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FaultScore report

1997 GEO Tracker problems

Owners have filed 35 complaints about the 1997 GEO Tracker with NHTSA between 1997 and 2008. The largest single group is the brakes. Across this model's run it ranks 6 of 7 worst.

Read the complaints What breaks Worst years for the GEO Tracker All 1997 cars
C

FaultScore 47/100

Higher is worse. Measured against the other years of the GEO Tracker.

How this is worked out

The numbers

35

Complaints

6

Crashes reported

1

Fires reported

1

Injuries reported

65,000 mi

Median mileage at failure

Half of reported failures happened before this

0%

Failed under 36,000 miles

Inside a typical bumper-to-bumper warranty

What kind of bad

The letter says how bad. This says what kind — whether this year drew an unusual number of complaints, unusually dangerous ones, or failures that arrived unusually early.

Complaint volume 34 vs 50 Severity 100 vs 50 Early failure 0 vs 50
The dashed ring is 50 — the national norm. Further out is worse.
Complaint volume — 34
Against the median year of the GEO Tracker. 50 means typical for this model; 100 means roughly double.
Severity — 100
22.9% of these complaints involved a crash, fire, injury or death, against a national rate of 9.7%.
Early failure — 0
0% of failures with a mileage on record happened under 36,000 miles, against a national rate of 29%.

How 1997 compares with every other GEO Tracker

Click any bar to open that year's report.

Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade: A B C D F ungraded

What breaks on a 1997 GEO Tracker

Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.

Brakes 7 20.0%

1 crashes, 0 fires · median 119,672 mi

Engine & Cooling 6 17.1%

Median failure at 99,629 miles

Airbags 5 14.3%

4 crashes, 0 fires · median 36,000 mi

Transmission & Drivetrain 4 11.4%
Equipment & Accessories 3 8.6%

Median failure at 65,000 miles

Electrical System 3 8.6%

0 crashes, 1 fires · median 65,000 mi

Suspension 2 5.7%
Seat Belts 1 2.9%

1 crashes, 0 fires

Windows, Mirrors & Wipers 1 2.9%
Fuel & Propulsion 1 2.9%
Acceleration & Cruise Control 1 2.9%
Body & Structure 1 2.9%

Exactly what failed

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.

Frontal 5 25.0%
Axle Hubs 3 15.0%
AIR Conditioner 3 15.0%
Engine 2 10.0%
Master Cylinder 2 10.0%
GAS Recirculation Valve (Egr Valve) 2 10.0%
Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip 2 10.0%
Fuses AND Circuit Breakers 1 5.0%

When it fails

Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all complaints include one.

25,000 – 49,999 miles 1 14.3%
50,000 – 74,999 miles 3 42.9%
100,000 – 149,999 miles 3 42.9%

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.

Aug 1997 peak 5 May 2008

Complaints that involved harm

Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.

Nashville, TN Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD

MY WIFE WAS TRAVELING 5-7 MPH ON ICE, THE CAR SPUN AND HIT THE CURB (IT DID NOT GO OVER THE CURB, JUST HIT IT). NO DAMAGE WAS INITIALLY DONE TO THE VEHICLE, OTHER THAN THE FACT THAT IT STALLED. WHEN SHE TRIED TO RESTART IT, IT WOULD NOT START. AFTER 5 MINUTES, SHE GOT OUT, WALKED AWAY, AND THE VEHICLE EXPLODED AND CAUGHT ON FIRE. THIS SHOULD NEVER HAPPEN! IF SHE WERE TRAVELING ANY FASTER, SHE MAY BE DEAD.

NHTSA complaint #758757 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Bloomsburg, PA Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

CONSUMER'S DAUGTHER WAS DRIVING ABOUT 20 MPH AND SHE REAR ENDED A VEHICLE THAT WAS IN FRONT OF HER, BUT AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.

NHTSA complaint #856096 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

NEW Tazeweoo, TN Crash

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

BRAKES ARE WORKING INTERMITTENTLY. SOMETIMES THEY AR EON, AND OTHER TIMES THEY ARE OFF. ALSO, WHILE GOIN G DOWN A GRADE APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THERE WEREN'T ANY BRAKES. CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE AND IT OVERTURNED. VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED.

