1996 Geo TRACKER: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
24 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
Not available median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1996 model year. Data snapshot: . 0 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags:Frontal is the most frequently named component, appearing in 5 of 24 complaints (20.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 5 | 20.8% |
| Engine operation | 3 | 12.5% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 4.2% |
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 | 5 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 2 |
| Structure:Body:Door:Hinge And Attachments | 2 |
| Air Bags | 1 |
| Electrical System:Horn | 1 |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 1 |
Air Bags:Frontal: 5; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 2; Structure:Body:Door:Hinge And Attachments: 2; Air Bags: 1; Electrical System:Horn: 1; Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling: 1
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 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
No usable failure mileage is recorded. 24 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 | 5 |
| 2000 | 10 |
| 2001 | 4 |
| 2002 | 1 |
| 2003 | 2 |
| 2004 | 1 |
1995: 1; 1996: 5; 2000: 10; 2001: 4; 2002: 1; 2003: 2; 2004: 1
Pattern summary
Air Bags:Frontal leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 5 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 3 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 1 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 10039506 · 2003-09-24 (September 24, 2003)
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.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10039506 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10050700 · 2003-12-18 (December 18, 2003)
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
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10050700 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10089769 · 2004-08-25 (August 25, 2004)
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
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10089769 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 550679 · 2000-02-01 (February 1, 2000)
AIR CONDITIONER ASSEMBLY LOCKS UP DUE TO FAILURE. *MJS
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 550679 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 721119 · 2000-04-06 (April 6, 2000)
ENGINE STALLS WITH NO WARNING AT IDLE. DEALER CAN'T HELP. ENGINE ALSO MAKING EXCESSIVE TAPPING NOISE AT START-UP.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 721119 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 740715 · 2001-02-10 (February 10, 2001)
ON 9/24/99 WE HAD OUR TIMING BELT REPLACED AS A PART OF THE 60,000 MAINTENANCE ON OUR CAR. IN AUGUST OF 2000 WE EXPERIENCED A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER ACCOMPANIED BY A CLANKING IN THE ENGINE. THIS OCCURRED WHILE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING MY 2 YOUNG CHILDREN TO AN EVENT. WE CHECKED THE CAR IN WITH A DEALER WHO INFORMED US THAT THE BOLT HOLDING THE TIMING BELT ASSEMBLY TO THE CRANK CASE HAD COME UNSCREWED AND TORN APART OUR CRANKCASE. 3 MECHANICS STATED THAT THIS WAS IRREPAIRABLE AND REQUIRED A NEW ENGINE FOR THE CAR. THE DEALER TOLD US THAT THIS SCRE…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 740715 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 752544 · 2001-09-25 (September 25, 2001)
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
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 752544 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 759845 · 2002-03-26 (March 26, 2002)
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.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 759845 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
96V121001 · Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly
Reported: 1996-07-01 (July 1, 1996)
THE FUEL TANK ON THESE VEHICLES CAN BECOME PUNCTURED BY A FUEL TANK FLANGE ATTACHMENT REINFORCEMENT DURING REAR-END COLLISIONS. THIS DOES NOT COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 301, "FUEL TANK INTEGRITY."
Consequence: CONSEQUENCE OF NON-COMPLIANCE: IF AN IGNITION SOURCE WAS PRESENT, FUEL LEAKAGE RESULTING FROM THIS PUNCTURE COULD RESULT IN A POST-CRASH FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL TWO NEW SHIELD GUSSETS BETWEEN THE FUEL TANK AND ATTACHMENT BRACKETS TO PREVENT THE REINFORCEMENT FROM PUNCTURING THE FUEL TANK WALL.
NHTSA campaign record ↗