1998 Geo Metro

Routine

Owners filed 33 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the engine and engine cooling › engine › gasoline. No safety recall has been issued.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline5
000
Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer2
000
Visibility › Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System2
000
Vehicle Speed Control › Accelerator Pedal2
102
Structure › Body2
000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Power Assist › Vacuum2
000
Power Train › Automatic Transmission2
100
Visibility › Windshield1
000
Visibility › Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System › Heater Core1
000
Vehicle Speed Control1
000

What owners reported

Newest filings
Exterior Lighting › Headlights
Filed Aug 16, 2005NJ

THE HEADLIGHTS DO NOT AIM CORRECTLY. AFTER A FEW FRUSTRATING ATTEMPTS TO ADJUST MY HEADLIGHTS I REALIZED THEY ENTIRE ASSEMBLY RAISES UP AT HIGH SPEEDS AND NEEDS TO BE MANUALLY MANIPULATED (KICKED) BACK IN TO PLACE WHERE IT REMAINS UNTIL THE NEXT TRIP WHICH REQUIRES SPEEDS ABOVE 55 MPH. THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY IS SECURED BY A SCREW AND A HARD PLASTIC NIPPLE IN THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY WHICH IS WEDGED INTO A RUBBER GROMMET MOUNTED ON THE CHASSIS. I BELIEVE THAT THIS RUBBER GROMMET STRETCHES, HARDENS OR DRY ROTS OVER TIME WEAKENING ITS EFFECTIVENESS. DURING MY 45 MINUTE DRIVE EACH MORNING PASS ANOTHER CHEVROLET METRO WITH ITS RIGHT HEADLIGHT POINTING HIGH AND TO THE RIGHT AS IT PASSES ME WHICH IS EXACTLY WHAT MINE DOES. WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT I HAVE NOTICED THAT EVERY METRO I SEE HAS HEADLIGHT ALIGNMENT PROBLEMS WHICH ARE TO THE EXTREME. *JB

Vehicle Speed Control › Accelerator PedalCrash2 injured
Filed Aug 19, 200460,000 milesPA

WHILE DRIVING 15-18 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAME STUCK AND THE VEHICLE HIT A STREET POLE. THE CONSUMER/PASSENGER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. *AK *SC *JB

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Jul 16, 200433,110 milesWA

THIS PROBLEM EXISTS EVERY TIME THE CAR IS DRIVEN. AFTER DRIVING THE CAR WITH VARIOUS DRIVE TIMES, STOPPING AND ALLOWING THE CAR TO SIT FOR APPROX 25-30 MINS THEN TRYING TO DRIVE THE CAR AGAIN IT STALLS OUT AND DIES IN 2-7 OF DRIVING. IN MOST CASE THE CAR HAS DIED IN THE MIDDLE OF INTERSECTIONS AND ON THE FREEWAY. IT USUALLY TAKE 1-2 MINUTES TO RESTART IT BEFORE IT WILL RUN. THE CAR HAS BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP NUMEROUS TIMES SINCE SEPTEMBER '03 AND ON THE LAST TRIP TO THE DEALER, THEY NOW ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM AND HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIND WHAT IS CAUSING IT. MY CAR HAS NOW BEEN THERE FOR TWO WEEKS, AND THEY STILL HAVE IT. THEY REPLACED THE MAP SENSOR, BUT IT HAS NOT FIXED THE PROBLEM. I AM AFRAID OF CAUSING AN ACCIDENT IF MY CAR WERE TO STALL AND DIE IN TRAFFIC. *AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic
Filed Aug 4, 2003GA

THE BRAKES ON MY METRO HAS BEEN FIXED 5 TIMES SINCE I BOUGHT IT, I BOUGHT IT BRAND NEW. 5 TIMES IN 5 YEARS. *AK

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Mar 18, 200354,000 milesIN

THE VEHICLE MADE A GRINDING AND CHATTERING NOISE UPON ACCELERATION. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO CHEVROLET AND THEY STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *NLM

Visibility › Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System › Heater Core
Filed Feb 26, 2003CT

THE HEATER EMITTED A SMELL WHEN IT WAS ON.*JB

Visibility › Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System
Filed Aug 3, 2002WV

INTERIOR FAN WILL NOT WORK DUE TO HEATER A/C CONTROL FAILURE. BECAUSE OF THIS, THE DEFOGGING SYSTEM WILL NOT WORK, AND SINCE METRO HATCHBACKS ARE EXTREMELY PRONE TO FOGGING, THE CAR IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE IN THE MORNINGS OR EVENINGS. ROLLING DOWN THE WINDOWS DOES NOT HELP THIS PROBLEM. WE ALSO OWN A 1992 METRO WHICH HAD THE SAME COMPONENT FAIL (SEE SEPARATE REPORT).

