Most common 1996 Geo Metro problems
Share of the 88 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Geo Metro complaints by model year
Best Metro years: 2001, 2000, 1999. Years to avoid: 1995, 1996, 1997. Compare all years →
What 1996 Geo Metro owners say
Air bags all 28 →
I owned a 1994 and a 1996 Geo Metro I was involved in a head on with the 1994 and my air bag did not go off. When I reported it the dealer said I did not hit the sensors right. So I bought another one a 1996 lsi. I hit a Chevrolet s10 going 15 MPH with no time to brake and nither one of my air bags went off in the car. The front bumper on this car had been removwed for repair and was not in place at the time of accident. The whole front end was damaged clear through the fan and radiator so the air bags should have gone off that time. Just thought you should know that I owned two of the Geo's and had two accidents and in nither car did the air bags deploy.
I have already sent in a form but have never been contacted since by neither yourselves nor the manufactures of the vehicle. I still want to know why the air bags did not deploy with a perfect, headlight to headlight, front end collision. My first throught is that the things just don't work or that the airbag imprints are just for looks. The outo body shop at the Chevy dealership could not even show me the sensor on the front end of the car. The owners manual shows where it is supposed to be but its not there, why?? All help on this matter will be greatly appreciated.
Electrical system
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?
There was a short in the light switch which caused wires/connection at fuse box (under dash) to burn and melt. The effect of this was that only the daytime running lights and parking lights would work. The headlights and high beams would not work. Just wondering why a fuse would not blow to indicate a problem instead of wires burning and fuse box burning?
Brakes
I owned a 1994 and a 1996 Geo Metro I was involved in a head on with the 1994 and my air bag did not go off. When I reported it the dealer said I did not hit the sensors right. So I bought another one a 1996 lsi. I hit a Chevrolet s10 going 15 MPH with no time to brake and nither one of my air bags went off in the car. The front bumper on this car had been removwed for repair and was not in place at the time of accident. The whole front end was damaged clear through the fan and radiator so the air bags should have gone off that time. Just thought you should know that I owned two of the Geo's and had two accidents and in nither car did the air bags deploy.
Vehicle was parked facing uphill in the driveway,the parking brake was applied and the manual transmiison was in neutral. The car was parked and locked at approximately 3:30 pm. At approximately 7:10 pm the car rolled backwards down the drive and across the state highway and stopped against the guardrail, blocking traffic. My son heard a commotion and noticing the car, went to move it off of the highway. He returned to the house, got the car key and proceeded to drive the car back to the driveway. He noticed that the parking brake was not applied at that time. He very rarely drives this car and would notice that the brake was not on.
1996 Geo Metro engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.0L 3-cyl | 5-speed manual | FWD | 37 / 44 / 40 |
| 1.3L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | FWD | 33 / 39 / 35 |
| 1.3L 4-cyl | 3-speed automatic | FWD | 26 / 31 / 28 |
EPA ratings. Class: Subcompact car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1996 Geo Metro a good car?
Based on 88 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1996 Metro rates avoid: 2.8× as many complaints as a typical year of the Metro at the same age. It is one of the Metro years we suggest avoiding. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 1996 Geo Metro?
The air bags — 28 complaints, 32% of all complaints for this model year, most often about frontal. Next are the electrical system (12) and brakes (9).
How many recalls does the 1996 Geo Metro have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 1996 Geo Metro. You can still confirm with your VIN using our VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Geo Metro?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2001, 2000 and 1999. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 1995, 1996 and 1997. See the full Geo Metro years comparison.
At what mileage do 1996 Geo Metro problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 116,000 miles; 0% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.