1994 Geo Tracker review from North America
"A cheap and solid little 4x4..."
What things have gone wrong with the car?
1. Radio trim piece was broken.
2. Passenger dash mounted vent was broken.
3. Transmission has bearing noise in 3rd and 5th gear.
4. Factory radio does not work.
5. Rusted left front fender.
6. Lots of parking lot dents.
7. Noisy and "rattle ridden" on the road.
General comments?
1. Reliable 4x4. Very stable and able when operated with common sense.
2. Good gas mileage (25mpg) and still needs to be tuned up.
3. Basic vehicle (which I really like). Just engine, drivetrain, and body.
4. Very nimble and maneuverable (cause of its small size).
I bought this vehicle to replace my old 5.0 Mustang (fun car, just tired of winter slip wars).
Most of the problems with my Tracker are from a lack of care from the previous owner(s). I assume that the bearing noise in the transmission came from 20,000+ miles of driving with low gearbox oil (it was half empty when I bought it). It's about $800.00 to repair the transmission where I live. To me this is not a big deal since I have near no cost in the truck.
I plan to redo the Tracker into a usable "working 4x4" for myself modifications to include:
1. Custom snow plow.
2. Wide tires.
3. Additional gauges in the dash.
4. Cruise control.
5. Winch.
6. Exterior lights.
7. Decent stereo system.
8. Carpot padding (quiets the road noise).
Tips:
When buying parts. check with a Suzuki dealer since the Tracker and the Sidekick are pretty much identical (99% identical???). Most of the time, Suzuki parts are a little cheaper.
Check the fluids (engine, axles, gearbox, transfer case) and check them often.
Grease/pack drivetrain components/parts.
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| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Yes |
| First year of ownership | 2000 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2001 |
| Engine and transmission | 1.8 Litre 8-valve Manual |
| Performance marks | 5/10 |
| Reliability marks | 7/10 |
| Comfort marks | 5/10 |
| Dealer Service marks | |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 8/10 |
| Distance when acquired | 85000 miles |
| Most recent distance | 86000 miles |
| Previous car | Ford Mustang |
| Date of Entry | 21st January, 2002 |

