THE HEATER EMITTED A SMELL WHEN IT WAS ON.*JB
1998 Geo Metro
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1998 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: 3 of 33 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 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Visibility. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Visibility complaints
6 reportsINTERIOR FAN WILL NOT WORK DUE TO HEATER A/C CONTROL FAILURE. BECAUSE OF THIS, THE DEFOGGING SYSTEM WILL NOT WORK, AND SINCE METRO HATCHBACKS ARE EXTREMELY PRONE TO FOGGING, THE CAR IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE IN THE MORNINGS OR EVENINGS. ROLLING DOWN THE WINDOWS DOES NOT HELP THIS PROBLEM. WE ALSO OWN A 1992 METRO WHICH HAD THE SAM…
Read full complaint
INTERIOR FAN WILL NOT WORK DUE TO HEATER A/C CONTROL FAILURE. BECAUSE OF THIS, THE DEFOGGING SYSTEM WILL NOT WORK, AND SINCE METRO HATCHBACKS ARE EXTREMELY PRONE TO FOGGING, THE CAR IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE IN THE MORNINGS OR EVENINGS. ROLLING DOWN THE WINDOWS DOES NOT HELP THIS PROBLEM. WE ALSO OWN A 1992 METRO WHICH HAD THE SAME COMPONENT FAIL (SEE SEPARATE REPORT).
WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK INTERMITTENTLY, WASHER FAILED, WINDSHIELD WIPER HANDLE SWITCH FELL OFF. VEHICLE TAKEN TO DEALER, DEALER FOUND HANDLE SWITCH HAD CRACKED WELL INTO THE STEERING COLUMN. *AK *TT
CAR UNDER WARRANTY 12,000 MI. WATER IN BOTH DOORS GROWING MOLD AND IN AIR VENTS. *AK
WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 20 MPH REAR WINDSHIELD SHATTERED AND BROKE OFF, DROPPING GLASS EVERY WHERE.*AK
WINDSHIELD WASHER FAILED.
Official recalls
0No recalls in this snapshot.
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.
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