1990 Geo Tracker

Fatalities reported

Owners filed 25 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the seat belts › front › buckle assembly. It has been recalled 1 time.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Seat Belts › Front › Buckle Assembly9
000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components4
000
Structure › Frame and Members2
000
Visibility › Windshield1
000
Tires › Tread/Belt1
100
Structure › Body › Door › Hinge and Attachments1
000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip1
000
Seats › Front Assembly › Recliner1
101
Seats1
000
Seat Belts › Front › Webbing1
100

1 safety recall

Part 573 reports
Seat Belts › Front › Buckle Assembly95V103007
Filed May 24, 1995466,902 vehiclesGeneral Motors Corp.

Defect. 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.

Remedy. 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.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Seats › Front Assembly › ReclinerCrash1 injured
Filed Jun 7, 2002MI

WIFE INVOLVED IN A REAR END COLLISION. HER VEHICLE WAS STOPPED. UPON INPACT THE DRIVERS SEAT BACK FELL ALL THE WAY BACK, SHE SUFFERED A CONCUSSION AND WHIP LASH INJURY AND WAS TRANSPORTED TO CHELSEA COMMUNITY HOSPITAL. THE SEAT BEING IN THE DOWNWARD POSITION WAS POINTED OUT TO THE STATE POLICE AND EMS PERSON BY MY WIFE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO MY HOME, SEAT PHOTOGRAPHED IN DOWNWARD POSITION. WHEN SEAT IS RAISED IT WILL NOT STAY IN PROPER UPRITE POSITION, IT GOES BACK AT APPROX 45 DEGREE ANGLE AND TWISTED BACK ON RT SIDE. CONTACTED GENERAL MOTORS, THEY SAY THAT THE SEAT CONDITION DID NOT CAUSE THE ACCIDENT SO THEREFORE THEY ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE.*AK

Tires › Tread/BeltCrash
Filed Sep 22, 2000OH

PE00 020 ;WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 61MPH ON HIGHWAY AND HEARD A NOISE VEHICLE STARTED TO VIBRATE AND SHE LOST CONTROL. VEHICLE ROLLED OVER FOUR TIMES AND WHEN DOWN INTO AN ENBANKMENT. FLIPPED UPSIDE DOWN. THERE WERE TWO TIRES THAT EXPLODED; DRIVER'S FRONT TIRE AND THE PASSENGER REAR TIRE. TIRE WERE FIRESTONE, AND VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *AK

Seat Belts › Front › Buckle Assembly
Filed Aug 19, 2000NJ

BUCKLES ON THE SEAT BELTS JAM PASSAGERS CAN'T REMOVE BELTS

Seat Belts › Front › Retractor
Filed Jul 4, 2000IA

BOTH SAFTEY BELTS IN THE FRONT "LOCK-UP" AND YOU ARE STUCK IN THE VEHICLE. YOU GET OUT ONLY WHEN THE THE SEAT BELT FINALLY POPS OUT OF IT'S HOUSING. THE MORE YOU STRUGGLE, THE TIGHTER IT GETS. THESE SEAT BELTS WERE ONCE RECALLED, I TOOK THE CERTIFICATE TO DEERY BROTHERS IN BURLIGTON IOWA. THEY SAID THEY KNEW ALL ABOUT THE PROBLEM, AND SO I SCHEDULED THE APPOINTMENT AND TOOK IT IN. THEY HAD MY VEHICLE THREE DAYS, AND WHEN I PICKED IT UP, THEY HAD DONE NOTHING TO IT. STILL ALL ORIGINAL SEATBELTS, HOUSINGS, ETC. WHEN I QUESTIONED THEM AT THIS TIME, THEY TOLD ME NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE SEAT BELTS. I ASKED FOR THE CERTIFICATE BACK SO I COULD GO ELSEWHERE, AND THEY SAID "NO,THEY HAVE TO GET PAID". IN CASE OF FIRE OR FLOODING, HOW AM I GOING TO GET OUT OF THIS VEHICLE? THUS FAR I HAVE BEEN CITED TWICE FOR FAILURE TO WEAR SATEY BELTS. I GUESS IT'S A SMALL PRICE TO PAY FOR MINE AND MY PASSENGERS LIVES.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components
Filed May 27, 2000OR

SOMETIMES WHEN TRYING TO STOP AT EITHER HIGH SPEEDS OR LOW, BRAKES WILL NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY. PEDAL CAN BE PRESSED ALL THE WAY DOWN, VEHICLE WILL SLOWLY STOP. THIS HAS ALMOST CAUSED SEVERAL ACCIDENTS. OCCURS MOST OFTEN WHEN TRYING TO STOP QUICKLY. ALSO WHEN VEHICLE IS COLD, BRAKE PEDAL CAN BE PRESSED ALL THE DOWN AND VEHICLE WILL DO THE SAME THING. *AK

