RoadVitals

1991 Geo Storm Owner Complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full

Data refreshed

Complaints on fileComplaints 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
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
Filed in the last 12 monthsReports filed with NHTSA in the trailing 365 days. Recent volume reflects attention and vehicle age as much as anything else.
0
Reports on file since Jan 5, 1995

What this page shows

Our database holds 90 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1991 Geo Storm. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.

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

Complaints, most recent first

Showing 1–25 of 90 · page 1 of 4

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
Electrical
Filed Jun 20, 2002

THIS IS THE 2ND ECM CONTROL MODULE IN 2 YEARS. . .BOTH WERE NEW WITH ONLY A YEAR WARRANTY. . .PROBLEM ONLY SHOWS UP IN THE SUMMER. *AK

NHTSA ID
763297
Incident
Jun 1, 2002
Electrical
Filed Feb 28, 2002

GENERAL MOTORS USED A SHRINKING SEALANT ON THE COMPUTER BOARDS IN THESE CARS WHICH THEY HAVE SINCE QUITE USING AND ADMIT IT WAS A PROBLEM, BUT STILL USE IT ON THE REPLACEMENT PARTS WHEN THIS SHRINKS IT PULLS THE COMPONENTS ON BOARD LOOSE, CAUSING POOR IDLE/ HESITATION AND STALLING EVEN DURING ACCELERATION (IE WHEN PULLING OUT IN TRAFFIC). *AK

NHTSA ID
758744
Incident
Mar 21, 1997
Driver assistance
Filed Feb 25, 2002

IDLE BECOMES ROUGH, BOUNCES AND DIES, FAILS TO START OR STARTS AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON, RUNS VERY BAD. ONCE CAR SITS FOR A WHILE, STARTS TO RUN FINE, DOES IT WHEN IT IS WARM OUT. *AK

NHTSA ID
758574
Engine
Filed Feb 25, 2002

ENGINE CONTROL COMPUTER IMPROPERLY BUILT CAUSING ERRACTIC IDLE FROM 2000RPM TO 500RPM, CAR STALLS AND WILL NOT START. ISUZU HAS BEEN CONTACTED ABOUT THIS AND HAS STATED"WE DO NOT MAKE CARS" AND THEY FAIL TO RECTIFY THE PROBLEM. THERE ARE VERY MANY OF US WHO WOULD LIKE TO SEE THIS ISSUE RESOLVED AS OUR CARS STALLING IN TRAFFIC AND IDLING ERRACTICALLY IS CAUSING A LOT OF PROBLEMS AS IN POOR EFFICIENCY AND UNNEEDED DOWNTIME. THE PROBLEM IS IN THE INSULATIVE SPRAY ON THE MAIN CIRCUIT BOPAR DOF THE UNITS THAT BREAKS DOWN OVER TIME DUE TO HEAT AND EXTREME(HOT OR COLD) TEMPS. GMC HAS RECOGNIZED THIS PROBLEM AND FAILS TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. WE WOULD LIKE THIS ISSUE ADDRESSED AND I SPEAK FOR THE OVER 500 MEMBERS OF THE GEO STORM OWNERS CLUB, WWW.STORMOWNERS.COM. *AK

NHTSA ID
758573
Incident
Mar 25, 2001
ElectricalFuel systemSeat belts+1 more
Filed Feb 25, 2002
Crash reported

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
758572
Electrical
Filed Jan 24, 2002
Crash reported3 injuries reported

I WAS COMING DOWN A 2 LANE AND IT JUST STOPPED AND GOT REAR ENDED WHEN IT SHUT OFF IT WAS THE ECM SHORTED BECAUSE OF SEALANT FROM FACTORY. *AK

