GEO STORM · model year

1991 GEO STORM

109 NHTSA complaints, 32 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1991GEOSTORM carries 109 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 32 crashes, 1 fire, 22 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1991 STORM is air bags:frontal with 13 filings, followed by electrical system:ignition:module (13) and vehicle speed control:cruise control (12). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.

No open NHTSA investigation overlaps the 1991 STORM in the current dataset. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

109
Complaints
32
Crashes
1
Fires
22
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

109 filings

Crashes Reported

32 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL13
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE13
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL12
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE9
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE8
STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR8
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION6
AIR BAGS3
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL3
UNKNOWN OR OTHER3
STRUCTURE:BODY:HOOD2
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE2
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY2
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER2
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE2

Recent Complaints

20140116ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 GEO STORM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE SITTING AT A TRAFFIC STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER HOWEVER, THEY WERE UNABLE TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURE WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.

Mileage: 40,000

20080628ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

7 MONTHS AND 5 REPLACEMENT ECUS ON MY 1991 GEO STORM GSI, AND STILL HAS DANGEROUS ISSUES OF STALLING ON HIGHWAY AND WHEN PULLING OUT INTO TRAFFIC. THE PROBLEM IS THAT BETWEEN 1985 AND 1995, AC DELCO USED A INSULATIVE SPRAY ON THE CIRCUIT BOARDS IN THESE ECUS/COMPUTERS WHICH SHRINKS OVER TIME WHEN EXPOSED TO WARM AND COOL TEMPERATURE CONDITIONS, SUCH AS THE NORMAL CONDITIONS THAT AN AUTOMOBILE IS SUBJECTED TO. THE SHRINKING INSULATIVE SPRAY CONTRACTS AND PULLS THE ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS FROM THE CIRCUIT BOARD, BREAKING SOLDER CONNECTIONS AND CAUSING SHORTS. THE SYMPTOMS OF THIS FAULT ARE MOST NOTABLY ERRATIC IDLE, IDLE REVVING AND DROPPING, IDLE DIPPING OFTEN WITH ENGINE DYING, IDLE HANGING HIGH ABOVE 2,000 RPM, AND ENGINE DYING OR STALLING FOR NO REASON WITH NO TROUBLE CODES. GM KNOWS ABOUT THIS FAULT IN THEIR AC DELCO ECUS/COMPUTERS AND HAS EVEN GONE SO FAR AS TO INCLUDE SUPPLEMENTAL INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO TEST FOR SHORTS AND BROKEN CIRCUITS IN THE ECU/COMPUTER TO THEIR TECHNIC

Mileage: 100

20050808ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

1992 GEO STORM MANUAL TRANSMISSION. WHEN ENGINE GETS HOT ( SUMMER MONTHS ) ENGINE IDLE INCREASES TO 2,500 - 3,500 RPM. MUST USE FOOT TO PULL UP ON ACCELARATOR. CAR BEGINS TO OVERHEAT LURCHES FORWARD. CAR ALSO STALLS WITHOUT WARNING. HEARD IT HAS TO DO WITH FAULTY ECM. VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. *JB

Mileage: 86,000

20031009UNKNOWN OR OTHER

THE E.C.U. IS BAD IN MY 1991 GEO STORM 2+2. IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE CARS AND GM WILL NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. *LA

20030417ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER REPLACED THE DISTRIBUTOR CAP, SPARK PLUG WIRES AND ROTOR, HOWEVER THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *JB

20021122VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES

DURING WARM WEATHER THE VEHICLE'S THROTTLE WILL STICK AT 2000. THROUGH MY RESEARCH I HAVE FOUND THIS TO BE THE FAULT OF THE ECU. IT IS A VERY DANGEROUS THING TO HAVE YOUR THROTTLE STICK. DT

20020625ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

ONGOING PROBLEM WITH ENGINE STALLING / CUTTING OFF WHILE DRIVING AT MULTIPLE SPEED. VEHICLE BEEN TO DEALER, BUT PROBLEM REOCCURRING. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

20020625VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

VEHICLE WOULD INTERMITTENTLY LURCH FORWARD WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED. DEALER CONTACTED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

20020624ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE

THIS IS THE 2ND ECM CONTROL MODULE IN 2 YEARS. . .BOTH WERE NEW WITH ONLY A YEAR WARRANTY. . .PROBLEM ONLY SHOWS UP IN THE SUMMER. *AK

