1996 GEO Metro Problems

What owners report

Owners of this 1996 Geo Metro most often describe airbags that did not deploy in impacts at speeds from about 15 to 55 mph. Other recurring reports include an airbag warning light that stays on, headlights that fail because of burnt or shorted wiring, stalling or weak acceleration, and seats that collapse or rock. Where mileage is listed, it falls between about 96,000 and 175,000 miles.

1. 1
   Air bags

   Airbags did not deploy in some impacts

   • 18 complaints (20%)
   • typically at 3.5 yrs old
   • 16 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1996–2002

   Owners describe frontal, side and rear impacts in which the airbags did not deploy, including some at speeds of about 35 to 55 mph. Some describe heavy front-end damage without deployment. According to some complaints, the dealer could not test the system or locate the front sensor, and another says the dealer said the sensors had not been struck correctly. No mileage is listed in these complaints; the impacts are described at speeds from about 15 to 55 mph.

   What to check: Ask the seller for any airbag or SRS repair records, and have a mechanic scan the airbag system for stored fault codes and confirm the crash sensors are present and connected.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I have already sent in a form but have never been contacted since by neither yourselves nor the manufactures of the vehicle. I still want to know why the air bags did not deploy with a perfect, headlight to headlight, front end collision. My first throught is that the things just don't work or that the airbag imprints are just for looks. The outo body shop at the chevy dealership could not even show me the sensor on the front end of the car. The owners manual shows where it is supposed to be but its not there, why?? …”

   NHTSA complaint #537605, filed 1998-06

   “In my accident my vehicle went airborne and landed nose first. It seemed odd to me the air bags did not go off. My concern is only there may be a problem with other metros.”

   NHTSA complaint #718984, filed 2000-02
2. 2
   Electrical system

   Stalling or loss of power, including at stops

   • 7 complaints (8%)
   • typically at 3.8 yrs old
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1996–2005

   Owners describe the engine cutting out or stalling while driving or at a stop light, and some describe weak acceleration from a stop. Some complaints say the alternator was too small for the air conditioning and radio load, and an owner who replaced the alternator says they were told the car was designed that way. Other complaints describe an engine bolt that broke or came loose and damaged engine parts, with stalling also reported. No mileage is listed in these complaints; the reports describe stops at traffic lights, while driving, and after a crash.

   What to check: Ask whether the alternator and battery have been load-tested, and check that the engine idles and restarts smoothly with the A/C and radio on. Ask for records of any engine or crankshaft-bolt repairs.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Upon coming to a complete stop when depressing the accelerator pedal, vehicle was at a stand still. Also, vehicle became very difficult to accelerate from 0-15. Consumer has contacted the dealer, dealer was unable to determine the cause of the problem. Please provide any further details.”

   NHTSA complaint #845254, filed 1999-08

   “Came to stop light and the car wouldn't start back up. Low voltage reading or dim lights.changed alternator in november. Was told that was the way the car was designed, and the alternator was not big enough. Consumer contacted dealer and manufacturer.”

   NHTSA complaint #844519, filed 1999-08
3. 3
   Air bags

   Airbag light stays on, or airbag deploys without a crash

   • 7 complaints (8%)
   • typically at 4.5 yrs old
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1997–2001

   Some owners report the airbag warning light stayed on or came back after the dealer replaced parts, and a dealer offered a goodwill refund. Other complaints describe a passenger airbag deploying while driving with no collision, and a dealer that could not identify the problem. Another describes the passenger airbag deploying while the driver airbag stayed inactive after a possible impact with road debris. No mileage is listed in these complaints; the unexpected deployments are described while the vehicle was moving.

   What to check: Confirm the airbag warning light goes out after the ignition self-check, and ask the seller for any airbag repair records and whether a goodwill repair was done.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Passenger airbag deployed while vehicle was in motion,driver possibly hit a piece of brick in the road only, no passengers were in car, driver airbag did not deploy, reported to GM, no action taken, brought to triangle chev, port arther tx, stayed in shop 3 wks, they said had no machinery available to test it but said this was a safety issue.”

   NHTSA complaint #727400, filed 2000-08

   “While driving, airbag light illuminated at times, dealer stated airbag system needed replaced, however after replacement the airbag light became illuminated again, dealer finally agreed to give a refund as a goodwill policy.”

   NHTSA complaint #559475, filed 2001-02
4. 4
   Electrical system

   Headlights out from burnt or shorted wiring

   Mentioned in 4 of 57 sampled complaints

   Owners describe headlights and high beams going out while the daytime running lights still worked. Complaints describe burnt or melted connections at the fuse box or light switch, and a short in the steering column headlight switch wiring. Some owners say the fuse box or connectors were replaced repeatedly, and another complaint also mentions dashboard lights on the left side not working. Where mileage is listed, it is about 96,000 miles; the other reports do not list mileage.

   What to check: Test the headlights on low beam and high beam and check the dash lights before buying, and ask whether the fuse box, headlight switch or its wiring has been repaired.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Fuse box/headlight connection burnt/melted. Headlights non operative, only daytime running lights available. Replaced fusebox for second time. Replaced butt conector for fourth time.”

   NHTSA complaint #10096260, filed 2004-10, 96,000 miles

   “There was a short in the light switch which caused wires/connection at fuse box (under dash) to burn and melt. The effect of this was that only the daytime running lights and parking lights would work. The headlights and high beams would not work. Just wondering why a fuse would not blow to indicate a problem instead of wires burning and fuse box burning?”

   NHTSA complaint #700574, filed 1998-11
5. 5
   Seats

   Seat collapses or rocks loose

   • 6 complaints (7%)
   • typically at 1.6 yrs old
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1996–2001

   Some complaints describe a driver's seatback collapsing backward in rear-end impacts, including a case where it fell onto a child safety seat. Another complaint says the driver's seat gave way while driving, and the owner briefly lost control. A separate complaint describes a passenger seat that rocks and has lubricant under it. No mileage is listed in these complaints; the seatback failures are described in rear-end impacts and while driving.

   What to check: Rock the seatback and check the seat tracks and mounting bolts for play before buying, and ask whether the seat has been repaired.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The driver's seat collapsed when the vehicle was rear ended. Consumer states as vehiclwas rearended, the seat collpased and she lost control of vehicle, causing her to go across three lanes of traffic and striking vehicle, then back across three lanes in the opposite direction, consumer was injured in accident.”

   NHTSA complaint #986904, filed 1996-07

   “Seat on passenger's side rocks and has globs of lubricant under the seat. Also gears do not shift properly/muffler is rusted/side defrosters do not function properly and vehicle slides in rain with no traction on tires.”

   NHTSA complaint #508798, filed 1997-09

Buying note. For a used 1996 Geo Metro, ask for records of airbag, headlight wiring, charging and seat repairs, and have a mechanic check those systems before buying. The complaints in this sample rarely list mileage, so the condition of these systems matters regardless of the mileage shown.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 57 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.