NHTSA ID
757304
Incident
Nov 8, 1996
Electrical
Filed Dec 7, 2001
Fire reported

FOR THE LAST 4YRS. I HAVE HAD TROUBLE AT START-UP,IDLE,DRIVABILITY OF THE ENGINE. ALL SENSORS RELATED TO THE IGNITION HAD BEEN CHECKED OR REPLACED. NOW ON 12/1/01 THE ALTERNATOR OVER CHARGED THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM CAUSING A COMPLETE BURN-UP OF THE ECM,MAIN CIRCUIT PANEL AND SOME OF THE WIRING HARNESS. NEITHER THE 50AMP MAIN FUSE OR THE 30AMP ECM FUSE BLEW (LIKE THEY SHOULD HAVE) STOPPING THE 160 AMPS FROM THE ALTERNATOR. *AK

NHTSA ID
755386
Incident
Dec 1, 2001
Steering
Filed Nov 29, 2001

THE DATE & MILEAGE ARE ONLY FOR THE MOST RECENT OCCURENCE. IT STARTED LATE APRIL 2001 AT ABOUT 70,000 MILES; I'D BOUGHT THE CAR USED THE PREVIOUS SEPTEMBER & IT HAD DRIVEN OK THROUGHOUT THE WINTER. THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN HAPPENING OFF & ON EVER SINCE. THE CAR WILL BE GOING 55 MPH OR MORE; ABOUT 5 OR MORE MINUTES AFTER STARTUP (IT VARIES), THE RPM GAUGE/IDLE SUDDENLY DROPS TO 0, THE CAR MIGHT BUCK SLIGHTLY,THE ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON, & THE CAR STALLS. PRESSING THE GAS PEDAL HAS NO EFFECT; ALL I CAN DO IS COAST TO A STOP. SO FAR, I'VE BEEN LUCKY; I'VE BEEN ABLE TO COAST TO THE SHOULDER W/NO INCIDENT. USUALLY AFTER A COUPLE MINUTES, I CAN START THE CAR AGAIN,BUT THIS PAST SATURDAY, I WAS STRANDED FOR OVER AN HOUR BEFORE THE CAR WOULD START. THE PROBLEM HAPPENS IRREGULARLY, USUALLY WHEN IT'S WARM OUTSIDE. THE IDLE ALSO REVS ON ITS OWN; WHENEVER I TAKE MY FOOT OFF THE GAS & THE SPEED DROPS BELOW 30 MPH, IT REVS & JUMPS FORWARD UNLESS I IMMEDIATELY HIT THE BRAKES -- VERY DANGEROUS WHEN I'M HEADING TOWARDS A STOPLIGHT! THE CAR HAS HAD BOTH ITS IGNITION COIL & FUEL INJECTORS REPLACED, AND ALL BELTS ARE NEW; ALL MAINTENANCE IS KEPT UP, & THERE ARE NO OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR THAT WOULD CAUSE EITHER OF THESE ISSUES. AFTER DRIVING OUR MECHANIC & US NUTS FOR SEVERAL MONTHS, WE FINALLY FOUND OUT THAT THE PROBLEMS WERE DUE TO SHORTS CAUSED BY BAD INSULATIVE SPRAY ON THE ECU/COMPUTER CIRCUIT BOARD (THE ORIGINAL FACTORY INSTALLED UNIT), & WE ALSO FOUND OUT THAT WE WEREN'T ALONE IN HAVING THESE PROBLEMS -- THAT OTHER STORM & ISUZU OWNERS WERE HAVING THE SAME TROUBLE. THE FAULTY ECU IS WHAT GM/ISUZU REFUSE TO RECOGNIZE. ISUZU CLAIMS THE PROBLEMS ARE "NORMAL" -- I'VE YET TO DRIVE ANY CAR WHERE STALLING & DYING AT HIGH SPEED ON THE HIGHWAY IS CONSIDERED "NORMAL". *AK

