GEO Complaints

1999 GEO METRO CONSUMER QUESTION ABOUT CAR REPAIR MONEY. CONSUMER WOULD TO KNOW ABOUT A GRANT FOR $200 DOLLARS FOR A CAR REPAIR SINCE HE CAN NOT AFFORD TO PAY IT FOR SURE. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED THE CV JOINT AND REAR STRUTS NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED/REPLACED. *JB

7 MONTHS AND 5 REPLACEMENT ECUS ON MY 1991 GEO STORM GSI, AND STILL HAS DANGEROUS ISSUES OF STALLING ON HIGHWAY AND WHEN PULLING OUT INTO TRAFFIC. THE PROBLEM IS THAT BETWEEN 1985 AND 1995, 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. THE SYMPTOMS OF THIS FAULT ARE MOST NOTABLY ERRATIC IDLE, IDLE REVVING AND DROPPING, IDLE DIPPING OFTEN WITH ENGINE DYING, IDLE HANGING HIGH ABOVE 2,000 RPM, AND ENGINE DYING OR STALLING FOR NO REASON WITH NO TROUBLE CODES. GM KNOWS ABOUT THIS FAULT IN THEIR AC DELCO ECUS/COMPUTERS AND HAS EVEN GONE SO FAR AS TO INCLUDE SUPPLEMENTAL INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO TEST FOR SHORTS AND BROKEN CIRCUITS IN THE ECU/COMPUTER TO THEIR TECHNICAL LITERATURE, THOUGH THEY REFUSE TO REPAIR OR REPLACE THE PROBLEM AT THEIR OWN EXPENSE. GM WENT FURTHER AND BEGAN USING A DIFFERENT INSULATIVE SPRAY ON ALL OF THEIR ECUS/COMPUTERS IN 1996, THOUGH THEY DO NOT USE THIS NEW SPRAY ON THEIR FACTORY RECONDITIONED ECUS/COMPUTERS FOR THE GEO STORM MODELS. *TR

AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON WHEN TEMPERATURE REACHES ABOVE 90 DEGREES. DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG OUTER SHELL BECOMES VERY SOFT. *TR

THE HANDLE OF THE LEFT-HAND (DRIVER) DOOR HAS STOPPED OPENING THE DOOR. THE PLASTIC FIXTURE WHERE IT SHOULD ENGAGE FOR THE DOOR TO OPEN DOES NOT FUNCTION. IN ADDITION, THE WINDOW STOPPED ROLLING UP AT THE SAME TIME. THIS EXACT DEFECT HAS HAPPENED TO OUR 2002 CHEVY PRISM. THE PLASTIC PIECE AROUND THE DOOR HANDLE OF THE SAME DRIVER'S SIDE HAS CRACKED AND NO LONGER CAN ENGAGE TO WORK. IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE WHEN YOU CAN NOT OPEN THE DOOR! *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 GEO METRO. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE CONTACT HEARD A NOISE WHEN SHE DROVE OVER A BUMP. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE FRAME WAS CORRODED, AND THE TIRE COULD FALL AT ANY MOMENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED; HOWEVER, THEY STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OLD AND THE CONTACT WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WILL BE TAKEN TO A BODY SHOP FOR REPAIR. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 159,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 GEO PRIZM. WHILE DRIVING 50- 55 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A SUDDEN BANG. THE VEHICLE VEERED TO THE LEFT MOMENTARILY, AND THEN BACK TO THE RIGHT. HE WAS UNABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE AND STRUCK THE SIDEWALL ON THE HIGHWAY. THE VEHICLE SPUN APPROXIMATELY 180 DEGREES AND STOPPED MOVING SHORTLY AFTERWARDS. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO THE POLICE STORAGE COMPOUND. HE WAS INFORMED THAT THE CRASH WAS CAUSED BY A FAILED AXLE. THE CONTACT WAS INJURED AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 84,000. REMAILED 05/07/08. *LJ UPDATED 06/09/08 *BF AN INVESTIGATION WAS DONE. UPDATED06/09/08

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 GEO PRIZM. THE ROOF HEADLINER IS DRY ROTTED, CORRODED, AND HANGING DOWN IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. THE DOOR GASKETS ON EACH DOOR HAVE CRACKED, MELTED, AND HARDENED. THE ENTIRE EXTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE HAS WHITE HAZE SPOTS, WHERE THE PRIMER IS COMING THROUGH THE PAINT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURES BEGAN RIGHT AFTER THE THREE YEAR WARRANTY ENDED ON THE VEHICLE. HE ALSO STATED THAT THERE WAS A SAFETY RECALL ON THE BLACK METALLIC PAINT. THE RECALL WAS GOOD FOR THREE YEARS AND THEN IT WAS EXTENDED TO FIVE YEARS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT CHEVROLET GAVE HIM THE RUN AROUND UNTIL THE SAFETY RECALL EXTENSION EXPIRED. HE WAS ABLE TO GET THE ROOF OF THE VEHICLE PAINTED UNDER THE RECALL, HOWEVER, THE PAINT JOB FAILED SHORTLY AFTERWARDS. THE CONTACT HAS PICTURES OF THE VEHICLE, IF NEEDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND RECALL NUMBER WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 52,000.

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, THE CAR WILL BE JUNKED. IF SHE HAD BEEN ON THE HIGHWAY THIS PROBABLY WOULD HAVE BEEN A VERY SERIOUS ACCIDENT. THIS REALLY SURPRISED US AS THE CAR HAD ONLY A SMALL AMOUNT OF RUST ON THE SURFACES THAT WE COULD SEE. WHEN THE GARAGE HAD THE CAR UP ON THE RACK TO SHOW ME THE PROBLEM I COULD SEE QUITE A BIT OF RUSTING ON ALL THE FRONT COMPONENTS, BUT NONE ON THE REAR. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THE CAR, WE HAVE TAKEN REASONABLY GOOD CARE OF IT. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 GEO PRIZM. WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE VEHICLE WOULD TRAVEL LONGER THAN EXPECTED BEFORE COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE FRONT WHEEL SENSOR FAILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ABS LIGHT CONSTANTLY REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 183,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 GEO TRACKER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT SUSPENSION CROSS MEMBER IS ROTTED OUT AND CORRODED FROM THE INSIDE. THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED WITH FRONT CROSS MEMBERS DESIGNED AND MADE BY SUZUKI, WHICH RUST FROM THE INSIDE OUT DUE TO INSUFFICIENT CORROSION PROTECTION. NHTSA ACTION # EA06018 WAS REFERENCED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 69,300.