1999 Geo Tracker

Routine

Owners filed 22 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the service brakes, hydraulic › antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip. It has been recalled 3 times.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip2
100
Power Train › Clutch Assembly2
000
Electrical System › Wiring › Fuses and Circuit Breakers2
000
Air Bags › Frontal2
200
Unknown or Other1
000
Suspension › Rear1
100
Suspension › Front1
000
Suspension1
000
Steering1
000
Seats1
000

3 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Exterior Lighting › Brake Lights › Switch99V273001
Filed Oct 20, 199930,605 vehiclesGeneral Motors Corp.

Defect. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE AN INOPERATIVE BRAKE LAMP-ACTUATING SWITCH. IF THE BRAKE LAMP-ACTUATING SWITCH DOES NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED, THE BRAKE LIGHTS MAY BE INOPERATIVE. ON VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLE, A FAILURE IN THE BRAKE LAMP-ACTUATING SWITCH MAY ALSO PREVENT SHIFTING OUT OF PARK. THIS DOES NOT COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."

Risk. IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION AND ANOTHER VEHICLE WAS FOLLOWING CLOSELY, A VEHICLE CRASH COULD OCCUR.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE STOP LAMP SWITCH ASSEMBLY.

Visibility › Windshield98V329000
Filed Dec 22, 199812 vehiclesGeneral Motors Corp.

Defect. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLE. THE WINDSHIELD MAY HAVE BEEN IMPROPERLY INSTALLED AND MAY NOT MEET THE WINDSHIELD RETENTION DURING A FRONTAL IMPACT REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 212, "WINDSHIELD MOUNTING."

Risk. IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE WINDSHIELD MAY NOT BE PROPERLY RETAINED AND INJURY TO VEHICLE OCCUPANTS COULD OCCUR.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE WINDSHIELDS ON AFFECTED VEHICLES.

Steering › Steering Wheel/Handle Bar98V324001
Filed Dec 15, 19981,158 vehiclesGeneral Motors Corp.

Defect. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE COUPLING THAT CONNECTS THE STEERING COLUMN SHAFT TO THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT IS CRACKED. THIS COULD ALLOW THE STEERING SHAFTS TO SEPARATE.

Risk. IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, A LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL COULD OCCUR INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE STEERING SHAFT COUPLING.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Suspension › Front
Filed Jun 25, 200769,300 milesOH

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 GEO TRACKER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT SUSPENSION CROSS MEMBER IS ROTTED OUT AND CORRODED FROM THE INSIDE. THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED WITH FRONT CROSS MEMBERS DESIGNED AND MADE BY SUZUKI, WHICH RUST FROM THE INSIDE OUT DUE TO INSUFFICIENT CORROSION PROTECTION. NHTSA ACTION # EA06018 WAS REFERENCED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 69,300.

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline
Filed Dec 8, 200663,000 milesDE

ENGINE IDLES ROUGH AND STALLS. *JB

Electrical System › Wiring › Fuses and Circuit Breakers
Filed Aug 5, 2003GA

MY CHEVROLET/GEO TRACKER HAD A ARECAL ISSUED ON IT. HOWEVER THE DEALER FAILED TO REPAIR IT PRIOR TO SALING IT THOUGH THE TITLE EXPLICITLY STATED THEY MUST. WHAT SHOULD I DO?. *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Jul 6, 200355,000 milesIL

I HAVE ONLY OWNED MY 1999 TRACKER FOR ALMOST TWO YEARS AND HAVE HAD MAJOR ENGINE PROBLEMS WITH IT. I HAD THE TIMING CHAINS AND HEAD GASKET REPLACED IN FEB DUE TO AN UNEXPLAINED OIL LEAK. I HAVE NOW BEEN INFORMED BY THE PLACE THAT DID THE OTHER ENGINE REPAIRS THAT IT NOW NEEDS A NEW OIL PUMP AND CONNECTING RODS TO THE TUNE OF 1000 DOLLARS. I HAVE NOT BEEN GIVEN ANY SATISFACTION FROM CHEVY OR MY DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED THE AUTO. THE CAR HAS DIED AND IT WAS SHAKING AND STALLING OUT AT STOP LIGHTS AS WELL AS WHEN I WOULD BE PUTTING MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE FOR ANYTHING. THIS CAR IS NOT SAFE OR RELIABLE AND I AM PISSED OFF AT CHEVY AND ROCKENBACH THE DEALERSHIP THAT SOLD ME THIS PIECE OF CRAP. *AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited SlipCrash
Filed Apr 11, 2002MD

WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED, AND WHEN VEHICLE IS DRIVEN ON WET PAVEMENT ABS SYSTEM ACTIVATES, CAUSING BRAKE PEDAL TO GO TO THE FLOOR, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE WHICH RESULTED IN A COLLISION. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. PLEASE ADD VIN. *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Exhaust System › Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe
Filed Apr 25, 2001MO

BUMPER BOLTS FAILED(3), IN ADDITION, 1 GRILLE BOLT, AND 1 MANIFOLD BOLT HAS COMPLETLY FALLEN OFF. THE DEALER TOLD ME "MY LICENSE PLATE WAS LOOSE". THIS TRACKER IS LOSING BOLTS AT AN ALARMING RATE. THE LEFT FRONT SUSPENSION DEVELOPED A SEVERE "RATTLE"AT ANY AND ALL SPEEDS. THE STRUT ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED, BUT A RATTLE IS STILL NOTICABLE OVER UNEVEN SURFACES. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE ON A LONG-DURATION TRIP.*AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Cooling System › Fan
Filed Aug 14, 2000PA

FAN SQEALING WHEN THE VEHICLE IS COLD OR TEMPERTURE IS COLD. IT CAN GET VERY LOUD IF COLD OUTSIDE. DON'T KNOW IF FAN MAY FAIL FAIL AND COME APART. *AK

Power Train › Manual Transmission
Filed Aug 2, 2000CA

TRANSMISSION-COULD NOT GET CAR INTO FIRST GEAR AND THIRD GEAR GRIND ON THE UP & DOWN SHIFT.REPLACED BOTH GEARS. TWO MONTHS LATER HAPPENED AGAIN SO TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED.THREE MONTHS LATER SAME PROBLEM WITH FIRST, FOURTH AND REVERSE.DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE COMPLETE CLUTCH ASSEMBLY. AC-THE AC IS NOT A BIG ENOUGH UNIT FOR THE VEHICLE. HAVE TO LEAVE IT ON HIGH AT ALL TIMES TO COOL THE BACK SEAT. SUSPENSION- THE VEHICLE IS ALL OVER THE ROAD. VERY HARD TO HANDLE IN THE WIND, RAIN OR EVEN ANY SPEED OVER 55 MPH. BUMPER- ALL THE FASTENERS HOLDING THE BACK MOLDING ON FELL OUT. *AK

Air Bags › FrontalCrash
Filed Jul 12, 2000NY

CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A 35 TO 45 MPH FRONTAL COLLISION IN WHICH AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

Suspension › RearCrash
Filed May 21, 2000OH

COMING OUT OF A CURVE TO THE LEFT, THE LEFT-REAR WHEEL CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO FISH-TAIL TO THE LEFT. COUNTERSTEERING TO THE LEFT CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SLIDE TO THE RIGHT. COUNTERSTEERING TO THE RIGHT STRAIGHTENED THE VEHICLE, BUT NOT BEFORE RUNNING INTO A FOREST. BREAKS WERE NOT TOUCHED DURING THE SLIDES..

Air Bags › FrontalCrash
Filed Mar 27, 2000OH

WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH HAD A FRONTAL IMPACT WITH A DEER IN WHICH DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY WHICH DID NO PROTECT THE OCCUPANTS IN THE CRASH. *AK *ML

Power Train › Automatic Transmission › Lever and Linkage › Column Shift
Filed Mar 2, 2000PA

VEHICLE WOULD FAIL TO SHIFT PROPERLY INTO 4- WHEEL DRIVE ON ITS OWN. ALSO, MAKE NOISES. VEHICLE WAS TEST DRIVEN BY HUSBAND & IT POPPED OUT OF 4WD INTO 2WD. TOOK TO GARY POWERS DEALERSHIP & MECHANIC HAD HARD TIME GETTING VEHICLE TO SHIFT INTO 4 WHEEL DRIVE. ALSO FOUND NO RECALLS ON 4 WHEEL DRIVE. *AK

