GEO Complaints

THE HEADLIGHTS DO NOT AIM CORRECTLY. AFTER A FEW FRUSTRATING ATTEMPTS TO ADJUST MY HEADLIGHTS I REALIZED THEY ENTIRE ASSEMBLY RAISES UP AT HIGH SPEEDS AND NEEDS TO BE MANUALLY MANIPULATED (KICKED) BACK IN TO PLACE WHERE IT REMAINS UNTIL THE NEXT TRIP WHICH REQUIRES SPEEDS ABOVE 55 MPH. THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY IS SECURED BY A SCREW AND A HARD PLASTIC NIPPLE IN THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY WHICH IS WEDGED INTO A RUBBER GROMMET MOUNTED ON THE CHASSIS. I BELIEVE THAT THIS RUBBER GROMMET STRETCHES, HARDENS OR DRY ROTS OVER TIME WEAKENING ITS EFFECTIVENESS. DURING MY 45 MINUTE DRIVE EACH MORNING PASS ANOTHER CHEVROLET METRO WITH ITS RIGHT HEADLIGHT POINTING HIGH AND TO THE RIGHT AS IT PASSES ME WHICH IS EXACTLY WHAT MINE DOES. WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT I HAVE NOTICED THAT EVERY METRO I SEE HAS HEADLIGHT ALIGNMENT PROBLEMS WHICH ARE TO THE EXTREME. *JB

1992 GEO STORM MANUAL TRANSMISSION. WHEN ENGINE GETS HOT ( SUMMER MONTHS ) ENGINE IDLE INCREASES TO 2,500 - 3,500 RPM. MUST USE FOOT TO PULL UP ON ACCELARATOR. CAR BEGINS TO OVERHEAT LURCHES FORWARD. CAR ALSO STALLS WITHOUT WARNING. HEARD IT HAS TO DO WITH FAULTY ECM. VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. *JB

THREE OF MY DOORS ON MY 1996 GEO PRIZM LOCKS HAVE FAILED, SHUTTING THE DOORS PERMANENTLY. I HAVE ONLY ONE DOOR TO GET IN/OUT OF MY CAR. I HAVE SPOKEN TO OTHER GEO OWNERS AND THEY ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. I NOW HAVE TO SE IF I CAN FIND A SHOP TO GET THE DOORS UNLOCKED SO I NO LONGER HAVE TO CLIMB OVER THE SEAT TO GET IN TO DRIVE. HEAVEN HELP ME IF I GET INTO AN ACCIDENT.

DT: CONSUMER STATES HE FOUND A RECALL ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE, #93V189001. THE HOOD FLEW UP AND OFF, HITTING THE ROOF AND DAMAGED THE HOOD. HE WAS GOING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH. THERE WAS NO WARNING; IT HAD BEEN ABOUT A WEEK SINCE THE HOOD WAS OPENED. THE DEALERSHIP SAID IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND HE WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR IT HIMSELF AND THE VIN WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL. THERE IS A CASE FILE NUMBER,1-348-257471. THERE WAS ALMOST A ACCIDENT AND THERE WAS NOT A POLICE REPORT. *NM

THE WINDOW DEFROST BLOWER MOTOR FAILS TO WORK AFTER STARTING THE CAR. ALSO THE REAR WINDOW ELECTRIC DEFROST FAILS. THIS COULD LEAD TO IMPAIRED VISIBILITY DURING WINTER OR RAIN CONDITIONS WHEN THE WINDSHIELD FOGS OR ICES UP. THERE IS AN APPARENT SHORT IN THE IGNITION SWITCH CAUSING THIS. AFTER ENGAGING THE STARTER, THE IGNITION SWITCH FAILS TO RETURN TO THE PROPER POSITION FOR THE ABOVE ACCESSORIES TO WORK. THE DRIVER MUST JIGGLE THE KEY AND IGNITION SWITCH BACKWARDS TO ALMOST THE OFF POSITION TO RESTORE POWER TO THE BLOWER MOTOR AND REAR DEFROST. SOMETIMES, WHILE GOING DOWN THE ROAD THE DEFROST BLOWER MOTOR STOPS WHEN HITTING BUMPS IN THE ROAD. IN ADDITION TO THIS, MY WIFE ONCE SMELLED AND SAW SMOKE COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN AFTER TRYING TO START THE CAR. AFTER READING ABOUT THE NHTSA RECALL OF CHEV. CAVALIERS FOR FAULTY IGNITION SWITCHES (CAMPAIGN ID #04V036000), I WONDERED IF THIS IS A RELATED SAFETY PROBLEM.

DT: A 2001, GEO, METRO. CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT, IT WAS HIT IN THE REAR. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *AK

THE HEADLIGHTS ON MY WIFE'S CAR, LIKE SO MANY OTHERS, HAVE BECOME ALMOST OPAQUE. AFTER HAVING THE LIGHTS REPAIRED AT SUBSTANTIAL COST I WAS TOLD THAT IT IS DUE TO UV EXPOSURE AND THAT IT DOES NOT AFFECT ALL MAKES. APPARENTLY SOME MANUFACTURERS PRODUCE LIGHTS THAT CONTINUE TO FUNCTION AFTER EXPOSURE TO SUNLIGHT. SOME DO NOT. I FEEL THIS IS A REAL SAFETY HAZARD. IT SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCES THE LIGHT OUTPUT AND IT ONLY TAKES A FEW MINUTES LOOKING ABOUT ANY PARKING LOT TO REALIZE THAT MOST GO UNCORRECTED. WHY CAN'T ALL MANUFACTURERS USE HEADLIGHTS THAT DO NOT TURN YELLOW?

DURING AN ACCIDENT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND THE SEAT BELT EQUIPMENT FAILED TO LOCK.*MR EVERYONE INSIDE THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED SOME TYPE OF INJURY (GEO PRIZM). *NM UPDATED 12/22/05 *JB

VEHICLE OWNERS MANUAL DOES NOT PROVIDE SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS AS TO HOW TO ADJUST THE HEADLAMP ALONG THE HORIZONTAL AXIS(HORIZONTAL ADJUSTMENT) OR VERTICAL AXIS (VERTICAL ADJUSTMENT) IF THE HEADLAMP DEVIATES FROM THE NOMINAL ADJUSTED POSITION OR THE CORRECT AIMED POSITION. THIS MAY PROVE TO BE FATAL IF THE VEHICLE OWNER DRIVES THE VEHICLE WITH HEADLAMPS UNADJUSTED ESPECIALLY IN RURAL AREAS OF THE COUNTRY.

DRIVER NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE HESITATED AND SLOWED DOWN ON ITS OWN. TRANSMISSION LIGHT FLASHED ON THEN OFF. DRIVER PULLED OVER, AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. DRIVER WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, AND IT WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC SHOP, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK