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GEO TrackerModel year report

1997 GEO Tracker Problems

Complaints
25filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
119,672miles, 5 complaints with mileage
Recalls
0campaigns on record
Trend
StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
—overall rating starts with 2011 models
EPA fuel economy
22 mpgcombined, 1.6L 4-cyl RWD · 21 city / 24 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 1997 GEO Tracker (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 25 consumer complaints for the 1997 GEO Tracker. The part named most often is brakes, with 6 complaints (24% of the total), followed by air bags (5) and engine cooling (5). 5 of the complaints include a mileage, and 20% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 119,672 miles. Of all complaints, 5 involved a crash, 1 a fire, 1 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 0 recall campaigns and 15 technical service bulletins for this model year.

Not compared (before 2008). Model years 2008–2023 of the same vehicle that have at least 25 complaints are compared, and a model needs at least 3 of them.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Also reported: Vehicle speed control (1), Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors) (1).

Example complaints

Brakes: “While driving on interstate highway, it felt like my transmission had went the car would not move further after going through a toll both. Had car towed to nh chevy car dealer, found nothing wrong on 3 occasions. Personal ny chevy dealer found master brake cylinder had blown causing brakes to lock on their own, while also causing brakes to severely smoke. Took over 2 weeks to find problem & correct.”

NHTSA complaint #10056272, filed 2004-02, 119,672 miles

Air bags: “Consumer was driving on side road at approximately 35 MPH on normal road condition, all of sudden both air bags deployed without warning, causing vehicle to hit a parked vehicle. Dealer notified, and refused to believe tha t air bags deployed before the accident.”

NHTSA complaint #828444, filed 1998-10

Engine cooling: “Had previous diagnosis on EGR valve. Had replaced on 1/19 after ses code cleared another code popped up for pre-cat o2 sensor. Upon fixing that problem on 1/28 yet another EGR code came up and was diagnosed on 1/30 for the EGR transducer which controls the EGR valve I just had replaced! Replaced transducer on 1/31. Between labor, parts & diagnostics I shelled out $530.00. Plus I had a EGR solenoid replaced on 7/23/02. This is crazy, all this stuff went one after another something has to been wrong related either to the fuel system of said vehicle or to EGR system of said vehicle!”

NHTSA complaint #10056276, filed 2004-02, 134,259 miles

Transmission and drivetrain: “The free wheel locking hub was not unlocking when shifting from 4 wheel drive to 2 wheel drive, which caused a shrill grinding noise while driving. I took the car to the dealership and they replaced the hub. They told me they have had a rash of these complaints lately.”

NHTSA complaint #704635, filed 1999-03

Mileage when problems were reported

20% of the 5 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 65,000 and 119,672 miles.

0%0–100%10–2520%25–5020%50–750%75–10060%100–1500%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (5 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 119,672 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: stable. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.

1997199819996200020012002200320042008
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 1997 GEO Tracker. Frontal results are shown driver / passenger; rollover shows the star rating and NHTSA's estimated risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.

VersionOverallFrontalSideSide poleRollover
Tracker · coupe not rated2 / 3———

Ratings before the 2011 model year come from an older, less demanding test and are not comparable with ratings for 2011 and later.

Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), nhtsa.gov/ratings.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 1997 GEO Tracker version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
Tracker Convertible 2WD1.6L 4-cyl5-speed manual212422$3,050
Tracker Convertible 2WD1.6L 4-cyl3-speed automatic212221$3,200
Tracker Convertible 4x41.6L 4-cyl5-speed manual212422$3,050
Tracker Convertible 4x41.6L 4-cyl3-speed automatic212221$3,200
Tracker Van 2WD1.6L 4-cyl5-speed manual212422$3,050
Tracker Van 2WD1.6L 4-cyl4-speed automatic192321$3,200
Tracker Van 4x41.6L 4-cyl5-speed manual212422$3,050
Tracker Van 4x41.6L 4-cyl4-speed automatic192321$3,200

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for the 1997 GEO Tracker in the data used here. A recall can apply to some vehicles of a model year and not others, so check a specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 15 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 15 bulletins →

Other model years of the GEO Tracker

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
2000737,2350———Not enough data
19992263,0003———Stable
199818—0———Stable
199725119,6720—22Not compared (before 2008)Stable
199671—1—22Not compared (before 2008)Stable
199564113,8500——Not compared (before 2008)Stable
19944869,0063—22Not compared (before 2008)Stable
199324164,5001—23—Stable
199219102,5000—23—Stable
199118181,5001—23—Stable
199025—1—24Not compared (before 2008)Stable
198910—1—25—Not enough data

All GEO Tracker model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 1997 GEO Tracker have?

NHTSA recorded 25 consumer complaints for the 1997 GEO Tracker as of Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 1997 GEO Tracker is reported most often?

Brakes is named most often, in 6 complaints (24% of the total), followed by air bags with 5.

Has the 1997 GEO Tracker been recalled?

NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for this model year in the data used here. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 1997 GEO Tracker get?

The EPA rates the 1997 GEO Tracker (Tracker Convertible 2WD, 1.6L 4-cyl) at 22 mpg combined, 21 city and 24 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,050 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 1997 GEO Tracker reported?

Among the 5 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 119,672 miles and the middle half falls between 65,000 and 119,672 miles; 20% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Crash ratings are from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.