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Engine & cooling

1997 Geo Metro Engine problems

Owners have filed 13 complaints about the 1997 Geo Metro's engine & cooling with NHTSA - 21% of all its complaints, most recently on January 14, 2005. They describe 0 crashes, 1 fire and 0 injuries. Stalling, loss of power, oil consumption, overheating, head gaskets, timing chains and engine failure.

Complaints
13
Recalls
0
Crashes
0
Fires
1
Injuries
0
Deaths
0

Engine complaints

Engine & cooling

The consumer slowed vehicle down from 65 mph and heard a knocking noise coming from under the hood. This caused the vehicle to stall. The consumer had taken the vehicle to the mechanic, and was informed that noise was coming from the engine. The mechanic then loosened o rings to stop the noise and stalling, but the noise and the stalling continued. The stalling occurred whenever the vehicle had to slow down or stop for any reason. *Ak *sc

Filed Incident Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 10103502
Engine & coolingTransmission & drivetrainWheels & tires

One of the wheel hub caps came off and the tread of two tires began peeling off.*Nm a ticking sound was heard while the vehicle was being driven and getting louder every day. The transmission fluid appeared brown instead of pink. The vehicle was leaking oil. The spark plugs were worn out. The distributor cap cracked, the oil switch was bad, and the pcv valve was bad. The engine was replaced. The engine stalled when the vehicle reacheed the 25 mph mark. No check engine light comes on. The vehicle will not restart. *Tc

Filed Incident Engine and engine cooling · Power train · TiresNHTSA 10110924
Engine & cooling

Stalling problems. While driving engine will stop running. Manufacturer was contacted and stated that there was no recalls.*Ak

Filed Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 10022392
Engine & cooling

When pulling out or traveling at low speeds engine will stall. This defect typically occurs during warm to hot weather on a frequent basis. Dealership informed consumer that vehicle is not being driven enough, and that gas could have been contaminated .*Ak consumer states throttle and distribution cap were sprayed and fuel injection cleaner was used frequently, consumer also states a new air filter was put in. *Jb

Filed Incident Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 887677
Engine & coolingFuel system

Vehicle stalls when starting from a complete stop. Vehicle sometimes does not start. Sometimes goes away for a couple of days, then comes back. Contacted dealer, and dealer tuned up vehicle to fix problem. But, problem still occurs. *Ak the manufacturer had agreed to replace the fuel injection harness free of charge. *Yh

Filed Incident Engine and engine cooling · Fuel system, gasolineNHTSA 883925
Engine & cooling

RADIATOR AND WATER PUMP FAILED PREMATURELY. NLM

Filed Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 559360
Engine & cooling

Car has been in the shop broke down 10+times in two year's. Everytime they say it is fixed something else happen's I am handycap and on oxygen I have got stuck out in my car at least three times waiting for help. The reason I bought the metro is for safety I have had noting but trouble. All my life my family has went to chevrolet but now I am wondering why, I am afraid to get out in my car alone because for the last two week's I have had it a total of one night.

Filed Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 731833
Engine & cooling

Sometimes fails to start for no reason.Will stop running even during driving.Problem has been checked and rechecked and cannot be found.Undependable and unsafe. Manufacturer contacted but was no help. Possibly could cause serious accident and injuries. Should be recalled. *Ak

Filed Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 722076
Engine & coolingFire

Car caught fire suddenly and unexpectedly after making a backfire noise. Had my children been in the car in their car seats, they would have burned to death. The car burned so fast my wife only had time to slam it in park and jump out. She did not even have time to pull it off to the side of the road. It melted into the middle of the highway.

Filed Incident Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 710023
Engine & coolingFuel system

Car would not reach safe starting speed.It would not achive any power even when I put my foot all the way down on the gas pedal. This was a operating hazard when in stop and go traffic. I took my car in to be fixed they said it was my fault the car was not working right they told me it was a maintainance problem. I told them I had a major tune up done.They said it was the fuel filter,that caused the catalitic covertor to fail. They also ajusted the timming belt.This repair was covered by my extended waranty.They...

Read the full complaint

told me that since it was my fault I would have to pay the cost of the rental car.So I paid for the repair $ 50.00 Plus the cost of the rental for three days.About two weeks after I turned on my air conditioning then I was in stop and go traffic and the same thing happened no speed even with my foot flooring the gas pedal.Then I stalled in traffic.Ishut off motor then tried to restart it failed.Then I shut off a/c then tried to start again it started.I took in my car again they looked at it for two days said it was the timing and they ajusted it for free.The car worked aprox two weekes after that then the same probem happened again without the a/c on it would take a long time to get to a safe starting speed.I went home with my car and to see if my car would stall again I put on the a/c in front of my house and went foward about five feet,taking of to about 15mph took 10 to 15 seconds then I put it in reverse with a/c on and it moved back from gravity even with me flooring the gas pedal I had no speed at all.So I put on the brakes and the engine stalled.I took it back to the dealership again and explained the problem again.I had the car in the shop for two days with no call back.So I called them and talked ,to mike atkins.He said he didnt know if this problem was covered by warranty so I would need t///// if you are reading this I have had my car in the shop for over two weeks with lots of questions no real answers e- mail me for the rest of my story thanks.

Filed Incident Engine and engine cooling · Fuel system, gasolineNHTSA 707021
Engine & cooling

Will not crank every time, but will turn over. Has been in shop several times, and has never been fixed.The dealership tells us it's somthing else every time, and that it's fixed. It will hesitate at times like it's out of gas, even when it's full. *Ak

Filed Incident Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 705753
Engine & cooling

Balancer bolt on the engine rusted/broke and fell inside the engine, first causing loss of acceleration and then the vehicle completely shutdown. *Ak

Filed Incident Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 832282
Engine & cooling

VEHICLE JUST STOPS RUNING WHILE YOU ARE DRIVING

Filed Incident Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 702779

Geo Metro engine complaints by year

Metro engine problems, every year

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Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked . Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data

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