Power Train › Clutch Assembly
Filed Feb 17, 2000MD

VEHICLE WILL NOT DOWNSHIFT FROM 4TH GEAR TO 3RD GEAR SMOOTHLY. SOMETIMES CLUTCH STICKS WHEN DOWNSHIFTING FROM 5TH TO 4TH GEAR. DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

Power Train › Clutch Assembly
Filed Feb 9, 2000NY

CLUTCH WOULD NOT GO INTO REVERSE, AND ALSO THERE WAS RESISTANCE WHEN PUTTING IT INTO SECOND GEAR. IN ADDITION, VEHICLE FAILED TO START. IT BEGAN WITH A HESITATION AND THEN FAILED TO START. ALSO DEFROSTER MALFUNCTIONED. *AK

Suspension
Filed Jan 21, 2000AR

CURRENT UNREPAIRED CONDITION. VIBRATION,ENGINE AND OR RELATED COMPONENTS BETWEEN SPEEDS OF 35MPH AND 40MPH ALSO AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 55MPH AND 60 MPH SEVERE ENOUGH AT TIMES TO MAKE ENTIRE BODY OF VEHICLE VIBRATE, HAVE DRIVEN OTHER LIKE VEHICLES SOME EXHIBIT THIS CONDITION, PROBLEM SEEMS TO DEPEND ON LOCAL SPEED LIMITS AND DRIVEING CONDITIONS. I HAVE FOUND A SIMILAR REPORT IN YOUR DATABASE CONCERNING THE SUZUKI GRAND VATARI WHICH IS MANUFACTURED ALONG WITH THE GEO TRACKER AT THE CAMI AUTOMOTIVE PLANT IN CANADA. CHEVROLET ACNOWLEDGES THIS CONDITION AS NORMAL. I SUSPECT THE PROBLEM TO BE IMPROPER ENGINE TO BODY ISOLATION. *AK

Electrical System › Ignition › Module
Filed Nov 29, 1999OH

INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STALLS UNEXPECTEDLY WHICH ALMOST CAUSED A CRASH. MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY NEEDED TO REPROGRAM THE COMPUTER AND MODIFY A CHIP. BUT MANUFACTURER HAS NO SOLUTION FOR THIS PROBLEM. VEHICLE IS STILL STALLING. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

Unknown or Other
Filed Nov 18, 1999VT

ENGINE STALLS AT STOP LIGHTS, LACK OF POWER IN COLD TEMP. ENGINE CHECK LIGHT BLINKS ON REPEATEDLY. BOTH DEALERSHIP AND CHEVROLET SAY THEY NEED TO REPROGRAM THE COMPUTER BUT AT THIS DATE THEY DON'T HAVE ONE WRITTEN TO FIX IT, I'VE OWNED THIS CAR FOR LESS THEN 20 DAYS AND ITS BEEN IN FOR REPAIR TWICE, IS THIS CONSIDERD SAFE WHEN A CAR STALLS AT TRAFFIC LIGHTS, ALSO IT HAS A VERY ROUGH IDLE. *AK

Exterior Lighting › Brake Lights
Filed Nov 3, 1999OR

BRAKE LIGHTS WENT OUT.CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS,AND THE DEALER DIDN'T REPAIR THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER DROVE THE VEHICLE WITHOUT ANY BRAKE LIGHTS. *AK

Electrical System › Wiring › Fuses and Circuit Breakers
Filed Oct 4, 1999NV

WOULD HAVE NO BRAKE LIGHTS WHENEVER THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP. MECHANIC CHECKED OUT THE BRAKES, AND FOUND THEY OPERATED ERRATICALLY. *AK

Steering
Filed Sep 29, 1999MD

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT 5 MPH ON WET PAVEMENT WHEN MAKING A RIGHT TURN, THE VEHICLE STARTED SLIDING AND WENT TO THE LEFT. *AK

20 of 22 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 1996
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20021000Routine
20012100Routine
20007000Routine
1999 — this page22300Routine
199818011Fatalities reported
199725010Routine
199671110Routine
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: Oct 20, 1999. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.