1996 Geo Tracker Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1996 Geo Tracker, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Engine2222.9%
- Airbags1111.5%
- Brakes1010.4%
- Interior & seats77.3%
- Suspension66.3%
- Transmission66.3%
- Electrical55.2%
- Seat belts55.2%
- Body & structure55.2%
- Other / unspecified44.2%
- Heating & air conditioning44.2%
- Fuel system44.2%
- Steering22.1%
- Tires & wheels22.1%
- Visibility11.0%
- Powertrain (other)11.0%
- Driver assistance11.0%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED CONSUMER NOTICED LIQUID UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. CONSUMER INFORMED THE MECHANIC THAT THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED MORE THAN ONCE. *AK
THERE WAS SMOKE COMING OUT FROM UNDER DASH AND ALL EQUIPMENT PANELS QUIT WORKING-NO INTERIOR LIGHTS, BLINKERS, HAZARDS, RADIO,SPEEDOMETER. WHEN STOPPED CAR IDLES DOWN LIGHTS GO DIM AND STALLS. WHEN THIS HAPPENS AND YOU START TO GO THE FAN BELT SQEALS. NLM
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
AIR BAG LIGHT ON INSTRUMENT PANEL HAS BEEN ON, AND HORN HAS FAILED TO OPERATE. DEALERSHIP INFORMED CONSUMER THAT PROBLEM HAD TO DO WITH THE CLOCKSPRING. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION / ATTACHMENTS.*AK
WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 45 MPH VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A COW HEAD-ON FIRST. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
BRAKE PROPORTION VALVUE LEAKS FLUID, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES THE PEDAL GETS STIFF AND STARTS TO VIBRATE AND SHAKES, AND VEHICLE WILL NOT STOP. DEALER CAN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT BECAUSE PROBLEM CAN'T BE DUPLICATED. *AK
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE HARDWARE THAT HELD THE DRIVER'S SEAT IN AN UPRIGHT POSITION FAILED, RESULTING IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT BACK TO BE UNSTABLE AND CONTINUOUSLY FALL BACKWARDS. *AK
THE FRONT SEAT MECHANISM BROKE ON THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT CAUSING IT TO FALL BACK. THIS IS NOT ONLY VERY DANGEROUS, BUT A SERIOUS DEFECT IN THIS VEHICLE AND I FEEL THAT IT SHOULD BE FIXED AT NO COST TO ME AS IT A MECHANICAL DEFECT THAT SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN HAPPENING SINCE THE VEHICLE TYPE WAS MADE.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE SHIMMIES AND THE ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. ALSO, STEERING BECOMES HARD AND THEN THE ENGINE SHUTS DOWN. DEALER REPAIRED VEHICLE AND THE CLUTCH SHAFT SHATTERED TWICE, CONSUMER OWNED VEHICLE FOR 3 YEARS AND HAS TAKEN IT TO DEALERSHIP APPROXIMATELY 20 TIMES. *AK *JG
AIR CONDITIONER DOESN'T BLOW COLD AIR.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT ON AFTER 50,000 MILES, TOOK TO MECHANIC SAID COMPUTER SAID PROBLEMS WITH THE TORQUE CONVERTOR, COULDNT FIND ANY PROBLEMS. RESET LIGHT, LEFT. SAME DAY SPEEDS OF OVER 55 MPH LIGHT CAME BACK ON. NOW HAVING SHIFTING PROBLEMS. SHIFTS AT HIGH SPEEDS. MAKES HIGH WHINY NOISE (ALMOST LIKE A BELT IS LOOSE). PULLING BAD TO THE RIGHT (EVEN AFTER ALIGNMENT). BRAKES HAVE LOCKED TWICE. SEATBELTS LOCK AT LOW SPEEDS AND WHEN STOPPED. *AK
VEHICLE HAS EXPERIENCED CONTINUED PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION NOT SHIFTING PROPERLY, SEVERAL REPAIRS TO TRANSMISSION TO TRY TO REMEDY THE SHIFTING PROBLEMS, HOWEVER NOT ABLE TO BE FIXED PROPERLY. *MJS
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
AIR BAG LIGHT ON INSTRUMENT PANEL HAS BEEN ON, AND HORN HAS FAILED TO OPERATE. DEALERSHIP INFORMED CONSUMER THAT PROBLEM HAD TO DO WITH THE CLOCKSPRING. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION / ATTACHMENTS.*AK
