1998 Geo Metro problems & reliability
33 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 1998 Geo Metro. Last verified Aug 7, 2026. Complaints are unverified reports submitted by owners to the federal Office of Defects Investigation.
Each complaint is counted once (by NHTSA case number), even when it names several vehicles.
4 complaints report injuries (6 injured).
Most reported problems
| Component | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 6 | 18% |
| Visibility | 6 | 18% |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 5 | 15% |
| Power Train | 4 | 12% |
| Structure | 3 | 9% |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 3 | 9% |
| Air Bags | 2 | 6% |
| Equipment | 1 | 3% |
| Exterior Lighting | 1 | 3% |
| Parking Brake | 1 | 3% |
Component groups as classified by NHTSA. A complaint can name more than one component, so shares may sum to more than 100%.
Complaints by incident year
What owners report
“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…”
Exterior Lighting · filed Aug 16, 2005
“This problem exists every time the car is driven. After driving the car with various drive times, stopping and allowing the car to sit for approx 25-30 mins then trying to drive the car again it stalls out and dies in 2-7 of driving. In most case the car has died in the middle of intersections and on the freeway. It…”
Engine and Engine Cooling · filed Jul 16, 2004
“While driving 15-18 mph, the accelerator pedal became stuck and the vehicle hit a street pole. The consumer/passenger sustained minor injuries. *ak *sc *jb”
Vehicle Speed Control · filed Jul 12, 2004
Verbatim excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA. Reports are not independently verified.
Technical service bulletins
3 manufacturer communications (TSBs, service campaigns, warranty extensions) are on file with NHTSA for the 1998 Geo Metro.
Vehicle Recalls
Recalls · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Jun 30, 2014
Expanded Availability for Remanufacture and Return (R&R) Electronic Control Modules
130089009 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Sep 1, 2013
Some customers may comment that the black plastic housing around the outside rear view mirror turns chalky or is dull in color. *tt
000851001 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Sep 1, 2000
TSBs are repair guidance manufacturers send to dealers — they are not recalls and repairs are not automatically free. Full documents are available on NHTSA’s site.
Safety recalls
No NHTSA recall campaigns name the 1998 Geo Metro in our current data. Recalls may apply only to certain VIN ranges — always confirm with a VIN check.
Check whether your specific vehicle is affected
Recall campaigns often cover only certain VIN ranges. Enter your VIN on the official NHTSA site to confirm whether your vehicle is included and whether the repair is still open.
Check VIN on NHTSA →Buying a used 1998 Geo Metro?
- · Decode the seller’s VIN with our free VIN decoder to confirm the exact year, engine and trim.
- · Check for unrepaired recalls by VIN on NHTSA’s official lookup — recall repairs are free.