1997 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 1997 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
- Brakes618.2%
- Airbags515.2%
- Engine515.2%
- Heating & air conditioning39.1%
- Electrical39.1%
- Powertrain (other)39.1%
- Suspension26.1%
- Fuel system13.0%
- Body & structure13.0%
- Visibility13.0%
- Driver assistance13.0%
- Transmission13.0%
- Seat belts13.0%
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
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE HIGHWAY, IT FELT LIKE MY TRANSMISSION HAD WENT THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE FURTHER AFTER GOING THROUGH A TOLL BOTH. HAD CAR TOWED TO NH CHEVY CAR DEALER, FOUND NOTHING WRONG ON 3 OCCASIONS. PERSONAL NY CHEVY DEALER FOUND MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER HAD BLOWN CAUSING BRAKES TO LOCK ON THEIR OWN, WHILE ALSO CAUSING BRAKES TO SEVERELY SMOKE. TOOK OVER 2 WEEKS TO FIND PROBLEM & CORRECT. *JB
WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE HIGHWAY, IT FELT LIKE MY TRANSMISSION HAD WENT THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE FURTHER AFTER GOING THROUGH A TOLL BOTH. HAD CAR TOWED TO NH CHEVY CAR DEALER, FOUND NOTHING WRONG ON 3 OCCASIONS. PERSONAL NY CHEVY DEALER FOUND MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER HAD BLOWN CAUSING BRAKES TO LOCK ON THEIR OWN, WHILE ALSO CAUSING BRAKES TO SEVERELY SMOKE. TOOK OVER 2 WEEKS TO FIND PROBLEM & CORRECT. *JB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON WHEN TEMPERATURE REACHES ABOVE 90 DEGREES. DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG OUTER SHELL BECOMES VERY SOFT. *TR
CONSUMER'S DAUGTHER WAS DRIVING ABOUT 20 MPH AND SHE REAR ENDED A VEHICLE THAT WAS IN FRONT OF HER, BUT AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
HAD PREVIOUS DIAGNOSIS ON EGR VALVE. HAD REPLACED ON 1/19 AFTER SES CODE CLEARED ANOTHER CODE POPPED UP FOR PRE-CAT O2 SENSOR. UPON FIXING THAT PROBLEM ON 1/28 YET ANOTHER EGR CODE CAME UP AND WAS DIAGNOSED ON 1/30 FOR THE EGR TRANSDUCER WHICH CONTROLS THE EGR VALVE I JUST HAD REPLACED! REPLACED TRANSDUCER ON 1/31. BETWEEN LABOR, PARTS & DIAGNOSTICS I SHELLED OUT $530.00. PLUS I HAD A EGR SOLENOID REPLACED ON 7/23/02. THIS IS CRAZY, ALL THIS STUFF WENT ONE AFTER ANOTHER SOMETHING HAS TO BEEN WRONG RELATED EITHER TO THE FUEL SYSTEM OF SAID VEHICLE OR TO EGR SYSTEM OF SAID VEHICLE! *JB
VEHICLE STALLS DUE TO ELECTRICAL FUSE PROBLEMS. THE WIPERS, TURN SIGNALS AND INTERIOR LIGHTING MAY ALSO BE EFFECTED BY THE ELECTRICAL FUSE PROBLEM. THE AIR CONDITIONER FAILED AND THE EXHAUST FELL OFF THE CAR. *AK *CB *NLM
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 STALLS DUE TO ELECTRICAL FUSE PROBLEMS. THE WIPERS, TURN SIGNALS AND INTERIOR LIGHTING MAY ALSO BE EFFECTED BY THE ELECTRICAL FUSE PROBLEM. THE AIR CONDITIONER FAILED AND THE EXHAUST FELL OFF THE CAR. *AK *CB *NLM
CANNOT SEEM TO KEEP CAR OUT OF SHOP DUE TO NO AIR. I AM AN ELDERLY LADY AND CANNOT KEEP ON NOT KNOWING IF MY CAR IS GOING TO KEEP ME COOL.*AK
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
VEHICLE STALLS DUE TO ELECTRICAL FUSE PROBLEMS. THE WIPERS, TURN SIGNALS AND INTERIOR LIGHTING MAY ALSO BE EFFECTED BY THE ELECTRICAL FUSE PROBLEM. THE AIR CONDITIONER FAILED AND THE EXHAUST FELL OFF THE CAR. *AK *CB *NLM
MY WIFE WAS TRAVELING 5-7 MPH ON ICE, THE CAR SPUN AND HIT THE CURB (IT DID NOT GO OVER THE CURB, JUST HIT IT). NO DAMAGE WAS INITIALLY DONE TO THE VEHICLE, OTHER THAN THE FACT THAT IT STALLED. WHEN SHE TRIED TO RESTART IT, IT WOULD NOT START. AFTER 5 MINUTES, SHE GOT OUT, WALKED AWAY, AND THE VEHICLE EXPLODED AND CAUGHT ON FIRE. THIS SHOULD NEVER HAPPEN! IF SHE WERE TRAVELING ANY FASTER, SHE MAY BE DEAD.