NHTSA complaint #849230 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Cambridge, OH Crash

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

CONSUMER HAD A FRONT END COLLISION AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY,NO INJURIES.

NHTSA complaint #829804 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Chicago, IL Crash

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING ON SIDE ROAD AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITION, ALL OF SUDDEN BOTH AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING, CAUSING VEHICLE TO HIT A PARKED VEHICLE. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND REFUSED TO BELIEVE THA T AIR BAGS DEPLOYED BEFORE THE ACCIDENT.

NHTSA complaint #828444 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Ronan, MT Crash

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN 50 MPH FRONTAL COLLISION IN WHICH THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. ALSO, THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT DID NOT RETRACT, CAUSING THE DRIVER TO HIT THE STEERING WHEEL. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.

NHTSA complaint #819577 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

The most recent complaints

In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.

at 36,000 miles Narvon, PA

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON WHEN TEMPERATURE REACHES ABOVE 90 DEGREES. DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG OUTER SHELL BECOMES VERY SOFT.

NHTSA complaint #10229058 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 134,259 miles Lake George, NY

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:GAS RECIRCULATION VALVE (EGR VALVE)

HAD PREVIOUS DIAGNOSIS ON EGR VALVE. HAD REPLACED ON 1/19 AFTER SES CODE CLEARED ANOTHER CODE POPPED UP FOR PRE-CAT O2 SENSOR. UPON FIXING THAT PROBLEM ON 1/28 YET ANOTHER EGR CODE CAME UP AND WAS DIAGNOSED ON 1/30 FOR THE EGR TRANSDUCER WHICH CONTROLS THE EGR VALVE I JUST HAD REPLACED! REPLACED TRANSDUCER ON 1/31. BETWEEN LABOR, PARTS & DIAGNOSTICS I SHELLED OUT $530.00. PLUS I HAD A EGR SOLENOID REPLACED ON 7/23/02. THIS IS CRAZY, ALL THIS STUFF WENT ONE AFTER ANOTHER SOMETHING HAS TO BEEN WRONG RELATED EITHER TO THE FUEL SYSTEM OF SAID VEHICLE OR TO EGR SYSTEM OF SAID VEHICLE!

NHTSA complaint #10056276 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 119,672 miles Lake George, NY

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER

WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE HIGHWAY, IT FELT LIKE MY TRANSMISSION HAD WENT THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE FURTHER AFTER GOING THROUGH A TOLL BOTH. HAD CAR TOWED TO NH CHEVY CAR DEALER, FOUND NOTHING WRONG ON 3 OCCASIONS. PERSONAL NY CHEVY DEALER FOUND MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER HAD BLOWN CAUSING BRAKES TO LOCK ON THEIR OWN, WHILE ALSO CAUSING BRAKES TO SEVERELY SMOKE. TOOK OVER 2 WEEKS TO FIND PROBLEM & CORRECT.

NHTSA complaint #10056272 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 119,672 miles Lake George, NY

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER

WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE HIGHWAY, IT FELT LIKE MY TRANSMISSION HAD WENT THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE FURTHER AFTER GOING THROUGH A TOLL BOTH. HAD CAR TOWED TO NH CHEVY CAR DEALER, FOUND NOTHING WRONG ON 3 OCCASIONS. PERSONAL NY CHEVY DEALER FOUND MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER HAD BLOWN CAUSING BRAKES TO LOCK ON THEIR OWN, WHILE ALSO CAUSING BRAKES TO SEVERELY SMOKE. TOOK OVER 2 WEEKS TO FIND PROBLEM & CORRECT.

