NHTSA files every complaint against a named sub-assembly, not just a
system. This is the difference between knowing it was "the engine" and
knowing which part of it — the list to hand a mechanic.
Buckle Assembly
1047.6%
Foundation Components
419.0%
Frame AND Members
29.5%
Gear BOX (Other Than Rack AND Pinion)
14.8%
Tread/Belt
14.8%
Latch
14.8%
Gasoline
14.8%
Webbing
14.8%
NHTSA crash tests
The agency crash-tested this model year itself. These are its own
photographs and star ratings.
These stars come from the pre-2011 crash test programme. NHTSA
rebuilt the programme for the 2011 model year and states that
ratings either side of that change are not comparable — so do
not read these against a 2011-or-newer car's stars.
Configuration
Overall
Front
Side
Rollover
1990 Geo Tracker 2-DR.
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—
—
—
When owners complained
A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing
out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single
owner can see from inside their own car.
Jan 1995peak 3Jun 2002
NHTSA investigations into the 1990 GEO Tracker
An investigation is the step before a recall: the agency has seen enough
complaints to look into a pattern itself. An open one means it thinks
something may be wrong and nothing has been fixed yet.
PE94092Opened 21 Dec 1994Closed 25 Apr 1995SEAT BELTS
TAKATA SEAT BLT BCKLS FAIL
EA92001Opened 14 Jan 1992Closed 20 Nov 1992VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES
EXHAUST LEAK/FIRES
Recalls on the 1990 GEO Tracker
A complaint is one owner's allegation. A recall is the point at which
the manufacturer or a regulator agreed the defect is real and dangerous
enough to fix for free — however old the car is.
United States — NHTSA
95V103007
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
THE FRONT SAFETY BELT BUCKLE RELEASE BUTTONS CAN BREAK. THESE RED PLASTIC RELEASE BUTTONS ARE MARKED "PRESS." IF A BUTTON BREAKS, PIECES CAN FALL INTO THE BUCKLE ASSEMBLY CAUSING THE BUCKLE TO OPERATE IMPROPERLY.
Risk: THE SAFETY BELTS WOULD NOT PROVIDE ADEQUATE PROTECTION TO AN OCCUPANT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
Dexter, MICrash1 injured
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
WIFE INVOLVED IN A REAR END COLLISION. HER VEHICLE WAS STOPPED. UPON INPACT THE DRIVERS SEAT BACK FELL ALL THE WAY BACK, SHE SUFFERED A CONCUSSION AND WHIP LASH INJURY AND WAS TRANSPORTED TO CHELSEA COMMUNITY HOSPITAL. THE SEAT BEING IN THE DOWNWARD POSITION WAS POINTED OUT TO THE STATE POLICE AND EMS PERSON BY MY WIFE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO MY HOME, SEAT PHOTOGRAPHED IN DOWNWARD POSITION. WHEN SEAT IS RAISED IT WILL NOT STAY IN PROPER UPRITE POSITION, IT GOES BACK AT APPROX 45 DEGREE ANGLE AND TWISTED BACK ON RT SIDE. CONTACTED GENERAL MOTORS, THEY SAY THAT THE SEAT CONDITION DID NOT CAUSE THE ACCIDENT SO THEREFORE THEY ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE.
NHTSA complaint #762799 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Lancaster, OHCrash
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
PE00 020 ;WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 61MPH ON HIGHWAY AND HEARD A NOISE VEHICLE STARTED TO VIBRATE AND SHE LOST CONTROL. VEHICLE ROLLED OVER FOUR TIMES AND WHEN DOWN INTO AN ENBANKMENT. FLIPPED UPSIDE DOWN. THERE WERE TWO TIRES THAT EXPLODED; DRIVER'S FRONT TIRE AND THE PASSENGER REAR TIRE. TIRE WERE FIRESTONE, AND VEHICLE WAS TOTALED.
NHTSA complaint #871280 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Staten Islan, NYCrash1 killed
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING
HIT A FULL RIMMED TIRE, VEHICLE FLIPPED OVER, SEAT BELT BROKE, DRIVER WAS THROWN OUT OF WINDOW AND DIED. TT
NHTSA complaint #963999 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
Dexter, MICrash1 injured
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
WIFE INVOLVED IN A REAR END COLLISION. HER VEHICLE WAS STOPPED. UPON INPACT THE DRIVERS SEAT BACK FELL ALL THE WAY BACK, SHE SUFFERED A CONCUSSION AND WHIP LASH INJURY AND WAS TRANSPORTED TO CHELSEA COMMUNITY HOSPITAL. THE SEAT BEING IN THE DOWNWARD POSITION WAS POINTED OUT TO THE STATE POLICE AND EMS PERSON BY MY WIFE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO MY HOME, SEAT PHOTOGRAPHED IN DOWNWARD POSITION. WHEN SEAT IS RAISED IT WILL NOT STAY IN PROPER UPRITE POSITION, IT GOES BACK AT APPROX 45 DEGREE ANGLE AND TWISTED BACK ON RT SIDE. CONTACTED GENERAL MOTORS, THEY SAY THAT THE SEAT CONDITION DID NOT CAUSE THE ACCIDENT SO THEREFORE THEY ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE.