Seat Belts › Front › Buckle Assembly
Filed Apr 28, 2000ID

NEITHER THE CHEVROLET DEALER NOR CHEVROLET HEADQUARTERS WILL FIX THE DEFECTIVE SEAT BELTS. CLAIM IT IS NOT PART OF A RECALL, ALTHOUGH THE SEAT BELT LATCH FAILED EXACTLY AS DESCRIBED IN RECALL CAMPAIGN ID # 95V103007. ALSO, THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT ASSEMBLY HAS A BROKEN WELD, LEAVING THE SEAT ANCHORED IN ONLY 3 OF THE 4 CORNERS. CHEVROLET HEADQUARTERS CLAIMS THAT SINCE GEO IS NO LONGER SOLD BY CHEVROLET, THEY HAVE NO RECORDS OF OLDER GEO VIN NUMBERS AND CAN NOT TELL ME IF THIS VEHICLE WILL BE REPAIRED AT THEIR EXPENSE. THEY CLAIM IT WOULD BE UP TO THE INDIVIDUAL DEALER'S DISCRETION. TAYLOR-PARKER HAS ALREADY TOLD ME THEY WOULD NOT REPAIR THE SEAT BELT AT THEIR EXPENSE, DESPITE MY TELLING THEM THAT THE NHTSA ISSUED A RECALL. WHAT GOOD ARE RECALLS?? *AK

Seat Belts › Front › Buckle Assembly
Filed Apr 19, 2000WY

CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALER IN REFERENCE TO RECALL NUMBER 95V103007. DEALER ONLY REPLACED THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE. PASSENGER'S SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE ALSO BROKE, BUT DEALER REFUSED TO REPLACE IT. PASSENGER'S SIDE SEAT BELT WAS SUPPOSEDLY REPAIRED LATER, BUT IT BROKE NOT LONG AFTER. *AK *ML

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components
Filed Nov 6, 1998MD

BEFORE VEHICLE IS WARMED THE BRAKES ARE EXTREMELY HARD TO APPLY, EXCESSIVE PRESSURE IS NEEDED WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKE PEDAL, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

Structure › Frame and Members
Filed Nov 2, 1998MI

WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE LOST CONTROL. LOSS OF CONTROL WAS DUE TO CORROSION OF THE STEERING GEAR, AS WELL AS THE STRUCTURE RUSTING AWAY FROM FRAME. MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER A RECALL. *AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Filed Nov 7, 1997OH

WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED DURING COLD TEMPERATURES THEY WILL RESIST AND SUDDENLY ENGAGE. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

Structure › Frame and Members
Filed Apr 9, 1997MI

DRIVER'S SIDE REAR FRAME CORRODED AND BROKE AT THE CONNECTION OF THE CONTROL ARM WHILE DRIVING. *AK

Structure › Body › Door › Hinge and Attachments
Filed Oct 4, 1996VA

AN INNER PIECE LOCATED NEAR THE TOP OF DRIVER'S DOOR BECAME LOOSE, EVENTUALLY THE DOOR COULD FALL OFF.*AK

Seats
Filed Jun 20, 1996ND

BOLT THAT SECURES FRONT PASSENGERS SEATS LOOSENED, UNCERTAIN OF CAUSE. *AK

Latches/Locks/Linkages › Hood › Latch
Filed Mar 25, 1996MI

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AND FRONT HOOD CAME OPEN. PLEASE DESCRIBE . *AK

Seat Belts › Front › Buckle Assembly
Filed Feb 29, 1996MI

DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE FAILURE, UNABLE TO LATCH SEATBELT BUCKLE

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline
Filed Feb 7, 1996NY

1.6 ENGINE. MOTOR REVEALED THREE INCH CRACK. NO INDICATION DRIVER ONLY NOTICED SMALL ODOR. TT

Seat Belts › Front › Buckle Assembly
Filed Dec 11, 1995NY

#95V103007 THE PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE FAILED. TT

Seat Belts › Front › Buckle Assembly
Filed Aug 28, 1995CA

SEAT BELT BUCKLE FAILURE. *AK

Seat Belts › Front › Buckle Assembly
Filed Apr 26, 1995MO

FRONT PASSENGER SEATBELT DOES NOT LATCH AND THE DRIVERS SEATBELT DOES LATCH BUT DOES NOT RELEASE EASILY. PLEASE EXPLAIN. TT

Seat Belts › Front › WebbingCrash1 killed
Filed Apr 19, 1995NY

HIT A FULL RIMMED TIRE, VEHICLE FLIPPED OVER, SEAT BELT BROKE, DRIVER WAS THROWN OUT OF WINDOW AND DIED. TT

20 of 25 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 1996
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20021000Routine
20012100Routine
20007000Routine
199922300Routine
199818011Fatalities reported
199725010Routine
199671110Routine
199564071Fatalities reported
199448330Routine
199324121Fatalities reported
199219013Fatalities reported
199118110Routine
1990 — this page25101Fatalities reported

Compare every Tracker year →

Reading this record

1 death reported in complaints filed with NHTSA.

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.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: May 24, 1995. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.