FaultScore

1997 GEO Metro transmission problems

11 of the 90 complaints about the 1997 GEO Metro are about the transmission — 12% of everything reported for this model year.

C

11

Complaints

1

Crashes

0

Fires

0

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Automatic Transmission 2 18.2%
Manual Transmission 2 18.2%
Gear Position Indication (Prndl) 2 18.2%
Park/Neutral Start Interlock Switch 2 18.2%
Power Train 1 9.1%
Axle Assembly 1 9.1%
Clutch Assembly 1 9.1%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

Rockford, IL

POWER TRAIN

ONE OF THE WHEEL HUB CAPS CAME OFF AND THE TREAD OF TWO TIRES BEGAN PEELING OFF.*NM A TICKING SOUND WAS HEARD WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN AND GETTING LOUDER EVERY DAY. THE TRANSMISSION FLUID APPEARED BROWN INSTEAD OF PINK. THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING OIL. THE SPARK PLUGS WERE WORN OUT. THE DISTRIBUTOR CAP CRACKED, THE OIL SWITCH WAS BAD, AND THE PCV VALVE WAS BAD. THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED. THE ENGINE STALLED WHEN THE VEHICLE REACHEED THE 25 MPH MARK. NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. THE VEHICLE WILL NOT RESTART.

NHTSA complaint #10110924 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Weston, WV

POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION

BROUGHT CAR JULY 11, 2000-DEC. 20,2000-TRANSMISSION REPLACED-AUG. 23, 2002 THROUGH SEPT. 30, 2002-SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT STILL ON CRANK SENSOR SEAL O-RING REPLACED, BURNING OIL, HAS A SHAKE TO IT WHEN DRIVING AND SLOWING DOWN, AND ALL THIS HAPPENED IN THE LAST TWO YEARS. MR

NHTSA complaint #767904 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Washington Court House, OH Crash

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:PARK/NEUTRAL START INTERLOCK SWITCH

THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS ENGAGED, VEHICLE ROLLED, JUMPED A PARKING BLOCK, UPROOTED A FENCE, THE TOP OF THE FENCE HIT THE WINDHSIELD CAUSING IT TO CRACK, THE FENCE WENT UP OVER THE VEHICLE CAUSING DAMAGE FROM THE FRONT, TO THE BACK. I HAVE THE ESTIMATE FROM THE BODY SHOP THAT IT WAS TAKEN TO. I ALSO HAVE WITNESSES THAT SAW THAT THE PARKING BRAKE WAS ENGAGED.

NHTSA complaint #765427 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Redford, MI

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL)

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

NHTSA complaint #559824 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Rittman, OH

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILED PREMATURELY. NLM

NHTSA complaint #559360 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Baltimore, MD

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:PARK/NEUTRAL START INTERLOCK SWITCH

WHEN PLACING VEHICLE IN PARK SHIFT GEAR WILL NOT STAY IN PARK POSITION. THIS COULD CAUSE VEHICLE TO ROLL FREELY. ALSO, VEHICLE WILL NOT DISENGAGE OUT OF PARK POSITION. CONSUMER ALSO, RECALL 98V225001/MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 98052 DOES NOT INCLUDE THIS VEHICLE DUE TO VIN. *AK A DIAGNOSIS DETERMIND THAT THE SHIFTER CABLE WAS DAMAGED DUE TO GEAR SHIFT MALFUNCTIONS.

NHTSA complaint #881254 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Capistrano Beach, CA

POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY

DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT AXLE KEEPS FALLING OFF WHICH MAY CAUSE A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE. GM HAS NOT PROVIDED HELP. *AK

NHTSA complaint #864062 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Susanville, CA

POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION

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.

NHTSA complaint #701714 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Port Charootte, FL

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL)

A COUPLE OF MONTHS BACK CONSUMER COMPLAINED TO THE DEALER ABOUT THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER BEING ABLE TO MOVE INTO GEAR WHILE THE VEHICLE IS NOT ON, OR NOT APPLYING THE BRAKES. CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THIS IS NORMAL OPERATION. CURRENTLY, CONSUMER HAS RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM. DEALER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED.

NHTSA complaint #830370 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SAN Rafael, CA

POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY

CLUTCH FAILED.

NHTSA complaint #529870 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Hollywood, FL

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

FRON LEFT/REAR LEFT STRUTS FAILED. ALSO TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTIONED.

NHTSA complaint #523353 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 1997 GEO Metro problems

← Full 1997 GEO Metro report