1990 GEO METRO

2 recalls, 45 complaints - 5 TSBs

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY

Defect Description

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.

Consequence

THE SAFETY BELTS WOULD NOT PROVIDE ADEQUATE PROTECTION TO AN OCCUPANT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy

OWNERS SHOULD PROMPTLY CHECK THE CONDITION AND OPERATION OF BOTH FRONT SAFETY BELT BUCKLES AND CAREFULLY INSPECT THE RED RELEASE BUTTON FOR ANY BREAKS OR CRACKS. THEY SHOULD ENSURE THAT BOTH BUCKLES ARE OPERATING PROPERLY BY INSERTING EACH LATCH PLATE INTO ITS BUCKLE, TUGGING ON THE BELT TO MAKE SUR... Read more

466,902 vehicles affected

Manufacturer: GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH

Defect Description

MISLOCATED ATTACHING SPOT WELDS OF THE HOOD STRIKER ASSEMBLY CAUSE CRACKS TO START ON THE HOOD INNER PANEL. IF CRACKS OCCUR, THE HOOD STRIKER ASSEMBLY MAY NOT PROPERLY ENGAGE THE HOOD LATCH WHEN THE HOOD IS CLOSED.

Consequence

AN IMPROPERLY ENGAGED HOOD LATCH MAY RESULT IN A HOODFLY-UP WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. THIS WOULD OBSTRUCT THE DRIVER'S VIEWAND COULD CAUSE A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy

GM DEALERS WILL (A) INSTALL TWO BOLTS AND NUTS TO SECURE THE STRIKER ASSEMBLY TO THE HOOD INNER PANEL, AND (B) ENSURE THAT THE HOOD LATCH ASSEMBLY FASTENERS ARE PROPERLY TIGHTENED.

356,097 vehicles affected

Manufacturer: GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

Complaint Statistics

45 total complaints 5 crashes 3 injuries

Top Reported Components

Component	Complaints
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH	13
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY	6
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR	3
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE	3
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH	2
INTERIOR LIGHTING	2
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE	2
STRUCTURE:BODY:HOOD	1
STRUCTURE:BODY:HOOD:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS	1
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:HIGH/LOW BEAM DIMMER SWITCH	1

INQUIRING ABOUT WHETHER RECALL # 95V103007 IS AN ACTUAL RECALL .

THE DOOR LATCH HANDLES STAY UP WHEN OPENED. I HAVE 2 DOOR HANDLES DOING THIS, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE & REAR DRIVER'S SIDE. WHEN THE DOORS ARE OPENEN THE HANDLES STAY UP AND WHEN THE DOOR IS PULLED SHUT THE DOOR WILL NOT LATCH. THE WINDOW HAS TO BE ROLLED DOWN AND THE HANDLE PUSHED DOWN TO LATCH... Read more

Incident date: Feb 1, 2000

ENGINE IS BURNING OIL WHILE DRIVING, AND SMOKE COMES OUT REALLY BADLY. DRIVER CAN'T SEE TRAFFIC BEHIND HER. CONSUMER FEELS UNSAFE. *AK

Incident date: Feb 20, 2000

WHILE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN AT 75 MPH, LATCH ON THE HOOD ON DRIVER'S SIDE BROKE, CAUSING THE HOOD TO FLY UP AND BREAK WINDSHIELD. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO PULL TO SHOULDER SAFELY. MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED ABOUT THE PROBLEM. HOOD AND WINDSHIELD HAVE NOT BEEN REPLACED. CONSUMER BELIEVES THAT THERE W... Read more

THE HEADLIGHTS AND DASH LIGHTS WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING. THE DASH LIGHTS CAME BACK ON BUT THE HEADLIGHTS DID NOT. DEALER HAS NOT SEEN VEHICLE. *AK

Incident date: Jul 7, 1999

HOOD LATCH STRIKER BROKE AFTER TWO YEARS. *AK

Incident date: Aug 10, 1997

DEALER HAS NOT HONORED NHTSA RECALL 95V-103.007/MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 91C-52, CONCENING SEAT BELT BUCKLE FAILURE SINCE AUGUST 10, 1997 UP TO THE PRESENT. CONSUMER HAS BEEN TOLD ON SERVERAL OCCASIONS THAT THE KIT HAS NOT BEEN RECEIVED, OR THEY WOULD CONTACT CONSUMER WHEN IT ARRIVED, NEED NHTSA'S HE... Read more

IT'S BEEN 1 MONTH SINCE CONTACTING THE DEALER CONCERNING HOOD LATCH ASSEMBLY RECALL. HOOD LATCH IS BROKEN SO BADLY THAT THE ENTIRE HOOD NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER IS GIVING ME THE RUN AROUND. I'VE CALLED THEM 3 TIMES ALREADY THIS WEEK. THE DEALER IS SAYING THAT THEY NEED APPROVAL TO REPAIR IT ... Read more

Incident date: Aug 27, 1998

EXCESSIVE CO EMMISSIONS. A TSB WAS ISSUED ON THIS PROBLEM.

