Most common 1997 Geo Tracker problems
Share of the 25 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Geo Tracker complaints by model year
Best Tracker years: 2000, 1998. Years to avoid: 1996, 1995. Compare all years →
What 1997 Geo Tracker owners say
Brakes
While driving on interstate highway, it felt like my transmission had went the car would not move further after going through a toll both. Had car towed to nh Chevy car dealer, found nothing wrong on 3 occasions. Personal ny Chevy dealer found master brake cylinder had blown causing brakes to lock on their own, while also causing brakes to severely smoke. Took over 2 weeks to find problem & correct.
While driving on interstate highway, it felt like my transmission had went the car would not move further after going through a toll both. Had car towed to nh Chevy car dealer, found nothing wrong on 3 occasions. Personal ny Chevy dealer found master brake cylinder had blown causing brakes to lock on their own, while also causing brakes to severely smoke. Took over 2 weeks to find problem & correct.
Air bags
Consumer was driving on side road at approximately 35 MPH on normal road condition, all of sudden both air bags deployed without warning, causing vehicle to hit a parked vehicle. Dealer notified, and refused to believe tha t air bags deployed before the accident.
Consumer was involved in 50 MPH frontal collision in which the driver's and passenger's air bags did not deploy. Also, the driver's seat belt did not retract, causing the driver to hit the steering wheel. Please give any further details.
Engine & cooling
Had previous diagnosis on EGR valve. Had replaced on 1/19 after ses code cleared another code popped up for pre-cat o2 sensor. Upon fixing that problem on 1/28 yet another EGR code came up and was diagnosed on 1/30 for the EGR transducer which controls the EGR valve I just had replaced! Replaced transducer on 1/31. Between labor, parts & diagnostics I shelled out $530.00. Plus I had a EGR solenoid replaced on 7/23/02. This is crazy, all this stuff went one after another something has to been wrong related either to the fuel system of said vehicle or to EGR system of said vehicle!
Vehicle stalls due to electrical fuse problems. The wipers, turn signals and interior lighting May also be effected by the electrical fuse problem. The air conditioner failed and the exhaust fell off the car.
1997 Geo Tracker engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.6L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | RWD | 21 / 24 / 22 |
| 1.6L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | 4WD/AWD | 21 / 24 / 22 |
| 1.6L 4-cyl | 3-speed automatic | RWD | 21 / 22 / 21 |
| 1.6L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 19 / 23 / 21 |
| 1.6L 4-cyl | 3-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 21 / 22 / 21 |
| 1.6L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 19 / 23 / 21 |
EPA ratings. Class: —.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1997 Geo Tracker a good car?
Based on 25 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1997 Tracker rates average: about as many complaints as a typical year of the Tracker at the same age. 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 1997 Geo Tracker?
The brakes — 6 complaints, 24% of all complaints for this model year, most often about antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip. Next are the air bags (5) and engine & cooling (5).
How many recalls does the 1997 Geo Tracker have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 1997 Geo Tracker. You can still confirm with your VIN using our VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Geo Tracker?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2000 and 1998. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 1996 and 1995. See the full Geo Tracker years comparison.
At what mileage do 1997 Geo Tracker problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 120,000 miles; 20% 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.