1996 GEO Metro

These are unverified consumer reports filed with NHTSA, shown as submitted.

• 12/30/1997· STEERING

  STEERING COLUMN LOCK DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY.

• 12/13/1996· AIR BAGSCrash

  DURING A FRONTAL IMPACT ACCIDENT AT 25 MPH, THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK

• 12/03/1996· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  OWNER HAS VARIOUS PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE, ONE BEING A SAFETY PROBLEM, VEHICLE STALLS WHILE DRIVING, OWNER NOTES THAT SHE WAS ALMOST IN A CRASH DUE TO THE LACK OF POWER. *AK

• 12/02/1997· EXTERIOR LIGHTING

  VEHICLE'S BRAKE LIGHTS ARE NOT FUNCTIONING PRPOERLY. OWNER HAS CHECKED THE BULBS, WIRING AND THE FUSES . THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

• 11/22/1999· AIR BAGS

  WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT A COLLISION OCCURRING ,THE PASSENGER'S AIR BAG DEPLOYED, CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER CANNOT IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM OR CAUSE. TRIANGLE CHEVROLET MADE NO ATTEMPT TO FURTHER CONTACT CONSUMER ABOUT REPAIRS. *AK

• 11/20/2006· STRUCTURE

  1996 GEO METRO FRAME RUSTED AND BROKE OFF WHILE DRIVING. *TS *JB

• 11/18/1997· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  CONSUMER BEGAN SMELLING EXHAUST FUMES WHENEVER RPM'S ARE UP OR AT SPEED OF (55MPH AND OVER ). DEALERSHIP HAD VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES, WHENEVER DEALER HAD VEHICLE ON THE ROAD THEY WOULD FIND SMELL OF EXHAUST, BUT WHEN THEY TAKE VEHICLE BACK TO GARAGE THEY COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM. DEALER WILL NOT WORK ON VEHICLE AT THIS POINT. *AK

• 11/13/2000· STEERING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  STEERING WHEEL ABLE TO SPIN IN CIRCLES WITH NO RESISTANCE, OR ANY EFFECT ON STEERING MECHANISM, CONDITION FINALLY STOPPED, NEXT FEW DAYS A NEW IGNITION LOCK WAS INSTALLED. *CJ

• 11/13/1998· ELECTRICAL SYSTEMFire

  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?

• 11/05/2003· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLINGFire

  VEHICLE ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE.*MR THE VEHICLE STARTED GIVING THE CONSUMER TROUBLE WHILE DRIVING. ONCE ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD,THE CONSUMER OPENED THE HOOD AND DISCOVERED THE ENGINE WAS ON FIRE. *PH *JB

• 11/04/1996· AIR BAGSCrash

  THE CONSUMER HAD AN ACCIDENT AND THE AIR BAG DIDN'T DEPLOY. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK

• 10/31/2005· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLINGCrash

  DT: THE CONTACT COMPLAINED ABOUT A CRANK SHAFT PROBLEM IN THE ENGINE. THE CRANK SHAFT PULLEY HAS ALREADY BEEN REPLACED. AFTER HEARING A NOISE IN THE ENGINE, SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO BE CHECKED. THE MECHANIC SAID THAT A BELT BROKE. THE BELT WAS REPLACED, AND A WEEK LATER SHE HEARD ANOTHER NOISE IN THE ENGINE. THE MECHANIC SAID IT WAS THE CRANK SHAFT PULLEY. TWO WEEKS LATER, THE CAR WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH. AFTER THE CRASH THE VEHICLE STALLED. AFTER BEING INSPECTED THE BOLT CAME LOOSE IN THE CRANK SHAFT. THE CAR WAS EXPERIENCING A LOSS OF POWER. SHE COULD HAVE FOOT ON THE ACCELERATOR AND THE CAR WOULD NOT GET UP TO SPEED. ANOTHER MECHANIC TOLD HER IT WAS THE CRANK SHAFT. SHE HAS NOT MADE ANY ARRANGEMENT TO HAVE VEHICLE REPAIRED. *AK

• 10/30/2000· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  DIMMER SWITCH CONNECTION BURNT CAUSING HEADLIGHTS NOT TO WORK ,AFTER REPLACEING DIMMER SWITCH FUSE BOX THAT IT CONNECTS TO BURNT OUT AND HAD TO BE REPLACED HAD SAME PROBLEM WITH 1991 METRO. *AK

• 10/29/1999· SEATS

  SEAT BRACKET FAILED CAUSING THE DRIVERS SEAT TO COLLAPSE. NLM

• 10/29/1999· AIR BAGS

  WHILE DRIVING WITHOUT VEHICLE COLLISION OCCURRING PASSENGER 'SAIR BAG DEPLOYED CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

• 10/29/1996· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  SUDDEN ACCELERATION ,RESULTING IN LOSS OF CONTROL, RPMS INCREASED FROM 900 TO 4000 RPMS. *AK

