RoadVitals

1990 Geo Tracker

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.
25
Latest Jun 7, 2002
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.
1
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.
3
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.
3
1 injuries, 1 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 25 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1990 Geo Tracker, most frequently naming the seat belts, brakes and body & structure categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; 3 NHTSA investigations name it; and 3 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

  • Seat belts1142.3%
  • Brakes519.2%
  • Body & structure311.5%
  • Interior & seats311.5%
  • Engine13.8%
  • Steering13.8%
  • Tires & wheels13.8%
  • Visibility13.8%

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

1 campaign 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

Safety investigations

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

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
PE94092ClosedPreliminary Evaluation

TAKATA SEAT BLT BCKLS FAIL

Opened Dec 21, 1994
Closed Apr 25, 1995

There is no summary currently available

SEAT BELTS
EA92001ClosedEngineering Analysis

EXHAUST LEAK/FIRES

Opened Jan 14, 1992
Closed Nov 20, 1992

There is no summary currently available

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES

Recent owner complaints

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

View all 25
Interior & seats
Filed Jun 7, 2002
Crash reported1 injury reported

WIFE INVOLVED IN A REAR END COLLISION. HER VEHICLE WAS STOPPED. UPON INPACT THE DRIVERS SEAT BACK FELL ALL THE WAY BACK, SHE SUFFERED A CONCUSSION AND WHIP LASH INJURY AND WAS TRANSPORTED TO CHELSEA COMMUNITY HOSPITAL. THE SEAT BEING IN THE DOWNWARD POSITION WAS POINTED OUT TO THE STATE POLICE AND EMS PERSON BY MY WIFE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO MY HOME, SEAT PHOTOGRAPHED IN DOWNWARD POSITION. WHEN SEAT IS RAISED IT WILL NOT STAY IN PROPER UPRITE POSITION, IT GOES BACK AT APPROX 45 DEGREE ANGLE AND TWISTED BACK ON RT SIDE. CONTACTED GENERAL MOTORS, THEY SAY THAT THE SEAT CONDITION DID NOT CAUSE THE ACCIDENT SO THEREFORE THEY ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE.*AK

NHTSA ID
762799
Incident
May 21, 2002
Tires & wheels
Filed Sep 22, 2000
Crash reported

PE00 020 ;WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 61MPH ON HIGHWAY AND HEARD A NOISE VEHICLE STARTED TO VIBRATE AND SHE LOST CONTROL. VEHICLE ROLLED OVER FOUR TIMES AND WHEN DOWN INTO AN ENBANKMENT. FLIPPED UPSIDE DOWN. THERE WERE TWO TIRES THAT EXPLODED; DRIVER'S FRONT TIRE AND THE PASSENGER REAR TIRE. TIRE WERE FIRESTONE, AND VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *AK

NHTSA ID
871280
Incident
Aug 23, 1999
Seat belts
Filed Aug 19, 2000

BUCKLES ON THE SEAT BELTS JAM PASSAGERS CAN'T REMOVE BELTS

NHTSA ID
728421
Seat belts
Filed Jul 4, 2000

BOTH SAFTEY BELTS IN THE FRONT "LOCK-UP" AND YOU ARE STUCK IN THE VEHICLE. YOU GET OUT ONLY WHEN THE THE SEAT BELT FINALLY POPS OUT OF IT'S HOUSING. THE MORE YOU STRUGGLE, THE TIGHTER IT GETS. THESE SEAT BELTS WERE ONCE RECALLED, I TOOK THE CERTIFICATE TO DEERY BROTHERS IN BURLIGTON IOWA. THEY SAID THEY KNEW ALL ABOUT THE PROBLEM, AND SO I SCHEDULED THE APPOINTMENT AND TOOK IT IN. THEY HAD MY VEHICLE THREE DAYS, AND WHEN I PICKED IT UP, THEY HAD DONE NOTHING TO IT. STILL ALL ORIGINAL SEATBELTS, HOUSINGS, ETC. WHEN I QUESTIONED THEM AT THIS TIME, THEY TOLD ME NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE SEAT BELTS. I ASKED FOR THE CERTIFICATE BACK SO I COULD GO ELSEWHERE, AND THEY SAID "NO,THEY HAVE TO GET PAID". IN CASE OF FIRE OR FLOODING, HOW AM I GOING TO GET OUT OF THIS VEHICLE? THUS FAR I HAVE BEEN CITED TWICE FOR FAILURE TO WEAR SATEY BELTS. I GUESS IT'S A SMALL PRICE TO PAY FOR MINE AND MY PASSENGERS LIVES.

