Model year record

1990 Geo Storm recalls & problems

The 1990 Geo Storm has 3 safety recalls and 45 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is electrical system (11 complaints).

Recalls3safety recalls

Complaints45filed by owners

Crashes · fires11 · 1reported in complaints

Injuries · deaths9 · 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.

Air bagsJul 6, 1992

Air bags

Recall 92V091001211,306 vehicles

Problem: THE STEERING WHEEL CENTER HUB CAN FRACTURE DURING CERTAIN FRONTAL AND NEAR FRONTAL VEHICLE COLLISIONS.
Risk: FRACTURING OF THE STEERING WHEEL HUB CAN DECREASE THEDRIVER'S CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND COULD REDUCE THE CRASH PROTECTION OF THESTEERING SYSTEM AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG.
Fix: A STEERING WHEEL REINFORCEMENT PLATE AND NUT WILL BE ADDED TO THE STEERING WHEEL HUB.

SeatsNov 16, 1989

Front assembly › Recliner

Recall 89V20300015,200 vehicles

Problem: WHEN USING FRONT SEATBACK RELEASE LEVERS TO TIP FRONT SEATBACK FORWARD TO GAIN ENTRY TO, OR EXIT FROM , THE REAR SEAT, IT IS POSSIBLE TO INSERT A FINGER INTO THE SEATBACK HINGE MECHANISM.
Risk: THIS COULD RESULT IN THE FINGER BEING PINCHED ANDPOSSIBLY SERIOUSLY INJURED.
Fix: REPAIR TO PREVENT CONDITION THAT WOULD PERMIT FINGER INJURY.

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

Storm

29mpg combined

City / highway	26 / 33 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

1.6 L · 4 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,300/year to fuel

Storm

26mpg combined

City / highway	23 / 31 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

1.6 L · 4 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,600/year to fuel

Storm

24mpg combined

City / highway	22 / 28 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

1.6 L · 4 cyl · Automatic 3-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,800/year to fuel

Storm

24mpg combined

City / highway	21 / 29 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

1.6 L · 4 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,800/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	Fires	Injuries	Typical mileage*
Electrical systemIgnition › Module; Wiring › Rear compartment/trunk	11	0	3	0	—
Air bagsFrontal	10	9	0	6	—
Engine and engine coolingExhaust system › Manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe; Exhaust system	7	0	0	0	—
SteeringSteering wheel/handle bar	6	0	0	0	—
Vehicle speed controlCruise control; Linkages	6	0	0	0	—
Seat beltsFront › Buckle assembly; Front › Anchorage	5	1	0	0	—
SuspensionRear; Front	3	0	0	0	—
SeatsFront assembly › Recliner	3	2	0	3	—
StructureBody › Door; Body › Hood	2	0	0	0	—
VisibilityPower window devices and controls	1	0	0	0	—
Unknown or other	1	0	0	0	—
Power trainClutch assembly › Pedal/hand lever(motorcycle)	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

