1996 Geo METRO: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
43 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
116,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1996 model year. Data snapshot: . 5 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags:Frontal is the most frequently named component, appearing in 10 of 43 complaints (23.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 4 | 9.3% |
| Engine operation | 3 | 7.0% |
| Steering behavior | 3 | 7.0% |
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 4.7% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 2.3% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Air Bags:Frontal | 10 |
| Air Bags | 5 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System | 3 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 3 |
| Suspension:Front | 3 |
| Electrical System | 2 |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 2 |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Fuses And Circuit Breakers | 2 |
Air Bags:Frontal: 10; Air Bags: 5; Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System: 3; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 3; Suspension:Front: 3; Electrical System: 2; Electrical System:Ignition: 2; Electrical System:Wiring:Fuses And Circuit Breakers: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 3 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 3; 150,000 and above: 1
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (3). 38 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 | 1 |
| 1996 | 8 |
| 2000 | 11 |
| 2001 | 9 |
| 2002 | 3 |
| 2003 | 1 |
| 2004 | 2 |
| 2005 | 3 |
| 2006 | 2 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2011 | 1 |
1995: 1; 1996: 8; 2000: 11; 2001: 9; 2002: 3; 2003: 1; 2004: 2; 2005: 3; 2006: 2; 2007: 1; 2009: 1; 2011: 1
Pattern summary
Air Bags:Frontal leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 4 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 3 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 3 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10047825 · 2003-11-05 (November 5, 2003)
VEHICLE ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE.*MR THE VEHICLE STARTED GIVING THE CONSUMER TROUBLE WHILE DRIVING. ONCE ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD,THE CONSUMER OPENED THE HOOD AND DISCOVERED THE ENGINE WAS ON FIRE. *PH *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10047825 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10083648 · 2004-07-27 (July 27, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING SMOKE AND STEAM WAS COMING IN FROM THE VENTS. CONSUMER PULLED OVER, AND NOTICED THAT FLUID WAS LEAKING INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE ONTO THE FLOOR. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE THERMOSTAT AND RADIATOR CAP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10083648 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10096260 · 2004-10-23 (October 23, 2004)
FUSE BOX/HEADLIGHT CONNECTION BURNT/MELTED. HEADLIGHTS NON OPERATIVE, ONLY DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS AVAILABLE. REPLACED FUSEBOX FOR SECOND TIME. REPLACED BUTT CONECTOR FOR FOURTH TIME.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 96,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10096260 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10113641 · 2005-03-08 (March 8, 2005)
VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER FOR AN ALIGNMENT, AND THE MECHANIC NOTICED THAT THE AIR CONDITIONING WAS LEAKING FLUID ONTO THE FRONT RIGHT WHEEL FRAME. THERE WAS SO MUCH LIQUID THAT THE FRAME HOLDING THE WHEEL RUSTED, WHICH COULD CAUSE THE WHEEL TO FALL OFF.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10113641 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10123831 · 2005-06-01 (June 1, 2005)
THE HEADLIGHTS ON MY WIFE'S CAR, LIKE SO MANY OTHERS, HAVE BECOME ALMOST OPAQUE. AFTER HAVING THE LIGHTS REPAIRED AT SUBSTANTIAL COST I WAS TOLD THAT IT IS DUE TO UV EXPOSURE AND THAT IT DOES NOT AFFECT ALL MAKES. APPARENTLY SOME MANUFACTURERS PRODUCE LIGHTS THAT CONTINUE TO FUNCTION AFTER EXPOSURE TO SUNLIGHT. SOME DO NOT. I FEEL THIS IS A REAL SAFETY HAZARD. IT SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCES THE LIGHT OUTPUT AND IT ONLY TAKES A FEW MINUTES LOOKING ABOUT ANY PARKING LOT TO REALIZE THAT MOST GO UNCORRECTED. WHY CAN'T ALL MANUFACTURERS USE HEADLIGHTS THA…
Owner-reported narrative. 115,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10123831 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10141300 · 2005-10-31 (October 31, 2005)
DT: THE CONTACT COMPLAINED ABOUT A CRANK SHAFT PROBLEM IN THE ENGINE. THE CRANK SHAFT PULLEY HAS ALREADY BEEN REPLACED. AFTER HEARING A NOISE IN THE ENGINE, SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO BE CHECKED. THE MECHANIC SAID THAT A BELT BROKE. THE BELT WAS REPLACED, AND A WEEK LATER SHE HEARD ANOTHER NOISE IN THE ENGINE. THE MECHANIC SAID IT WAS THE CRANK SHAFT PULLEY. TWO WEEKS LATER, THE CAR WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH. AFTER THE CRASH THE VEHICLE STALLED. AFTER BEING INSPECTED THE BOLT CAME LOOSE IN THE CRANK SHAFT. THE CAR WAS EXPERIENCING A LOSS OF POW…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10141300 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10161790 · 2006-07-07 (July 7, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH THE PASSENGER FRONT TIRE BLEW OUT. THE SERVICE DEALER FOUND AIR COMING OUT BETWEEN THE VALVE STEM AND THE TIRE. AFTER TEN DAYS, THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT TIRE BLEW OUT WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH. THE SERVICE DEALER FOUND AIR COMING OUT IN THE SAME AREA. THERE WERE NO ACCIDENTS PRIOR TO THESE INCIDENTS. THE PROPER PRESSURE RECOMMENDED BY THE MANUFACTURER WAS UNKNOWN AND PRESSURE CHECKS WERE NOT PERFORMED. THERE WAS ALSO NO VIBRATION BEFORE THE INCIDENT. HE BRAND NAME OF THE TIRE IS TURISMO TWO.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10161790 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10174336 · 2006-11-20 (November 20, 2006)
1996 GEO METRO FRAME RUSTED AND BROKE OFF WHILE DRIVING. *TS *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10174336 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.