IllustrationTRANSMISSION FAILED.
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 reportsINTERMITTENT STALLING.
WHILE DRIIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE ENGINE SHUTS DOWN, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STALL. *AK
BRAKES FAILED.
AIR BAG LIGHT:THE AIR BAG LIGHT CONSTANTLY COMES ON. THE LIGHT WILL COME ON AND STAY AND WILL NOT GO OFF., THEN IT WILL SUDDENLY GO OFF, IT COMES RIGHT BACK ON. DEALER CAN'T FIND A PROBLEM. *AK
EXHAUST FUMES ENTER VEHICLE THROUGH REAR GATE DOOR AREA, CAUSING SICKNESS. DOOR GASKET/PLUG REPLACED, PROBLEM CONTINUES.
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE ON FREEWAY ABOUT 55MPH, VEHICLE WOULD SUDDENLY STALL OR DIE OUT FOR REASON; WOULD HAVE TO RESTART VEHICLE AFTER COASTING TO SIDE OF ROAD; WOULD HAPPEN PERIODICALLY. TOOK TO DEALER 3 TIMES & CLAIMED THAT PROBLEM FIXED, BUT PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK
WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH, COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP, BRAKES WERE PUSHED TO THE FLOOR AND GAVE NO RESISTANCE. ABS LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON UNTIL CAR WAS TURNED OFF. BRAKES FAILED ON 2 OCCASIONS. MANF. CONTACTED
RECALL #96V121 8-28-96. FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY: CONSUMER IS UPSET BECAUSE DEALER SOLD HER THIS VEHICLE WITHOUT DOING THE RECALL. SHE CONTACTED THEM AFTER RECEIVING NOTICE OF RECALL AND WAS TOLD TO BRING IN FOR REPAIR , BUT SHE IS SAYING THAT THEY SHOUL HAVE REPAIRED THE VEHICLE BEFORE THEY SOLD IT TO HER BECAUSE THEY KNEW IT WAS ON…
Read full complaint
RECALL #96V121 8-28-96. FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY: CONSUMER IS UPSET BECAUSE DEALER SOLD HER THIS VEHICLE WITHOUT DOING THE RECALL. SHE CONTACTED THEM AFTER RECEIVING NOTICE OF RECALL AND WAS TOLD TO BRING IN FOR REPAIR , BUT SHE IS SAYING THAT THEY SHOUL HAVE REPAIRED THE VEHICLE BEFORE THEY SOLD IT TO HER BECAUSE THEY KNEW IT WAS ON RECALL. *AK
DESIGN OF TIRES TOO NARROW.
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.