Air bags
UPON FINDING OUT THAT THE IS A RECALL CALL ON MY 1990 GEO STORM THAT AFFECT THE SEAT SEAT BELTS AND AIR BAG THE MANUFACTURE AND DEALERSHIP BOTH REFUSED TO RUSH THE PARTS NEEDED TO AFFECT THE REPAIRS AND TOLD ME THAT IF I WISHED TO DRIVE THE CAR WITH ALL THE RETRAINT SYSTEMS IN THE FRONT UNDER RECALL IT WAS MY OWN PROBLEM AND THEY WOULDN'T EVEN SHIP THE PARTS BY AIR. MY SAFETY ISN'T WORTH AIR FRIEGHT. THE CAR IS ILLEGAL TO OPERATE ON THE STREETS WITH DEFECTIVE SEATBELTSL THIS SAFETY RECALL IS IN MY OPINION NOT BEING DEALT WITH IN A TIMELY MATTER TO INSURE MY SAFETY . *AK
Feb 16, 2004
Electrical system › Ignition › Module
SOME ONE SHOULD FIX THE PROBLEM SO I CAN BUY A NEW ECM. *AK
Jun 7, 2002
Seats1 injury
THE WIRE CONNECTING TO THE PAWL, WHICH IS CONNECTED TO THE MANUAL LEVER TO THE PAWL OPPOSITE THE LEVER APPEARS TO BE ENGAGED BUT IS ONLY PARTUALLY ENGAGED, WHEN AN ACCIDENT OCCURS THE PARTIAL ENGAGEMENT IS PULLED OUT BY THE UNENGAGED SIDE RESULTING IN THE ENTIRE SEAT TO SLIDE FORWARD, AS A RESULT THE OCCUPANT'S SUSTAINS LOWER LEG OR FOOT INJURIES IN OFFSET FRONTAL CRASHES. NLM
Jul 6, 2001
Electrical system › Ignition
I HAVE ALREADY HAD THE PICK-UP COIL AND IGNITOR MODULE REPLACE AT 132,563 MILES. NOW BEGINNING BEFORE 189,000 MILES AND AFTER THE PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR NOT STARTING (COLD OR HOT) ARE STARTING TO HAPPEN AGAIN. YESTERDAY, 4/17/2001 THE CAR WOULD NOT START I. *AK
Apr 17, 2001
Vehicle speed control
THE 1990 GEO STORM (AUTO) WILL NOT ONLY STALL, BUT IS STARTING TO ACCELERATE UNINTENTIONALLY. THE CAR ALSO SEEMS TO STALL IN RELATIVLY TIGHT TURNS. MY MAIN PROBLEM IS THE HESITATION AND SURGING/ACCELERATION. I HAVE HEARD THROUGH INTERNET NEWS GROUPS THAT THEIR IS A DEFECTIVE ECM COMPONENT ON THIS CAR AND THAT THIS DEFECT WAS COMMUNICATED TO CHEVY/GEO DEALERS THROUGH ITS TECHNICAL LITERATURE. SO FAR, I AM SPENDING HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS ON REPAIRS THAT WILL NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. IF THE DEALERS KNOW ABOUT THE DEFECTIVE ECM, WHAT KIND OF RECOURSE CAN I TAKE TO HAVE IT REPAIRED AND/OR RECEIVE MY MONEY BACK FOR THE UNNEEDED REPAIRS. IF THE CAR CONTINUES TO DO THIS, IT CAN BECOME A HAZARD.*AK
Dec 7, 2000
Power train › Clutch assembly › Pedal/hand lever(motorcycle)
CLUTCH CABLES WERE THREADED THROUGH FIREWALL. OVERTIME USAGE OF CLUTCH WOULD CAUSE CABLES TO RIP THROUGH FIREWALL. PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED TWICE, AND HAS BEEN REPAIRED TWICE. *AK
Feb 23, 2001
Vehicle speed control
I WAS ASKING AROUND ABOUT WHY MY CAR IDLES FUNNY AND I WAS POINTED TO YOUR PAGE I HAVE TO KEEP MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE TO KEEP THE CAR FROM ACCELERATING EVEN THOUGH MY FOOT IS NOT ON THE PEDDLE ALSO WHEN I START THE CAR IT WANTS TO HOVER AT ABOUT 2,000 RPM AND WHEN I DROP THE CAR IN GEAR IT SURGES AND THEN DROPS TO AROUND 1,500 RPM I ALSO FEEL AS THOUGH I HAVE TO STAND ON THE BRAKES SOMETIMES WHEN IT IS DOING THIS TO KEEP IT FROM ROLLING.
Oct 17, 2000
Suspension
WHILE TRAVELING ABOUT 65MPH ON HIGHWAY SPEEDOMETER DROPPED TO ZERO AND VEHICLE JUST SHUT OFF. WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. THEN, HE REALIZED THAT VEHICLE WOULDN'T RESPOND. VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED. *AK CONSUMER STATES IGNITION MODULE HAD TO BE REPLACED.*JB
Sep 12, 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

STEERING COLUMN LOOSENINGClosed
There is no summary currently available
PE95035 · opened Jun 7, 1995 · closed Oct 10, 1995
SEAT BELT BUCKLES FAILUREClosedLed to recall 95V103007
There is no summary currently available
EA95014 · opened Apr 25, 1995 · closed Jul 28, 1995