1996 Geo Metro Recalls, Complaints & Specs
No safety recalls list the 1996 Geo Metro, and owners have filed 88 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
No safety recalls on record
NHTSA's recall database lists no safety campaigns that include the 1996 Geo Metro. That is good news, with two caveats: recalls can be issued at any time (this page refreshes daily), and a recall filed under a related model name may not appear here. The VIN check above queries NHTSA directly for your exact vehicle.
88 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 1996 Geo Metro have filed 88 complaints with NHTSA; 27 describe a crash and 5 describe a fire. Reports cite 22 injuries and 1 death. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 128,737 miles. Complaints peaked in 1997 with 16 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“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”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, February 25, 2011 · Latches/locks/linkages
“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”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, February 21, 2009 · Structure
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 1996 Geo Metro. Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 28–40 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 26–37 / 31–44 |
| Fuel | Regular |
| EPA class | Subcompact Cars |
| Engine | 3/4 cyl, 1/1.3 L |
| Transmission | Automatic 3-spd; Manual 5-spd |
Compare Geo Metro model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Geo Metro model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 1989 Geo Metro | 2 | 27 |
| 1990 Geo Metro | 2 | 39 |
| 1991 Geo Metro | 2 | 50 |
| 1992 Geo Metro | 1 | 54 |
| 1993 Geo Metro | 1 | 50 |
| 1994 Geo Metro | 0 | 68 |
| 1995 Geo Metro | 1 | 109 |
| 1996 Geo Metro | 0 | 88 |
| 1997 Geo Metro | 1 | 63 |
| 1998 Geo Metro | 0 | 33 |
| 1999 Geo Metro | 0 | 23 |
| 2000 Geo Metro | 0 | 19 |
| 2001 Geo Metro | 0 | 6 |
Checking a specific 1996 Geo Metro
How do I know if my 1996 Geo Metro has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Geo dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number.
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other Geo models
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.