FaultScore

1997 GEO Metro brake problems

10 of the 90 complaints about the 1997 GEO Metro are about the braking system — 11% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 19,850 miles.

F

10

Complaints

1

Crashes

2

Fires

1

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip 3 30.0%
Foundation Components 2 20.0%
Conventional 2 20.0%
Master Cylinder 1 10.0%
Disc 1 10.0%
Rotor 1 10.0%

Brakes across every GEO Metro year

1994 13 35.1%
1995 14 37.8%
1997 10 27.0%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 19,850 miles Edison, NJ Crash 1 injured

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

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.

NHTSA complaint #10099754 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Washington Court HOU, OH

PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL

WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, IT STARTED TO ROLL BACK WITH THE VEHICLE BEING TURNED OFF, AND THE EMERGENCY BRAKE UP. CONTACTED DEALER. *AK THE VEHICLE JUMPED A PARKING BLOCK AND HIT A FENCE, WHICH HIT THE WINDSHIELD, CRACKING IT. THE VEHICLE WENT UNDER THE FENCE AND THE FENCE SCRATCHED THE VEHICLE FROM THE FRONT TO THE BACK. IT DAMAGED THE FRONT BUMPER, FRONT LIGHTS, HOOD, FENDER, VENT SCREEN, LEFT WIPER ARM, RIGHT TO LEFT WIPERS, LIFT GATE, REAR LIGHTS, AND POSSIBLE SUSPENSION DAMAGE. THE TOTAL ESTIMATE IS 3026.15. *SCC

NHTSA complaint #8015939 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Bloomington, CA

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC

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.

NHTSA complaint #728310 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Coral Spri, FL

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER

THE MASTER CYLINDER FAILURE CAUSED THE BRAKES TO FAIL. YH

NHTSA complaint #552419 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Midvale, UT

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

OWNER'S MANUEL STATES IF FLASHING LIGHT COMES ON WHEN STARTING, VEHICLE HAS ABS BRAKES. ALSO, CONSUMER HAS CHECKED VEHICLE , AND THERE'S NO MAIN FUSE OR RELAY IN FUSE PANELS.

NHTSA complaint #860130 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FT. Wayne, IN Fire

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

WHILE PULLING OUT FROM A TRAFFIC LIGHT AT 5MPH BRAKES SUDDENLY LOCKED UP WITHOUT BEING APPLIED. SMOKE WAS NOTICED COMING FROM THE BRAKE ROTORS. BRAKE SYSTEM CAUGHT ON FIRE. FIRE WAS PUT OUT BY ITSELF. THE DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED.

NHTSA complaint #854302 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FT. Wayne, IN Fire

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR

WHILE PULLING OUT FROM A TRAFFIC LIGHT AT 5MPH BRAKES SUDDENLY LOCKED UP WITHOUT BEING APPLIED. SMOKE WAS NOTICED COMING FROM THE BRAKE ROTORS. BRAKE SYSTEM CAUGHT ON FIRE. FIRE WAS PUT OUT BY ITSELF. THE DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED.

NHTSA complaint #854302 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Houston, TX

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS

BRAKES FAILED.

NHTSA complaint #540069 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Abbuquerque, NM

PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL

VEHICLE WAS PLACED FROM DRIVE INTO NEUTRAL. CONSUMER, THEREFORE, ENGANGED THE EMERGENCY PARKING BRAKE IN WHICH THE VEHICLE ROLLED BACK FREELY. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER, DEALER HAS YET TO CHECK VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.

NHTSA complaint #825492 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Vellajo, CA

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS

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.

NHTSA complaint #813133 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 1997 GEO Metro problems

← Full 1997 GEO Metro report