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 77 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.
Electrical System. Review the 22 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 16 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Air Bags. 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.
14 crash reports0 fire reports9 injury reports
What owners actually said
77 reports
131,680 miles · Nov 18, 2003
Electrical System
I HAVE A 1992 GEO STORM 2+2 WITH A 12 VALVE MOTOR AND A 5 SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION THE CAR CONSTANTLY OVERHEATS EVEN AFTER ENTIRE COOLING SYSTEM WAS REPLACE. CAR STALLS, IDLES ERATICALLY DUE TO GM'S FAULTY ECM INSULATIVE SPRAY. AND JUST RECENTLY LOSS OF REAR TAIL LAMPS AND DASH LAMPS. BRAKE TURNING AND HAZARD LAMPS STILL WORK. …
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I HAVE A 1992 GEO STORM 2+2 WITH A 12 VALVE MOTOR AND A 5 SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION THE CAR CONSTANTLY OVERHEATS EVEN AFTER ENTIRE COOLING SYSTEM WAS REPLACE. CAR STALLS, IDLES ERATICALLY DUE TO GM'S FAULTY ECM INSULATIVE SPRAY. AND JUST RECENTLY LOSS OF REAR TAIL LAMPS AND DASH LAMPS. BRAKE TURNING AND HAZARD LAMPS STILL WORK. ALL FUSES AND RELAYS ARE GOOD. *LA
NHTSA ODI #10047090
Mileage unknown · Oct 13, 2003
Engine And Engine CoolingUnknown Or Other
ECM CAUSES ENGINE RPM TO INCREASE DURING WARM/HOT WEATHER WHICH WILL NOT DROP TO NORMAL WHEN THE CLUTCH IS ENGAGED UNLESS THE THROTTLE IS PHYSICALLY MOVED (BLIPPED). THIS DANGEROUS AS IT DOESN'T ALWAYS HAPPEN AND CAN CAUSE THE CAR TO NOT DECELERATE WHEN THE THROTTLE PEDAL IS LIFTED. THIS IS NOT A ONCE A YEAR DEFECT AS YOU ASK BE…
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ECM CAUSES ENGINE RPM TO INCREASE DURING WARM/HOT WEATHER WHICH WILL NOT DROP TO NORMAL WHEN THE CLUTCH IS ENGAGED UNLESS THE THROTTLE IS PHYSICALLY MOVED (BLIPPED). THIS DANGEROUS AS IT DOESN'T ALWAYS HAPPEN AND CAN CAUSE THE CAR TO NOT DECELERATE WHEN THE THROTTLE PEDAL IS LIFTED. THIS IS NOT A ONCE A YEAR DEFECT AS YOU ASK BELOW; (HAD TO FILL IN THE BLOCKS OR I COULDN'T CONTINUE). IT IS PREVALENT ON ALL FWD ISUZU BUILT AUTOMOBILES FROM 1989 THROUGH 1994. *LA
NHTSA ODI #10041723
5,000 miles · May 13, 2003
Electrical System
CAR IDLES ERRATICALLY, IT ALSO IDLES ABOVE 2000 RPM SOMETIMES IT LACKS POWER AND SOMETIME IT DOES NOT. THE CAR STALLS WHILE AT IDLE, OR SOMETIMES IT PUMPS GAS IRREGULARLY CAUSING A PULSING.....*JN
NHTSA ODI #10018616
Mileage unknown · Apr 27, 2003
Electrical System
ECU CAUSING ERRATIC IDLE IN MY 1992 GEO STORM. IT IS WORSE IN WARM WEATHER. IT HAS ALMOST CAUSED ME TO RUN INTO A TRAIN WHEN R.P.M JUMPED UP TO OVER 2000 RPM. SINCE IT WAS AN AUTOMATIC IT LURCHED FORWARD. GM SAID IT WAS BECAUSE OF INSULATING SPRAY CONTRACTING CAUSING SHORTS IN ECU. MY CAR HAS SHUT OFF IN TRAFFIC CAUSING TR…
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ECU CAUSING ERRATIC IDLE IN MY 1992 GEO STORM. IT IS WORSE IN WARM WEATHER. IT HAS ALMOST CAUSED ME TO RUN INTO A TRAIN WHEN R.P.M JUMPED UP TO OVER 2000 RPM. SINCE IT WAS AN AUTOMATIC IT LURCHED FORWARD. GM SAID IT WAS BECAUSE OF INSULATING SPRAY CONTRACTING CAUSING SHORTS IN ECU. MY CAR HAS SHUT OFF IN TRAFFIC CAUSING TRAFFIC JAMS ALSO. PLEASE MAKE GM RECALL THESE CARS FOR ECU REPAIR BEFORE SOME ONE GETS KILLED. *NLM
NHTSA ODI #10016581
Mileage unknown · Apr 24, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling
THE CAR SHUT OFF WITH NO WARNING AT VARIOUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SEVERAL MECHANICS AND THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE LAST INCIDENT HAPPENED 4/22/03. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10017495
Mileage unknown · Apr 3, 2003
Electrical SystemTires
FOR WELL OVER A YEAR NOW, MY 1992 GEO STORM-4 CYL., HAS EXHIBITED RPM'S ABOVE 2000 WHEN IDLING AT A STOP WHEN THE AMBIENT TEMPERATURE IS ABOVE 60 DEGREES F. I MUST KEEP THE BRAKE PEDAL FIRMLY PRESSED TO THE FLOOR SINCE THE AUTO. TRANSMISSION WANTS TO ENGAGE. THIS SYMPTOM ALSO CAUSES MY VEHICLE TO ACT AS IF IT IS ENGAGED IN CRU…
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FOR WELL OVER A YEAR NOW, MY 1992 GEO STORM-4 CYL., HAS EXHIBITED RPM'S ABOVE 2000 WHEN IDLING AT A STOP WHEN THE AMBIENT TEMPERATURE IS ABOVE 60 DEGREES F. I MUST KEEP THE BRAKE PEDAL FIRMLY PRESSED TO THE FLOOR SINCE THE AUTO. TRANSMISSION WANTS TO ENGAGE. THIS SYMPTOM ALSO CAUSES MY VEHICLE TO ACT AS IF IT IS ENGAGED IN CRUISE CONTROL, ACCELERATING TO ABOUT 30 MPH, ONCE THE BRAKE PEDAL IS RELEASED. CRUISE CONTROL WAS NOT OPTION INSTALLED IN THE CAR AT PURCHASE. I HAVE COME TO REALIZE THIS IS ALSO A PROBLEM WITH ISUZU'S, (THE GEO STORM ENGINE IS AN ISUZU PRODUCT), ALL DUE TO THE FAILURE OF THE INSULATIVE SPRAY ON THE ECM. I CERTAINLY HOPE THE MANUFACTURERS CAN BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR FIXING THIS POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS CONDITION.
