1997 Geo Metro
The Verdict
Worst problem area
Engine
Engine leads by volume: 14 of 63 complaints (22%) mention it. Complaints mentioning Body, Seats & Latches include more reported injuries (6) than those mentioning any other identified area.
Complaints filed fell from 88 in 1996 to 63 in 1997.
Data last changed . Sources: NHTSA complaints and recalls, EPA fuel economy data. Methodology
Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | vs. 1997 Subcompact Cars |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 1,550–2,250 | 1,550–2,250 | 1,550–2,250 | |
| Combined MPG | 28–40 | 28–40 | 28–40 | |
| City / Highway MPG | 26–37 / 31–44 | 26–37 / 31–44 | 26–37 / 31–44 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 222–317 | 222–317 | 222–317 | |
| Complaints filed | 109 | 88 | 63 | |
| Recalls issued | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 44 | 28 | 13 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 0 | 5 | 2 | |
| Injuries reported | 37 | 26 | 12 | |
| Deaths reported | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| Configurations compared | 3 | 3 | 3 |
Not compared: this database has no vehicle sales or registration figures, so a raw count mostly reflects how many were sold, not how safe the vehicle is.
Common questions
How many recalls does the 1997 Geo Metro have?
1 NHTSA recall campaign as of Sep 16, 2026. Check your VIN with NHTSA to see whether one applies to your car.
What is the most common complaint about the 1997 Geo Metro?
Engine: 14 of 63 NHTSA complaints (22%) mention it.
What gas mileage does the 1997 Geo Metro get?
EPA rates it 28–40 MPG combined across 3 configurations.
How much does it cost to fuel a 1997 Geo Metro?
EPA estimates $1,550–$2,250 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.
Similar Vehicles
EPA-Rated Configurations (3)
| Configuration | Transmission | Cylinders | Displacement | Drivetrain | Fuel Type | Vehicle Class | City | Highway | Combined | Annual Fuel Cost | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration 1 | Manual 5-spd | 3 | 1.0L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Subcompact Cars | 37 mpg (high) | 44 mpg (high) | 40 mpg (high) | $1,550 (low) | 222 g/mi (low) |
| Configuration 2 | Automatic 3-spd | 4 | 1.3L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Subcompact Cars | 26 mpg (low) | 31 mpg (low) | 28 mpg (low) | $2,250 (high) | 317 g/mi (high) |
| Configuration 3 | Manual 5-spd | 4 | 1.3L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Subcompact Cars | 33 mpg | 39 mpg | 35 mpg | $1,800 | 254 g/mi |
Complaints by Category
| Category | Complaints | Crash-Involved | Fire-Involved | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 14 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 11 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Brakes | 9 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Steering | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 11 | 8 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 8 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
A complaint that names more than one category is counted in each, so the rows can add up to more than the total number of complaints.
Recalls (1)
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:PARK/NEUTRAL START INTERLOCK SWITCH · Campaign 98V225001 · Oct 7, 1998
Defect: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AN AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLE. THE SHIFT LEVER APPEARS TO BE IN "PARK," BUT CAN EASILY BE MOVED FROM THE "PARK" POSITION WITHOUT THE USE OF THE KEY, TRANSAXLE LEVER DETENT BUTTON, OR DEPRESSING THE BRAKE.
Consequence: IF THE SHIFT LEVER WERE TO COME OUT OF "PARK" WHILE THE VEHICLE IS PARKED ON A NON-LEVEL SURFACE, THE VEHICLE COULD ROLL INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SHIFTER ASSEMBLY. UNTIL THE VEHICLE IS SERVICED, OWNERS ARE ADVISED WHEN SHIFTING TO "PARK," ALWAYS APPLY THE PARK BRAKE BEFORE RELEASING THE SERVICE BRAKE.