NHTSA ID
755083
Incident
Nov 24, 2001
Electrical
Filed Oct 12, 2001

I SENT ONE COMPLAINT TODAY, WITH SOME ERRORS. I AM SENDING THIS COMPLAINT TO CORRECT THESE ERRORS, AND ALSO TO COMPLAIN A LITTLE MORE. I CAN BARELEY MAKE IT TO SCHOOL IN MY CAR WITHOUT WORRING IF IT IS GOING TO DIE OR NOT. SEVERAL TIMES IT HAS DIED IN THE MIDDLE OF BUSY INTERSECTIONS NOT ONLY PUTTING MYSELF IN DANGER, BUT ALSO THE OTHER MOTRISTS AROUND ME. I AM A YOUNG KID ON A TIGHT BUDGET AND WOULD LIKE TO SEE SOMETHING DONE ABOUT THIS. THANK YOU. *AK

NHTSA ID
753159
Interior & seatsSeat belts
Filed Aug 23, 2001
Crash reported1 injury reported

HEADREST & SEATBACK FAILED ON REAR IMPACT.CAUSED ADDITIONAL INJURIES WHEN DRIVER HIT POLE&TREE

NHTSA ID
751028
Incident
Jul 3, 1997
Engine
Filed Aug 14, 2001

CONSUMER REPLACED EXHAUST PIPE ONCE, AND CURRENTLY VEHICLE NEEDS EXHAUST PIPE REPLACED AGAIN, VEHICLE HAS HAD AN EHAUST LEAK.*AK CONSUMER HAS SINCE REPLACED EXHAUST PIPE.*JB

NHTSA ID
894326
Incident
Apr 17, 1997
Driver assistance
Filed Aug 2, 2001

THE SYMPTOMS OF THIS FAULT ARE MOST NOTABLY ERRATIC IDLE, IDLE REVVING AND DROPPING. *AK

NHTSA ID
749617
Incident
Mar 25, 2001
Engine
Filed May 27, 2001

WHEN I START THE CAR WITH THE ENGINE COLD, AS SOON AS THE CHOKE TURNS OFF, THE ENGINES DIES, I HAVE TO TAP THE ACCELERATOR TO KEEP THE ENGINE RUNNING. ONCE THE ENGINE IS OPERATING TEMPERATURE, I SHIFT THE TRANSAXLE INTO PARK, AND THE IDLE SHOOTS UP TO 2000 RPMS, THE ENGINE IDLES UP AND DOWN WHILE THE CAR IS IN PARK. THE IDLE ALSO DROP TEMPORARILY WHEN THE BRAKES ARE DEPRESSED THIS STARTED HAPPENING DURING THE LAST WEEK WHEN THE WEATHER TURNED HOT FOR THE SUMMER.*AK

NHTSA ID
745968
Incident
May 25, 2001
Driver assistanceElectrical
Filed May 9, 2001

CAR HAS ERRATIC IDLE AT TIMES AND RPMS WILL STICK SOMETIMES WELL ABOVE NORMAL IDLE. IT IS ECU THAT IS CAUSING THE PROBLEM. QUITE A FEW OF MY FRIENDS EXPERIENCE THIS PROBLEM WITH THE GEO STORMS. A RECALL IS IN ORDER IF YOU ASK ME!*AK

NHTSA ID
745100
Electrical
Filed Dec 11, 2000

THE ECM DIED, AND ACCORDING TO A SURVEY, A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLES HAVE ALSO, RECALL IT! *AK

NHTSA ID
737671
Incident
Oct 15, 2000
Electrical
Filed Dec 2, 2000

CAR LOSES POWER WITH NO INDICATION OF A PROBLEM. ALL SPEEDS. BEEN CHASING PROBLEM FOR ALMOST 3 YEARS NOW. *AK

NHTSA ID
737201
Incident
Mar 1, 1998
Electrical
Filed Nov 21, 2000

THIS ECU PROBLEM IS VERY UNSAFE! IT CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO SURGE AT INTERSECTIONS WHEN BRAKING OR FAIL TO STAY RUNNING IN TAFFIC. THE ECU ALSO CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO SPUTTER AND CUT-OUT AT HI-WAY SPEEDS, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SUDDENLY SLOW DOWN IN TRAFFIC.*AK

NHTSA ID
736688

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.

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