Comments: 1-15, 16-25
There are several things that have gone wrong with this car, but most of them minor and were fixed by myself. Headlights quit working other than in daytime running mode. The problem is an electrical contact at the fuse box. This can be fixed for about $15 with a visit to the junkyard assuming you can find one that didn't have this problem too. It will be apparent since you will see the burn marks in the plastic fust box at the contact. It takes about 1 hour to fix. The engine started burning oil at about 90,000 miles. I prolonged the life by using Restore engine additive. This stuff is one of the best inventions ever. Without it I would have lost 3 quarts of oil in about 2 days worth of driving. With it, it performs like a new engine. I had to replace the exhaust after 119,000 miles from the manifold just beyond the catalytic converter. $600 if you pay the muffer shop to do it or about $50 if you can steal the catalytic converter from the junk yard. It is illegal for you to buy it from them. The exhaust is relatively easy to replace. It will take you about 8 hours if it is rusted or about 2 hours if not. I had to replace the entire engine after 111,000 miles because I overheated it on a long road trip. It was probably something like a thermostat that could have been fixed cheap, but I was in the middle of Canada and could not get it fixed. I drove it overheated for about 300 miles before if finally would not start anymore. It was a very tough little engine. I could drive about 15 miles until it would seize up then I would have to pull over for a half an hour to let it cool off enough to start it again. I replaced the engine with a new one for $650 for the engine and another $900 for labor that included putting in a new clutch while they were at it. I had to replace the front brake pads at 90,000. I replaced them with lifetime gaurenteed pads and have not had a problem since. I did have to have the rotors resurfaced at 117,000 miles for about $60. I had a large resitor component fail under the hood at around 100,000 which didn't allow the car to start. The part is cheap about $30 but the labor for them to find the problem since it was electrical costed another $100. Gas gauge recently quit at 119,000. Overall, the problems are relatively cheap to fix and not to complex. Most of these problems are known to occur with most Geo Metros. I have spoke to other owners and they had the same things happen.
It is a very economical car. They are easy to work on and generally are not a lot of money to fix if you don't mind pulling parts at a junk yard and working on small problems yourself. Don't go to a dealer ever to buy parts or pay them to fix problems. They will rip you off. If they say it will be $800 to fix divide that price by 10 and that is how much you can really fix the problem for. This car has lots of space for how small it appears. Good visibility, and head and leg room. It can carry a very heavy load. I had about 1/4 of a ton of bricks with two people in it before and drove it 20 miles with this payload. The rear almost hit the road, but it held and did not damage it. Fairly resistent to rust other than around the underbody near the door runners. The engine will wear out before the body or structural components. The mileage has dropped from 46 new to 34 mpg. It may just need a tune up.
The only problem I have had with my 1996 Geo Metro, is that I needed to replace the catalytic converter and the piece costs $855, which is about what the car is worth, even in good shape.
I've also had issues with the headlights in my '96 Geo Metro. They haven't really worked for about 2 years (ha!) but I can still get around in the dark. It's good to know it's an easy problem to fix; maybe I'll send the boyfriend to the junkyard soon.
This car has been a little angel to me. Handles pretty good on the highway and gets super gas mileage. Never had a problem with other than the headlights. He's just not happy in the snow so we try to keep off the roads when it sticks to the ground.
I have a 1996 Geo Metro. My problem was first the muffler went, but it was not really too expensive to fix at the shop at all. Then it was the headlights. What causes this problem? I assumed it had to do with the daytime headlight feature, which I think is unnecessary. All I know is that the daytime headlights work fine, the next switch helps the back lights turn on, which is how I get around in the dark. However, the last switch, the night lights, and the hi-beams no longer work. My brother put in a new fuse. It made everything better again for two weeks. Then it happened all over again. I will tell him the idea about a new electrical fuse box. I hope that will do it. Otherwise, I will live without hi-beams.
Hello there, I`ve been reading all the comments about the Geo Metro 1996, mine has 109k miles and it was running good until its transmission broke, I`ve beeon on the road from San Antonio Texas to near Mexico city, I`m litlle bit concerned about getting the right part here, I just hope not to be very expensive down here...I`ll write some more as soon as I get more information from the mechanic...
Little Texan.
I've had my Geo '96 for a few years now. I bought it used.. and for the most part, have been happy with it. I had to replace the exhaust system now for the 4th!!! (that's right FOURTH!!) time. I dunno,...this New England weather really does a number.But,...I love that machine that I might just invest the same amount of money the car is worth to get the exhaust going again.
-Geo in New England.
I have a 1996 Geo Metro LSi with close to 150K miles on it. I bought it with ~100K in 1999 for $3000. Two months later it was paid off with insurance money after I side-swiped a deer (common happening here in the Northeast). Over $2000 in estimated repairs were taken care of by a $60 off-color junkyard fender, a ball-peen hammer and some Super Glue! I have been commuting with the car pretty much everyday since and it's still going strong. I teach high school physics and chemistry, often using the Metro in my demonstrations and example of physics. The students really love the lesson where I burnout across the parking lot as part of an acceleration activity and any conservation of momentum discussions involving a school bus and my Metro.
