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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 →
71Owner complaints

Model-year median: 18

1Recall campaigns

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0Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
24
199348
199464
199571
199625
199718
199822
1999
Compare all Tracker years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Engine And Engine Cooling
22Air Bags
11Service Brakes, Hydraulic
8Power Train
7Suspension
6
All reported categories
Electrical System
5Seat Belts
5Seats
5Structure
5Equipment
4Fuel System, Gasoline
4Wheels
4Parking Brake
2Steering
2Tires
2Interior Lighting
1Unknown Or Other
1Vehicle Speed Control
1Visibility
1

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

Steering complaints

2 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Mar 30, 1999
Engine And Engine CoolingPower TrainSteering

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

NHTSA ODI #836328

Mileage unknown · Oct 10, 1997
Air BagsSteeringCrashInjury

WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH STEERING LOCKED UP AND VEHICLE FLIPPED OVER. DRIVER'S/PASSENGER'S AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AFTER VEHICLE STRUCK A LARGE CLUMP OF POMPUS GRASS. BOTH DRIVER/PASSENGER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. *AK

NHTSA ODI #523836

Official recalls

1

96V121001 · 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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.