1997 Geo Metro problems
Owners have filed 90 complaints with NHTSA about the 1997 Geo Metro. Engine is the most reported problem area, at 17% of complaints. After that come brakes (11%) and air bags (9%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 90 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Engine 17% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 14 and 3
- Injuries and deaths
- 13 and 0
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
What the data shows
Safety-related details: 14 complaints mention a crash; 3 complaints mention a fire; 13 injuries reported. Its complaints are more severe on average than those of 88% of model years in our database.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 1997 ranks 4th most-complained-about out of 10 model years of the Geo Metro with enough data (59 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 1 safety recall campaign.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
I wouldn't recommend the car, in fact I would discourage people from purchasing the car and I have. My daughter was in critical condition and seriously injured because of the seat breaking.
The two injuries were slight, neck and back sprains. Both occupants were wearing lap and shoulder belts. I am concerned that the air bags did not deploy. The speed at impact was somewhere between 30 and 35 MPH. The accident occurred on a rainy evening, just about dusk. The other driver, coming the opposite direction had started a left turn across the other lanes when he apparently froze and stopped the car.
I stopped at red light waiting for traffic to clear for me to go right on red, if possible. Person behind did not stop. Rear-ended me @ approx 20-30MPH. My driver's seat failed to stay upright as I had it, but broke back to a half reclining position & could not be put back in an upright position.
Consumer was in a commercial parking lot owner and while parking the vehicle applied brakes and vehicle took off. Consumer stepped on the brakes with both feet, and vehicle continued to surge forward. Consumer eventually got the vehicle to stop.
I helped my mother in law purchase a new 1997 geo metro from a dealer in 1997. I am dissatified with the quality of the paint job. The paint is wearing off the trunk of the vehicle and appears to also be happening on the hood. In addition the chrome paint has worn off the wheel covers last year. We have maintained this car, washing , waxing etc as we have all our other vehicles so I don't believe improper maintenace is the cause. Is there any financial help available to remedy this problem.