I also have had many exhaust problems (currently running with a blown out O2 sensor after re-welding the cat converter). I've come to view that throaty sound as my attempt at sportiness! I've wondered if anyone else has had problems with the front axles. I've had to replace mine twice (once the axle was completely broken) and it feels like I may need to do it again soon. I am currently trying to decide if I should put some money into it (exhaust, struts, LF control arm, brakes) for an attempt at a sale or put same money in and more (wheels, suspension, stereo/speakers, hood and paint) to be proud of my car again. Does anyone else get jealous of their Honda or Hyundai friends and their ability to just order crazy parts off of eBay?!
My Geo is a wonderful car I have 241000 miles on it and have only had to change headlights. I started puting engine restore in it when it was new, and most of the miles are on the highway.
I just overhauled the engine in my Geo Metro LSI. The engine is a tough little motor which was running with one of the piston skirts and oil rings broken for about a year! I am also having the headlight problem that everyone else seems to be having. I'll try the fuse box fix and see if that works. I have 109000 miles and hope to put another 100,000 on the rebuilt motor.
I have a 1996 geo metro. I bought it brand new and it is still going. I love my car and will not give it to anyone. The only problem I have had out of it was the oil pan gasket had cracked so therefore I had to get that fixed, but it only cost under $100.00. This car has 185,000 miles on it and the motor never has made a ticking noise. I will drive my car until the motor falls out and then I may purchase another one (used) because I have not heard to much about the chevy metros. But Geo metro kicks, but I love it!!!
I just saved $39,000.00.
I just bought my 1st base model 1996 Geo Metro for an astounding $600.00 (In running condition) - Being from the Texas Gulf Coast (Galveston) the rough salty air takes no prisoners as far as cars go. I had to replace both rotors, brakes all the way around, plugs & wires, pcv valve, distributor cap.. well you get the picture, an entire tune up all for under $300.00 (In parts only - I did the work myself) - and IT RUNS! I could sell it for blue book value, but I love this car! I plan on getting an alarm, a cd changer, a television with a dvd player, tinting the windows and fixing the AC.
Just another $300.00 to $400.00 (IN PARTS ALONE) and Homey will be on Easy st. all the way to the bank.
I need to get a muffler system, oil pan gasket, water pump and timing belt.
Tires run $100.00 for a all four at Wal-Mart.
It beats paying $775.00 a month for a $40,000 car/suv over a period of years.
I'll use the $39K on more important things such as my weakness for fine French wines and extensive European traveling.
See ya!
HI, I bought my 1996 Geo Metro used in 2003. When I bought it, there were only 19,000 miles on it. Now there are 45,000 miles and I just had the exhaust replaced today from the resignator and the muffler for $200.
I love this car. I get about 42 MPG and I hope this car last forever. I'm not going to win any races with this car, but I'm saving a ton of money in gas.
Keep those Geo's running strong!
Jim in Indiana.
I have a '95 Geo Metro and have had similar problems.
It's funny about the Headlight thing - I've also found that if from inside the car you kick upward just in front of the accelerator, the lights go back on. When they go off (and it's not all the time) and I give a little kick, they always go back on. I will look into the $15 fix, though. Thanks.
I've had to replace the exhaust (muffler, pipe, etc.) twice now, and the brakes also twice. The switch to my rear defrost also quit working - has this happened to anyone else?
Other than these small and relatively inexpensive problems, it has been a great car. I love it and it feels like it could go forever. I would definitely buy a Geo again.
1995 Geo 1L, 3cyl. Metro.
Hey fellow Metro owners. I bought this car back in 1998, with 55k on the dial. Have had to replace struts, muffler, catalytic converter, and tires... all replaced by me (and I'm not too mechanically inclined). Otherwise it's been a great reliable car. It has 155k on it as of May 2005.
With all of the money I've saved fixing this up, and on gas mileage, I will buy another used Metro when this one retires (probably in another 5 years). It'll be from the last model year, wasn't it in 2002?
Ride on, Metros!
Phil.
I bought my 1996 Geo Metro in July 2001 for two grand. It had a totaled title, but had been rebuilt. The mileage was 41,000 miles. It currently has 128,000 miles and needs about 700 dollars to once again fix the converter (it had been welded, then replaced, then chipped off and is currently in my muffler in pieces). It's been a fun little car consider what I paid. I had the engine and clutch replaced by a friend for 700 bucks back in 2002.
Most of these problems were my fault though. Last August I drove it to relocate from Michigan to Washington and it made it here. In addition, if you do the math, I've put almost 25,000 miles on the poor thing every year.
The headlights shorted out sometime early 2004. They work, but only because they're on when I turn the car on. I have no high beams unless I pull the light bar back and keep holding it.
The transmission is also leaking. Additionally I'm burning oil. Basically I need a new car, but I love my Geo. I used to get about 49 mpg (it's a stick), but have noticed I am only getting around 35-40 now.
Definitely the best investment I ever made.
I own a 1995 Geo Metro. Love my car!!! I am wondering if anyone else is having a problem with the paint bubbling. Is there a GM website to report this problem?