14 of the
116 complaints about the 1996 GEO Metro are about the
electrical system — 12% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
105,500 miles.
D
14
Complaints
0
Crashes
2
Fires
0
Injuries
Exactly what failed
Ignition
428.6%
Fuses AND Circuit Breakers
428.6%
Interior/Under Dash
214.3%
Electrical System
214.3%
Alternator/Generator/Regulator
214.3%
What owners said
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
at 115,000 milesAvon Park, FL
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE HEADLIGHTS ON MY WIFE'S CAR, LIKE SO MANY OTHERS, HAVE BECOME ALMOST OPAQUE. AFTER HAVING THE LIGHTS REPAIRED AT SUBSTANTIAL COST I WAS TOLD THAT IT IS DUE TO UV EXPOSURE AND THAT IT DOES NOT AFFECT ALL MAKES. APPARENTLY SOME MANUFACTURERS PRODUCE LIGHTS THAT CONTINUE TO FUNCTION AFTER EXPOSURE TO SUNLIGHT. SOME DO NOT. I FEEL THIS IS A REAL SAFETY HAZARD. IT SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCES THE LIGHT OUTPUT AND IT ONLY TAKES A FEW MINUTES LOOKING ABOUT ANY PARKING LOT TO REALIZE THAT MOST GO UNCORRECTED. WHY CAN'T ALL MANUFACTURERS USE HEADLIGHTS THAT DO NOT TURN YELLOW?
NHTSA complaint #10123831 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 96,000 milesClaxton, GA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
FUSE BOX/HEADLIGHT CONNECTION BURNT/MELTED. HEADLIGHTS NON OPERATIVE, ONLY DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS AVAILABLE. REPLACED FUSEBOX FOR SECOND TIME. REPLACED BUTT CONECTOR FOR FOURTH TIME.
NHTSA complaint #10096260 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Waco, TX
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
STEERING WHEEL ABLE TO SPIN IN CIRCLES WITH NO RESISTANCE, OR ANY EFFECT ON STEERING MECHANISM, CONDITION FINALLY STOPPED, NEXT FEW DAYS A NEW IGNITION LOCK WAS INSTALLED.
NHTSA complaint #557506 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Russellville, AL
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS
DIMMER SWITCH CONNECTION BURNT CAUSING HEADLIGHTS NOT TO WORK ,AFTER REPLACEING DIMMER SWITCH FUSE BOX THAT IT CONNECTS TO BURNT OUT AND HAD TO BE REPLACED HAD SAME PROBLEM WITH 1991 METRO.
NHTSA complaint #735460 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ANN Arbor, MI
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS
(TWICE WITHIN SIX MONTHS) A SHORT IN THE STEERING COLUMN HEADLIGHT SWITCH WIRING HAS RESULTED IN THE HEADLIGHTS BECOMING INOPPERATIVE, SO I HAD TO DRIVE AT NIGHT WITH ONLY THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS. TURNING TO THE LEFT CAUSES THE PARKING BRAKE WARNING LIGHT TO GLOW, AND TURNING TO THE RIGHT CAUSES THE LIGHT TO EXTINGUISH. THIS COULD BE DUE TO A LOOSE WIRE? ANOTHER ELECTRICAL PROBLEM IS THAT THE LEFT HAND SIDE OF THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS NO LONGER WORK.
NHTSA complaint #721004 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ANN Arbor, MI
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
(TWICE WITHIN SIX MONTHS) A SHORT IN THE STEERING COLUMN HEADLIGHT SWITCH WIRING HAS RESULTED IN THE HEADLIGHTS BECOMING INOPPERATIVE, SO I HAD TO DRIVE AT NIGHT WITH ONLY THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS. TURNING TO THE LEFT CAUSES THE PARKING BRAKE WARNING LIGHT TO GLOW, AND TURNING TO THE RIGHT CAUSES THE LIGHT TO EXTINGUISH. THIS COULD BE DUE TO A LOOSE WIRE? ANOTHER ELECTRICAL PROBLEM IS THAT THE LEFT HAND SIDE OF THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS NO LONGER WORK.
NHTSA complaint #721004 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Columbus, IN
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
CAME TO STOP LIGHT AND THE CAR WOULDN'T START BACK UP. LOW VOLTAGE READING OR DIM LIGHTS.CHANGED ALTERNATOR IN NOVEMBER. WAS TOLD THAT WAS THE WAY THE CAR WAS DESIGNED, AND THE ALTERNATOR WAS NOT BIG ENOUGH. CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALER AND MANUFACTURER.
NHTSA complaint #844519 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Columbus, IN
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS
VEHICLE CUTS OFF WHEN STOPPING AT A STOP LIGHT. THE WAY THE VEHICLE IS DESIGNED, THE ALTERNATOR IS NOT BIG ENOUGH TO HOLD THE A/C AND RADIO. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER.
NHTSA complaint #844171 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Columbus, IN
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
VEHICLE CUTS OFF WHEN STOPPING AT A STOP LIGHT. THE WAY THE VEHICLE IS DESIGNED, THE ALTERNATOR IS NOT BIG ENOUGH TO HOLD THE A/C AND RADIO. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER.
NHTSA complaint #844171 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Ottawa, OHFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS
THERE WAS A SHORT IN THE LIGHT SWITCH WHICH CAUSED WIRES/CONNECTION AT FUSE BOX (UNDER DASH) TO BURN AND MELT. THE EFFECT OF THIS WAS THAT ONLY THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS AND PARKING LIGHTS WOULD WORK. THE HEADLIGHTS AND HIGH BEAMS WOULD NOT WORK. JUST WONDERING WHY A FUSE WOULD NOT BLOW TO INDICATE A PROBLEM INSTEAD OF WIRES BURNING AND FUSE BOX BURNING?
NHTSA complaint #700574 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LOS Animas, CO
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
VEHICLE'S SPEEDOMETER & ODOMETER NOT WORKING CORRECTLY DUE TO A MALFUNCTIONING OF COMPUTER CHIP. WOULD REGISTER A DIFFERENT SPEED OR MILEAGE. ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON. DEALER REPLACED ODOMETER/SPEEDOMETER, BUT NOT COMPUTER CHIP COMPONENT.
NHTSA complaint #822066 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Cresaptown, MDFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE UNDER THE THE STEERING COLUMN NEAR THE FEET OF THE DRIVER.
NHTSA complaint #810931 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Wheatridge, CO
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
OWNER HAS VARIOUS PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE, ONE BEING A SAFETY PROBLEM, VEHICLE STALLS WHILE DRIVING, OWNER NOTES THAT SHE WAS ALMOST IN A CRASH DUE TO THE LACK OF POWER.
NHTSA complaint #805861 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Detroit, MI
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
AFTER DRIVING THE CAR FOR 15 TO MINUTES, THE CAR STALLS, CONSUMER DRIVES 35 TO 40 MILES . PLEASE DESCRIBE.
NHTSA complaint #801139 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.