RoadVitals

1998 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.
18
Latest Dec 29, 2004
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.
0
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.
0
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
4 injuries, 1 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 18 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1998 Geo Tracker, most frequently naming the electrical, engine and brakes categories. 4 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

  • Electrical313.0%
  • Engine313.0%
  • Brakes313.0%
  • Body & structure28.7%
  • Driver assistance28.7%
  • Powertrain (other)28.7%
  • Suspension28.7%
  • Visibility28.7%

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

No recalls in our database for this model year

That does not guarantee a specific vehicle is unaffected — recalls are issued against VINs, and new campaigns are announced regularly. Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov.

Recent owner complaints

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

View all 18
Electrical
Filed Dec 29, 2004
Fire reported

VEHICLE STARTED ON FIRE WHILE DRIVING. *NM

NHTSA ID
10104728
Incident
Nov 28, 2004
Engine
Filed Apr 23, 2003

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS BEEN ON SINCE 9/30/02 WHEN THE PC MODULE WAS REPLACED IN MY 1998 GEO CHEVY TRACKER. I HAVE TAKEN IT BACK TO ROGER WHITLEY CHEVROLET JUST ABOUT EVERY OTHER WEEK FROM OCTOBER TO JANUARY 3, 2003. THEY HAVE CHECKED EVERYTHING POSSIBLE BUT CANNOT FIX THE PROBLEM. I WAS TOLD NOT TO WORRY IT WILL NOT AFFECT ANYTHING. IF THIS IS TRUE THEN WHY DO WE NEED THIS SYSTEM. I BELIEVE THE PROBLEM MIGHT POSSIBLY BE THE PC MODULE THEY INSTALLED IS DEFECTIVE. THE MAINTENANCE SUPERVISOR SAID THAT IS NOT POSSIBLE BUT YET HE HAS CHECKED THE WIRING AND NUMEROUS OTHER POSSIBILITIES, BUT THE LIGHT REMAINS ON. *JB

NHTSA ID
10016393
Incident
Sep 30, 2002
Body & structureBrakesEngine
Filed Jan 30, 2000

I HAVE HAD MY TRACKER IN THE SHOP 13 TIMES TOTAL FOR REPAIRS, INCLUDING, BRAKES, OIL USAGE,SEAT CABLES, CONV. TOP LEAKING, GAS USAGE, ETC. THIS VEHCILE HAS BEEN A PROBLEM SEINCE DAY ONE. 8AK

NHTSA ID
718053
Incident
Aug 31, 1998
ElectricalPowertrain (other)
Filed Dec 21, 1999

WE HAVE HAD TO TAKE THE VEHICLE IN ALMOST EVERY WEEK TO FIX SOMETHING IN THE LAST MONTH. WE ARE NOT HAPPY WITH THE PRODUCT IF THIS CONTINUES. WE ARE REQUESTING SOME KIND OF ACTION ON THIS "LEMON" OF A VEHICLE. NO SAFETY DEFECT (S) INDICATED. *AK

NHTSA ID
716322
Incident
Jan 1, 1999
BrakesDriver assistance
Filed Aug 9, 1999

AFTER COMING TO A STOP THROTTLE REMAINED OPEN. ENGINE WAS REVVING. BRAKES FAILED TO WORK. SHIFTED INTO PARK & TURNED VEHICLE OFF. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER TO CHECK. *AK

NHTSA ID
844593
Incident
Jun 29, 1999
Suspension
Filed May 13, 1999

WHEN IT'S WINDY AND VEHICLE GOES OVER 25MPH IT SWERVES. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ID
837878
Brakes
Filed Apr 5, 1999

OCT17,1998, DAY AFTER VEHICLE PURCHASED, BRAKE SPRING BROKE IN RIGHT REAR BRAKE, DEALERSHIP WORKED ON VEHICLE 5 TIMES IN 11 DAYS ,BUT COULD NOT GET CLATTERING NOISE OUT OF BRAKES,.STATED THEY COULDN'T FIX IT. AGREED THROUGH BBB TO HAVE ANOTHER DEALERSHIP WORK ON VEHICLE. IN DEC ,1998 NEW BRAKE DRUMS AND SHOES WERE PUT ON VEHICLE, 3 MONTHS LATER THERE IS BRAKE NOISE AGAIN,BRAKES WON'T STAY FIXED. NOON. *AK

NHTSA ID
705296
Incident
Apr 1, 1999
Powertrain (other)
Filed Mar 9, 1999
Crash reported

4X4 WHEEL DRIVE HUB LOCKED AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SLIP OUT OF 4X4 WHEEL DRIVE. WHEELS LOCKED UP AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SLIDE INTO A TREE WITH SNOW ON THE GROUND. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

NHTSA ID
835594

Manufacturer communications

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

16NA260

EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.

THIS TECHNICAL BULLETIN PROVIDES A PROCEDURE TO REPROGRAM THE MEDIA DISC PLAYER WITH THE LATEST CALIBRATIONS TO CORRECT A CONDITION OF THE REAR ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEM NOT OPERATING AS INTENDED IN COLDER AMBIENT TEMPERATURE AREAS DUE TO CALIBRATION CONCERNS.

Recalls

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL

Vehicle Recalls

130089009

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

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

01832

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

372LE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION NO FIRST GEAR. *MR

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
1998Viewing180038.7
1997250041.7
1996711049.4
1995640041.9
1994483162.4
1993241154.7
1992190043.9
1991181352.5
1990251352.5
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.