IDLE BECOMES ROUGH, BOUNCES AND DIES, FAILS TO START OR STARTS AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON, RUNS VERY BAD. ONCE CAR SITS FOR A WHILE, STARTS TO RUN FINE, DOES IT WHEN IT IS WARM OUT. *AK
1991 Geo Storm
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1991 Geo Storm do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 50.5.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Storm 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 90 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 20 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 19 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 15 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
90 reportsENGINE CONTROL COMPUTER IMPROPERLY BUILT CAUSING ERRACTIC IDLE FROM 2000RPM TO 500RPM, CAR STALLS AND WILL NOT START. ISUZU HAS BEEN CONTACTED ABOUT THIS AND HAS STATED"WE DO NOT MAKE CARS" AND THEY FAIL TO RECTIFY THE PROBLEM. THERE ARE VERY MANY OF US WHO WOULD LIKE TO SEE THIS ISSUE RESOLVED AS OUR CARS STALLING IN TRAFFIC …
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ENGINE CONTROL COMPUTER IMPROPERLY BUILT CAUSING ERRACTIC IDLE FROM 2000RPM TO 500RPM, CAR STALLS AND WILL NOT START. ISUZU HAS BEEN CONTACTED ABOUT THIS AND HAS STATED"WE DO NOT MAKE CARS" AND THEY FAIL TO RECTIFY THE PROBLEM. THERE ARE VERY MANY OF US WHO WOULD LIKE TO SEE THIS ISSUE RESOLVED AS OUR CARS STALLING IN TRAFFIC AND IDLING ERRACTICALLY IS CAUSING A LOT OF PROBLEMS AS IN POOR EFFICIENCY AND UNNEEDED DOWNTIME. THE PROBLEM IS IN THE INSULATIVE SPRAY ON THE MAIN CIRCUIT BOPAR DOF THE UNITS THAT BREAKS DOWN OVER TIME DUE TO HEAT AND EXTREME(HOT OR COLD) TEMPS. GMC HAS RECOGNIZED THIS PROBLEM AND FAILS TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. WE WOULD LIKE THIS ISSUE ADDRESSED AND I SPEAK FOR THE OVER 500 MEMBERS OF THE GEO STORM OWNERS CLUB, WWW.STORMOWNERS.COM. *AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
I WAS COMING DOWN A 2 LANE AND IT JUST STOPPED AND GOT REAR ENDED WHEN IT SHUT OFF IT WAS THE ECM SHORTED BECAUSE OF SEALANT FROM FACTORY. *AK
FOR THE LAST 4YRS. I HAVE HAD TROUBLE AT START-UP,IDLE,DRIVABILITY OF THE ENGINE. ALL SENSORS RELATED TO THE IGNITION HAD BEEN CHECKED OR REPLACED. NOW ON 12/1/01 THE ALTERNATOR OVER CHARGED THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM CAUSING A COMPLETE BURN-UP OF THE ECM,MAIN CIRCUIT PANEL AND SOME OF THE WIRING HARNESS. NEITHER THE 50AMP MAIN FUS…
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FOR THE LAST 4YRS. I HAVE HAD TROUBLE AT START-UP,IDLE,DRIVABILITY OF THE ENGINE. ALL SENSORS RELATED TO THE IGNITION HAD BEEN CHECKED OR REPLACED. NOW ON 12/1/01 THE ALTERNATOR OVER CHARGED THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM CAUSING A COMPLETE BURN-UP OF THE ECM,MAIN CIRCUIT PANEL AND SOME OF THE WIRING HARNESS. NEITHER THE 50AMP MAIN FUSE OR THE 30AMP ECM FUSE BLEW (LIKE THEY SHOULD HAVE) STOPPING THE 160 AMPS FROM THE ALTERNATOR. *AK