NHTSA complaint #762799 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Lancaster, OHCrash
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
PE00 020 ;WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 61MPH ON HIGHWAY AND HEARD A NOISE VEHICLE STARTED TO VIBRATE AND SHE LOST CONTROL. VEHICLE ROLLED OVER FOUR TIMES AND WHEN DOWN INTO AN ENBANKMENT. FLIPPED UPSIDE DOWN. THERE WERE TWO TIRES THAT EXPLODED; DRIVER'S FRONT TIRE AND THE PASSENGER REAR TIRE. TIRE WERE FIRESTONE, AND VEHICLE WAS TOTALED.
NHTSA complaint #871280 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Weehawken, NJ
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
BUCKLES ON THE SEAT BELTS JAM PASSAGERS CAN'T REMOVE BELTS
NHTSA complaint #728421 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Burlington, IA
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
BOTH SAFTEY BELTS IN THE FRONT "LOCK-UP" AND YOU ARE STUCK IN THE VEHICLE. YOU GET OUT ONLY WHEN THE THE SEAT BELT FINALLY POPS OUT OF IT'S HOUSING. THE MORE YOU STRUGGLE, THE TIGHTER IT GETS. THESE SEAT BELTS WERE ONCE RECALLED, I TOOK THE CERTIFICATE TO DEERY BROTHERS IN BURLIGTON IOWA. THEY SAID THEY KNEW ALL ABOUT THE PROBLEM, AND SO I SCHEDULED THE APPOINTMENT AND TOOK IT IN. THEY HAD MY VEHICLE THREE DAYS, AND WHEN I PICKED IT UP, THEY HAD DONE NOTHING TO IT. STILL ALL ORIGINAL SEATBELTS, HOUSINGS, ETC. WHEN I QUESTIONED THEM AT THIS TIME, THEY TOLD ME NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE SEAT BELTS. I ASKED FOR THE CERTIFICATE BACK SO I COULD GO ELSEWHERE, AND THEY SAID "NO,THEY HAVE TO GET PAID". IN CASE OF FIRE OR FLOODING, HOW AM I GOING TO GET OUT OF THIS VEHICLE? THUS FAR I HAVE BEEN CITED TWICE FOR FAILURE TO WEAR SATEY BELTS. I GUESS IT'S A SMALL PRICE TO PAY FOR MINE AND MY PASSENGERS LIVES.
NHTSA complaint #724925 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Coos BAY, OR
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
SOMETIMES WHEN TRYING TO STOP AT EITHER HIGH SPEEDS OR LOW, BRAKES WILL NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY. PEDAL CAN BE PRESSED ALL THE WAY DOWN, VEHICLE WILL SLOWLY STOP. THIS HAS ALMOST CAUSED SEVERAL ACCIDENTS. OCCURS MOST OFTEN WHEN TRYING TO STOP QUICKLY. ALSO WHEN VEHICLE IS COLD, BRAKE PEDAL CAN BE PRESSED ALL THE DOWN AND VEHICLE WILL DO THE SAME THING.
NHTSA complaint #723251 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Sandpoint, ID
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
NEITHER THE CHEVROLET DEALER NOR CHEVROLET HEADQUARTERS WILL FIX THE DEFECTIVE SEAT BELTS. CLAIM IT IS NOT PART OF A RECALL, ALTHOUGH THE SEAT BELT LATCH FAILED EXACTLY AS DESCRIBED IN RECALL CAMPAIGN ID # 95V103007. ALSO, THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT ASSEMBLY HAS A BROKEN WELD, LEAVING THE SEAT ANCHORED IN ONLY 3 OF THE 4 CORNERS. CHEVROLET HEADQUARTERS CLAIMS THAT SINCE GEO IS NO LONGER SOLD BY CHEVROLET, THEY HAVE NO RECORDS OF OLDER GEO VIN NUMBERS AND CAN NOT TELL ME IF THIS VEHICLE WILL BE REPAIRED AT THEIR EXPENSE. THEY CLAIM IT WOULD BE UP TO THE INDIVIDUAL DEALER'S DISCRETION. TAYLOR-PARKER HAS ALREADY TOLD ME THEY WOULD NOT REPAIR THE SEAT BELT AT THEIR EXPENSE, DESPITE MY TELLING THEM THAT THE NHTSA ISSUED A RECALL. WHAT GOOD ARE RECALLS??
