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
What owners actually said
88 reports(TWICE WITHIN SIX MONTHS) A SHORT IN THE STEERING COLUMN HEADLIGHT SWITCH WIRING HAS RESULTED IN THE HEADLIGHTS BECOMING INOPPERATIVE, SO I HAD TO DRIVE AT NIGHT WITH ONLY THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS. TURNING TO THE LEFT CAUSES THE PARKING BRAKE WARNING LIGHT TO GLOW, AND TURNING TO THE RIGHT CAUSES THE LIGHT TO EXTINGUISH. THI…
Read full complaint
(TWICE WITHIN SIX MONTHS) A SHORT IN THE STEERING COLUMN HEADLIGHT SWITCH WIRING HAS RESULTED IN THE HEADLIGHTS BECOMING INOPPERATIVE, SO I HAD TO DRIVE AT NIGHT WITH ONLY THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS. TURNING TO THE LEFT CAUSES THE PARKING BRAKE WARNING LIGHT TO GLOW, AND TURNING TO THE RIGHT CAUSES THE LIGHT TO EXTINGUISH. THIS COULD BE DUE TO A LOOSE WIRE? ANOTHER ELECTRICAL PROBLEM IS THAT THE LEFT HAND SIDE OF THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS NO LONGER WORK.
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
IN 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
SEAT BRACKET FAILED CAUSING THE DRIVERS SEAT TO COLLAPSE. NLM
WHEN TRYING TO PUT BRAKES ON, THEY GO ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR BEFORE THE CAR WILL STOP. *AK
WHILE TRAVELLING ON HIGHWAT AT 50 OR MORE THE RIGHT WHEEL AXLE CAME OFF VEHICLE, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL. WAS ABLE TO GET VEHICLE OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITHOUT ANY INCIDENT OR INJURY. CAN NHTSA PROVIDE INFROMATION ON THIS MATTER. *AK
2 STEREO BUTTONS DON'T WORK, THE TAPE DECK DESTROYS CASSETTES, AND THE AIR CONDITIONING WILL NOT WORK UNLESS IT IS ON ONE OF THE 2 HIGHEST SETTINGS.
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.