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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.

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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: 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

Power Train complaints

11 reports
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Mileage unknown · Jan 5, 2005
Engine And Engine CoolingPower TrainTires

ONE OF THE WHEEL HUB CAPS CAME OFF AND THE TREAD OF TWO TIRES BEGAN PEELING OFF.*NM A TICKING SOUND WAS HEARD WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN AND GETTING LOUDER EVERY DAY. THE TRANSMISSION FLUID APPEARED BROWN INSTEAD OF PINK. THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING OIL. THE SPARK PLUGS WERE WORN OUT. THE DISTRIBUTOR CAP CRACKED, THE O…

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ONE OF THE WHEEL HUB CAPS CAME OFF AND THE TREAD OF TWO TIRES BEGAN PEELING OFF.*NM A TICKING SOUND WAS HEARD WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN AND GETTING LOUDER EVERY DAY. THE TRANSMISSION FLUID APPEARED BROWN INSTEAD OF PINK. THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING OIL. THE SPARK PLUGS WERE WORN OUT. THE DISTRIBUTOR CAP CRACKED, THE OIL SWITCH WAS BAD, AND THE PCV VALVE WAS BAD. THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED. THE ENGINE STALLED WHEN THE VEHICLE REACHEED THE 25 MPH MARK. NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. THE VEHICLE WILL NOT RESTART. *TC

NHTSA ODI #10110924

Mileage unknown · Sep 30, 2002
Power Train

BROUGHT CAR JULY 11, 2000-DEC. 20,2000-TRANSMISSION REPLACED-AUG. 23, 2002 THROUGH SEPT. 30, 2002-SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT STILL ON CRANK SENSOR SEAL O-RING REPLACED, BURNING OIL, HAS A SHAKE TO IT WHEN DRIVING AND SLOWING DOWN, AND ALL THIS HAPPENED IN THE LAST TWO YEARS. MR

NHTSA ODI #767904

Mileage unknown · Aug 9, 2002
Power TrainCrash

THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS ENGAGED, VEHICLE ROLLED, JUMPED A PARKING BLOCK, UPROOTED A FENCE, THE TOP OF THE FENCE HIT THE WINDHSIELD CAUSING IT TO CRACK, THE FENCE WENT UP OVER THE VEHICLE CAUSING DAMAGE FROM THE FRONT, TO THE BACK. I HAVE THE ESTIMATE FROM THE BODY SHOP THAT IT WAS TAKEN TO. I ALSO HAVE WI…

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THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS ENGAGED, VEHICLE ROLLED, JUMPED A PARKING BLOCK, UPROOTED A FENCE, THE TOP OF THE FENCE HIT THE WINDHSIELD CAUSING IT TO CRACK, THE FENCE WENT UP OVER THE VEHICLE CAUSING DAMAGE FROM THE FRONT, TO THE BACK. I HAVE THE ESTIMATE FROM THE BODY SHOP THAT IT WAS TAKEN TO. I ALSO HAVE WITNESSES THAT SAW THAT THE PARKING BRAKE WAS ENGAGED.

NHTSA ODI #765427

Mileage unknown · Feb 23, 2001
Power Train

WHEN PLACING VEHICLE IN PARK SHIFT GEAR WILL NOT STAY IN PARK POSITION. THIS COULD CAUSE VEHICLE TO ROLL FREELY. ALSO, VEHICLE WILL NOT DISENGAGE OUT OF PARK POSITION. CONSUMER ALSO, RECALL 98V225001/MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 98052 DOES NOT INCLUDE THIS VEHICLE DUE TO VIN. *AK A DIAGNOSIS DETERMIND THAT THE SHIFTER CABL…

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WHEN PLACING VEHICLE IN PARK SHIFT GEAR WILL NOT STAY IN PARK POSITION. THIS COULD CAUSE VEHICLE TO ROLL FREELY. ALSO, VEHICLE WILL NOT DISENGAGE OUT OF PARK POSITION. CONSUMER ALSO, RECALL 98V225001/MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 98052 DOES NOT INCLUDE THIS VEHICLE DUE TO VIN. *AK A DIAGNOSIS DETERMIND THAT THE SHIFTER CABLE WAS DAMAGED DUE TO GEAR SHIFT MALFUNCTIONS. *YH

NHTSA ODI #881254

Mileage unknown · Feb 21, 2001
Power Train

AFTER THE LEVER IS RELEASED FROM PARK AND PUT INTO REVERSE TO BACKUP THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION CAN EASILY SLIDE INTO NEUTRAL AND SLIDE INTO DRIVE WITHOUT EVER HAVING TO TOUCH THE BUTTON. NLM

NHTSA ODI #559824

Mileage unknown · Feb 2, 2001
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train

RADIATOR AND WATER PUMP FAILED PREMATURELY. NLM

NHTSA ODI #559360

Mileage unknown · Jun 22, 2000
Power Train

DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT AXLE KEEPS FALLING OFF WHICH MAY CAUSE A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE. GM HAS NOT PROVIDED HELP. *AK *ML

NHTSA ODI #864062

Mileage unknown · Dec 29, 1998
Power Train

WHILE PARKED AND LEFT IN GEAR CAR ROLLS EVEN ON SLIGHT INCLINE. IT DOESN'T SEEM TO MATTER WHAT GEAR CAR IS LEFT IN. IN THE REVERSE GEAR CAR MAKES SMALL JUMPS, HAVE TO MAKE SURE PARKING BRAKE IS SET EVEN IN FREEZING TEMPS. I COMPLAINED TO DEALER THE CAR WAS DIFFICULT TO SHIFT INTO REVERSE AT THE 1000 MILE CHECKUP BUT WAS TOLD THE…

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WHILE PARKED AND LEFT IN GEAR CAR ROLLS EVEN ON SLIGHT INCLINE. IT DOESN'T SEEM TO MATTER WHAT GEAR CAR IS LEFT IN. IN THE REVERSE GEAR CAR MAKES SMALL JUMPS, HAVE TO MAKE SURE PARKING BRAKE IS SET EVEN IN FREEZING TEMPS. I COMPLAINED TO DEALER THE CAR WAS DIFFICULT TO SHIFT INTO REVERSE AT THE 1000 MILE CHECKUP BUT WAS TOLD THEY HAD CHECKED IT OUT AND FOUND NO PROBLEM. I TOLD THEM ABOUT THE GEARS NOT HOLDING AND WAS TOLD TO USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. I REALIZE YOU HAVE TO BE SAFE ON A HILL AND SET THE BRAKE BUT SEEMS THE GEARS SHOULD HOLD THE CAR ON APPROX. A 1-2% GRADE. I WAS WONDERING IF ANYONE ELSE HAS HAD THIS PROBLEM WITH THE GEO METRO.

NHTSA ODI #701714

Mileage unknown · Nov 9, 1998
Power Train

A COUPLE OF MONTHS BACK CONSUMER COMPLAINED TO THE DEALER ABOUT THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER BEING ABLE TO MOVE INTO GEAR WHILE THE VEHICLE IS NOT ON, OR NOT APPLYING THE BRAKES. CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THIS IS NORMAL OPERATION. CURRENTLY, CONSUMER HAS RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM. DEALER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #830370

Mileage unknown · Feb 4, 1998
Power Train

CLUTCH FAILED.

NHTSA ODI #529870

Official recalls

1

98V225001 · 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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.