1996 Geo Tracker

Routine

Owners filed 71 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the engine and engine cooling › engine › gasoline. It has been recalled 1 time.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline14
010
Air Bags › Frontal7
703
Seats › Front Assembly › Recliner4
101
Wheels › Lugs/Nuts/Bolts/Studs3
000
Structure › Body › Door › Hinge and Attachments3
001
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip3
101
Fuel System, Gasoline › Storage › Tank Assembly3
000
Equipment › Appliance › Air Conditioner3
000
Steering2
102
Seat Belts › Front › Anchorage2
001

1 safety recall

Part 573 reports
Fuel System, Gasoline › Storage › Tank Assembly96V121001
Filed Jul 1, 199618,121 vehiclesGeneral Motors Corp.

Defect. THE FUEL TANK ON THESE VEHICLES CAN BECOME PUNCTURED BY A FUEL TANK FLANGE ATTACHMENT REINFORCEMENT DURING REAR-END COLLISIONS. THIS DOES NOT COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 301, "FUEL TANK INTEGRITY."

Risk. CONSEQUENCE OF NON-COMPLIANCE: IF AN IGNITION SOURCE WAS PRESENT, FUEL LEAKAGE RESULTING FROM THIS PUNCTURE COULD RESULT IN A POST-CRASH FIRE.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL INSTALL TWO NEW SHIELD GUSSETS BETWEEN THE FUEL TANK AND ATTACHMENT BRACKETS TO PREVENT THE REINFORCEMENT FROM PUNCTURING THE FUEL TANK WALL.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Aug 25, 2004CT

WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED CONSUMER NOTICED LIQUID UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. CONSUMER INFORMED THE MECHANIC THAT THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED MORE THAN ONCE. *AK

Seats
Filed Dec 18, 2003NE

THE HARDWARE THAT HELD THE DRIVER'S SEAT IN AN UPRIGHT POSITION FAILED, RESULTING IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT BACK TO BE UNSTABLE AND CONTINUOUSLY FALL BACKWARDS. *AK

Seats › Front Assembly › Recliner
Filed Sep 24, 2003NE

THE FRONT SEAT MECHANISM BROKE ON THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT CAUSING IT TO FALL BACK. THIS IS NOT ONLY VERY DANGEROUS, BUT A SERIOUS DEFECT IN THIS VEHICLE AND I FEEL THAT IT SHOULD BE FIXED AT NO COST TO ME AS IT A MECHANICAL DEFECT THAT SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN HAPPENING SINCE THE VEHICLE TYPE WAS MADE.

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline
Filed Mar 26, 2002OH

THERE WAS SMOKE COMING OUT FROM UNDER DASH AND ALL EQUIPMENT PANELS QUIT WORKING-NO INTERIOR LIGHTS, BLINKERS, HAZARDS, RADIO,SPEEDOMETER. WHEN STOPPED CAR IDLES DOWN LIGHTS GO DIM AND STALLS. WHEN THIS HAPPENS AND YOU START TO GO THE FAN BELT SQEALS. NLM

Power Train › Automatic Transmission › Torque Converter
Filed Sep 25, 2001MI

SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT ON AFTER 50,000 MILES, TOOK TO MECHANIC SAID COMPUTER SAID PROBLEMS WITH THE TORQUE CONVERTOR, COULDNT FIND ANY PROBLEMS. RESET LIGHT, LEFT. SAME DAY SPEEDS OF OVER 55 MPH LIGHT CAME BACK ON. NOW HAVING SHIFTING PROBLEMS. SHIFTS AT HIGH SPEEDS. MAKES HIGH WHINY NOISE (ALMOST LIKE A BELT IS LOOSE). PULLING BAD TO THE RIGHT (EVEN AFTER ALIGNMENT). BRAKES HAVE LOCKED TWICE. SEATBELTS LOCK AT LOW SPEEDS AND WHEN STOPPED. *AK

Air Bags
Filed Sep 10, 2001CA

AIR BAG LIGHT ON INSTRUMENT PANEL HAS BEEN ON, AND HORN HAS FAILED TO OPERATE. DEALERSHIP INFORMED CONSUMER THAT PROBLEM HAD TO DO WITH THE CLOCKSPRING. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION / ATTACHMENTS.*AK

Structure › Body › Door › Hinge and Attachments
Filed Jul 16, 2001OH

DOOR ON PASSENGER'S SIDE IS RUSTED TO POINT WHERE HINGES AND BOLTS ARE COMING RIGHT THROUGH DOOR.*AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Feb 10, 2001TX

ON 9/24/99 WE HAD OUR TIMING BELT REPLACED AS A PART OF THE 60,000 MAINTENANCE ON OUR CAR. IN AUGUST OF 2000 WE EXPERIENCED A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER ACCOMPANIED BY A CLANKING IN THE ENGINE. THIS OCCURRED WHILE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING MY 2 YOUNG CHILDREN TO AN EVENT. WE CHECKED THE CAR IN WITH A DEALER WHO INFORMED US THAT THE BOLT HOLDING THE TIMING BELT ASSEMBLY TO THE CRANK CASE HAD COME UNSCREWED AND TORN APART OUR CRANKCASE. 3 MECHANICS STATED THAT THIS WAS IRREPAIRABLE AND REQUIRED A NEW ENGINE FOR THE CAR. THE DEALER TOLD US THAT THIS SCREW COULD ONLY COME LOOSE DURING THE REPLACEMENT OF THE TIMING BELT - SPECIFICALLY THAT THE MECHANIC HAD FAILED TO TIGHTEN IT PROPERLY. WHEN I BROUGH THIS TO THE ATTENTION OF MY MECHABIC, HE PROMPTLY PRODUCED CHEVY'S PUBLISHED REPAIR GUIDE WHICH CLEARLY STATES THAT THIS BOLT IS NOT TO BE UNSCREWED DURING TIMING BELT REPLACEMENT. THIS LEAVES ONLY 1 OTHER POSSIBILITY - THE BOLT WAS NOT PROPERLY TIGHTENED AT THE MANUFACTURING FACILITY. WHEN I BROUGHT THIS TO THE DEALER'S ATTENTION THEY WERE QUITE RUDE AND INFORMED THAT I WAS ON MY OWN SINCE I HAD NOT USED A DEALER FOR THE REPAIR. CALLS TO CHEVY'S CUSTOMER SERVICE WERE HANDLED IN THE SAME CONDESCENDING MANNER. EMAILS TO THE COPANY HAVE GONE UNANSWERED. THE COPANY DOES NOT SEEM TO CARE THAT A DEFAULT IN THEIR MANUFACTURING PUT MY FAMILY AT RISK. I AM GETTING YOUR AGENCY INVOLVED FOR 2 REASONS (1) NOTIFY YOU OF THE NEGLIGENCE AND LACK OF CONCERN ON CHEVY'S PART, AND (2) SOLICIT YOUR ASSISTANCE IN RE