NHTSA ODI #10013914
Mileage unknown · Jan 3, 2003
Power Train
WHILE DRIVING, CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES AND VEHICLE WENT INTO NEUTRAL AND ALL RPM DROPPED AND VEHICLE SHUT OFF. DEALER STATES THAT THEY CAN NOT REPAIR VEHICLE BECAUSE IT IS OLDER THAN 10 YEARS. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. TS
NHTSA ODI #10001946
Mileage unknown · Sep 7, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling
AFTER I PURCHASED THIS CAR ON APPROX. 5/20/2002,I NOTICED A SMALL RUMBLING SOUND ACCOMPANIED WITH THE SMELL OF EXHAUST FUMES INSIDE THE VEHICLE.ON 9/1/2002 I WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT WHEN I HEARD AN ENORMOUS RUMBLE I PROCEEDEDBACK HOME APPROX.2 BLOCKS. I THEN PUT THECAR UP ON CAR RAMPS AND SAW THE PIPE FROM THE MANIFOLD TO …
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AFTER I PURCHASED THIS CAR ON APPROX. 5/20/2002,I NOTICED A SMALL RUMBLING SOUND ACCOMPANIED WITH THE SMELL OF EXHAUST FUMES INSIDE THE VEHICLE.ON 9/1/2002 I WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT WHEN I HEARD AN ENORMOUS RUMBLE I PROCEEDEDBACK HOME APPROX.2 BLOCKS. I THEN PUT THECAR UP ON CAR RAMPS AND SAW THE PIPE FROM THE MANIFOLD TO THECONVERTER WAS IN GOOD SHAPE EXCEPT AT THE FLANGE BY THE MANIFOLD IT WAS SHEARED (NO RUST)I THEN INSPECTED THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD AND DISCOVEREDA 5 INCH CRACK.I THEN CALLED REPAIR SHOPS ,THEY TELL ME THIS IS CONSTANT ON ALL GEO,S I CALLED 30 USED AUTO PARTS YARDS THEY TELL ME ALL GEO EXHAUST MANIFOLDS CRACK AND THERE ARE NONE TO BE FOUND.AS THIS IS AN EXHAUST AND POTENTIALY FATAL FLAW I WILL AWAIT YOUR RESPONSE BEFORE WRITING THE NEWSPAPERS.*AK
NHTSA ODI #766826
Mileage unknown · Aug 23, 2002
Electrical SystemVehicle Speed Control
RPMS REV UP AND DOWN... CAR DIES... INSULATIVE SPRAY THAT MANUFACTURER USES ON THE COMPUTER SHINKS AND CONTRACTS WITH CHANGING TEMPERATURES AND BREAKS THE SOLDER AT THE COMPUTER CAUSING MISFIRES AT IDLE AND THOUGHOUT ALL DRIVING SPEEDS AND RANGES, ENGINE REVVING UP AND DOWN, ENGINE DYING, AND RPM HOLDING AT 2000 RPM GM KNOWS ABO…
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RPMS REV UP AND DOWN... CAR DIES... INSULATIVE SPRAY THAT MANUFACTURER USES ON THE COMPUTER SHINKS AND CONTRACTS WITH CHANGING TEMPERATURES AND BREAKS THE SOLDER AT THE COMPUTER CAUSING MISFIRES AT IDLE AND THOUGHOUT ALL DRIVING SPEEDS AND RANGES, ENGINE REVVING UP AND DOWN, ENGINE DYING, AND RPM HOLDING AT 2000 RPM GM KNOWS ABOUT THE FAULT IN THERE COMPUTERS...THEY REFUSE TO FIX IT AT THEIR EXPENSE... THEY USED THIS SPRAY ON INSULATORS ON 85-93 DELCO COMPUTERS... THEY USE A NEW SPRAY ON 95 AND UP, BUT DON'T ON FACTORY RECONDITIONERD ECU'S PRIOR TO 1995. *AK
NHTSA ODI #766119
Mileage unknown · Jul 23, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling
CAUSES MOTOR TO REV HIGH WHEN HOT AND DIE AT IDLE WHEN HOT HAS CAUSED AN OVER HEATING PROBLEM BEFORE. *AK
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
0
No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
1992 Geo Storm Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year