THE DATE & MILEAGE ARE ONLY FOR THE MOST RECENT OCCURENCE. IT STARTED LATE APRIL 2001 AT ABOUT 70,000 MILES; I'D BOUGHT THE CAR USED THE PREVIOUS SEPTEMBER & IT HAD DRIVEN OK THROUGHOUT THE WINTER. THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN HAPPENING OFF & ON EVER SINCE. THE CAR WILL BE GOING 55 MPH OR MORE; ABOUT 5 OR MORE MINUTES AFTER STARTUP (IT …
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THE DATE & MILEAGE ARE ONLY FOR THE MOST RECENT OCCURENCE. IT STARTED LATE APRIL 2001 AT ABOUT 70,000 MILES; I'D BOUGHT THE CAR USED THE PREVIOUS SEPTEMBER & IT HAD DRIVEN OK THROUGHOUT THE WINTER. THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN HAPPENING OFF & ON EVER SINCE. THE CAR WILL BE GOING 55 MPH OR MORE; ABOUT 5 OR MORE MINUTES AFTER STARTUP (IT VARIES), THE RPM GAUGE/IDLE SUDDENLY DROPS TO 0, THE CAR MIGHT BUCK SLIGHTLY,THE ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON, & THE CAR STALLS. PRESSING THE GAS PEDAL HAS NO EFFECT; ALL I CAN DO IS COAST TO A STOP. SO FAR, I'VE BEEN LUCKY; I'VE BEEN ABLE TO COAST TO THE SHOULDER W/NO INCIDENT. USUALLY AFTER A COUPLE MINUTES, I CAN START THE CAR AGAIN,BUT THIS PAST SATURDAY, I WAS STRANDED FOR OVER AN HOUR BEFORE THE CAR WOULD START. THE PROBLEM HAPPENS IRREGULARLY, USUALLY WHEN IT'S WARM OUTSIDE. THE IDLE ALSO REVS ON ITS OWN; WHENEVER I TAKE MY FOOT OFF THE GAS & THE SPEED DROPS BELOW 30 MPH, IT REVS & JUMPS FORWARD UNLESS I IMMEDIATELY HIT THE BRAKES -- VERY DANGEROUS WHEN I'M HEADING TOWARDS A STOPLIGHT! THE CAR HAS HAD BOTH ITS IGNITION COIL & FUEL INJECTORS REPLACED, AND ALL BELTS ARE NEW; ALL MAINTENANCE IS KEPT UP, & THERE ARE NO OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR THAT WOULD CAUSE EITHER OF THESE ISSUES. AFTER DRIVING OUR MECHANIC & US NUTS FOR SEVERAL MONTHS, WE FINALLY FOUND OUT THAT THE PROBLEMS WERE DUE TO SHORTS CAUSED BY BAD INSULATIVE SPRAY ON THE ECU/COMPUTER CIRCUIT BOARD (THE ORIGINAL FACTORY INSTALLED UNIT), & WE ALSO FOUND OUT THAT WE WEREN'T ALONE IN HAVING THESE PROBLEMS -- THAT OTHER STORM & ISUZU OWNERS WERE HAVING THE SAME TROUBLE. THE FAULTY ECU IS WHAT GM/ISUZU REFUSE TO RECOGNIZE. ISUZU CLAIMS THE PROBLEMS ARE "NORMAL" -- I'VE YET TO DRIVE ANY CAR WHERE STALLING & DYING AT HIGH SPEED ON THE HIGHWAY IS CONSIDERED "NORMAL". *AK
I SENT ONE COMPLAINT TODAY, WITH SOME ERRORS. I AM SENDING THIS COMPLAINT TO CORRECT THESE ERRORS, AND ALSO TO COMPLAIN A LITTLE MORE. I CAN BARELEY MAKE IT TO SCHOOL IN MY CAR WITHOUT WORRING IF IT IS GOING TO DIE OR NOT. SEVERAL TIMES IT HAS DIED IN THE MIDDLE OF BUSY INTERSECTIONS NOT ONLY PUTTING MYSELF IN DANGER, BUT ALSO T…
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I SENT ONE COMPLAINT TODAY, WITH SOME ERRORS. I AM SENDING THIS COMPLAINT TO CORRECT THESE ERRORS, AND ALSO TO COMPLAIN A LITTLE MORE. I CAN BARELEY MAKE IT TO SCHOOL IN MY CAR WITHOUT WORRING IF IT IS GOING TO DIE OR NOT. SEVERAL TIMES IT HAS DIED IN THE MIDDLE OF BUSY INTERSECTIONS NOT ONLY PUTTING MYSELF IN DANGER, BUT ALSO THE OTHER MOTRISTS AROUND ME. I AM A YOUNG KID ON A TIGHT BUDGET AND WOULD LIKE TO SEE SOMETHING DONE ABOUT THIS. THANK YOU. *AK
HEADREST & SEATBACK FAILED ON REAR IMPACT.CAUSED ADDITIONAL INJURIES WHEN DRIVER HIT POLE&TREE
CONSUMER REPLACED EXHAUST PIPE ONCE, AND CURRENTLY VEHICLE NEEDS EXHAUST PIPE REPLACED AGAIN, VEHICLE HAS HAD AN EHAUST LEAK.*AK CONSUMER HAS SINCE REPLACED EXHAUST PIPE.*JB
THE SYMPTOMS OF THIS FAULT ARE MOST NOTABLY ERRATIC IDLE, IDLE REVVING AND DROPPING. *AK
Official recalls
295V103007 · Seat Belts:front:buckle Assembly
May 24, 1995
THE FRONT SAFETY BELT BUCKLE RELEASE BUTTONS CAN BREAK. THESE RED PLASTIC RELEASE BUTTONS ARE MARKED "PRESS." IF A BUTTON BREAKS, PIECES CAN FALL INTO THE BUCKLE ASSEMBLY CAUSING THE BUCKLE TO OPERATE IMPROPERLY.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE SAFETY BELTS WOULD NOT PROVIDE ADEQUATE PROTECTION TO AN OCCUPANT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: OWNERS SHOULD PROMPTLY CHECK THE CONDITION AND OPERATION OF BOTH FRONT SAFETY BELT BUCKLES AND CAREFULLY INSPECT THE RED RELEASE BUTTON FOR ANY BREAKS OR CRACKS. THEY SHOULD ENSURE THAT BOTH BUCKLES ARE OPERATING PROPERLY BY INSERTING EACH LATCH PLATE INTO ITS BUCKLE, TUGGING ON THE BELT TO MAKE SURE THE LATCH IS SECURELY LOCKED, AND THEN PRESSING THE RELEASE BUTTON. THE LATCH PLATE SHOULD POP OUT OF THE BUCKLE WHEN THE BUTTON IS PRESSED. IF EITHER RELEASE BUTTON SHOWS A SIGN OF BREAKING OR CRACKING OR IF EITHER BUCKLE FAILS TO OPERATE PROPERLY, OWNERS SHOULD PROMPTLY CONTACT THEIR AUTHORIZED DEALER TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THE BUCKLE REPLACED OR REPAIRED, FREE OF CHARGE. THE MANUFACTURER IS DEVELOPING A REMEDY DESIGNED TO PREVENT FAILURE OF THE BUTTONS THAT ARE NOT CURRENTLY BROKEN.
92V091001 · Air Bags
Jul 6, 1992
THE STEERING WHEEL CENTER HUB CAN FRACTURE DURING CERTAIN FRONTAL AND NEAR FRONTAL VEHICLE COLLISIONS.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: FRACTURING OF THE STEERING WHEEL HUB CAN DECREASE THEDRIVER'S CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND COULD REDUCE THE CRASH PROTECTION OF THESTEERING SYSTEM AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG.
Remedy: A STEERING WHEEL REINFORCEMENT PLATE AND NUT WILL BE ADDED TO THE STEERING WHEEL HUB.
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
2PE95035 · Steering Column Loosening
Opened Jun 7, 1995 · Closed Oct 10, 1995
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering
There is no summary currently available
EA95014 · Seat Belt Buckles Failure
Opened Apr 25, 1995 · Closed Jul 28, 1995
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts:front:buckle Assembly
There is no summary currently available
Illustration