IllustrationA 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
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 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
THE TWO INJURIES WERE SLIGHT, NECK AND BACK SPRAINS. BOTH OCCUPANTS WERE WEARING LAP AND SHOULDER BELTS. I AM CONCERNED THAT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE SPEED AT IMPACT WAS SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 30 AND 35 MPH. THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED ON A RAINY EVENING, JUST ABOUT DUSK. THE OTHER DRIVER, COMING THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION HAD STA…
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THE TWO INJURIES WERE SLIGHT, NECK AND BACK SPRAINS. BOTH OCCUPANTS WERE WEARING LAP AND SHOULDER BELTS. I AM CONCERNED THAT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE SPEED AT IMPACT WAS SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 30 AND 35 MPH. THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED ON A RAINY EVENING, JUST ABOUT DUSK. THE OTHER DRIVER, COMING THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION HAD STARTED A LEFT TURN ACROSS THE OTHER LANES WHEN HE APPARENTLY FROZE AND STOPPED THE CAR. MY DAUGHTER, DRIVING THE METRO, TRIED TO STOP BUT COULDN,T BECAUSE OF THE PROXIMITY AND THE SLICK ROAD SURFACE. MY DAUGHTER CONTACTED THE DEALER, LOU GRUBB CHEVROLET, ABOUT WHY THE AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. THE DEALER DIDN'T WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT. THE METRO WAS TOTALLED. THE AIR BAGS SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED. THANK YOU.
AT TIME OF SALE ALL OF THE GOODYEAR TIRES WERE WORN OUT.
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 REG…
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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
VEHICLE WAS PLACED FROM DRIVE INTO NEUTRAL. CONSUMER, THEREFORE, ENGANGED THE EMERGENCY PARKING BRAKE IN WHICH THE VEHICLE ROLLED BACK FREELY. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER, DEALER HAS YET TO CHECK VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
WIPER MOTOR BRACKET MOUNT LOOSE CAUSING NOISE.
CLUTCH FAILED.
FRON LEFT/REAR LEFT STRUTS FAILED. ALSO TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTIONED. *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.