21 of the 109 complaints about the 1991 GEO Storm are about the electrical system — 19% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 86,000 miles.
21
Complaints
6
Crashes
1
Fires
1
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
1992 GEO STORM MANUAL TRANSMISSION. WHEN ENGINE GETS HOT ( SUMMER MONTHS ) ENGINE IDLE INCREASES TO 2,500 - 3,500 RPM. MUST USE FOOT TO PULL UP ON ACCELARATOR. CAR BEGINS TO OVERHEAT LURCHES FORWARD. CAR ALSO STALLS WITHOUT WARNING. HEARD IT HAS TO DO WITH FAULTY ECM. VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION.
NHTSA complaint #10131943 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
THIS IS THE 2ND ECM CONTROL MODULE IN 2 YEARS. . .BOTH WERE NEW WITH ONLY A YEAR WARRANTY. . .PROBLEM ONLY SHOWS UP IN THE SUMMER.
NHTSA complaint #763297 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
GENERAL MOTORS USED A SHRINKING SEALANT ON THE COMPUTER BOARDS IN THESE CARS WHICH THEY HAVE SINCE QUITE USING AND ADMIT IT WAS A PROBLEM, BUT STILL USE IT ON THE REPLACEMENT PARTS WHEN THIS SHRINKS IT PULLS THE COMPONENTS ON BOARD LOOSE, CAUSING POOR IDLE/ HESITATION AND STALLING EVEN DURING ACCELERATION (IE WHEN PULLING OUT IN TRAFFIC).
NHTSA complaint #758744 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #758572 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #758572 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
I WAS COMING DOWN A 2 LANE AND IT JUST STOPPED AND GOT REAR ENDED WHEN IT SHUT OFF IT WAS THE ECM SHORTED BECAUSE OF SEALANT FROM FACTORY.
NHTSA complaint #757304 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
FOR THE LAST 4YRS. I HAVE HAD TROUBLE AT START-UP,IDLE,DRIVABILITY OF THE ENGINE. ALL SENSORS RELATED TO THE IGNITION HAD BEEN CHECKED OR REPLACED. NOW ON 12/1/01 THE ALTERNATOR OVER CHARGED THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM CAUSING A COMPLETE BURN-UP OF THE ECM,MAIN CIRCUIT PANEL AND SOME OF THE WIRING HARNESS. NEITHER THE 50AMP MAIN FUSE OR THE 30AMP ECM FUSE BLEW (LIKE THEY SHOULD HAVE) STOPPING THE 160 AMPS FROM THE ALTERNATOR.
NHTSA complaint #755386 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
I SENT ONE COMPLAINT TODAY, WITH SOME ERRORS. I AM SENDING THIS COMPLAINT TO CORRECT THESE ERRORS, AND ALSO TO COMPLAIN A LITTLE MORE. I CAN BARELEY MAKE IT TO SCHOOL IN MY CAR WITHOUT WORRING IF IT IS GOING TO DIE OR NOT. SEVERAL TIMES IT HAS DIED IN THE MIDDLE OF BUSY INTERSECTIONS NOT ONLY PUTTING MYSELF IN DANGER, BUT ALSO THE OTHER MOTRISTS AROUND ME. I AM A YOUNG KID ON A TIGHT BUDGET AND WOULD LIKE TO SEE SOMETHING DONE ABOUT THIS. THANK YOU.
NHTSA complaint #753159 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
CAR HAS ERRATIC IDLE AT TIMES AND RPMS WILL STICK SOMETIMES WELL ABOVE NORMAL IDLE. IT IS ECU THAT IS CAUSING THE PROBLEM. QUITE A FEW OF MY FRIENDS EXPERIENCE THIS PROBLEM WITH THE GEO STORMS. A RECALL IS IN ORDER IF YOU ASK ME!
NHTSA complaint #745100 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
CAR LOSES POWER WITH NO INDICATION OF A PROBLEM. ALL SPEEDS. BEEN CHASING PROBLEM FOR ALMOST 3 YEARS NOW.
NHTSA complaint #737201 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
THE ECM DIED, AND ACCORDING TO A SURVEY, A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLES HAVE ALSO, RECALL IT!
NHTSA complaint #737671 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
THIS ECU PROBLEM IS VERY UNSAFE! IT CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO SURGE AT INTERSECTIONS WHEN BRAKING OR FAIL TO STAY RUNNING IN TAFFIC. THE ECU ALSO CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO SPUTTER AND CUT-OUT AT HI-WAY SPEEDS, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SUDDENLY SLOW DOWN IN TRAFFIC.
NHTSA complaint #736688 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
FAULTY ECM CAUSES ERRATIC IDLE SPEEDS. AFTER STARTING, ENGINE RPMS DROP AND ENGINE MAY STALL WITHIN 30 SECONDS EVERY TIME ENGINE IS STARTED. WHILE STOPPED AT LIGHTS OR IDLING, ENGINE WILL OFTEN STALL OUT. ENGINE WILL ALSO OFTEN REV TO OVER 2,000 RPMS. THIS HAS CAUSED VEHICLE TO STRIKE THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE AT A STOP. THIS PROBLEM REPORTEDLY OCCURS DUE TO MALFUNCTION IN ECU DUE TO SHRINKAGE OF THE INSULATION USED ON IT.
NHTSA complaint #730890 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
FAULTY ECM CAUSES ERRATIC IDLE SPEEDS. AFTER STARTING, ENGINE RPMS DROP AND ENGINE MAY STALL WITHIN 30 SECONDS EVERY TIME ENGINE IS STARTED. WHILE STOPPED AT LIGHTS OR IDLING, ENGINE WILL OFTEN STALL OUT. ENGINE WILL ALSO OFTEN REV TO OVER 2,000 RPMS. THIS HAS CAUSED VEHICLE TO STRIKE THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE AT A STOP. THIS PROBLEM REPORTEDLY OCCURS DUE TO MALFUNCTION IN ECU DUE TO SHRINKAGE OF THE INSULATION USED ON IT.