• 10/26/2000· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,AIR BAGSCrash

  CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 20MPH ON A HIGHWAY AND ROADS WERE SLIPPERY. SHE APPLIED BRAKES, AND VEHICLE SLID INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THERE WAS A FIVE CAR PILE UP ON THE HIGHWAY, AND CONSUMER'S WAS THE FOURTH VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT, AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY AT ALL. SHE WILL CONTACT THE DEALERSHIP. THERE WERE NO INJURIES.*AK

• 10/24/1996· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  DURING BRAKING EFFORTS VEHICLE WOULD VIBRATE AROUND 50-55MPH. *AK

• 10/23/2004· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  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.*AK

• 10/21/1999· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  WHEN TRYING TO PUT BRAKES ON, THEY GO ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR BEFORE THE CAR WILL STOP. *AK

• 10/20/1997· AIR BAGSCrash

  CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT APPROX 25 MPH, APRROACHING RED LIGHT, ANOTHER VEHICLE CAME INTO CONTACT WITH CONSUMER VEHICLE WHICH WAS RUNNING AT APPROX ABOVE 30 MPH. HIT HEAD ON, EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO FRONT END. DROVE VEHICLE 15 FEET AFTER IMPACT , NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED,CONSUMER SUSTAINED INJURIES IN CHEST AREA/NECK/RIGHT SHOULDER. HAD SEATBELT ON. *AK

• 10/17/1996· PARKING BRAKECrash

  THE VEHICLE WAS PLACED IN NEUTRAL AND THE EMERGENCY PARKING BRAKE WAS ON AND THE VEHICLE ROLLED FREELY, CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT. *AK

• 10/15/1998· AIR BAGSCrash

  VIOLENT DEPLOYMENT OF AIRBAG DURING SIDE IMPACT ACCIDENT CAUSED INJURY TO PASSENGER.*ET

• 10/13/1999· POWER TRAIN

  WHILE TRAVELLING ON HIGHWAT AT 50 OR MORE THE RIGHT WHEEL AXLE CAME OFF VEHICLE, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL. WAS ABLE TO GET VEHICLE OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITHOUT ANY INCIDENT OR INJURY. CAN NHTSA PROVIDE INFROMATION ON THIS MATTER. *AK

• 10/04/1997· VISIBILITY

  DRIVER'S SIDE WINDSHIELD WIPER FAILED, CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY.

• 09/21/1999· EQUIPMENT

  2 STEREO BUTTONS DON'T WORK, THE TAPE DECK DESTROYS CASSETTES, AND THE AIR CONDITIONING WILL NOT WORK UNLESS IT IS ON ONE OF THE 2 HIGHEST SETTINGS.

• 09/20/1996· AIR BAGSCrash

  PASSENGER'S SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED DURING FRONT END ACCIDENT, FORCE OF AIRBAG BLEW PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW OUTWARDS, VEHICLE REARENDEDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. FOUR CAR COLLISION.*AK

• 09/17/1998· AIR BAGSCrash

  SEAT BELT SHOULDER HARNESS FAILED DURING IMPACT RESULTING IN HEAD,NECK,SHOULDER, HIP AND KNEE INJURY. NOT AIR BAG COMPLAINT (E.G., SEAT BELT, TRAILER SUSPENSION AIR BAG, ETC.,). ADDED ON 09-07-1999. *AK

• 09/17/1997· TIRES

  CAR SLIDES IN RAIN WITH NO TRACTION OF TIRES.

• 09/15/1999· SEAT BELTSCrash

  THE REAR PASSENGER'S SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE UNLATCHED DURING A CRASH, CAUSING THE CHILD SAFETY SEAT, WHICH WAS RESTRAINED BY SEATBELT, TO FLY ACROSS THE VEHICLE. LUCKILY, THE CHILD WAS NOT IN THE VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION AND VIN#. *AK

• 08/28/1995· SUSPENSIONCrash

  VEHICLE WENT OFF ROAD INTO GRAVEL/CAUSING ACCIDENT/ROLLOVER. *DSH

• 08/26/2007· STRUCTURE

  MY DAUGHTER WAS TURNING INTO A PRIVATE DRIVEWAY. LOST STEERING AND CAR CAME TO IMMEDIATE STOP. THE RIGHT FRONT FRAME HAD RUSTED THROUGH AND DROPPED CAR ONTO THE ASSEMBLY FOR THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE CAUSING IT TO BREAK AND ALLOWING THE TIRE TO TURN OUTWARDS AND STOP THE CAR. THERE IS NO REPAIR TO THIS, THE CAR WILL BE JUNKED. IF SHE HAD BEEN ON THE HIGHWAY THIS PROBABLY WOULD HAVE BEEN A VERY SERIOUS ACCIDENT. THIS REALLY SURPRISED US AS THE CAR HAD ONLY A SMALL AMOUNT OF RUST ON THE SURFACES THAT WE COULD SEE. WHEN THE GARAGE HAD THE CAR UP ON THE RACK TO SHOW ME THE PROBLEM I COULD SEE QUITE A BIT OF RUSTING ON ALL THE FRONT COMPONENTS, BUT NONE ON THE REAR. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THE CAR, WE HAVE TAKEN REASONABLY GOOD CARE OF IT. *TR

• 08/26/1997· VISIBILITY

  THE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE'S WINDOWS FOG UP UNTIL ONE CAN'T SEE OUT OF THEM. HAVE TO RUN THE AIR-CONDITIONER AND THE DEFOGGER AT THE SAME TIME IN ORDER TO SEE OUT OF THE WINDOWS. *AK

• 08/23/1996· SEATS

  PASSENGER'S SEAT ROCKS.

