1991 GEO Metro Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe the hood flying open while driving, sometimes breaking the windshield, and some reports link this to a hood striker recall. Other frequent reports involve seat belt buckle recall repairs that owners say dealers could not perform, often because parts were not available, and seat belts or seatbacks that failed to restrain occupants in crashes. Mileage is not recorded for these complaints, so age and distance patterns cannot be assessed.

1. 1
   Latches, locks and linkages

   Hood flies open and breaks the windshield

   • 12 complaints (24%)
   • typically at 5.6 yrs old
   • filed 1996–2001

   Owners describe the hood flying up while driving, including at highway speed, and striking the windshield and cracking or shattering it. Some say they pulled over and closed the hood, and some say they were not aware of an earlier recall on the latch until after the incident. Some complaints say the dealer refused to repair the latch or replace the windshield, and others say a recall repair was done but the hood cracked around the latch or the problem returned. Mileage is not recorded in these complaints, and some hood openings were reported at about 50 to 65 mph on highways.

   Recall 93V189001

   What to check: Ask whether the hood striker and latch recall 93V189001 was performed on this vehicle, and check that the hood latches securely when closed. Inspect the hood striker and the area around the latch for cracks or loose welds before buying.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “We were not aware that this problem had been subjected to recall earlier and our dealer refused to repair the latch or offer to replace the windshield broken due to the hood flying up as of 10/30/1999”

   NHTSA complaint #714128, filed 1999-10

   “Researched the NHTSA website and showed a recall on the hood striker assembly unit! My hood flung open in the middle of the insterstate, causing the hood to hit the main winshield and crack! Luckily the windshield itself did not implode and cause serious damage or death to me! And luckily the interstate was not busy, to have caused a major accident! I did viewed my vehicle. The latch itself is not working properly! According to the recall, GM dealer will replace the bolts to prevent the hood to fly open. …”

   NHTSA complaint #740144, filed 2001-01
2. 2
   Seat belts

   Seat belt buckle recall repair not available

   • 5 complaints (10%)
   • typically at 7.7 yrs old
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1997–2003

   Owners describe receiving the recall notice for a front seat belt buckle, but say dealers had no parts to make the repair. Some return visits left the repair undone for months, and some dealers reportedly refused the repair because the vehicle was not included in the recall. Another complaint says the recall did not list the vehicle identification number after a single-car collision in which both seat belts came unbuckled. Mileage is not recorded in these complaints, and the problem is described as a recall repair that was pending or refused.

   Recall 95V103007

   What to check: Check the recall status for the vehicle using its VIN, and ask the dealer whether the front seat belt buckle recall 95V103007 was completed. Test each seat belt buckle by latching and unlatching it a few times, and check that the release button moves freely and is not broken.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Received recall notice (#95v103007). Called dealer & took vehicle in; dealer never did repairs. Received another recall notice & did same thing. Again dealer failed to repair. Got a 3rd notice & again no repair from dealer. Was informed did not have time to repair vehicle & did not know when able to so.”

   NHTSA complaint #816859, filed 1997-10

   “The vehicle was involved in a single car collision where both the driver and passenger seat belts became un-buckled, which resulted in the passenger being ejected from the vehicle and killed. Related recall 95v103007, manufacturer advised the consumer's vehicle identification number was not included.”

   NHTSA complaint #10020385, filed 2003-05
3. 3
   Seat belts

   Seat belts or seatbacks fail in crashes

   • 11 complaints (22%)
   • typically at 5.0 yrs old
   • 8 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1995–2003

   Owners describe a shoulder belt that did not retract in a crash, letting the driver strike the windshield, and a belt that did not restrain a driver after the vehicle flipped. In a single-car collision, both belts reportedly came unbuckled, and a passenger was ejected. Seatbacks reportedly broke in rear-end impacts, which left occupants without restraint, and a report describes a driver losing control of the vehicle after the seat failed. Mileage is not recorded in these complaints, and the crashes described include rear impacts at about 35 mph and at a stop light.

   What to check: Ask whether the seat belt retractor and buckle have been inspected or replaced, and check that the belt pulls out and retracts smoothly and locks when pulled quickly. Check that each seat is firmly anchored and that the seatback locks upright.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Consumer was driving approx. 35mph when she was rearended. At the impact of the crash, the driver's side seatback broke, consumer lost control of vehicle, resulting in hitting a pole and a tree. Consumer was injured due to loss of vehicle control.”

   NHTSA complaint #814064, filed 1997-07

   “Driving vehicle on I-90, road under construction, vehicle hit rocks in road/flipped over, driver thrown from vehicle, seat belt did not restrain driver.”

   NHTSA complaint #985063, filed 1996-05

Buying note. Used-car buyers should confirm that the hood latch and seat belt buckle recall work has been completed, and check the hood striker, hood latch, and belts during an inspection. Ask for documentation of recall completion, since some complaints describe repairs that were pending or refused.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 26 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.