NHTSA complaint #722061 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Thermoplis, WY
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALER IN REFERENCE TO RECALL NUMBER 95V103007. DEALER ONLY REPLACED THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE. PASSENGER'S SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE ALSO BROKE, BUT DEALER REFUSED TO REPLACE IT. PASSENGER'S SIDE SEAT BELT WAS SUPPOSEDLY REPAIRED LATER, BUT IT BROKE NOT LONG AFTER. *AK
NHTSA complaint #860573 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Glydon, MD
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
BEFORE VEHICLE IS WARMED THE BRAKES ARE EXTREMELY HARD TO APPLY, EXCESSIVE PRESSURE IS NEEDED WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKE PEDAL, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.
NHTSA complaint #830276 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Muskegon, MI
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE LOST CONTROL. LOSS OF CONTROL WAS DUE TO CORROSION OF THE STEERING GEAR, AS WELL AS THE STRUCTURE RUSTING AWAY FROM FRAME. MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER A RECALL.
NHTSA complaint #829931 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Muskegon, MI
STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)
WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE LOST CONTROL. LOSS OF CONTROL WAS DUE TO CORROSION OF THE STEERING GEAR, AS WELL AS THE STRUCTURE RUSTING AWAY FROM FRAME. MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER A RECALL.
NHTSA complaint #829931 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Marion, OH
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED DURING COLD TEMPERATURES THEY WILL RESIST AND SUDDENLY ENGAGE. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.
NHTSA complaint #818582 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Rockwood, MI
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
DRIVER'S SIDE REAR FRAME CORRODED AND BROKE AT THE CONNECTION OF THE CONTROL ARM WHILE DRIVING.
NHTSA complaint #810828 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Coburn, VA
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
AN INNER PIECE LOCATED NEAR THE TOP OF DRIVER'S DOOR BECAME LOOSE, EVENTUALLY THE DOOR COULD FALL OFF.
NHTSA complaint #802259 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Bismarck, ND
SEATS
BOLT THAT SECURES FRONT PASSENGERS SEATS LOOSENED, UNCERTAIN OF CAUSE.
NHTSA complaint #985960 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Holt, MI
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH
CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AND FRONT HOOD CAME OPEN. PLEASE DESCRIBE .
NHTSA complaint #981192 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
BAY City, MI
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE FAILURE, UNABLE TO LATCH SEATBELT BUCKLE
NHTSA complaint #979937 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
BAY City, MI
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE FAILURE, UNABLE TO LATCH SEATBELT BUCKLE
NHTSA complaint #979937 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Windsor, NY
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
1.6 ENGINE. MOTOR REVEALED THREE INCH CRACK. NO INDICATION DRIVER ONLY NOTICED SMALL ODOR. TT
NHTSA complaint #978841 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Carmichael, CA
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
SEAT BELT BUCKLE FAILURE.
NHTSA complaint #483613 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Wappingers F, NY
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
#95V103007 THE PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE FAILED. TT
NHTSA complaint #976445 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Grandview, MO
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
FRONT PASSENGER SEATBELT DOES NOT LATCH AND THE DRIVERS SEATBELT DOES LATCH BUT DOES NOT RELEASE EASILY. PLEASE EXPLAIN. TT
NHTSA complaint #964386 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Staten Islan, NYCrash1 killed
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING
HIT A FULL RIMMED TIRE, VEHICLE FLIPPED OVER, SEAT BELT BROKE, DRIVER WAS THROWN OUT OF WINDOW AND DIED. TT
NHTSA complaint #963999 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELM Grove, WI
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
WHEN STARTING VEHICLE THE POWER BRAKING SYSTEM IS INTERMITTENTLY INOPERATIVE FOR A FEW MOMENTS. TT
NHTSA complaint #963646 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Vance AFB, OK
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
THE PASSENGER FRONT SEATBELT LOCKS ALL THE TIME. TT
NHTSA complaint #962274 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Mclean, VA
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
IN COLD WEATHER PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR. RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. PLEASE DESCRIBE OTHER PROBLEMS. TT
NHTSA complaint #961623 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.