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Vehicle safety record

1992 Geo Storm Problems, complaints & recalls

Owners have filed 79 complaints about the 1992 Geo Storm with NHTSA, most often about the electrical system (22) and the engine & cooling (15). Those complaints describe 16 crashes, 15 injuries and 3 deaths. It is covered by 1 recall, the latest in July 1992 for the air bags. For comparison, the 1991 has 91 and the 1993 has 57.

NHTSA data checked

DMore problems than a typical Storm year, for its age

#38 most complained-about 1992 vehicle

Complaints
79
Recalls
1
Crashes
16
Fires
0
Injuries
15
Deaths
3

Most common 1992 Geo Storm problems

Share of all 79 complaints. One complaint can name more than one area. Tap an area for its complaints and recalls.

1992 Geo Storm recalls 1

Recall repairs are free. Your dealer fixes them whether or not you bought the car there - check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see if yours is done. What to do

Air bags

92V091001211,306 vehicles affected

The problem
The steering wheel center hub can fracture during certain frontal and near frontal vehicle collisions.
The risk
Fracturing of the steering wheel hub can decrease thedriver's control of the vehicle and could reduce the crash protection of thesteering system and the driver's side air bag.
The fix
A steering wheel reinforcement plate and nut will be added to the steering wheel hub.

What owners say

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79 complaints about the 1992 Geo Storm

Newest first, as filed with NHTSA by owners. Page 1 of 4.

Electrical systemEquipment & accessories

I have a 1992 geo storm 2+2 with a 12 valve motor and a 5 speed manual transmission the car constantly overheats even after entire cooling system was replace. Car stalls, idles eratically due to gm's faulty ecm insulative spray. And just recently loss of rear tail lamps and dash lamps. Brake turning and hazard lamps still work. All fuses and relays are good. *La

Filed Incident Electrical system · EquipmentNHTSA 10047090
Engine & cooling

Ecm causes engine rpm to increase during warm/hot weather which will not drop to normal when the clutch is engaged unless the throttle is physically moved (blipped). This dangerous as it doesn't always happen and can cause the car to not decelerate when the throttle pedal is lifted. This is not a once a year defect as you ask below; (had to fill in the blocks or I couldn't continue). It is prevalent on all fwd isuzu built automobiles from 1989 through 1994. *La

Filed Incident Engine and engine cooling · Unknown or otherNHTSA 10041723
Electrical system

Car idles erratically, it also idles above 2000 rpm sometimes it lacks power and sometime it does not. The car stalls while at idle, or sometimes it pumps gas irregularly causing a pulsing.....*Jn

Filed Incident Electrical systemNHTSA 10018616
Electrical system

Ecu causing erratic idle in my 1992 geo storm. It is worse in warm weather. It has almost caused me to run into a train when r.P.M jumped up to over 2000 rpm. Since it was an automatic it lurched forward. Gm said it was because of insulating spray contracting causing shorts in ecu. My car has shut off in traffic causing traffic jams also. Please make gm recall these cars for ecu repair before some one gets killed. *Nlm

Filed Incident Electrical systemNHTSA 10016581
Engine & cooling

The car shut off with no warning at various times. The vehicle was taken to several mechanics and the problem could not be determined. The last incident happened 4/22/03. *Jb

Filed Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 10017495
Electrical systemWheels & tires

For well over a year now, my 1992 geo storm-4 cyl., Has exhibited rpm's above 2000 when idling at a stop when the ambient temperature is above 60 degrees f. I must keep the brake pedal firmly pressed to the floor since the auto. Transmission wants to engage. This symptom also causes my vehicle to act as if it is engaged in cruise control, accelerating to about 30 mph, once the brake pedal is released. Cruise control was not option installed in the car at purchase. I have come to realize this is also a problem...

Read the full complaint

with isuzu's, (the geo storm engine is an isuzu product), all due to the failure of the insulative spray on the ecm. I certainly hope the manufacturers can be held responsible for fixing this potentially dangerous condition.

Filed Incident Electrical system · TiresNHTSA 10013914
Transmission & drivetrain

While driving, consumer applied the brakes and vehicle went into neutral and all rpm dropped and vehicle shut off. Dealer states that they can not repair vehicle because it is older than 10 years. Please provide additional information. Ts

Filed Incident Power trainNHTSA 10001946
Engine & cooling

After I purchased this car on approx. 5/20/2002,I noticed a small rumbling sound accompanied with the smell of exhaust fumes inside the vehicle.On 9/1/2002 I was stopped at a red light when I heard an enormous rumble I proceededback home approx.2 Blocks. I then put thecar up on car ramps and saw the pipe from the manifold to theconverter was in good shape except at the flange by the manifold it was sheared (no rust)i then inspected the exhaust manifold and discovereda 5 inch crack.I then called repair shops...

Read the full complaint

,they tell me this is constant on all geo,s I called 30 used auto parts yards they tell me all geo exhaust manifolds crack and there are none to be found.As this is an exhaust and potentialy fatal flaw I will await your response before writing the newspapers.*Ak

Filed Incident Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 766826
Electrical systemAcceleration & cruise control

Rpms rev up and down... Car dies... Insulative spray that manufacturer uses on the computer shinks and contracts with changing temperatures and breaks the solder at the computer causing misfires at idle and thoughout all driving speeds and ranges, engine revving up and down, engine dying, and rpm holding at 2000 rpm gm knows about the fault in there computers...They refuse to fix it at their expense... They used this spray on insulators on 85-93 delco computers... They use a new spray on 95 and up, but don't on factory reconditionerd ecu's prior to 1995. *Ak

Filed Incident Electrical system · Vehicle speed controlNHTSA 766119
Engine & cooling

Causes motor to rev high when hot and die at idle when hot has caused an over heating problem before. *Ak

