IllustrationBROUGHT 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
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
What owners actually said
63 reportsWHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, IT STARTED TO ROLL BACK WITH THE VEHICLE BEING TURNED OFF, AND THE EMERGENCY BRAKE UP. CONTACTED DEALER. *AK THE VEHICLE JUMPED A PARKING BLOCK AND HIT A FENCE, WHICH HIT THE WINDSHIELD, CRACKING IT. THE VEHICLE WENT UNDER THE FENCE AND THE FENCE SCRATCHED THE VEHICLE FROM THE FRONT TO THE BACK. …
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WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, IT STARTED TO ROLL BACK WITH THE VEHICLE BEING TURNED OFF, AND THE EMERGENCY BRAKE UP. CONTACTED DEALER. *AK THE VEHICLE JUMPED A PARKING BLOCK AND HIT A FENCE, WHICH HIT THE WINDSHIELD, CRACKING IT. THE VEHICLE WENT UNDER THE FENCE AND THE FENCE SCRATCHED THE VEHICLE FROM THE FRONT TO THE BACK. IT DAMAGED THE FRONT BUMPER, FRONT LIGHTS, HOOD, FENDER, VENT SCREEN, LEFT WIPER ARM, RIGHT TO LEFT WIPERS, LIFT GATE, REAR LIGHTS, AND POSSIBLE SUSPENSION DAMAGE. THE TOTAL ESTIMATE IS 3026.15. *SCC
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.
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
AT 35-40MPH AND WITH NO WARNING, ENGINE STALLED, COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK CONSUMER FOUND THAT THE PROBLEM WAS WITH THE CONNECTOR AT THE FUEL INJECTOR, THE CONNECTORS CONTACT HAD SLIGHTLY OPENED, CONSUMER CLOSED SOME OF THE CONTACTS AND NOW THE ENGINE RUNS WELL. *SLC
DRIVER'S SEATBELT WILL NOT RETRACT. HAS BEEN THIS WAY SINCE PURCHASE, TAKEN TO DEALER 3 TIMES FOR REPAIR. WAS TOLD THERE IS NO REMEDY.*AK
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.
WHEN PULLING OUT OR TRAVELING AT LOW SPEEDS ENGINE WILL STALL. THIS DEFECT TYPICALLY OCCURS DURING WARM TO HOT WEATHER ON A FREQUENT BASIS. DEALERSHIP INFORMED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE IS NOT BEING DRIVEN ENOUGH, AND THAT GAS COULD HAVE BEEN CONTAMINATED .*AK CONSUMER STATES THROTTLE AND DISTRIBUTION CAP WERE SPRAYED AND FUEL …
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WHEN PULLING OUT OR TRAVELING AT LOW SPEEDS ENGINE WILL STALL. THIS DEFECT TYPICALLY OCCURS DURING WARM TO HOT WEATHER ON A FREQUENT BASIS. DEALERSHIP INFORMED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE IS NOT BEING DRIVEN ENOUGH, AND THAT GAS COULD HAVE BEEN CONTAMINATED .*AK CONSUMER STATES THROTTLE AND DISTRIBUTION CAP WERE SPRAYED AND FUEL INJECTION CLEANER WAS USED FREQUENTLY, CONSUMER ALSO STATES A NEW AIR FILTER WAS PUT IN. *JB
AS CONSUMER WAS INSPECTING FIRESTONE (TUWSPS 15580R13) TIRES, CONSUMER NOTICED ONE OF THE TIRES HAD SPIKES OVER AN INCH LONG ALL AROUND THE INSIDE AND THE COLOR AROUND THE PERIMETER IS BROWN/RUST NOT BLACK. *JB
WINDOW ON DRIVER'S SIDE FAILED TO UP & DOWN PROPERLY. INTERFERES WITH DOOR REGULATOR. DOOR WOULD JAM. WINDOW TILTS FORWARD. HAS HAPPENED FOUR TIMES. BEEN TO DEALER AND REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY FIRST TIME. WARRANTY RAN OU. TOOK VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR REPAIRS. EACH TIME REPAIRED PROBLEM WOULD REAPPEAR. PASSENGER S…
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WINDOW ON DRIVER'S SIDE FAILED TO UP & DOWN PROPERLY. INTERFERES WITH DOOR REGULATOR. DOOR WOULD JAM. WINDOW TILTS FORWARD. HAS HAPPENED FOUR TIMES. BEEN TO DEALER AND REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY FIRST TIME. WARRANTY RAN OU. TOOK VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR REPAIRS. EACH TIME REPAIRED PROBLEM WOULD REAPPEAR. PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW DOES NOT COME DOWN.*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.