NHTSA complaint #10056271 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 65,000 miles Grayling, MI

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM

VEHICLE STALLS DUE TO ELECTRICAL FUSE PROBLEMS. THE WIPERS, TURN SIGNALS AND INTERIOR LIGHTING MAY ALSO BE EFFECTED BY THE ELECTRICAL FUSE PROBLEM. THE AIR CONDITIONER FAILED AND THE EXHAUST FELL OFF THE CAR. *AK *CB *NLM

NHTSA complaint #10022837 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 65,000 miles Grayling, MI

EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

VEHICLE STALLS DUE TO ELECTRICAL FUSE PROBLEMS. THE WIPERS, TURN SIGNALS AND INTERIOR LIGHTING MAY ALSO BE EFFECTED BY THE ELECTRICAL FUSE PROBLEM. THE AIR CONDITIONER FAILED AND THE EXHAUST FELL OFF THE CAR. *AK *CB *NLM

NHTSA complaint #10022837 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 65,000 miles Grayling, MI

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

VEHICLE STALLS DUE TO ELECTRICAL FUSE PROBLEMS. THE WIPERS, TURN SIGNALS AND INTERIOR LIGHTING MAY ALSO BE EFFECTED BY THE ELECTRICAL FUSE PROBLEM. THE AIR CONDITIONER FAILED AND THE EXHAUST FELL OFF THE CAR. *AK *CB *NLM

NHTSA complaint #10022837 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Jacksonville, FL

EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

CANNOT SEEM TO KEEP CAR OUT OF SHOP DUE TO NO AIR. I AM AN ELDERLY LADY AND CANNOT KEEP ON NOT KNOWING IF MY CAR IS GOING TO KEEP ME COOL.

NHTSA complaint #765228 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Nashville, TN Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD

MY WIFE WAS TRAVELING 5-7 MPH ON ICE, THE CAR SPUN AND HIT THE CURB (IT DID NOT GO OVER THE CURB, JUST HIT IT). NO DAMAGE WAS INITIALLY DONE TO THE VEHICLE, OTHER THAN THE FACT THAT IT STALLED. WHEN SHE TRIED TO RESTART IT, IT WOULD NOT START. AFTER 5 MINUTES, SHE GOT OUT, WALKED AWAY, AND THE VEHICLE EXPLODED AND CAUGHT ON FIRE. THIS SHOULD NEVER HAPPEN! IF SHE WERE TRAVELING ANY FASTER, SHE MAY BE DEAD.

NHTSA complaint #758757 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Buffalo, NY

SUSPENSION:FRONT

WHEN DRIVING CONSUMER HEARD A FUNNY NOISE COMING FROM FRONT END OF VEHICLE, ALSO WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED, THERE WAS A BIG THUMPING NOISE COMING FROM FRONT END, CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER, THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DETECT CAUSE.*AK CONSUMER STATES THE BRAKES, ROTORS, CATALYTIC CONVERTER WERE REPLACED, BUT THE NOISE CONTINUED, THE DEALER DETEMINED THE PROBLEM TO BE THE RIGHT HUB ASSEMBLY.

NHTSA complaint #894896 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Ransomeville, NY

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS

THERE WAS A FUNNY NOISE LIKE WHEN PUTTING FLAPPING CARDS ON A BICYCLE, AND WHEN PUTTING ON BRAKES, THERE WAS A LOUD THUMP.*AK THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO USE 4 WHEEL DRIVE BECAUSE IT GRINDES THE GEARS( SOUNDED LIKE MARBLES WERE ROLLING IN THE HUB).

NHTSA complaint #879582 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Ransomeville, NY

POWER TRAIN:AXLE HUBS

THERE WAS A FUNNY NOISE LIKE WHEN PUTTING FLAPPING CARDS ON A BICYCLE, AND WHEN PUTTING ON BRAKES, THERE WAS A LOUD THUMP.*AK THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO USE 4 WHEEL DRIVE BECAUSE IT GRINDES THE GEARS( SOUNDED LIKE MARBLES WERE ROLLING IN THE HUB).

NHTSA complaint #879582 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Cuyahoga Falls, OH

POWER TRAIN:AXLE HUBS

4 WHEEL AUTO LOCKING HUBS FAILED, DEALER STATED THAT BOTH SIDES NEED REPAIRED EVEN THOUGH IT'S ONLY THE LEFT SIDE THAT IS DEFECTIVE. *SLC

NHTSA complaint #785153 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Grandberry, TX

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WOULD SLIP WHILE CHANGING GEARS. RPMS WOULD REV UP EXCESSIVELY HIGH. WOULD JERK INTO GEAR. FILTER WAS CHANGED TWICE/OIL PAN HAD METAL CHAFINGS IN IT/ABS BRAKES MAKE NOISES & HAD ROTORS TURNED.