SEAT BELT RECALL REPAIRS REFUSED.

WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE HOOD LATCH RELEASED, CAUSING THE HOOD TO GO IN THE UPRIGHT POSITION WHICH CAUSED NO VISIBILITY AND A BROKEN WINDSHIELD. *AK *SLC

Incident date: Sep 10, 1997

RECEIVED NOTICE (395V10300). CALLED DEALER & SET UP AN APPOINTMENT. TOOK VEHICLE IN. DEALER HAD VEHICLE FOR OVER 2 HOURS BEFORE INFORMING OWNER THEY HAD NO PARTS FOR VEHICLE. WOULD HAVE TO GET PARTS FROM ANOTHER DEALERSHIP, IF THEY HAVE ANY. NOT SATISFIED. *AK

Incident date: May 3, 1996

THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT DOESN'T RESTRAIN THE DRIVER. *AK

Incident date: Feb 27, 1997

STRUCTURE OF THE HOOD ASSEMBLY LATCH RECALL NUMBER 93V189001, CONSUMER HAD THE WORK CORRECTED IN APRILOF 95 AND ON FEB 27, 1997 WHEN OPERATING THE VEHICLE THE HOOD FLEW UP. *AK

Incident date: Dec 21, 1996

HEAD REST FAILED TO PROVIDE PROPER SUPPORT IN ACCIDENT, CAUSING HEAD INJURY.

Crash 1 injured

Incident date: Nov 1, 1995

HOOD LATCH BROKE, CAUSING HOOD TO OPEN WHILE DRIVING, PRIOR TO RECALL.

Incident date: Apr 15, 1995

DURING A FRONTAL IMPACT ACCIDENT AT 25 MPH, FRONT SEAT BELT FAILURE WAS EXPERIENCED. THE SEAT BELTS DID NOT LOCK IN PLACE UPON IMPACT.*AK

Crash

Incident date: May 16, 1996

DOME LIGHT STAYS ON. *DH

Incident date: May 16, 1996

CYLINDER HEAD/EXHAUST VALVE FAILED. *DH

Incident date: May 16, 1996

CYLINDER HEAD/EXHAUST VALVE FAILED. *DH

Incident date: May 16, 1996

FRONT PASSENGER WINDOW STUCK. *DH

Incident date: May 16, 1996

DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW STRIPPING TRIM BENT SO THAT WINDOW WILL NOT SEAL, CAUSING A LEAK. *DH

Incident date: Jan 1, 1995

OIL PLUG LOOSENED, CAUSING OIL TO LEAK OUT.

Incident date: Nov 1, 1994

SEAT BELT RETRACTOR FAILED. *SD

Incident date: Mar 1, 1995

HATCHBACK PISTONS WILL NOT PROPERLY SUPPORT THE WEIGHT OF THE DOOR. *SD

Incident date: May 5, 1996

SEAT BELT ATTACHED TO DOOR, CAUSING DRIVER TO BE EJECTED FROM CAR WHEN DOOR OPENED DURING ACCIDENT, CAUSING INJURY. *DH

Incident date: Oct 1, 1994

STEERING RACK FAILED. *DH

DURING REAR END COLLISION, WHILE STOPPING,, DRIVERS' SEATBACK REST BROKE, THEN COLLAPSED REARWARD, RESULTING IN AN INJURY. *AK

Crash 1 injured

CONSUMER SIDE SEAT BELT DOESN'T RESTRAIN. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK

EXPERIENCD OUTSIDE DOOR LOCK MALFUNCTION, RENDERING DOORS INOPERATIVE FROM OUTSIDE WHEN ALL DOORS WON'T OPEN WITH KEY. *AK

Incident date: Feb 29, 1996

PERFORMANCE CHEVROLET 93C21/93V189. OWNER SEEKS ASSISTANCE IN HAVING RECALL REPAIR HONORED. AFTER THREE MONTHS PARTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE. *AK