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Differential Proportional Valve
Filed Oct 25, 2000MA

BRAKE PROPORTION VALVUE LEAKS FLUID, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

Wheels › Lugs/Nuts/Bolts/Studs
Filed Oct 6, 2000NE

CONSUMER TOOK CAR IN FOR OIL CHANGE, AND MECHANIC SAID THAT ONLY ONE NUT: BOLT WAS HOLDING THE FAN SHROUD ON, THERE WERE SUPPOSE TO BE 4 NUT:BOLTS. *AK FRONT DRIVE SHAFT FELL OFF. A BOLTS IN PCV VALVE WERE LOOSE. *YH

Air Bags › FrontalCrash
Filed Aug 14, 2000CA

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 45 MPH VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A COW HEAD-ON FIRST. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Jul 20, 2000AR

ENGINE STARTED MAKING A RATTLING NOISE. THE CONSUMER FOUND OUT IT WAS 2 SLUNG ROD IN THE ENGINE FROM A MECHANIC. CONSUMER STARTED REBUILDING ENGINE BECAUSE THE CRANKSHAFT ON TRACKERS AREN'T REUSABLE. CHEVROLET REALLY HASN'T GIVEN ANY INFORMATION WHY IT HAPPENED.*AK

Air Bags › FrontalCrash
Filed Jun 16, 2000NY

VEHICLE WAS INVOVLED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION WITH A TREE AT 30 MPH. UPON IMPACT, BOTH AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

Air Bags › FrontalCrash
Filed Apr 18, 2000CA

CONSUMER WAS APPROACHING AN INTERSECTION AT A STOP SIGN AND PEDESTRAIN RAN IN FRONT OF VEHICLE. DRIVER IN VEHICLE IN FRONT JAMMED ON BRAKES SO THAT HE WOULDN'T HIT THE PEDESTRAIN. THEN, CONSUMER APPLIED HER BRAKES AND BRAKES LOCKED UP. VEHICLE SKIDDED INTO OTHER VEHICLE, AND AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY . CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 10 MPH. *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline
Filed Apr 6, 2000SC

ENGINE STALLS WITH NO WARNING AT IDLE. DEALER CAN'T HELP. ENGINE ALSO MAKING EXCESSIVE TAPPING NOISE AT START-UP.*AK

Structure › Body › Door › Hinge and Attachments
Filed Feb 7, 2000NY

DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR HINGE HAS COME OFF THE FRAME OF THE CAR. OWNER CANNOT DRIVE VEHICLE. DOOR HAS NOT COME COMPLETELY OFF. DEALER HAS NOT SEEN VEHICLE. *AK

Air Bags › FrontalCrash1 injured
Filed Feb 2, 2000IN

WHILE DRIVING UNDER SLICK ROAD CONDITIONS AT 20 MPH CONSUMER RAN OFF ROAD INTO A WOODEN FENCE AND A TREE. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY/SEAT BELTS DID NOT LOCK AS THEY SHOULD TO PREVENT INJURY. CONSUMER SUFFERED A HEAD INJURY. DEALER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

Power Train › Manual Transmission
Filed Feb 1, 2000CA

VEHICLE HAS EXPERIENCED CONTINUED PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION NOT SHIFTING PROPERLY, SEVERAL REPAIRS TO TRANSMISSION TO TRY TO REMEDY THE SHIFTING PROBLEMS, HOWEVER NOT ABLE TO BE FIXED PROPERLY. *MJS

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline
Filed Dec 30, 1999PA

ENGINE BEGAN TO RACE CAUSE DIFFICULTY TO CONTROL.

Wheels › Lugs/Nuts/Bolts/Studs
Filed Oct 26, 1999CA

VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE SHOP TO GET TIRES ROTATED. WHILE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING ON THE ROAD ON HER WAY HOME WHEN SHE HEARD A GRINDING/CLANKING NOISE. AS SHE APPROCHED A HILL THE NOISE GOT LOUDER. SHE PULLED OVER. THE LUGS: BOLTS HAD CAME OFF THE WHEELS, AND A LUG: NUT WAS MISSING. SHE NOTIFIED THE SHOP THAT SERVICE HER VEHICLE. *AK

20 of 71 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 1996
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20021000Routine
20012100Routine
20007000Routine
199922300Routine
199818011Fatalities reported
199725010Routine
1996 — this page71110Routine
199564071Fatalities reported
199448330Routine
199324121Fatalities reported
199219013Fatalities reported
199118110Routine
199025101Fatalities reported

Compare every Tracker 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.

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: Jul 1, 1996. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.