NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 1997 Geo Metro. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
WHILE PARKED AND LEFT IN GEAR CAR ROLLS EVEN ON SLIGHT INCLINE. IT DOESN'T SEEM TO MATTER WHAT GEAR CAR IS LEFT IN. IN THE REVERSE GEAR CAR MAKES SMALL JUMPS, HAVE TO MAKE SURE PARKING BRAKE IS SET EVEN IN FREEZING TEMPS. I COMPLAINED TO DEALER THE CAR WAS DIFFICULT TO SHIFT INTO REVERSE AT THE 1000 MILE CHECKUP BUT WAS TOLD THEY HAD CHECKED IT OUT AND FOUND NO PROBLEM. I TOLD THEM ABOUT THE GEARS NOT HOLDING AND WAS TOLD TO USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. I REALIZE YOU HAVE TO BE SAFE ON A HILL AND SET THE BRAKE BUT SEEMS THE GEARS SHOULD HOLD THE CAR ON APPROX. A 1-2% GRADE. I WAS WONDERING IF ANYONE ELSE HAS HAD THIS PROBLEM WITH THE GEO METRO.
THE REPAIRS WERE DONE AT MARK CHRISTOPHER CHEV. IN ONTARIO, CA IN THE BEGINNING AND NOW ALL BRAKE REPAIRS SINCE 8-31-98 HAVE BEEN DONE THROUGH PEP BOYS IN RANCHO CUCAMONGA, CA. NOBODY CAN SEEM TO TELL ME WHY THE BRAKES ARE WEARING OUT AS FAST AS THEY ARE (BESIDES LAYING THE BLAME ON EACH OTHER). I HAVE OWNED THE CAR SINCE NEW NOV. 1996 AND I HAVE HAD THE BRAKES REPAIRED 6 TIMES, GOING ON THE SEVENTH TIME ON AUGUST 19, 2000. THE LAST TWO HAVE BEEN SINCE AUGUST OF 1999 AND APRIL OF 2000. I PLACED A CALL TO MARK CHRISTOPHER TODAY AT 909-390-2900 TO FIND OUT IF THERE WERE ANY RECALLS ON THIS VEHICLE REGARDING THE BRAKE SYSTEM. THEY TOLD ME NO. PLEASE CONTACT ME REGARDING THIS PROBLEM, THANK YOU.
THE VEHICLE'S DEFECTIVE BRAKING SYSTEM MAKES A NOISY SOUND AND THE BRAKING SYSTEM HAS EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE WHICH CAN CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. DEALER REPLACE CALIPER. BEEN IN SHOP 3 TIMES. DEALER CANNOT FIX THE PROBLEM. *AK
WHILE BACKING OUT, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED FORWARD AND CAUSED ACCIDENT.
THE TAIL LIGHTS DO NOT FUNCTION WHEN THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS ARE ON.
WHILE DRIVING THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME LOOSE, LIKE SOMETHING WAS DISCONNECTED, RESULTING IN A MINOR COLLOSION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. PRIOR TO THE INCIDENTHE DEALER MADE REPAIRS TO THE STEERING WHEEL AND COLUMN.
SOMETIMES FAILS TO START FOR NO REASON.WILL STOP RUNNING EVEN DURING DRIVING.PROBLEM HAS BEEN CHECKED AND RECHECKED AND CANNOT BE FOUND.UNDEPENDABLE AND UNSAFE. MANUFACTURER CONTACTED BUT WAS NO HELP. POSSIBLY COULD CAUSE SERIOUS ACCIDENT AND INJURIES. SHOULD BE RECALLED. *AK
FUEL GAUGE READS EMPTY WHEN FUEL TANK IS ONLY HALF TO LESS THAN HALF EMPTY. FRIGHTNIG WHEN TRAVELING LONG DISTANCES AND NOT SURE IF YOU HAVE FUEL TO GET TO THE NEXT GAS STATION. *AK
CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP BROKE DOWN 10+TIMES IN TWO YEAR'S. EVERYTIME THEY SAY IT IS FIXED SOMETHING ELSE HAPPEN'S I AM HANDYCAP AND ON OXYGEN I HAVE GOT STUCK OUT IN MY CAR AT LEAST THREE TIMES WAITING FOR HELP. THE REASON I BOUGHT THE METRO IS FOR SAFETY I HAVE HAD NOTING BUT TROUBLE. ALL MY LIFE MY FAMILY HAS WENT TO CHEVROLET BUT NOW I AM WONDERING WHY, I AM AFRAID TO GET OUT IN MY CAR ALONE BECAUSE FOR THE LAST TWO WEEK'S I HAVE HAD IT A TOTAL OF ONE NIGHT.
THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW HAS DIFFICULTY GOING UP. *SLC
RADIATOR AND WATER PUMP FAILED PREMATURELY. NLM
AFTER THE LEVER IS RELEASED FROM PARK AND PUT INTO REVERSE TO BACKUP THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION CAN EASILY SLIDE INTO NEUTRAL AND SLIDE INTO DRIVE WITHOUT EVER HAVING TO TOUCH THE BUTTON. NLM
STALLING PROBLEMS. WHILE DRIVING ENGINE WILL STOP RUNNING. MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALLS.*AK
NHTSA source checks for this vehicle year
Checks are recorded separately for each dataset, not for the whole page. Dates use UTC. A missing check date does not mean no records exist.
Vehicle import recorded: Sep 10, 2026. This is the stored import date, not confirmation that every source was successfully refreshed.