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
THERE WAS A FUNNY NOISE LIKE WHEN PUTTING FLAPPING CARDS ON A BICYCLE, AND WHEN PUTTING ON BRAKES, THERE WAS A LOUD THUMP.*AK THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO USE 4 WHEEL DRIVE BECAUSE IT GRINDES THE GEARS( SOUNDED LIKE MARBLES WERE ROLLING IN THE HUB). *YH
4 WHEEL AUTO LOCKING HUBS FAILED, DEALER STATED THAT BOTH SIDES NEED REPAIRED EVEN THOUGH IT'S ONLY THE LEFT SIDE THAT IS DEFECTIVE. *SLC
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
WHEN DRIVING CONSUMER HEARD A FUNNY NOISE COMING FROM FRONT END OF VEHICLE, ALSO WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED, THERE WAS A BIG THUMPING NOISE COMING FROM FRONT END, CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER, THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DETECT CAUSE.*AK CONSUMER STATES THE BRAKES, ROTORS, CATALYTIC CONVERTER WERE REPLACED, BUT THE NOISE CONTINUED, THE DEALER DETEMINED THE PROBLEM TO BE THE RIGHT HUB ASSEMBLY.*JB
WHEN DRIVING IN WINDY WEATHER CONDITIONS VEHICLE IS VERY DIFFICULT TO HANDLE. *AK
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
EMERGENCY PARKING BRAKE FAILED 5 TIMES, ONCE CAUSING A COLLISION.
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
DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR IS VERY LOOSE DUE TO MISSING HINGES ON THE DRIVER'S DOOR, ALSO, THERE IS ONE HINGE HOLDING THE DOOR IN PLACE,THE LOWER HINGE, THERE IS A TSB LISTED FOR THE SAME TYPE OF PROBLEM, DEALER REFUSES TO CORRECT PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
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
WATER LEAKS INSIDE THE VEHICLE. LEAKING WATER COLLECTS IN THE HEATER SYSTEM AND CAUSES THE WINDOWS TO FOG ; OBSTRUCTING THE VIEW OF THE DRIVER. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
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
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WOULD SLIP WHILE CHANGING GEARS. RPMS WOULD REV UP EXCESSIVELY HIGH. WOULD JERK INTO GEAR. FILTER WAS CHANGED TWICE/OIL PAN HAD METAL CHAFINGS IN IT/ABS BRAKES MAKE NOISES & HAD ROTORS TURNED.*AK
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
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WOULD SLIP WHILE CHANGING GEARS. RPMS WOULD REV UP EXCESSIVELY HIGH. WOULD JERK INTO GEAR. FILTER WAS CHANGED TWICE/OIL PAN HAD METAL CHAFINGS IN IT/ABS BRAKES MAKE NOISES & HAD ROTORS TURNED.*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
CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN 50 MPH FRONTAL COLLISION IN WHICH THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. ALSO, THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT DID NOT RETRACT, CAUSING THE DRIVER TO HIT THE STEERING WHEEL. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *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 .