Model year record

1990 Geo Metro recalls & problems

The 1990 Geo Metro has 2 safety recalls and 39 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is latches/locks/linkages (16 complaints).

Recalls2safety recalls

Complaints39filed by owners

Crashes · fires5 · 0reported in complaints

Injuries · deaths3 · 0reported in complaints

Safety recalls

Seat beltsMay 24, 1995

Front › Buckle assembly

Recall 95V103007466,902 vehiclesopened after NHTSA action (ODI)

Problem: THE FRONT SAFETY BELT BUCKLE RELEASE BUTTONS CAN BREAK. THESE RED PLASTIC RELEASE BUTTONS ARE MARKED "PRESS." IF A BUTTON BREAKS, PIECES CAN FALL INTO THE BUCKLE ASSEMBLY CAUSING THE BUCKLE TO OPERATE IMPROPERLY.
Risk: THE SAFETY BELTS WOULD NOT PROVIDE ADEQUATE PROTECTION TO AN OCCUPANT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Fix: OWNERS SHOULD PROMPTLY CHECK THE CONDITION AND OPERATION OF BOTH FRONT SAFETY BELT BUCKLES AND CAREFULLY INSPECT THE RED RELEASE BUTTON FOR ANY BREAKS OR CRACKS. THEY SHOULD ENSURE THAT BOTH BUCKLES ARE OPERATING PROPERLY BY INSERTING EACH LATCH PLATE INTO ITS BUCKLE, TUGGING ON THE BELT TO MAKE SURE THE LATCH IS SECURELY LOCKED, AND THEN PRESSING THE RELEASE BUTTON. THE LATCH PLATE SHOULD POP OUT OF THE BUCKLE WHEN THE BUTTON IS PRESSED. IF EITHER RELEASE BUTTON SHOWS A SIGN OF BREAKING OR CRACKING OR IF EITHER BUCKLE FAILS TO OPERATE PROPERLY, OWNERS SHOULD PROMPTLY CONTACT THEIR AUTHORIZED DEALER TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THE BUCKLE REPLACED OR REPAIRED, FREE OF CHARGE. THE MANUFACTURER IS DEVELOPING A REMEDY DESIGNED TO PREVENT FAILURE OF THE BUTTONS THAT ARE NOT CURRENTLY BROKEN.

Latches/locks/linkagesNov 23, 1993

Hood › Latch

Recall 93V189001356,097 vehiclesopened after NHTSA action (ODI)

Problem: MISLOCATED ATTACHING SPOT WELDS OF THE HOOD STRIKER ASSEMBLY CAUSE CRACKS TO START ON THE HOOD INNER PANEL. IF CRACKS OCCUR, THE HOOD STRIKER ASSEMBLY MAY NOT PROPERLY ENGAGE THE HOOD LATCH WHEN THE HOOD IS CLOSED.
Risk: AN IMPROPERLY ENGAGED HOOD LATCH MAY RESULT IN A HOODFLY-UP WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. THIS WOULD OBSTRUCT THE DRIVER'S VIEWAND COULD CAUSE A VEHICLE CRASH.
Fix: GM DEALERS WILL (A) INSTALL TWO BOLTS AND NUTS TO SECURE THE STRIKER ASSEMBLY TO THE HOOD INNER PANEL, AND (B) ENSURE THAT THE HOOD LATCH ASSEMBLY FASTENERS ARE PROPERLY TIGHTENED.

Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.

Fuel economy

Metro XFI

47mpg combined

City / highway	43 / 52 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

1 L · 3 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $1,450/year to fuel

Metro

41mpg combined

City / highway	38 / 45 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

1 L · 3 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $1,650/year to fuel

Metro LSI

40mpg combined

City / highway	38 / 44 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

1 L · 3 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $1,700/year to fuel

Metro LSI Convertible

37mpg combined

City / highway	34 / 41 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

1 L · 3 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $1,800/year to fuel

Metro

33mpg combined

City / highway	31 / 36 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

1 L · 3 cyl · Automatic 3-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,050/year to fuel

Metro LSI

33mpg combined

City / highway	31 / 35 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

1 L · 3 cyl · Automatic 3-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,050/year to fuel

Metro LSI Convertible

30mpg combined

City / highway	28 / 33 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

1 L · 3 cyl · Automatic 3-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,250/year to fuel

EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.

What owners report

Problem area	Complaints	Crashes	Injuries	Typical mileage*
Latches/locks/linkagesHood › Latch; Doors › Latch	16	1	0	—
Seat beltsFront › Buckle assembly; Front › Retractor	11	1	0	—
Engine and engine coolingEngine; Exhaust system › Emission control › Crankcase (pcv)	5	0	0	—
StructureBody › Hood; Body › Hatchback/liftgate › Support device/strut	3	0	0	—
Exterior lightingHeadlights › High/low beam dimmer switch; Headlights	2	0	0	—
SeatsFront assembly › Recliner; Front assembly › Head restraint	2	2	2	—
Interior lighting	2	0	0	—
VisibilityGlass, side/rear; Windshield	2	0	0	—
Air bagsFrontal	1	1	1	—
SteeringRack and pinion › Rack	1	0	0	—

*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.

