IllustrationWHILE DRIVING ABOUT 45 MPH VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A COW HEAD-ON FIRST. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *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
What owners actually said
71 reportsENGINE 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
VEHICLE WAS INVOVLED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION WITH A TREE AT 30 MPH. UPON IMPACT, BOTH AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
CONSUMER WAS APPROACHING AN INTERSECTION AT A STOP SIGN AND PEDESTRAIN RAN IN FRONT OF VEHICLE. DRIVER IN VEHICLE IN FRONT JAMMED ON BRAKES SO THAT HE WOULDN'T HIT THE PEDESTRAIN. THEN, CONSUMER APPLIED HER BRAKES AND BRAKES LOCKED UP. VEHICLE SKIDDED INTO OTHER VEHICLE, AND AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY . CONSUMER WAS T…
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CONSUMER WAS APPROACHING AN INTERSECTION AT A STOP SIGN AND PEDESTRAIN RAN IN FRONT OF VEHICLE. DRIVER IN VEHICLE IN FRONT JAMMED ON BRAKES SO THAT HE WOULDN'T HIT THE PEDESTRAIN. THEN, CONSUMER APPLIED HER BRAKES AND BRAKES LOCKED UP. VEHICLE SKIDDED INTO OTHER VEHICLE, AND AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY . CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 10 MPH. *AK
ENGINE STALLS WITH NO WARNING AT IDLE. DEALER CAN'T HELP. ENGINE ALSO MAKING EXCESSIVE TAPPING NOISE AT START-UP.*AK
DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR HINGE HAS COME OFF THE FRAME OF THE CAR. OWNER CANNOT DRIVE VEHICLE. DOOR HAS NOT COME COMPLETELY OFF. DEALER HAS NOT SEEN VEHICLE. *AK
WHILE DRIVING UNDER SLICK ROAD CONDITIONS AT 20 MPH CONSUMER RAN OFF ROAD INTO A WOODEN FENCE AND A TREE. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY/SEAT BELTS DID NOT LOCK AS THEY SHOULD TO PREVENT INJURY. CONSUMER SUFFERED A HEAD INJURY. DEALER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
VEHICLE HAS EXPERIENCED CONTINUED PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION NOT SHIFTING PROPERLY, SEVERAL REPAIRS TO TRANSMISSION TO TRY TO REMEDY THE SHIFTING PROBLEMS, HOWEVER NOT ABLE TO BE FIXED PROPERLY. *MJS
ENGINE BEGAN TO RACE CAUSE DIFFICULTY TO CONTROL.
VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE SHOP TO GET TIRES ROTATED. WHILE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING ON THE ROAD ON HER WAY HOME WHEN SHE HEARD A GRINDING/CLANKING NOISE. AS SHE APPROCHED A HILL THE NOISE GOT LOUDER. SHE PULLED OVER. THE LUGS: BOLTS HAD CAME OFF THE WHEELS, AND A LUG: NUT WAS MISSING. SHE NOTIFIED THE SHOP THAT SERVICE HER VEHIC…
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VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE SHOP TO GET TIRES ROTATED. WHILE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING ON THE ROAD ON HER WAY HOME WHEN SHE HEARD A GRINDING/CLANKING NOISE. AS SHE APPROCHED A HILL THE NOISE GOT LOUDER. SHE PULLED OVER. THE LUGS: BOLTS HAD CAME OFF THE WHEELS, AND A LUG: NUT WAS MISSING. SHE NOTIFIED THE SHOP THAT SERVICE HER VEHICLE. *AK
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.