• 08/21/2001· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  BOLT BROKE IN THE ENGINE, DAMAGING CRANKSHAFT/ WATER PUMP, AND TIMING CHAIN. ALSO, VEHICLE WOULD STALL WHEN DRIVING. CONTACT CHEVROLET, AND CHEVROLET TOLD TO TAKE IT TO DEALERSHIP.*AK

• 08/21/1996· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  AFTER DRIVING THE CAR FOR 15 TO MINUTES, THE CAR STALLS, CONSUMER DRIVES 35 TO 40 MILES . PLEASE DESCRIBE.*AK

• 08/18/1999· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  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. *AK

• 08/14/2000· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,AIR BAGSCrash

  I OWNED A 1994 AND A 1996 GEO METRO I WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON WITH THE 1994 AND MY AIR BAG DID NOT GO OFF. WHEN I REPORTED IT THE DEALER SAID I DID NOT HIT THE SENSORS RIGHT. SO I BOUGHT ANOTHER ONE A 1996 LSI. I HIT A CHEVROLET S10 GOING 15 MPH WITH NO TIME TO BRAKE AND NITHER ONE OF MY AIR BAGS WENT OFF IN THE CAR. THE FRONT BUMPER ON THIS CAR HAD BEEN REMOVWED FOR REPAIR AND WAS NOT IN PLACE AT THE TIME OF ACCIDENT. THE WHOLE FRONT END WAS DAMAGED CLEAR THROUGH THE FAN AND RADIATOR SO THE AIR BAGS SHOULD HAVE GONE OFF THAT TIME. JUST THOUGHT YOU SHOULD KNOW THAT I OWNED TWO OF THE GEO'S AND HAD TWO ACCIDENTS AND IN NITHER CAR DID THE AIR BAGS DEPLOY.*AK

• 08/11/2000· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  CANT CHECK BREAK LIGHTS.

• 08/09/2000· AIR BAGS

  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.

• 08/06/1999· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  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. *AK

• 08/03/1999· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTING

  VEHICLE CUTS OFF WHEN STOPPING AT A STOP LIGHT. THE WAY THE VEHICLE IS DESIGNED, THE ALTERNATOR IS NOT BIG ENOUGH TO HOLD THE A/C AND RADIO. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER. *YC

• 08/01/1996· AIR BAGS

  PASSENGER'S AIR BAG INFLATED, GRAND SON WAS SERIOUSLY BURNED. *AK

• 07/27/2004· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  WHILE DRIVING SMOKE AND STEAM WAS COMING IN FROM THE VENTS. CONSUMER PULLED OVER, AND NOTICED THAT FLUID WAS LEAKING INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE ONTO THE FLOOR. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE THERMOSTAT AND RADIATOR CAP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

• 07/15/1997· VISIBILITY

  SUNROOF CAME OFF AND STRUCK ANOTHER VEHICLE, BREAKING WINDSHIELD. (OHIO STATE POLICE REPORT)

• 07/15/1996· SEATSCrash

  THE DRIVER'S SEAT COLLAPSED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED. *AK 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. *SLC

• 07/07/2006· TIRES

  DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH THE PASSENGER FRONT TIRE BLEW OUT. THE SERVICE DEALER FOUND AIR COMING OUT BETWEEN THE VALVE STEM AND THE TIRE. AFTER TEN DAYS, THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT TIRE BLEW OUT WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH. THE SERVICE DEALER FOUND AIR COMING OUT IN THE SAME AREA. THERE WERE NO ACCIDENTS PRIOR TO THESE INCIDENTS. THE PROPER PRESSURE RECOMMENDED BY THE MANUFACTURER WAS UNKNOWN AND PRESSURE CHECKS WERE NOT PERFORMED. THERE WAS ALSO NO VIBRATION BEFORE THE INCIDENT. HE BRAND NAME OF THE TIRE IS TURISMO TWO.

• 07/07/1998· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  IDLE CONTROL MOTOR FAILED CAUSING SUDDEN ACCELERATION DUE TO STUCK ACCELERATOR PEDAL.

• 06/29/1998· AIR BAGSCrash

  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?? ALL HELP ON THIS MATTER WILL BE GREATLY APPRECIATED.

• 06/29/1998· TIRES,WHEELS

  HAD GOODYEAR TIRES CHANGED AT 8,000 MILES DUE TO BROKEN BELTS. HAD TO CHANGE THEM AGAIN AT 23,000 DUE TO BELTS BREAKING. ALSO WHEELS WERE CHOPPING. *AK.