Incident date: Apr 18, 1996

THE HOOD FLEW UP WHILE DRIVING AND HIT THE WINDSHEILD DESTROYING THE HOOD AND WINDSHEILD. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AND HOOD LATCH FAILED, THE FRONT HOOD CAME OPEN AND CAUSED AN ACCIDENT A YEAR LATER RECEIVED RECALL ON HOOD LATCH. 93V1890001. *AK

Incident date: Feb 15, 1996

BLACKWELL CHEVROLET 93C21. VEHICLE INVOLVED IN WRECK HOOD REPLACED BY PRIVATE MECHANIC TOOK VEHICLE TO FORD AND DEALER STATES RECALL IS VOID. TT

Incident date: Jun 14, 1993

DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED BUT DID NOT INFLATE, ALSO DRIVER'S SEAT BELT ANCHOR BOLT DETACHED FROM ANCHOR POINT. TT

Crash 1 injured

Incident date: Jan 1, 1993

HIGH BEAM-LOW BEAM DIMMER SWITCH FAILED, CAUSING HEADLIGHTS TO FAIL. *AW

Incident date: Aug 12, 1995

HAD HOOD RECALL DONE, HOOD FLEW UP AND SMASHED WINDSHIELD. TT

RECALL #95V103007 DEALER AND MANUFACTURER SAID THAT THE RECALL DOES NOT EXIST. TT

Incident date: Jul 23, 1994

HOOD LATCH FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL (93V-189), CAUSING HOOD TO FLY UP INTO WINDSHIELD/ACCIDENT. *SKD

Crash

TAKATA SEAT BELT NHTSA RECALL #95V103007; GEO MANUFACTURER/MARTING CHEVROLET BOTH TOLD HER NO SUCH RECALL. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TT

Incident date: Apr 1, 1995

HOOD LATCH FAILED, RESULTING IN HOOD RELEASE PRIOR TO RECALL, OWNER WAS NEVER NOTIFIED (93V-189). *AK

Incident date: Dec 1, 1993

HOOD LATCH FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL, CAUSING HOOD TO FLY UP, CRACKING WINDSHIELD. RECALL REPAIRS REFUSED FOR WINDSHIELD, HOOD REPAIRED ONLY. (93V-189001) *AW

Incident date: Feb 11, 1993

VEHICLES DRIVER SIDE BELT BUCKLE IS DIFFICULT TO BUCKLE DUE TO POSSIBLE BREAKAGE.(EA94-035). TT

Incident date: Jan 6, 1995

RECALL REPAIRS ON MISLOCATED HOOD STRIKER ASSEMBLY ATTACHMENT IS NOT TO OWNER'S SATISFACTION. *SKD

EPA Fuel Economy, 1990 GEO METRO

Trim / Engine	City MPG	Highway MPG	Combined MPG	Fuel Type	Annual Fuel Cost
1.0L 3-cyl, Automatic 3-spd (Front-Wheel Drive)	31.0	36.0	33.0	Regular	$1,900
1.0L 3-cyl, Manual 5-spd (Front-Wheel Drive)	38.0	45.0	41.0	Regular	$1,500

CO2 Emissions: -1.0 g/mile (Subcompact Cars)

Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Actual fuel economy may vary based on driving conditions.

Technical Service Bulletins, 1990 GEO METRO

5 manufacturer communications from 5 unique bulletins. TSBs describe known problems and recommended fixes from the manufacturer.

Most Affected Components

Component	Bulletins
063000 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM	3
063100 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL	1
151100 SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE	1

151100 SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE

UNKNOWN

063100 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL

THE ADMINISTRATOR OF THE US ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (EPA) AND GENERAL MOTORS HAVE DETERMINED THAT CERTAIN 1990 GEO METRO VEHICLES WITH 1.0L ENGINES MAY EXCEED HIGH ALTITUDE CARBON MONOXIDE FEDERAL EMISSION STANDARDS. THIS CONDITIO

063000 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM

MESSAGE ANNOUNCING MANUFACTURER RECALL 90C51. *TW

063000 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM

MESSAGE ANNOUNCING MANUFACTURER RECALL 90C51. *TW

063000 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM

MESSAGE TO DEALERS CORRECTING INCORRECT INFORMATION CONTAINED IN MANUFACTURER RECALL 90C51. *TW

NHTSA Safety Investigations, GEO METRO

Investigations opened by NHTSA into potential safety defects. These are separate from recalls and may or may not result in a recall.

EA, Closed , Model Year: 1989

SEAT BELT BUCKLES FAILURE