IllustrationWHILE DRIVING ABOUT 45 MPH BOTH AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT A PRIOR WARNING. *AK
1996 Geo Metro
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1996 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
Compare all Metro years →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: 5 of 88 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.
- Air Bags. Review the 28 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
27 crash reports5 fire reports18 injury reports
Air Bags complaints
28 reportsIN MY ACCIDENT MY VEHICLE WENT AIRBORNE AND LANDED NOSE FIRST. IT SEEMED ODD TO ME THE AIR BAGS DID NOT GO OFF. MY CONCERN IS ONLY THERE MAY BE A PROBLEM WITH OTHER METROS. *AK
WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT A COLLISION OCCURRING ,THE PASSENGER'S AIR BAG DEPLOYED, CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER CANNOT IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM OR CAUSE. TRIANGLE CHEVROLET MADE NO ATTEMPT TO FURTHER CONTACT CONSUMER ABOUT REPAIRS. *AK
WHILE DRIVING WITHOUT VEHICLE COLLISION OCCURRING PASSENGER 'SAIR BAG DEPLOYED CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN 35 MPH FRONTAL COLLISION IN WHICH DRIVER'S/PASSENGER'S AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
AIR BAG DID NOT INFLATE DURING A HEAD ON COLLISION.
VIOLENT DEPLOYMENT OF AIRBAG DURING SIDE IMPACT ACCIDENT CAUSED INJURY TO PASSENGER.*ET
SEAT BELT SHOULDER HARNESS FAILED DURING IMPACT RESULTING IN HEAD,NECK,SHOULDER, HIP AND KNEE INJURY. NOT AIR BAG COMPLAINT (E.G., SEAT BELT, TRAILER SUSPENSION AIR BAG, ETC.,). ADDED ON 09-07-1999. *AK
I HAVE ALREADY SENT IN A FORM BUT HAVE NEVER BEEN CONTACTED SINCE BY NEITHER YOURSELVES NOR THE MANUFACTURES OF THE VEHICLE. I STILL WANT TO KNOW WHY THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY WITH A PERFECT, HEADLIGHT TO HEADLIGHT, FRONT END COLLISION. MY FIRST THROUGHT IS THAT THE THINGS JUST DON'T WORK OR THAT THE AIRBAG IMPRINTS ARE JUST…
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I HAVE ALREADY SENT IN A FORM BUT HAVE NEVER BEEN CONTACTED SINCE BY NEITHER YOURSELVES NOR THE MANUFACTURES OF THE VEHICLE. I STILL WANT TO KNOW WHY THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY WITH A PERFECT, HEADLIGHT TO HEADLIGHT, FRONT END COLLISION. MY FIRST THROUGHT IS THAT THE THINGS JUST DON'T WORK OR THAT THE AIRBAG IMPRINTS ARE JUST FOR LOOKS. THE OUTO BODY SHOP AT THE CHEVY DEALERSHIP COULD NOT EVEN SHOW ME THE SENSOR ON THE FRONT END OF THE CAR. THE OWNERS MANUAL SHOWS WHERE IT IS SUPPOSED TO BE BUT ITS NOT THERE, WHY?? ALL HELP ON THIS MATTER WILL BE GREATLY APPRECIATED.
CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT APPROX 25 MPH, APRROACHING RED LIGHT, ANOTHER VEHICLE CAME INTO CONTACT WITH CONSUMER VEHICLE WHICH WAS RUNNING AT APPROX ABOVE 30 MPH. HIT HEAD ON, EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO FRONT END. DROVE VEHICLE 15 FEET AFTER IMPACT , NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED,CONSUMER SUSTAINED INJURIES IN CHEST AREA/NECK/RIGHT SHOULDER. HAD S…
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CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT APPROX 25 MPH, APRROACHING RED LIGHT, ANOTHER VEHICLE CAME INTO CONTACT WITH CONSUMER VEHICLE WHICH WAS RUNNING AT APPROX ABOVE 30 MPH. HIT HEAD ON, EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO FRONT END. DROVE VEHICLE 15 FEET AFTER IMPACT , NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED,CONSUMER SUSTAINED INJURIES IN CHEST AREA/NECK/RIGHT SHOULDER. HAD SEATBELT ON. *AK
Official recalls
0No recalls in this snapshot.
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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.