IllustrationCONSUMER WAS IN A COMMERCIAL PARKING LOT OWNER AND WHILE PARKING THE VEHICLE APPLIED BRAKES AND VEHICLE TOOK OFF. CONSUMER STEPPED ON THE BRAKES WITH BOTH FEET, AND VEHICLE CONTINUED TO SURGE FORWARD. CONSUMER EVENTUALLY GOT THE VEHICLE TO STOP. *AK
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
Vehicle Speed Control complaints
4 reportsCONSUMER HAS TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP APPROXIMATELY 8 TIMES, FOR ACCELERATION APPROXIMATELY 5 TIMES. DEALER SAYS WHEN HE DRIVES THE PROBLEM IS NOT EVIDENT. AT THAT TIME THEY WILL NOT DO ANYTHING. THE DEALERSHIP IS BILL HEARD CHEVROLET, SUGAR LAND TEXAS, 281-491-9000, VEHICLE WAS SOLD AS NEW WITH ONLY 6 MILES. VEHICLE WAS REG…
Read full complaint
CONSUMER HAS TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP APPROXIMATELY 8 TIMES, FOR ACCELERATION APPROXIMATELY 5 TIMES. DEALER SAYS WHEN HE DRIVES THE PROBLEM IS NOT EVIDENT. AT THAT TIME THEY WILL NOT DO ANYTHING. THE DEALERSHIP IS BILL HEARD CHEVROLET, SUGAR LAND TEXAS, 281-491-9000, VEHICLE WAS SOLD AS NEW WITH ONLY 6 MILES. VEHICLE WAS REGISTERED AT 21OO MILES . *AK
VEHICLE WAS IN A PARKING LOT WHEN IT WAS STARTED AND PUT IN GEAR, AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AT A HIGH SPEED AND TOOK OFF. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO CONTROL VEHICLE WITHOUT DAMAGE TO VEHICLE AND INJURY TO CONSUMER. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK
WHILE BACKING OUT, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED FORWARD AND CAUSED ACCIDENT.
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.