NHTSA ID
724925
Incident
May 20, 2000
Brakes
Filed May 27, 2000

SOMETIMES WHEN TRYING TO STOP AT EITHER HIGH SPEEDS OR LOW, BRAKES WILL NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY. PEDAL CAN BE PRESSED ALL THE WAY DOWN, VEHICLE WILL SLOWLY STOP. THIS HAS ALMOST CAUSED SEVERAL ACCIDENTS. OCCURS MOST OFTEN WHEN TRYING TO STOP QUICKLY. ALSO WHEN VEHICLE IS COLD, BRAKE PEDAL CAN BE PRESSED ALL THE DOWN AND VEHICLE WILL DO THE SAME THING. *AK

NHTSA ID
723251
Seat belts
Filed Apr 28, 2000

NEITHER THE CHEVROLET DEALER NOR CHEVROLET HEADQUARTERS WILL FIX THE DEFECTIVE SEAT BELTS. CLAIM IT IS NOT PART OF A RECALL, ALTHOUGH THE SEAT BELT LATCH FAILED EXACTLY AS DESCRIBED IN RECALL CAMPAIGN ID # 95V103007. ALSO, THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT ASSEMBLY HAS A BROKEN WELD, LEAVING THE SEAT ANCHORED IN ONLY 3 OF THE 4 CORNERS. CHEVROLET HEADQUARTERS CLAIMS THAT SINCE GEO IS NO LONGER SOLD BY CHEVROLET, THEY HAVE NO RECORDS OF OLDER GEO VIN NUMBERS AND CAN NOT TELL ME IF THIS VEHICLE WILL BE REPAIRED AT THEIR EXPENSE. THEY CLAIM IT WOULD BE UP TO THE INDIVIDUAL DEALER'S DISCRETION. TAYLOR-PARKER HAS ALREADY TOLD ME THEY WOULD NOT REPAIR THE SEAT BELT AT THEIR EXPENSE, DESPITE MY TELLING THEM THAT THE NHTSA ISSUED A RECALL. WHAT GOOD ARE RECALLS?? *AK

NHTSA ID
722061
Incident
Apr 22, 2000
Seat belts
Filed Apr 19, 2000

CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALER IN REFERENCE TO RECALL NUMBER 95V103007. DEALER ONLY REPLACED THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE. PASSENGER'S SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE ALSO BROKE, BUT DEALER REFUSED TO REPLACE IT. PASSENGER'S SIDE SEAT BELT WAS SUPPOSEDLY REPAIRED LATER, BUT IT BROKE NOT LONG AFTER. *AK *ML

NHTSA ID
860573
Incident
May 1, 1996
Brakes
Filed Nov 6, 1998

BEFORE VEHICLE IS WARMED THE BRAKES ARE EXTREMELY HARD TO APPLY, EXCESSIVE PRESSURE IS NEEDED WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKE PEDAL, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ID
830276

Manufacturer communications

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

MSG01145

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE

UNKNOWN

GM577109

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TORQUE CONVERTER CLUTCH (TCC) CHUGLE/HUNTING CONDITION. *TW

9573L3001

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:TORQUE CONVERTER

TORQUE CONVERTER CLUTCH (TCC) CHUGGLE/HUNTING CONDITION.*SD

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 Tracker by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2002100—
2001210—
2000700—
1999223052.2
1998180038.7
1997250041.7
1996711049.4
1995640041.9
1994483162.4
1993241154.7
1992190043.9
1991181352.5
1990Viewing251352.5
1989101451.6
1988001—
1987001—
1986101—

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.