Geo TRACKER problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
205 owner complaints analyzed
9 distinct recall campaigns
101,150 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1989 to 2002 model years. Data snapshot: . 22 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly is the most frequently named component, appearing in 17 of 205 complaints (8.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 24 | 11.7% |
| Transmission and shifting | 12 | 5.9% |
| Engine operation | 10 | 4.9% |
| Steering behavior | 10 | 4.9% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 6 | 2.9% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 0.5% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly | 17 |
| Structure:Body:Door:Hinge And Attachments | 16 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 10 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 9 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components | 8 |
| Suspension:Front | 8 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 7 |
| Seats:Front Assembly:Recliner | 6 |
Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly: 17; Structure:Body:Door:Hinge And Attachments: 16; Air Bags:Frontal: 10; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 9; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components: 8; Suspension:Front: 8; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 7; Seats:Front Assembly:Recliner: 6
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 1 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 3 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 6 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 7 |
| 150,000 and above | 4 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 3; 50,000 to 74,999: 6; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 7; 150,000 and above: 4
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (7). 183 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 48 |
| 1996 | 33 |
| 2000 | 53 |
| 2001 | 25 |
| 2002 | 13 |
| 2003 | 10 |
| 2004 | 6 |
| 2005 | 4 |
| 2006 | 2 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 4 |
| 2010 | 3 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2016 | 1 |
1995: 48; 1996: 33; 2000: 53; 2001: 25; 2002: 13; 2003: 10; 2004: 6; 2005: 4; 2006: 2; 2007: 1; 2008: 4; 2010: 3; 2011: 1; 2014: 1; 2016: 1
Pattern summary
Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 24 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 12 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 10 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 723251 · 2000-05-27 (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
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 723251 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 963646 · 1995-04-12 (April 12, 1995)
WHEN STARTING VEHICLE THE POWER BRAKING SYSTEM IS INTERMITTENTLY INOPERATIVE FOR A FEW MOMENTS. TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 963646 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 958253 · 1995-01-05 (January 5, 1995)
CRACKED BLOCK WHICH LEAKED ANTI-FREEZE ON EXHAUST MANIFOLD CHOKING OCCUPANTS. TRANSMISSION CASING IS IDENTIFIED AS IMPROPER LEAKING/SPEWING FLUID. TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 958253 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 859381 · 2000-03-29 (March 29, 2000)
TORQUE CONVERTER SOLENOID AND FLUID PRESSURE SWITCH FAILED ABOUT EVERY 15000 MILES. DEALER HAS REPALCED THE PARTS CONTINUALLY. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 859381 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 725103 · 2000-07-07 (July 7, 2000)
VEHICLE STALLED ON HIGHWAY IN TOWN, NO VOLTAGE TO FUEL INJECTOR. WAITING FOR NEW ECM TO REPAIR CAR. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 725103 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10253205 · 2008-12-30 (December 30, 2008)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 GEO TRACKER PURCHASED IN 2004 AS A FUEL VEHICLE. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS OF LESS THAN 30 MPH THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SMOKE AND STALLED. HE WAS MISINFORMED AS TO WHICH TYPE OF FUEL TO PUT INTO THE VEHICLE AND WAS TOLD IT WAS A DIESEL FUEL VEHICLE. THE CONTACT COMPLAINED THAT THE "CONDUIT OF CONTINUUM OF VEHICULAR PROPRIETY." THE DEALER STATED THE CARBURETOR AND EXHAUST SYSTEM FAILED AND NEEDED REPAIRS AT AN ESTIMATED COSTS OF $700. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 238,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 12 miles reported. Look up ODI 10253205 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 979239 · 1996-02-15 (February 15, 1996)
WHEN DRIVING VEHICLE MADE A LEFT TURN AND STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE AND HIT ANOTHER PARKED VEHICLE. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 979239 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10109660 · 2005-02-02 (February 2, 2005)
WHILE STEERING THE DRIVER NOTICED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WAS HARD TO TURN. A LOUD NOISE COME FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. DRIVER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC INFORMED COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. DRIVER INFORMED THE MECHANIC THAT A RECALL 96V118000 WA SISSUED FOR STEERING WHEEL AND COLUMN. HOWEVER, MECHANIC TOLD THE DRIVER THAT THIS RECALL WAS NOT FOR THIS VEHICLE DUE TO VIN. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10109660 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 504422 · 1996-05-10 (May 10, 1996)
BATTERY BLEW UP. *SD
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 504422 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 600464 · 1996-01-11 (January 11, 1996)
BATTERY LEAKS. *AW
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 600464 at NHTSA ↗
Recalls by model year
All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.
Recall campaigns
Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1989 | 1 |
| 1990 | 1 |
| 1991 | 1 |
| 1992 | 0 |
| 1993 | 1 |
| 1994 | 3 |
| 1995 | 0 |
| 1996 | 1 |
| 1997 | 0 |
| 1998 | 0 |
| 1999 | 3 |
| 2000 | 0 |
| 2001 | 1 |
| 2002 | 0 |
1989: 1; 1990: 1; 1991: 1; 1992: 0; 1993: 1; 1994: 3; 1995: 0; 1996: 1; 1997: 0; 1998: 0; 1999: 3; 2000: 0; 2001: 1; 2002: 0