN FALL INTO THE BUCKLE ASSEMBLY CAUSING THE BUCKLE TO OPERATE IMPROPERLY.
The risk: THE SAFETY BELTS WOULD NOT PROVIDE ADEQUATE PROTECTION TO AN OCCUPANT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
The remedy: OWNERS SHOULD PROMPTLY CHECK THE CONDITION AND OPERATION OF BOTH FRONT SAFETY BELT BUCKLES AND CAREFULLY INSPECT THE RED RELEASE BUTTON FOR ANY BREAKS OR CRACKS. THEY SHOULD ENSURE THAT BOTH BUCKLES ARE OPERATING PROPERLY BY INSERTING EACH LATCH PLATE INTO ITS BUCKLE, TUGGING ON THE BELT TO MAKE SURE THE LATCH IS SECURELY LOCKED, AND THEN PRESSING THE RELEASE BUTTON. THE LATCH PLATE SHOULD POP OUT OF THE BUCKLE WHEN THE BUTTON IS PRESSED. IF EITHER RELEASE BUTTON SHOWS A SIGN OF BREAKING OR CRACKING OR IF EITHER BUCKLE FAILS TO OPERATE PROPERLY, OWNERS SHOULD PROMPTLY CONTACT THEIR AUTHORIZED DEALER TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THE BUCKLE REPLACED OR REPAIRED, FREE OF CHARGE. THE MANUFACTURER IS DEVELOPING A REMEDY DESIGNED TO PREVENT FAILURE OF THE BUTTONS THAT ARE NOT CURRENTLY BROKEN.
GENERAL MOTORS CORP.View on NHTSA.gov
92V091001

AIR BAGS

Jul 6, 1992
211,306 units potentially affected
The defect: THE STEERING WHEEL CENTER HUB CAN FRACTURE DURING CERTAIN FRONTAL AND NEAR FRONTAL VEHICLE COLLISIONS.
The risk: FRACTURING OF THE STEERING WHEEL HUB CAN DECREASE THEDRIVER'S CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND COULD REDUCE THE CRASH PROTECTION OF THESTEERING SYSTEM AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG.
The remedy: A STEERING WHEEL REINFORCEMENT PLATE AND NUT WILL BE ADDED TO THE STEERING WHEEL HUB.
GENERAL MOTORS CORP.View on NHTSA.gov

Safety investigations

NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.

PE95035ClosedPreliminary Evaluation

STEERING COLUMN LOOSENING

Opened Jun 7, 1995
Closed Oct 10, 1995

There is no summary currently available

STEERING
EA95014ClosedEngineering Analysis

SEAT BELT BUCKLES FAILURE

Opened Apr 25, 1995
Closed Jul 28, 1995

There is no summary currently available

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLYLed to recall 95V103007

Recent owner complaints

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

View all 90
Engine
Filed Jan 16, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 GEO STORM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE SITTING AT A TRAFFIC STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER HOWEVER, THEY WERE UNABLE TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURE WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.

NHTSA ID
10560245
Incident
Jan 10, 2006
Mileage
40,000 mi
Engine
Filed Jun 28, 2008

7 MONTHS AND 5 REPLACEMENT ECUS ON MY 1991 GEO STORM GSI, AND STILL HAS DANGEROUS ISSUES OF STALLING ON HIGHWAY AND WHEN PULLING OUT INTO TRAFFIC. THE PROBLEM IS THAT BETWEEN 1985 AND 1995, 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. GM KNOWS ABOUT THIS FAULT IN THEIR AC DELCO ECUS/COMPUTERS AND HAS EVEN GONE SO FAR AS TO INCLUDE SUPPLEMENTAL INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO TEST FOR SHORTS AND BROKEN CIRCUITS IN THE ECU/COMPUTER TO THEIR TECHNICAL LITERATURE, THOUGH THEY REFUSE TO REPAIR OR REPLACE THE PROBLEM AT THEIR OWN EXPENSE. GM WENT FURTHER AND BEGAN USING A DIFFERENT INSULATIVE SPRAY ON ALL OF THEIR ECUS/COMPUTERS IN 1996, THOUGH THEY DO NOT USE THIS NEW SPRAY ON THEIR FACTORY RECONDITIONED ECUS/COMPUTERS FOR THE GEO STORM MODELS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10232601
Incident
Jan 5, 2008
Mileage
100 mi
Electrical
Filed Aug 8, 2005

1992 GEO STORM MANUAL TRANSMISSION. WHEN ENGINE GETS HOT ( SUMMER MONTHS ) ENGINE IDLE INCREASES TO 2,500 - 3,500 RPM. MUST USE FOOT TO PULL UP ON ACCELARATOR. CAR BEGINS TO OVERHEAT LURCHES FORWARD. CAR ALSO STALLS WITHOUT WARNING. HEARD IT HAS TO DO WITH FAULTY ECM. VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. *JB

NHTSA ID
10131943
Incident
Jun 14, 2001
Mileage
86,000 mi
Filed Oct 9, 2003

THE E.C.U. IS BAD IN MY 1991 GEO STORM 2+2. IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE CARS AND GM WILL NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. *LA

NHTSA ID
10041562
Incident
Sep 1, 2003
Engine
Filed Apr 17, 2003

THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER REPLACED THE DISTRIBUTOR CAP, SPARK PLUG WIRES AND ROTOR, HOWEVER THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *JB

NHTSA ID
10016050
Incident
Mar 15, 2003
Driver assistance
Filed Nov 19, 2002

DURING WARM WEATHER THE VEHICLE'S THROTTLE WILL STICK AT 2000. THROUGH MY RESEARCH I HAVE FOUND THIS TO BE THE FAULT OF THE ECU. IT IS A VERY DANGEROUS THING TO HAVE YOUR THROTTLE STICK. DT

NHTSA ID
769901
Incident
Jan 1, 1996
Driver assistance
Filed Jun 25, 2002

VEHICLE WOULD INTERMITTENTLY LURCH FORWARD WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED. DEALER CONTACTED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID
8012611
Incident
May 5, 2002
Engine
Filed Jun 25, 2002

ONGOING PROBLEM WITH ENGINE STALLING / CUTTING OFF WHILE DRIVING AT MULTIPLE SPEED. VEHICLE BEEN TO DEALER, BUT PROBLEM REOCCURRING. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID
8012604
Incident
May 5, 2002

Manufacturer communications

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

130089009

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:ENGINE CONTROL MODULE (ECU/ECM)

Expanded Availability for Remanufacture and Return (R&R) Electronic Control Modules

MSG01145

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE

UNKNOWN

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 Storm by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
1995200—
1993560041.6
1992771046.9
1991Viewing902261.9
1990453265.0
1989001—

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.