NHTSA complaint #872165 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Grandberry, TX

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

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WOULD SLIP WHILE CHANGING GEARS. RPMS WOULD REV UP EXCESSIVELY HIGH. WOULD JERK INTO GEAR. FILTER WAS CHANGED TWICE/OIL PAN HAD METAL CHAFINGS IN IT/ABS BRAKES MAKE NOISES & HAD ROTORS TURNED.

NHTSA complaint #872165 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Grandberry, TX

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WOULD SLIP WHILE CHANGING GEARS. RPMS WOULD REV UP EXCESSIVELY HIGH. WOULD JERK INTO GEAR. FILTER WAS CHANGED TWICE/OIL PAN HAD METAL CHAFINGS IN IT/ABS BRAKES MAKE NOISES & HAD ROTORS TURNED.

NHTSA complaint #872165 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Grandberry, TX

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WOULD SLIP WHILE CHANGING GEARS. RPMS WOULD REV UP EXCESSIVELY HIGH. WOULD JERK INTO GEAR. FILTER WAS CHANGED TWICE/OIL PAN HAD METAL CHAFINGS IN IT/ABS BRAKES MAKE NOISES & HAD ROTORS TURNED.

NHTSA complaint #872165 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Grandberry, TX

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WOULD SLIP WHILE CHANGING GEARS. RPMS WOULD REV UP EXCESSIVELY HIGH. WOULD JERK INTO GEAR. FILTER WAS CHANGED TWICE/OIL PAN HAD METAL CHAFINGS IN IT/ABS BRAKES MAKE NOISES & HAD ROTORS TURNED.

NHTSA complaint #872165 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Bloomsburg, PA Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

CONSUMER'S DAUGTHER WAS DRIVING ABOUT 20 MPH AND SHE REAR ENDED A VEHICLE THAT WAS IN FRONT OF HER, BUT AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.

NHTSA complaint #856096 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Horsham, PA

STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS

DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR IS VERY LOOSE DUE TO MISSING HINGES ON THE DRIVER'S DOOR, ALSO, THERE IS ONE HINGE HOLDING THE DOOR IN PLACE,THE LOWER HINGE, THERE IS A TSB LISTED FOR THE SAME TYPE OF PROBLEM, DEALER REFUSES TO CORRECT PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.

NHTSA complaint #852055 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

NEW Tazeweoo, TN Crash

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

BRAKES ARE WORKING INTERMITTENTLY. SOMETIMES THEY AR EON, AND OTHER TIMES THEY ARE OFF. ALSO, WHILE GOIN G DOWN A GRADE APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THERE WEREN'T ANY BRAKES. CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE AND IT OVERTURNED. VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED.

NHTSA complaint #849230 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Vista, CA

EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

AIR CONDITIONER--LOSS OF GAS.

NHTSA complaint #609774 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Litchfield, MN

SUSPENSION

WHEN DRIVING IN WINDY WEATHER CONDITIONS VEHICLE IS VERY DIFFICULT TO HANDLE.

NHTSA complaint #843152 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Spotsylvania, VA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:GAS RECIRCULATION VALVE (EGR VALVE)

PROBLEMS WITH EGR VALVES BLOWING OUT. THIS CAUSES THE ENGINE HEAD GASKETS TO ALSO BLOW. BEEN TO MECHANIC & HAD 4 EGR VALVES REPLACED & EACH TIME THEY BLEW OUT. MECHANIC INFORMED OWNER IT WAS POOR DESIGN. DEALERSHIP & ZONE REPRESENTATIVE COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. VEHICLE & PARTS AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION.

NHTSA complaint #837333 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Spotsylvania, VA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

PROBLEMS WITH EGR VALVES BLOWING OUT. THIS CAUSES THE ENGINE HEAD GASKETS TO ALSO BLOW. BEEN TO MECHANIC & HAD 4 EGR VALVES REPLACED & EACH TIME THEY BLEW OUT. MECHANIC INFORMED OWNER IT WAS POOR DESIGN. DEALERSHIP & ZONE REPRESENTATIVE COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. VEHICLE & PARTS AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION.

NHTSA complaint #837333 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.