HAD PARKED VEHICLE. RETURNED TO START IT. VEHICLE FAILED TO START. HAD POPPED FUSE TO FUEL PUMP. TOOK TO MECHANIC & WAS SHOWN THE RUBBER INSULATION PRONGS FOR FUSE HAD BURNT OUT. THESE WERE CONNECTED TO THE FUEL PUMP. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE DRIVING UNDER SLICK ROAD CONDITIONS AT 20 MPH CONSUMER RAN OFF ROAD INTO A WOODEN FENCE AND A TREE. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY/SEAT BELTS DID NOT LOCK AS THEY SHOULD TO PREVENT INJURY. CONSUMER SUFFERED A HEAD INJURY. DEALER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
SEAT BELT CROSSES OVER NECK AREA.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
DOOR ON PASSENGER'S SIDE IS RUSTED TO POINT WHERE HINGES AND BOLTS ARE COMING RIGHT THROUGH DOOR.*AK
DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR HINGE HAS COME OFF THE FRAME OF THE CAR. OWNER CANNOT DRIVE VEHICLE. DOOR HAS NOT COME COMPLETELY OFF. DEALER HAS NOT SEEN VEHICLE. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
CONSUMER TOOK CAR IN FOR OIL CHANGE, AND MECHANIC SAID THAT ONLY ONE NUT: BOLT WAS HOLDING THE FAN SHROUD ON, THERE WERE SUPPOSE TO BE 4 NUT:BOLTS. *AK FRONT DRIVE SHAFT FELL OFF. A BOLTS IN PCV VALVE WERE LOOSE. *YH
VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE SHOP TO GET TIRES ROTATED. WHILE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING ON THE ROAD ON HER WAY HOME WHEN SHE HEARD A GRINDING/CLANKING NOISE. AS SHE APPROCHED A HILL THE NOISE GOT LOUDER. SHE PULLED OVER. THE LUGS: BOLTS HAD CAME OFF THE WHEELS, AND A LUG: NUT WAS MISSING. SHE NOTIFIED THE SHOP THAT SERVICE HER VEHICLE. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Heating & air conditioning
Reports naming the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system.
From owner reports, verbatim
VEHICLE HAS EXPERIENCED CONTINUED PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION NOT SHIFTING PROPERLY, SEVERAL REPAIRS TO TRANSMISSION TO TRY TO REMEDY THE SHIFTING PROBLEMS, HOWEVER NOT ABLE TO BE FIXED PROPERLY. *MJS
A/C PRESSURE SWITCH FAILED.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STALLS FOR NO REASON, PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT. CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK CONSUMER STATES THAT THE ENGINE MISSES AND HAS A LOSS OF POWER. FUEL MILEAGE HAS DROPPED, AND VEHICLES RMPS WILL DROP. THE LIGHTS DIM AT NIGHT WHEN THE IDLE DROPS. *SLC
FUEL TANK PROBLEM.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE SHIMMIES AND THE ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. ALSO, STEERING BECOMES HARD AND THEN THE ENGINE SHUTS DOWN. DEALER REPAIRED VEHICLE AND THE CLUTCH SHAFT SHATTERED TWICE, CONSUMER OWNED VEHICLE FOR 3 YEARS AND HAS TAKEN IT TO DEALERSHIP APPROXIMATELY 20 TIMES. *AK *JG
WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH STEERING LOCKED UP AND VEHICLE FLIPPED OVER. DRIVER'S/PASSENGER'S AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AFTER VEHICLE STRUCK A LARGE CLUMP OF POMPUS GRASS. BOTH DRIVER/PASSENGER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Tires & wheels
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.
From owner reports, verbatim
BRAKES FAILED.
DESIGN OF TIRES TOO NARROW.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
AIR CONDITIONER DOESN'T BLOW COLD AIR.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
CONSUMER TOOK CAR IN FOR OIL CHANGE, AND MECHANIC SAID THAT ONLY ONE NUT: BOLT WAS HOLDING THE FAN SHROUD ON, THERE WERE SUPPOSE TO BE 4 NUT:BOLTS. *AK FRONT DRIVE SHAFT FELL OFF. A BOLTS IN PCV VALVE WERE LOOSE. *YH
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
VEHICLE STALLS WHEN GAS PEDAL IS APPLIE. ,PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT, AND DEALERS HAVE REPLACED THROTTLE BODY WHICH DID NOT CORRECT PROBLEM. DEALERS CANNOT DUPLICATE PROBLEM. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
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.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .