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1990 Geo Metro

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1990 Geo Metro do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 36.

About this comparison →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 0 of 39 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Latches/locks/linkages. Review the 16 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Seat Belts. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

5 crash reports0 fire reports3 injury reports

What owners actually said

39 reports
Mileage unknown · Mar 26, 2003
Seat Belts

INQUIRING ABOUT WHETHER RECALL # 95V103007 IS AN ACTUAL RECALL .

NHTSA ODI #10011458

Mileage unknown · Sep 19, 2001
Latches/locks/linkages

THE DOOR LATCH HANDLES STAY UP WHEN OPENED. I HAVE 2 DOOR HANDLES DOING THIS, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE & REAR DRIVER'S SIDE. WHEN THE DOORS ARE OPENEN THE HANDLES STAY UP AND WHEN THE DOOR IS PULLED SHUT THE DOOR WILL NOT LATCH. THE WINDOW HAS TO BE ROLLED DOWN AND THE HANDLE PUSHED DOWN TO LATCH DOOR. NOTE: THIS IS NOT A PO…

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THE DOOR LATCH HANDLES STAY UP WHEN OPENED. I HAVE 2 DOOR HANDLES DOING THIS, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE & REAR DRIVER'S SIDE. WHEN THE DOORS ARE OPENEN THE HANDLES STAY UP AND WHEN THE DOOR IS PULLED SHUT THE DOOR WILL NOT LATCH. THE WINDOW HAS TO BE ROLLED DOWN AND THE HANDLE PUSHED DOWN TO LATCH DOOR. NOTE: THIS IS NOT A POOR LUBRICATION PROBLEM. IT MAY IMPROVE SLIGHTLY, BUT ONLY TEMPRORARILY. IF THE PASSENGER THINKS THE DOOR IS LATCHED IT WILL OPEN SUDDENLY WHEN THE VEHICLE TURNS RISKING FALL OUT OF PASSENGER OR PROPERTY OR PERSONAL INJURY LIABILITY FROM THE DOOR SWINGING OPEN.

NHTSA ODI #9004455

Mileage unknown · May 1, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling

ENGINE IS BURNING OIL WHILE DRIVING, AND SMOKE COMES OUT REALLY BADLY. DRIVER CAN'T SEE TRAFFIC BEHIND HER. CONSUMER FEELS UNSAFE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #861153

Mileage unknown · Mar 1, 2000
Structure

WHILE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN AT 75 MPH, LATCH ON THE HOOD ON DRIVER'S SIDE BROKE, CAUSING THE HOOD TO FLY UP AND BREAK WINDSHIELD. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO PULL TO SHOULDER SAFELY. MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED ABOUT THE PROBLEM. HOOD AND WINDSHIELD HAVE NOT BEEN REPLACED. CONSUMER BELIEVES THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE HOOD LATCH …

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WHILE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN AT 75 MPH, LATCH ON THE HOOD ON DRIVER'S SIDE BROKE, CAUSING THE HOOD TO FLY UP AND BREAK WINDSHIELD. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO PULL TO SHOULDER SAFELY. MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED ABOUT THE PROBLEM. HOOD AND WINDSHIELD HAVE NOT BEEN REPLACED. CONSUMER BELIEVES THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE HOOD LATCH YEARS AGO, BUT IS UNSURE AS TO WHETHER OR NOT IT WAS DONE. *AK *ML

NHTSA ODI #857690

Mileage unknown · Sep 29, 1999
Exterior LightingInterior Lighting

THE HEADLIGHTS AND DASH LIGHTS WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING. THE DASH LIGHTS CAME BACK ON BUT THE HEADLIGHTS DID NOT. DEALER HAS NOT SEEN VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #849053

Mileage unknown · Jul 29, 1999
Latches/locks/linkages

HOOD LATCH STRIKER BROKE AFTER TWO YEARS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #843775

Mileage unknown · Jun 29, 1999
Seat Belts

DEALER HAS NOT HONORED NHTSA RECALL 95V-103.007/MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 91C-52, CONCENING SEAT BELT BUCKLE FAILURE SINCE AUGUST 10, 1997 UP TO THE PRESENT. CONSUMER HAS BEEN TOLD ON SERVERAL OCCASIONS THAT THE KIT HAS NOT BEEN RECEIVED, OR THEY WOULD CONTACT CONSUMER WHEN IT ARRIVED, NEED NHTSA'S HELP IN THIS MATTER. *AK

NHTSA ODI #841380

Mileage unknown · Jun 20, 1999
Latches/locks/linkages

IT'S BEEN 1 MONTH SINCE CONTACTING THE DEALER CONCERNING HOOD LATCH ASSEMBLY RECALL. HOOD LATCH IS BROKEN SO BADLY THAT THE ENTIRE HOOD NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER IS GIVING ME THE RUN AROUND. I'VE CALLED THEM 3 TIMES ALREADY THIS WEEK. THE DEALER IS SAYING THAT THEY NEED APPROVAL TO REPAIR IT AND THAT THE MAIN OFFICE IS CH…