Recent owner complaints

Seat belts › Front › Buckle assembly
INQUIRING ABOUT WHETHER RECALL # 95V103007 IS AN ACTUAL RECALL .
Mar 26, 2003
Latches/locks/linkages › Doors › Latch
THE DOOR LATCH HANDLES STAY UP WHEN OPENED. I HAVE 2 DOOR HANDLES DOING THIS, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE & REAR DRIVER'S SIDE. WHEN THE DOORS ARE OPENEN THE HANDLES STAY UP AND WHEN THE DOOR IS PULLED SHUT THE DOOR WILL NOT LATCH. THE WINDOW HAS TO BE ROLLED DOWN AND THE HANDLE PUSHED DOWN TO LATCH DOOR. NOTE: THIS IS NOT A POOR LUBRICATION PROBLEM. IT MAY IMPROVE SLIGHTLY, BUT ONLY TEMPRORARILY. IF THE PASSENGER THINKS THE DOOR IS LATCHED IT WILL OPEN SUDDENLY WHEN THE VEHICLE TURNS RISKING FALL OUT OF PASSENGER OR PROPERTY OR PERSONAL INJURY LIABILITY FROM THE DOOR SWINGING OPEN.
Sep 19, 2001
Engine and engine cooling › Engine
ENGINE IS BURNING OIL WHILE DRIVING, AND SMOKE COMES OUT REALLY BADLY. DRIVER CAN'T SEE TRAFFIC BEHIND HER. CONSUMER FEELS UNSAFE. *AK
Feb 1, 2000
Structure › Body › Hood › Hinge and attachments
WHILE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN AT 75 MPH, LATCH ON THE HOOD ON DRIVER'S SIDE BROKE, CAUSING THE HOOD TO FLY UP AND BREAK WINDSHIELD. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO PULL TO SHOULDER SAFELY. MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED ABOUT THE PROBLEM. HOOD AND WINDSHIELD HAVE NOT BEEN REPLACED. CONSUMER BELIEVES THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE HOOD LATCH YEARS AGO, BUT IS UNSURE AS TO WHETHER OR NOT IT WAS DONE. *AK *ML
Feb 20, 2000
Exterior lighting › Headlights
THE HEADLIGHTS AND DASH LIGHTS WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING. THE DASH LIGHTS CAME BACK ON BUT THE HEADLIGHTS DID NOT. DEALER HAS NOT SEEN VEHICLE. *AK
Sep 29, 1999
Latches/locks/linkages › Hood › Latch
HOOD LATCH STRIKER BROKE AFTER TWO YEARS. *AK
Jul 7, 1999
Seat belts › Front › Buckle assembly
DEALER HAS NOT HONORED NHTSA RECALL 95V-103.007/MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 91C-52, CONCENING SEAT BELT BUCKLE FAILURE SINCE AUGUST 10, 1997 UP TO THE PRESENT. CONSUMER HAS BEEN TOLD ON SERVERAL OCCASIONS THAT THE KIT HAS NOT BEEN RECEIVED, OR THEY WOULD CONTACT CONSUMER WHEN IT ARRIVED, NEED NHTSA'S HELP IN THIS MATTER. *AK
Aug 10, 1997
Latches/locks/linkages › Hood › Latch
IT'S BEEN 1 MONTH SINCE CONTACTING THE DEALER CONCERNING HOOD LATCH ASSEMBLY RECALL. HOOD LATCH IS BROKEN SO BADLY THAT THE ENTIRE HOOD NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER IS GIVING ME THE RUN AROUND. I'VE CALLED THEM 3 TIMES ALREADY THIS WEEK. THE DEALER IS SAYING THAT THEY NEED APPROVAL TO REPAIR IT AND THAT THE MAIN OFFICE IS CHECKING TO SEE IF RECALL IS STILL IN EFFECT. I'VE BEEN HAVING TO DRIVE MY CAR FOR A MONTH FEARING THAT THE HOOD WILL FLY UP AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. *AK
Jun 20, 1999

Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.

NHTSA defect investigations

SEAT BELT BUCKLES FAILUREClosedLed to recall 95V103007
There is no summary currently available
EA95014 · opened Apr 25, 1995 · closed Jul 28, 1995
TAKATA SEAT BLT BCKLS FAILClosed
There is no summary currently available
PE94092 · opened Dec 21, 1994 · closed Apr 25, 1995
HOOD FLY-UPSClosedLed to recall 93V189000
There is no summary currently available
EA93006 · opened Feb 26, 1993 · closed Nov 26, 1993
REAR SUSPENSION FAILSClosed
There is no summary currently available
PE90084 · opened May 30, 1990 · closed Aug 14, 1990