NHTSA complaint #730890 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
THIS IS KNOWN TO BE AN ENDEMIC PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE AND RELATED ISUZU VEHICLES. THE ITEM WAS INHERENTLY DEFECTIVE AND CREATES A SAFETY HAZARD WHEN IT FLARES UP, CAUSING THE CAR TO MALFUNCTION AND OVERHEAT WITHOUT WARNING.NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED.
NHTSA complaint #723378 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
THE PROBLEM IS THAT BETWEEN 1985 AND 1995, AC DELCO USED A INSULATIVE SPRAY ON THE CIRCUIT BOARDS IN THESE ECUS/COMPUTERS WHICH SHRINKS OVER TIME WHEN EXPOSED TO WARM AND COOL TEMPERATURE CONDITIONS, SUCH AS THE NORMAL CONDITIONS THAT AN AUTOMOBILE IS SUBJECTED TO. THE SHRINKING INSULATIVE SPRAY CONTRACTS AND PULLS THE ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS FROM THE CIRCUIT BOARD, BREAKING SOLDER CONNECTIONS AND CAUSING SHORTS.
NHTSA complaint #722466 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
THE FIRST ECU WENT WHEN I WAS SITTING IN MY DRIVEWAY THE RPMS WERE ERRATIC I GOT IT FIXED, ORDERED A NEW ECU COST ME $950. IT LASTED NO MORE THAN 3 MONTHS AND THE SAME PROBLEM DEVELOPED ON THE NEW ONE. I DO NOT WANT TO KEEP SPENDING ALMOST $1000 EVERY THREE MONTHS. I ALSO DON'T WANT TO SELL THE CAR AND HAVE THE NEW OWNER HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS. I HAVE CONTACTED ISUZU, AND GM. ISUZU SAID "THEY DO NOT MAKE CARS CAN'T HELP YOU" GM SAID ALMOST THE SAME THING "THATS COMMON" BUT YET THEY HAVE SWITCHED TO A NEW METHOD OF MAKING ECU'S/ECM'S.. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS.
NHTSA complaint #718349 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
THE PROBLEM I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING WITH MY 1991 GEO STORM GSI, IS EVERYTIME I'M AT A RED-LIGHT OR STOP SIGN WITH THE CAR AT A COMPLETE STOP, MY IDLE WILL SHOOT UP FROM THE NORMAL 800-900 RPMS, TO 2,000-3,000 RPMS. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS ON A AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION EQUIPPED STORM, SINCE YOU HAVE TO FIRMLY PRESS ON THE BRAKE PEDAL VERY HARD TO PREVENT THE CAR FROM LURKING FORWARD AND HITTING A CAR IN FRONT OF YOU, OR INJURING OR EVEN KILLING A WALKING PEDESTRIAN THAT HAPPENS TO BE CROSSING THE STREET. IT IS ALSO A HAZARD FOR MANUAL TRANSMISSION CARS BECAUSE ENGAGING THE ENGINE AT 2,000-3,000 RPM WILL RESULT IN VIOLENT FORWARD MOTION. EXAMPLE: YOU ARE PULLED UP TO A STOPLIGHT AND YOUR FOOT ACCIDENTALLY SLIPS OFF THE CLUTCH PEDAL. IF YOUR CAR IS IDLING CORRECTLY AT 800 RPM, THE CAR MOVES A FOOT FORWARD AND THE ENGINE DIES, BUT IF THE VEHICLE IS IDILING AT 2,000-3,000 RPMS, THE VEHICLE WILL LAUCH FORWARD LIKE A ROCKET. SCENARIO TWO, THE ENGINE IS HOVERING AT 2,000 RPM, UNCONTROLLABLY, AND YOUR FOOT SLIPS OFF THE CLUTCH PEDAL. YOUR CAR BOLTS FORWARD RUNNING OVER THE PEDESTRIAN WHO HAPPENED TO BE CROSSING IN THE CROSSWALK. THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT MANY GEO STORM OWNERS HAVE, BUT HAVE HAD NO LUCK IN TRYING TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM WITH GENERAL MOTORS. THE PROBLEM, FROM WHAT A SPECIALIZED MECHANIC TOLD ME, COULD BE THE ECM OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE "ENGINE CONTROL MODULE" WHICH IS THE ENGINE COMPUTER. ANY HELP IS GREATLY APPRECIATED, AS WE VERY MUCH NEED IT AT THIS TIME FOR OUR SAFETY, AND THE SAFETY OF OTHERS. THANKS, EDUARDO ZABALLA. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P205/50/15 )
NHTSA complaint #708032 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
DUE TO A DEFECTIVE COMPUTER PROBLEM, VEHICLE WHEN COMING TO A STOP, WILL IDLE HIGH IN RPMS, CAUSING VEHICLE TO LUNGE FORWARD WHICH MAY RESULT A CRASH.
NHTSA complaint #841247 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
CAR WAS PARK IN THE DRIVEWAY IT WAS OFF IT CUT IT SELF BACK ON AND OFF AND TIRE WAS TURNING. TT
NHTSA complaint #966277 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
VEHICLE STARTED UP BY ITSELF WITH NO KEYS IN IGNITION/NO DRIVER AND WENT UPHILL, RESULTING IN ACCIDENT. *SKD
NHTSA complaint #481976 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.