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IT'S BEEN 1 MONTH SINCE CONTACTING THE DEALER CONCERNING HOOD LATCH ASSEMBLY RECALL. HOOD LATCH IS BROKEN SO BADLY THAT THE ENTIRE HOOD NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER IS GIVING ME THE RUN AROUND. I'VE CALLED THEM 3 TIMES ALREADY THIS WEEK. THE DEALER IS SAYING THAT THEY NEED APPROVAL TO REPAIR IT AND THAT THE MAIN OFFICE IS CHECKING TO SEE IF RECALL IS STILL IN EFFECT. I'VE BEEN HAVING TO DRIVE MY CAR FOR A MONTH FEARING THAT THE HOOD WILL FLY UP AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. *AK

NHTSA ODI #707687

Mileage unknown · Aug 31, 1998
Engine And Engine Cooling

EXCESSIVE CO EMMISSIONS. A TSB WAS ISSUED ON THIS PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI #780260

Mileage unknown · Nov 25, 1997
Seat Belts

SEAT BELT RECALL REPAIRS REFUSED.

NHTSA ODI #525469

Official recalls

2

95V103007 · Seat Belts:front:buckle Assembly

May 24, 1995

THE FRONT SAFETY BELT BUCKLE RELEASE BUTTONS CAN BREAK. THESE RED PLASTIC RELEASE BUTTONS ARE MARKED "PRESS." IF A BUTTON BREAKS, PIECES CAN FALL INTO THE BUCKLE ASSEMBLY CAUSING THE BUCKLE TO OPERATE IMPROPERLY.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THE SAFETY BELTS WOULD NOT PROVIDE ADEQUATE PROTECTION TO AN OCCUPANT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy: OWNERS SHOULD PROMPTLY CHECK THE CONDITION AND OPERATION OF BOTH FRONT SAFETY BELT BUCKLES AND CAREFULLY INSPECT THE RED RELEASE BUTTON FOR ANY BREAKS OR CRACKS. THEY SHOULD ENSURE THAT BOTH BUCKLES ARE OPERATING PROPERLY BY INSERTING EACH LATCH PLATE INTO ITS BUCKLE, TUGGING ON THE BELT TO MAKE SURE THE LATCH IS SECURELY LOCKED, AND THEN PRESSING THE RELEASE BUTTON. THE LATCH PLATE SHOULD POP OUT OF THE BUCKLE WHEN THE BUTTON IS PRESSED. IF EITHER RELEASE BUTTON SHOWS A SIGN OF BREAKING OR CRACKING OR IF EITHER BUCKLE FAILS TO OPERATE PROPERLY, OWNERS SHOULD PROMPTLY CONTACT THEIR AUTHORIZED DEALER TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THE BUCKLE REPLACED OR REPAIRED, FREE OF CHARGE. THE MANUFACTURER IS DEVELOPING A REMEDY DESIGNED TO PREVENT FAILURE OF THE BUTTONS THAT ARE NOT CURRENTLY BROKEN.

93V189001 · Latches/locks/linkages:hood:latch

Nov 23, 1993

MISLOCATED ATTACHING SPOT WELDS OF THE HOOD STRIKER ASSEMBLY CAUSE CRACKS TO START ON THE HOOD INNER PANEL. IF CRACKS OCCUR, THE HOOD STRIKER ASSEMBLY MAY NOT PROPERLY ENGAGE THE HOOD LATCH WHEN THE HOOD IS CLOSED.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: AN IMPROPERLY ENGAGED HOOD LATCH MAY RESULT IN A HOODFLY-UP WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. THIS WOULD OBSTRUCT THE DRIVER'S VIEWAND COULD CAUSE A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy: GM DEALERS WILL (A) INSTALL TWO BOLTS AND NUTS TO SECURE THE STRIKER ASSEMBLY TO THE HOOD INNER PANEL, AND (B) ENSURE THAT THE HOOD LATCH ASSEMBLY FASTENERS ARE PROPERLY TIGHTENED.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

4

EA95014 · Seat Belt Buckles Failure

Opened Apr 25, 1995 · Closed Jul 28, 1995

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts:front:buckle Assembly

There is no summary currently available

PE94092 · Takata Seat Blt Bckls Fail

Opened Dec 21, 1994 · Closed Apr 25, 1995

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts

There is no summary currently available

EA93006 · Hood FLY-UPS

Opened Feb 26, 1993 · Closed Nov 26, 1993

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Structure

There is no summary currently available

Additional source detail variants (2)

Structure

There is no summary currently available

Structure

There is no summary currently available

PE90084 · Rear Suspension Fails

Opened May 30, 1990 · Closed Aug 14, 1990

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Suspension

There is no summary currently available