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings
Filed Jul 15, 2002MI

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer
Filed Mar 21, 2002WI

WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK INTERMITTENTLY, WASHER FAILED, WINDSHIELD WIPER HANDLE SWITCH FELL OFF. VEHICLE TAKEN TO DEALER, DEALER FOUND HANDLE SWITCH HAD CRACKED WELL INTO THE STEERING COLUMN. *AK *TT

Power Train › Automatic TransmissionCrash
Filed Aug 15, 2001CA

CAR WAS PARKED, TRANSMISSION FAILED, CAR WENT BACKWARDS AND HIT OTHER VEHICLE.*AK

Parking Brake › Conventional
Filed May 18, 2001PA

PARKING BRAKE IS DEFECTIVE. CONSUMER HEARS A CLICKING NOISE WHEN HE ENGAGES PARKING BRAKE, AND FEELS THAT BRAKES MAY NOT HOLD VEHICLE WHILE PARKED ON A SLOPE. *NOTE: CONSUMER OWNED A 1994, GEO, METRO THAT ROLLED BACKWARDS WHILE PARKED ON A SLOPE. CONSUMER STATED THAT BOTH BRAKE MECHANISMS WERE IDENTICAL. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS. *AK

Visibility › Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System
Filed May 10, 2001IL

CAR UNDER WARRANTY 12,000 MI. WATER IN BOTH DOORS GROWING MOLD AND IN AIR VENTS. *AK

Visibility › Windshield
Filed Mar 7, 2001AL

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 20 MPH REAR WINDSHIELD SHATTERED AND BROKE OFF, DROPPING GLASS EVERY WHERE.*AK

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Dec 19, 2000NY

INTERMITTENTLY WHEN LETTING UP ON GAS PEDAL MOTOR AND SPEED WILL INCREASE . IT HAS EVEN INCREASED ON ITS OWN. DEALER HAS REPLACED ACCELERATOR PEDAL SENSOR, BUT DEFECT STILL OCCURS. CONSUMER HAS BEEN COMPLAINING ABOUT DEFECT FOR OVER A YEAR. *AK NOW THERE IS SPNTANEOUS INCREASE AND DECREASE IN SPEED CONTINUOUSLY FOR 7-8 MILES. *YH

Seat Belts › Front › AnchorageCrash2 injured
Filed Nov 15, 2000GA

REAR AND SIDE COLLISION I WAS THROWN FROM DRIVERS SEAT TO REAR OF VEHICLE WHILE WEARING MY SEAT BELT. MY SEAT BELT TWISTED AND ALLOWED MY BODY TO BE EJECTED TO THE INTERIOR REAR OF MY CAR. *AK

Tires
Filed Sep 5, 2000NC

THE GOODYEAR INVICTA GL 155-80-13 TIRES ON THE VEHICLE REQUIRED REPLACEMENT, VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A FLAT TIRE ON ONE, TIRE HAD A FIST SIZED BUBBLE ON THE SIDEWALL, INSPECTION SHOWED REMAINING TIRES WERE ALSO DEFECTIVE, CONSUMER REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT DUE TO DEFECT TIRES. *MJS

Air Bags › Side/WindowCrash1 injured
Filed Aug 23, 2000CA

CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A SIDE IMPACT, FORCED INTO INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE HEAD-ON AT SPEED OF 40 MPH. UPON IMPACT, NEITHER DRIVER'S SIDE NOR PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. ALSO, DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BROKE IN THE RECLINING POSITION, CAUSING INJURIES TO DRIVER'S SIDE OCCUPANT. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED.*AK *SLC

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline
Filed Apr 12, 2000OR

ENGINE STALLS WHEN CHANGING GEARS DEALER UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE PROBLEM. NLM

Steering
Filed Mar 27, 2000CT

VEHICLE'S STEERING IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT AND EXCESSIVE EFFORT REQUIRED. *MJS

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Power Assist › Vacuum
Filed Mar 10, 2000FL

CONSUMER CONCERNED BECAUSE THERE IS ONE MORE INCH OF BRAKE PEDAL TRAVEL AFTER THE BRAKE BOOSTER WAS REPLACED, THERE IS ALSO A SPONGY EFFECT WHEN PUSHING DOWN ON THE BROKE, CONSUMER BELIEVES THIS HAPPENS BECAUSE THE BOOSTER WAS PUT ON WITHOUT ADJUSTING THE CLEVIS ROD OR BRAKE PEDAL. NLM

20 of 33 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 1995
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20016000Routine
200019010Routine
199923000Routine
1998 — this page33000Routine
199763120Routine
199688051Fatalities reported
1995109100Routine
199468010Routine
199350100Routine
199254100Routine
199150211Fatalities reported
199039200Routine

Compare every Metro year →

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Most recent recall on file: none. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.