IllustrationVEHICLE 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
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
What owners actually said
88 reportsCAR WAS INVOLVED IN 2 DIFFRENT CRASHES ONE WITH A IMPACT ON THE DRIVERS SIDE THE OTHER HEAD ON INTO THE SIDE OF A PICKUP. BOTH TIMES CAR WAS TRAVELING 25-30 MPH. AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE SECOND TIME AFTER IMPACT WITH THE TRUCK THE CAR ALSO STRUCK A TELEPHONE POLE WITH THE FRONT BUMPER TO THE POINT WHERE IT HAD TO BE PRYED OF…
Read full complaint
CAR WAS INVOLVED IN 2 DIFFRENT CRASHES ONE WITH A IMPACT ON THE DRIVERS SIDE THE OTHER HEAD ON INTO THE SIDE OF A PICKUP. BOTH TIMES CAR WAS TRAVELING 25-30 MPH. AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE SECOND TIME AFTER IMPACT WITH THE TRUCK THE CAR ALSO STRUCK A TELEPHONE POLE WITH THE FRONT BUMPER TO THE POINT WHERE IT HAD TO BE PRYED OFF THE POLE AND IT STILL DID NOT DEPLOY.*AK
WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY VEHICLE IS LEAKING OIL. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK
CONSUMER WAS HIT FROM BEHIND AND PUSHED INTO A CAR IN FRONT OF HER, VEHICLE WAS TOTALLY WRECKED AND THE AIR BAG NOT DID NOT DEPLOY, CAUSING INJURIES TO THE DRIVER. *TT
BOLT BROKE IN THE ENGINE, DAMAGING CRANKSHAFT/ WATER PUMP, AND TIMING CHAIN. ALSO, VEHICLE WOULD STALL WHEN DRIVING. CONTACT CHEVROLET, AND CHEVROLET TOLD TO TAKE IT TO DEALERSHIP.*AK
VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL / DRIVER SIDE COLLISION AT 55 OR MORE MPH. UPON IMPACT BOTH AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DEALER / MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE US WITH ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK
AIR BAG LIGHT REMAINED ON WHILE DRIVING. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE WAS OUT OF ITS WARRANTY, AND NOTHING COULD BE DONE. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK
AIRBAG LIGHT STAYING ON IN DASH BOARD. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.*AK
HEATER CORE SWITCH MALFUNCTIONED, WILL NOT WORK ON LOW. ALSO, COOLANT LEAKED INTO ENGINE COMPARMENT, AND ODOR COULD BE SMELLED IN PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER. *AK *SLC
VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION AT 50 MPH. UPON IMPACT, AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, RESULTING IN MINOR INJURIES. MANUFACTURTER WILL BE NOTIFIED.*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.