IllustrationFRONT DRIVER SEAT AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. *JB
1997 Geo Metro
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1997 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: 4 of 63 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.
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Air Bags. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
13 crash reports2 fire reports9 injury reports
Air Bags complaints
8 reportsTHE VEHICLE WAS IN A FRONTAL COLLISION, AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. *JB
THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION, AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, CONSUMER WAS INJURED.*JB
VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION WITH A DEER, AND NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE NOT BEEN NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME.*AK *JB
VEHICLE WAS GOING 70MPH AND BOTH FRONT AIRBAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT ANY TYPE OF IMPACT. CONSUMER AND PASSENGER RECEIVED MINOR BURNS, BUT NO INJURIES FROM AIRBAGS. CONSUMER WILL ADD VIN TO FORM.
CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 50MPH ON HIGHWAY AND HEARD A SNAPPING NOISE. FRONT WHEEL BROKE, AND VEHICLE ROLLED THREE TIMES AND LANDED ON ROOF UPSIDE DOWN, AND AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. *AK
DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CAR IS A TOTAL LOSS. WE WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THERE HAVE BEEN OTHER AIR BAG FAILURES ON THIS TYPE OF CAR. THANK YOU. *AK
WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH THE CONSUMER RAN HEAD-ON INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE, CAUSING THE BUMPER TO FALL OFF, AND THE DRIVER SIDE OR THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK
Official recalls
198V225001 · Power Train:automatic Transmission:park/neutral Start Interlock Switch
Sep 21, 1998
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AN AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLE. THE SHIFT LEVER APPEARS TO BE IN "PARK," BUT CAN EASILY BE MOVED FROM THE "PARK" POSITION WITHOUT THE USE OF THE KEY, TRANSAXLE LEVER DETENT BUTTON, OR DEPRESSING THE BRAKE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THE SHIFT LEVER WERE TO COME OUT OF "PARK" WHILE THE VEHICLE IS PARKED ON A NON-LEVEL SURFACE, THE VEHICLE COULD ROLL INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SHIFTER ASSEMBLY. UNTIL THE VEHICLE IS SERVICED, OWNERS ARE ADVISED WHEN SHIFTING TO "PARK," ALWAYS APPLY THE PARK BRAKE BEFORE RELEASING THE SERVICE BRAKE.
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.