IllustrationWHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED CONSUMER NOTICED LIQUID UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. CONSUMER INFORMED THE MECHANIC THAT THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED MORE THAN ONCE. *AK
1996 Geo Tracker
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Tracker 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: 0 of 71 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 22 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Air Bags. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. 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.
15 crash reports1 fire reports9 injury reports
Engine And Engine Cooling complaints
22 reportsTHERE WAS SMOKE COMING OUT FROM UNDER DASH AND ALL EQUIPMENT PANELS QUIT WORKING-NO INTERIOR LIGHTS, BLINKERS, HAZARDS, RADIO,SPEEDOMETER. WHEN STOPPED CAR IDLES DOWN LIGHTS GO DIM AND STALLS. WHEN THIS HAPPENS AND YOU START TO GO THE FAN BELT SQEALS. NLM
ON 9/24/99 WE HAD OUR TIMING BELT REPLACED AS A PART OF THE 60,000 MAINTENANCE ON OUR CAR. IN AUGUST OF 2000 WE EXPERIENCED A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER ACCOMPANIED BY A CLANKING IN THE ENGINE. THIS OCCURRED WHILE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING MY 2 YOUNG CHILDREN TO AN EVENT. WE CHECKED THE CAR IN WITH A DEALER WHO INFORMED US THAT THE BOLT …
Read full complaint
ON 9/24/99 WE HAD OUR TIMING BELT REPLACED AS A PART OF THE 60,000 MAINTENANCE ON OUR CAR. IN AUGUST OF 2000 WE EXPERIENCED A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER ACCOMPANIED BY A CLANKING IN THE ENGINE. THIS OCCURRED WHILE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING MY 2 YOUNG CHILDREN TO AN EVENT. WE CHECKED THE CAR IN WITH A DEALER WHO INFORMED US THAT THE BOLT HOLDING THE TIMING BELT ASSEMBLY TO THE CRANK CASE HAD COME UNSCREWED AND TORN APART OUR CRANKCASE. 3 MECHANICS STATED THAT THIS WAS IRREPAIRABLE AND REQUIRED A NEW ENGINE FOR THE CAR. THE DEALER TOLD US THAT THIS SCREW COULD ONLY COME LOOSE DURING THE REPLACEMENT OF THE TIMING BELT - SPECIFICALLY THAT THE MECHANIC HAD FAILED TO TIGHTEN IT PROPERLY. WHEN I BROUGH THIS TO THE ATTENTION OF MY MECHABIC, HE PROMPTLY PRODUCED CHEVY'S PUBLISHED REPAIR GUIDE WHICH CLEARLY STATES THAT THIS BOLT IS NOT TO BE UNSCREWED DURING TIMING BELT REPLACEMENT. THIS LEAVES ONLY 1 OTHER POSSIBILITY - THE BOLT WAS NOT PROPERLY TIGHTENED AT THE MANUFACTURING FACILITY. WHEN I BROUGHT THIS TO THE DEALER'S ATTENTION THEY WERE QUITE RUDE AND INFORMED THAT I WAS ON MY OWN SINCE I HAD NOT USED A DEALER FOR THE REPAIR. CALLS TO CHEVY'S CUSTOMER SERVICE WERE HANDLED IN THE SAME CONDESCENDING MANNER. EMAILS TO THE COPANY HAVE GONE UNANSWERED. THE COPANY DOES NOT SEEM TO CARE THAT A DEFAULT IN THEIR MANUFACTURING PUT MY FAMILY AT RISK. I AM GETTING YOUR AGENCY INVOLVED FOR 2 REASONS (1) NOTIFY YOU OF THE NEGLIGENCE AND LACK OF CONCERN ON CHEVY'S PART, AND (2) SOLICIT YOUR ASSISTANCE IN RECOVERING THE $3,000 I HAD TO SPEND TO REPLACE A DEFECTIVE ENGINE. *AK
CONSUMER TOOK CAR IN FOR OIL CHANGE, AND MECHANIC SAID THAT ONLY ONE NUT: BOLT WAS HOLDING THE FAN SHROUD ON, THERE WERE SUPPOSE TO BE 4 NUT:BOLTS. *AK FRONT DRIVE SHAFT FELL OFF. A BOLTS IN PCV VALVE WERE LOOSE. *YH
ENGINE STARTED MAKING A RATTLING NOISE. THE CONSUMER FOUND OUT IT WAS 2 SLUNG ROD IN THE ENGINE FROM A MECHANIC. CONSUMER STARTED REBUILDING ENGINE BECAUSE THE CRANKSHAFT ON TRACKERS AREN'T REUSABLE. CHEVROLET REALLY HASN'T GIVEN ANY INFORMATION WHY IT HAPPENED.*AK
ENGINE STALLS WITH NO WARNING AT IDLE. DEALER CAN'T HELP. ENGINE ALSO MAKING EXCESSIVE TAPPING NOISE AT START-UP.*AK
ENGINE BEGAN TO RACE CAUSE DIFFICULTY TO CONTROL.
REPAIR WAS REFUSED UNDER WARRANTY. NO DEFECT LISTED. *AK
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE SHIMMIES AND THE ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. ALSO, STEERING BECOMES HARD AND THEN THE ENGINE SHUTS DOWN. DEALER REPAIRED VEHICLE AND THE CLUTCH SHAFT SHATTERED TWICE, CONSUMER OWNED VEHICLE FOR 3 YEARS AND HAS TAKEN IT TO DEALERSHIP APPROXIMATELY 20 TIMES. *AK *JG
CONSUMER EXPERIENCING INTERMITTENT STALLING,DEALER UNABLE TO FIND PROBLEM.
Official recalls
196V121001 · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly
Jul 1, 1996
THE FUEL TANK ON THESE VEHICLES CAN BECOME PUNCTURED BY A FUEL TANK FLANGE ATTACHMENT REINFORCEMENT DURING REAR-END COLLISIONS. THIS DOES NOT COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 301, "FUEL TANK INTEGRITY."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: CONSEQUENCE OF NON-COMPLIANCE: IF AN IGNITION SOURCE WAS PRESENT, FUEL LEAKAGE RESULTING FROM THIS PUNCTURE COULD RESULT IN A POST-CRASH FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL TWO NEW SHIELD GUSSETS BETWEEN THE FUEL TANK AND ATTACHMENT BRACKETS TO PREVENT THE REINFORCEMENT FROM PUNCTURING THE FUEL TANK WALL.
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.