Filed Incident Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 764620
SteeringElectrical systemCrash1 injury

The faulty ecu component on my car has again made my car to stall, but this time I was in a bad situation, w/the engine stalling out I had no power steering and power brakes, thus causing me to drive into a 10ft deep ditch. As metioned before, this has not been the only time my car has stalled due to this problem (ie in the middle of busy intersections and so forth) this is a very dagerous defect that, izuzu uand nhtsa are aware of, I'm hoping that this incident along w/the many others is enough for nhtsa to correct the problem . Thank you. *Ak

Filed Incident Steering · Electrical systemNHTSA 763291
Electrical system

I apologize if some of my data entry seems illogical. My ecm was bad since the first day I purchased my used geo storm gsi. I had every erratic idle/driveability problem possible. When pulling up to lights the car would idle at 3000 rpms. In traffic, t. *Ak

Filed Incident Electrical systemNHTSA 761059
AirbagsCrash2 injuries

The front of the vehicle was hit due to a motorist who failed to yield the right of way, drivers air bag deployed without air, causing consumer to sustain injuries, consumer continues to be under doctors care, another person was injured in the accident as well. *Slc

Filed Incident Air bagsNHTSA 564881
Electrical system

This ecu has been the culrpit in an idle problem. Car will die at take off, and has this has been th second time replacing one. *Ak

Filed Incident Electrical systemNHTSA 759477
AirbagsCrash2 injuries

While driving an accident occurred. Upon impact, air bags did not deploy. They did not have any air in them. Injuries occurred. Please provide any further information.

Filed Air bagsNHTSA 8005047
AirbagsCrash1 injury

While driving an accident occurred. However, vehicle had been in a previous accident which was never reported to consumer. Upon impact, air bags deployed, but did not have air in them due to previous accident. Driver sustained injuries. Please provide any furhter information.*Ak

Filed Air bagsNHTSA 8004701
Electrical system

Many people I know have this same computer problem. Please help us fix this. Thank you. *Ak

Filed Incident Electrical systemNHTSA 758570
Acceleration & cruise control

Engine runs erratic times even after tuneup,highrevs, power surges,and stalling. *Ak

Filed Vehicle speed controlNHTSA 755077
Acceleration & cruise control

Erratic idle, idle revving and dropping, engine dying or stalling for no reason with no trouble codes. *Ak

Filed Incident Vehicle speed controlNHTSA 752287
Engine & cooling

The engine is idling erratic (high then low), idle dipping then engine dying, not wanting to start but no trouble lights or codes.*Ak

Filed Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 750813
Electrical system

Ac delco used a insulative spray on the circuit boards in these ecus/computers which shrinks over time when exposed to warm and cool temperature conditions, such as the normal conditions that an automobile is subjected to. The shrinking insulative spray contracts and pulls the electronic components from the circuit board, breaking solder connections and causing shorts.

Filed Incident Electrical systemNHTSA 750105
Equipment & accessories

This car uses the ac delco ignition and fuel system and utilizes ac delco electronic control unit, also sometimes referred to as a ecm or electronic control module). The problem is that ac delco used a insulative spray on the circuit boards in this car that shrinks over time when exposed to warm and cool temperature conditions, such as the normal conditions that an automobile is subjected to. The shrinking insulative spray contracts and pulls the electronic components from the circuit board, breaking solder connections and causing shorts. *Ak

Filed Incident EquipmentNHTSA 749374
Electrical system

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

Filed Electrical systemNHTSA 748582
Acceleration & cruise control

Car stalls randomly until it reaches running temp, idles poorly at running temp, and surges or idles very high randomly, when in gear this surging has almost caused 2 accidents. *Ak

Filed Incident Vehicle speed controlNHTSA 745970
Engine & cooling

Consumer stated that vehicle would stall while traveling on highway. *Ak *jb

Filed Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 888081

Geo Storm: every year compared

YearComplaintsRecallsCrashesFiresTop problemGrade
19952000Engine & coolingA
1993570102Electrical systemC
1992791160Electrical systemD
1991912191Engine & coolingD
1990463111AirbagsC
All Storm years

1992 Geo Storm vs rivals

VehicleComplaintsRecallsCrashesGrade
1992 Geo Storm79116D
1992 Geo Metro5516CCompare
1992 Geo Prizm5014CCompare
1992 Geo Tracker1903DCompare

More sales usually means more complaints, so compare similar vehicles of the same year. The grade compares each vehicle with its own model's other years.

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Questions about the 1992 Geo Storm

Does the 1992 Geo Storm have any recalls?

Yes - NHTSA lists 1 recall for the 1992 Geo Storm: air bags (July 1992). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether yours has been fixed.

What are the most common problems with the 1992 Geo Storm?

By the complaints owners filed with NHTSA, the most common problem areas are the electrical system (22), engine & cooling (15), airbags (13).

How many complaints has the 1992 Geo Storm had?

79 complaints have been filed with NHTSA, the first on June 21, 1993 and the latest on November 18, 2003. Of these, 16 describe a crash and 0 a fire, and together they report 15 injuries and 3 deaths.

Is the 1992 Geo Storm a reliable vehicle?

Its Safety Index is 31 out of 100 (grade D: more problems than a typical Geo Storm year, for its age). The index weighs complaints, crashes, fires, injuries, deaths and recalls against how long the vehicle has been on the road, compared with the same model's other years. It is not a measure of every repair - read the complaints and owner experiences, and have any used vehicle inspected before you buy.

Which Geo Storm years have the most complaints?
What should I do if my 1992 Geo Storm has a problem?

If it is a safety problem, stop driving it if it is unsafe and contact your dealer. Report it to NHTSA at nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem - enough reports start investigations and recalls - and share your experience here so other owners know what to look for.

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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