1996 Geo Metro Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Metro years
- Far more complaints than other years 2nd of 7 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- None on file
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 88 complaints with NHTSA about the 1996 Geo Metro. That ranks 2nd out of 7 Metro model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is air bags (28 complaints, 32%). Complaints mention 28 crashes, 5 fires, 26 injuries. There are no safety recalls on file for this model year.
- 88owner complaints
- 0safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 28complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 1996 Geo Metro problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air Bags | 28 | 32% | — | — | — |
| Electrical System | 12 | 14% | 105,500 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 9 | 10% | — | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 7 | 8% | — | — | — |
| Seats | 6 | 7% | — | — | — |
| Visibility | 6 | 7% | — | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 5 | 6% | — | — | — |
| Tires | 5 | 6% | — | — | — |
| Power Train | 4 | 5% | — | — | — |
| Suspension | 4 | 5% | 141,685 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 4 | 5% | — | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 3 | 3% | — | — | — |
| Structure | 3 | 3% | 128,843 | — | — |
| Equipment | 2 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Parking Brake | 2 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Steering | 2 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 1 | 1% | 175,000 | — | — |
| Wheels | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
1996 Geo Metro recalls (0)
No safety recalls are on file for the 1996 Geo Metro.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
Tl* the contact owns a 1996 geo metro. The contact stated that the two rear doors would not unlock from neither the interior nor exterior of the vehicle. The vehicle was not inspected for the failure nor repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and advised her that they did not have her vehicle…
I purchased a 1996 geo metro sedan from a friend and i had driven it for about 3 months. The frame had rotted away from the control arms and broke the axel out of the transmission. I have also started to see this in other metros. I was wondering why there wasn't a recall on this from the…
My daughter was turning into a private driveway. Lost steering and car came to immediate stop. The right front frame had rusted through and dropped car onto the assembly for the right front tire causing it to break and allowing the tire to turn outwards and stop the car. There is no repair to this…
1996 geo metro frame rusted and broke off while driving. *ts *jb
Dt*: the contact stated that while driving 75 mph the passenger front tire blew out. The service dealer found air coming out between the valve stem and the tire. After ten days, the driver side front tire blew out while driving 50 mph. The service dealer found air coming out in the same area. There…
Other Geo Metro years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 Metro | 6 | 0 |
| 2000 Metro | 19 | 0 |
| 1999 Metro | 23 | 0 |
| 1998 Metro | 33 | 0 |
| 1997 Metro | 63 | 1 |
| 1996 | 88 | 0 |
| 1995 Metro | 109 | 1 |
See all Geo Metro problems by year, every Geo model, or the VIN decoder.
Similar Geo models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 1996 Geo Metro?
Owners most often report air bags, electrical system, engine and engine cooling problems. The top one, air bags, accounts for 28 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 1996 Geo Metro?
No safety recalls are on file for this model year.
Was the 1996 Geo Metro a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Metro model years, the 1996 has far more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.