1991 GEO Storm Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe an unstable idle: engine speed that climbs on its own at stops, sometimes to 2,000-3,500 rpm, and sometimes drops low enough to stall. Many complaints attribute this to the electronic control module/computer and note that the behavior is worse in hot weather; a smaller but consistent group concerns driver's air bag non-deployment in frontal impacts and seat belt buckle problems covered by two recalls.

1. 1
   Electrical system

   Erratic / high idle traced to the engine control computer

   • 35 complaints (39%)
   • median 40,000 mi at 15.3 yrs old (3 state mileage, few)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1999–2014

   Complaints describe engine speed jumping to 2,000-3,500 rpm while stopped or coasting, then dropping so low the engine nearly or actually stalls. Several owners say the behavior was diagnosed as a fault in the electronic control module (ECM/ECU), and some link it to a shrinking factory coating on the circuit board that pulls solder joints loose over time. Others report repeat module replacements at their own expense, and say the dealer or manufacturer told them the condition was common rather than offering a repair. Reported across a wide mileage range, often after several years of use and repeatedly noted as worse in hot summer weather.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Drive the car to full temperature, including in warm weather, and let it idle in gear at a stop to see whether rpm climbs or drops. Ask whether the engine control module has ever been replaced and whether the replacement acted normally afterward.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Gm & isuzu are aware of this. Apparently they have refused to fix it. My car has just begun these symptoms but I don't want to wait until the car dies on me. This year we have had record highs in ca. It's making the problem worse. It cuts off when it feels like it for no good reason. It idles high and low. It has eve refused to start at times.”

   NHTSA complaint #724968, filed 2000-07

   “Engine idles uncontrolably at high rpms (2000+) when stopped, this presents a saftey threat if I should have my foot slip off the clutch or have a cable failure because the car will lurch forward before the engine dies. This could cause an accident involving a pedestrian or traffic going the other direction at an intersection.”

   NHTSA complaint #707953, filed 1999-06
2. 2
   Engine cooling

   Engine stalls while driving or pulling away

   • 17 complaints (19%)
   • median 40,000 mi at 15.3 yrs old (3 state mileage, few)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1999–2014

   Owners describe the engine quitting without warning at highway speed, at stop lights, or when pulling out into traffic, and sometimes refusing to restart until it cools or sits. Some say the car was taken to a dealer or shop where the distributor cap, wires and rotor were replaced, but the stalling returned; others say the dealer could not find or fix the cause. Complaints span low and high mileage; several mention stalls occurring once the engine is warm or in hot weather, and one report describes a stall at about 40,000 miles.

   What to check: Ask for service records covering ignition parts and the engine computer, and test drive long enough to reach normal operating temperature at both city and highway speeds.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Engine control computer improperly built causing erractic idle from 2000rpm to 500rpm, car stalls and will not start. Isuzu has been contacted about this and has stated we do not make cars and they fail to rectify the problem. There are very many of us who would like to see this issue resolved as our cars stalling in traffic and idling erractically is causing a lot of problems as in poor efficiency and unneeded downtime. …”

   NHTSA complaint #758573, filed 2002-02

   “I sent one complaint today, with some errors. I am sending this complaint to correct these errors, and also to complain a little more. I can bareley make it to school in my car without worring if it is going to die or not. Several times it has died in the middle of busy intersections not only putting myself in danger, but also the other motrists around me. I am a young kid on a tight budget and would like to see something done about this. Thank you.”

   NHTSA complaint #753159, filed 2001-10
3. 3
   Air bags

   Driver's air bag did not deploy in a frontal impact

   • 14 complaints (16%)
   • typically at 5.2 yrs old
   • 13 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1995–1999

   Several owners report that the driver's air bag failed to inflate in a front-end collision, including impacts with another vehicle, a tree and a ditch. One complaint describes the steering wheel center hub breaking apart with air bag deployment, and a recall covering the center hub fracturing in certain frontal collisions exists for this model. Some complaints also note later trouble getting recall work scheduled or completed at a dealer. Mileage is not stated in most of these reports; incidents are described as occurring during frontal collisions at moderate to highway speeds.

   Recall 92V091001

   What to check: Check whether recall 92V091001 was performed on the vehicle, and have the air bag system and steering wheel hub inspected before relying on it.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “While driving steering hub fractured, air bag deployed, burned drivers face. Tt consumer also states eyes and body as well as developing an infection, from accident.”

   NHTSA complaint #972892, filed 1995-10

   “When vehicle swerved to keep it from hitting a deer, the front end went into a irrigation ditch, and driver's side air bag did not deploy. Vehicle will be totalled”

   NHTSA complaint #852089, filed 1999-11
4. 4
   Vehicle speed control

   Throttle stuck or cruise control would not disengage

   Mentioned in 4 of 47 sampled complaints

   A few owners report the throttle holding high rpm in warm weather and, in one case, cruise control that would not disengage and went to an open throttle position. The reports describe having to brake hard or press firmly to keep the car from creeping forward. Reported on older vehicles with no consistent mileage; heat is mentioned in one report as a factor.

   What to check: On a warm-weather test drive, check that the throttle returns freely and that cruise control cancels with the brake pedal and the switch.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “During warm weather the vehicle's throttle will stick at 2000. Through my research I have found this to be the fault of the ecu. It is a very dangerous thing to have your throttle stick. Dt”

   NHTSA complaint #769901, filed 2002-11

   “Criuse control was engaged, when tried to disengage will not, went into open throttle position, to stop vehicle applied the brakes real hard and released.”

   NHTSA complaint #984875, filed 1996-05

Buying note. This model year draws repeated complaints about idle and stalling behavior tied to the engine control computer, and repairs are not always permanent, so budget for diagnostics and possible module work. Confirm that both open recalls (air bag center hub and seat belt buckle) were completed, and test drive thoroughly in warm weather before buying.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 47 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.