IllustrationTHE MASTER CYLINDER FAILURE CAUSED THE BRAKES TO FAIL. YH
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 reportsFUEL GAUGE READS EMPTY WHEN FUEL TANK IS ONLY HALF TO LESS THAN HALF EMPTY. FRIGHTNIG WHEN TRAVELING LONG DISTANCES AND NOT SURE IF YOU HAVE FUEL TO GET TO THE NEXT GAS STATION. *AK
TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT CONSUMER PRESSED ON THE BRAKES, AND DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT JERKED OUT OF POSITION, AND CAUSED CONSUMER TO FALL AGAINST STEERING WHEEL. CONSUMER SUSTAINED FRACTURED RIBS AND A CONCUSSION DUE TO HER HEAD HITTING AGAINST FRONT GLASS. VEHICLE WAS ONLY GOING 5 MPH, AND JUST ENTERING AN INTERSECTION FROM A RED S…
Read full complaint
TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT CONSUMER PRESSED ON THE BRAKES, AND DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT JERKED OUT OF POSITION, AND CAUSED CONSUMER TO FALL AGAINST STEERING WHEEL. CONSUMER SUSTAINED FRACTURED RIBS AND A CONCUSSION DUE TO HER HEAD HITTING AGAINST FRONT GLASS. VEHICLE WAS ONLY GOING 5 MPH, AND JUST ENTERING AN INTERSECTION FROM A RED STOP LIGHT WHEN INCIDENT OCCURRED. *AK
CONTINUALLY WON'T START - DOESN'T GET GAS (IT IS NOT THE STARTER) TURNS OVER BUT NO GAS.*AK
SOMETIMES FAILS TO START FOR NO REASON.WILL STOP RUNNING EVEN DURING DRIVING.PROBLEM HAS BEEN CHECKED AND RECHECKED AND CANNOT BE FOUND.UNDEPENDABLE AND UNSAFE. MANUFACTURER CONTACTED BUT WAS NO HELP. POSSIBLY COULD CAUSE SERIOUS ACCIDENT AND INJURIES. SHOULD BE RECALLED. *AK
OWNER'S MANUEL STATES IF FLASHING LIGHT COMES ON WHEN STARTING, VEHICLE HAS ABS BRAKES. ALSO, CONSUMER HAS CHECKED VEHICLE , AND THERE'S NO MAIN FUSE OR RELAY IN FUSE PANELS. *AK
WHILE PULLING OUT FROM A TRAFFIC LIGHT AT 5MPH BRAKES SUDDENLY LOCKED UP WITHOUT BEING APPLIED. SMOKE WAS NOTICED COMING FROM THE BRAKE ROTORS. BRAKE SYSTEM CAUGHT ON FIRE. FIRE WAS PUT OUT BY ITSELF. THE DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
BUMPER IS PEALING. TOOK TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THAT IT HAD NOT BEEN REPAINTED, DEALER SAID IF CONSUMER HAD BOUGHT THE CAR FROM RICK HENDRICKS CHEVROLET SHE WOULDN'T WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR BUMPER REPAIRS. BUT, SINCE SHE BOUGHT IT SOME WHERE ELSE SHE WOULD TO HAVE TO PAY. *AK
WHILE DRIVING THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME LOOSE, LIKE SOMETHING WAS DISCONNECTED, RESULTING IN A MINOR COLLOSION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. PRIOR TO THE INCIDENTHE DEALER MADE REPAIRS TO THE STEERING WHEEL AND COLUMN.
WHILE DRIVING THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME LOOSE, LIKE SOMETHING WAS DISCONNECTED, RESULTING IN A COLLISION. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT, DEALER HAD MADE REPAIRS TO THE STEERING WHEEL AND COLUMN.
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.