The 1991 Geo Metro has 2 safety recalls and 50 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is latches/locks/linkages (16 complaints).
Recalls2safety recalls
Complaints50filed by owners
Crashes · fires6 · 1reported in complaints
Injuries · deaths12 · 1reported in complaints
Safety recalls
Seat belts › Front › Buckle assembly
NHTSA recall 95V103007 · May 24, 1995 · 466,902 vehicles · opened 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/linkages › Hood › Latch
NHTSA recall 93V189001 · Nov 23, 1993 · 356,097 vehicles · opened 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
40mpg combined
City / highway
37 / 45 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
1 L · 3 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $1,700/year to fuel
Metro LSI
40mpg combined
City / highway
37 / 45 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 / 35 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.
Seat belts Front › Buckle assembly; Front › Retractor
15
4
0
6
—
Engine and engine cooling Exhaust system › Emission control › Catalytic convertor; Engine › Gasoline
5
0
0
0
—
Electrical system Ignition › Switch; Ignition
5
0
0
0
—
Structure Body › Hood; Frame and members
5
0
0
0
—
Seats Front assembly › Recliner
4
1
0
5
—
Visibility Glass, side/rear; Windshield
3
0
0
0
—
Air bags Frontal
3
1
1
1
—
Suspension Front
2
0
0
0
—
Fuel system, gasoline Storage › Tank assembly › Filler pipe and cap; Storage › Tank assembly › Mounting
2
0
0
0
—
Tires
1
0
0
0
—
Service brakes, hydraulic Foundation components › Disc › Rotor
1
0
0
0
—
*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.
Recent owner complaints
Jun 25, 2004 · 71,800 milesSeats › Front assembly › Recliner WHILE GETTING INTO THE VEHICLE DRIVER'S SEAT RECLINED. DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. *AK
May 5, 2003 · crash · 1 injurySeat belts › Front › Buckle assembly THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A SINGLE CAR COLLISION WHERE BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEAT BELTS BECAME UN-BUCKLED, WHICH RESULTED IN THE PASSENGER BEING EJECTED FROM THE VEHICLE AND KILLED. RELATED RECALL 95V103007, MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS NOT INCLUDED. *JB
Aug 1, 2002Structure › Frame and members CONSUMERS HUSBAND WAS IN MOTION WHEN THERE WAS A POPPING SOUND, FOLLOWED BY LOST OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. ALL BRAKING AND STEERING POWER WAS LOST. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC WHO INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE UNISTRUT FRAME ON THE VEHICLE HAD BROKEN. CHEVROLET DETERMINED THAT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS ENVIRONMENTAL AND NO REIMBURSEMENT OR REPLACEMENT VEHICLE WILL BE INCURRED. CONSUMER REQUESTS REIMBURSEMENT FOR MONIES PAID. *JG
Jan 1, 2001Fuel system, gasoline › Storage › Tank assembly › Mounting GUARDS THAT COVER FUEL LINES UNDERNEATH VEHICLE FELL OFF WHILE DRIVING. *AK *SLC
Apr 6, 2001Suspension WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE FELT LIKE IT HAD A FLAT, VEERING TO RIGHT. ALSO GRINDING NOISE. WHEEL ASSEMBLY WAS TORN AND RUBBED ON WHEEL WELL FRAME. *AK CONSUMER STATES THAT THE FRAME WHERE CONTROL ARM ATTACHES FAILED DUE TO EXTENSIVE CORROSION. *SLC
Jan 25, 2001Latches/locks/linkages › Hood › Latch RESEARCHED THE NHTSA WEBSITE AND SHOWED A RECALL ON THE HOOD STRIKER ASSEMBLY UNIT! MY HOOD FLUNG OPEN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INSTERSTATE, CAUSING THE HOOD TO HIT THE MAIN WINSHIELD AND CRACK! LUCKILY THE WINDSHIELD ITSELF DID NOT IMPLODE AND CAUSE SERIOUS DAMAGE OR DEATH TO ME! AND LUCKILY THE INTERSTATE WAS NOT BUSY, TO HAVE CAUSED A MAJOR ACCIDENT! I DID VIEWED MY VEHICLE. THE LATCH ITSELF IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY! ACCORDING TO THE RECALL, GM DEALER WILL REPLACE THE "BOLTS" TO PREVENT THE HOOD TO FLY OPEN. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM IS THE WITHIN THE HOOD LATCH "ASSEMBLY" UNIT, THE LATCH ITSELF IS DEFECTIVE. IT DOES NOT "CATCH" ONTO THE "PRIMARY" LOCK OF THE HOOD LATCH. I BELIEVE IT IS ACTUALLY…
May 5, 2000 · crashSeat belts › Front › Retractor DRIVER'S SEATBELT MALFUNCTIONED. IN A CRASH DRIVER WAS SEATBELTED, BUT SHOULDER BELT DID NOT RETRACT, WHICH CAUSED THE DRIVER TO HIT THE WINDSHIELD. PRIOR TO THE CRASH, DEALER HAD FIXED THE DEFECTIVE DRIVER'S SHOULDER BELT FOR THE RETRACTOR. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
Dec 17, 1999Air bags › Frontal VEHICLE WAS INVOLED IN AN ACCIDENT IN WHICH THE ANOTHER VEHICLE STRUCK CONSUMER'S VEHICLE ON DRIVER'S SIDE . SPEED WAS UNDETERMINED AT THE TIME. UPON IMPACT, DRIVER'S AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. DEALER/MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED AT THIS TIME. *AK
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
EA95014 · opened Apr 25, 1995 · closed Jul 28, 1995 · led to recall 95V103007SEAT BELT BUCKLES FAILURE There is no summary currently available
PE94092 · opened Dec 21, 1994 · closed Apr 25, 1995TAKATA SEAT BLT BCKLS FAIL There is no summary currently available
EA93006 · opened Feb 26, 1993 · closed Nov 26, 1993 · led to recall 93V189000HOOD FLY-UPS There is no summary currently available