20020304ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE

GENERAL MOTORS USED A SHRINKING SEALANT ON THE COMPUTER BOARDS IN THESE CARS WHICH THEY HAVE SINCE QUITE USING AND ADMIT IT WAS A PROBLEM, BUT STILL USE IT ON THE REPLACEMENT PARTS WHEN THIS SHRINKS IT PULLS THE COMPONENTS ON BOARD LOOSE, CAUSING POOR IDLE/ HESITATION AND STALLING EVEN DURING ACCELERATION (IE WHEN PULLING OUT IN TRAFFIC). *AK

20020226CrashSUSPENSION:FRONT

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

20020226CrashFUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

20020226CrashELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

20020226CrashELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

20020226CrashSEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

20020226ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

ENGINE CONTROL COMPUTER IMPROPERLY BUILT CAUSING ERRACTIC IDLE FROM 2000RPM TO 500RPM, CAR STALLS AND WILL NOT START. ISUZU HAS BEEN CONTACTED ABOUT THIS AND HAS STATED"WE DO NOT MAKE CARS" AND THEY FAIL TO RECTIFY THE PROBLEM. THERE ARE VERY MANY OF US WHO WOULD LIKE TO SEE THIS ISSUE RESOLVED AS OUR CARS STALLING IN TRAFFIC AND IDLING ERRACTICALLY IS CAUSING A LOT OF PROBLEMS AS IN POOR EFFICIENCY AND UNNEEDED DOWNTIME. THE PROBLEM IS IN THE INSULATIVE SPRAY ON THE MAIN CIRCUIT BOPAR DOF THE UNITS THAT BREAKS DOWN OVER TIME DUE TO HEAT AND EXTREME(HOT OR COLD) TEMPS. GMC HAS RECOGNIZED THIS PROBLEM AND FAILS TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. WE WOULD LIKE THIS ISSUE ADDRESSED AND I SPEAK FOR THE OVER 500 MEMBERS OF THE GEO STORM OWNERS CLUB, WWW.STORMOWNERS.COM. *AK

20020226VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL

IDLE BECOMES ROUGH, BOUNCES AND DIES, FAILS TO START OR STARTS AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON, RUNS VERY BAD. ONCE CAR SITS FOR A WHILE, STARTS TO RUN FINE, DOES IT WHEN IT IS WARM OUT. *AK

20020128CrashELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE

I WAS COMING DOWN A 2 LANE AND IT JUST STOPPED AND GOT REAR ENDED WHEN IT SHUT OFF IT WAS THE ECM SHORTED BECAUSE OF SEALANT FROM FACTORY. *AK

20011213FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE

FOR THE LAST 4YRS. I HAVE HAD TROUBLE AT START-UP,IDLE,DRIVABILITY OF THE ENGINE. ALL SENSORS RELATED TO THE IGNITION HAD BEEN CHECKED OR REPLACED. NOW ON 12/1/01 THE ALTERNATOR OVER CHARGED THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM CAUSING A COMPLETE BURN-UP OF THE ECM,MAIN CIRCUIT PANEL AND SOME OF THE WIRING HARNESS. NEITHER THE 50AMP MAIN FUSE OR THE 30AMP ECM FUSE BLEW (LIKE THEY SHOULD HAVE) STOPPING THE 160 AMPS FROM THE ALTERNATOR. *AK

20011130STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY

THE DATE & MILEAGE ARE ONLY FOR THE MOST RECENT OCCURENCE. IT STARTED LATE APRIL 2001 AT ABOUT 70,000 MILES; I'D BOUGHT THE CAR USED THE PREVIOUS SEPTEMBER & IT HAD DRIVEN OK THROUGHOUT THE WINTER. THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN HAPPENING OFF & ON EVER SINCE. THE CAR WILL BE GOING 55 MPH OR MORE; ABOUT 5 OR MORE MINUTES AFTER STARTUP (IT VARIES), THE RPM GAUGE/IDLE SUDDENLY DROPS TO 0, THE CAR MIGHT BUCK SLIGHTLY,THE ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON, & THE CAR STALLS. PRESSING THE GAS PEDAL HAS NO EFFECT; ALL I CAN DO IS COAST TO A STOP. SO FAR, I'VE BEEN LUCKY; I'VE BEEN ABLE TO COAST TO THE SHOULDER W/NO INCIDENT. USUALLY AFTER A COUPLE MINUTES, I CAN START THE CAR AGAIN,BUT THIS PAST SATURDAY, I WAS STRANDED FOR OVER AN HOUR BEFORE THE CAR WOULD START. THE PROBLEM HAPPENS IRREGULARLY, USUALLY WHEN IT'S WARM OUTSIDE. THE IDLE ALSO REVS ON ITS OWN; WHENEVER I TAKE MY FOOT OFF THE GAS & THE SPEED DROPS BELOW 30 MPH, IT REVS & JUMPS FORWARD UNLESS I IMMEDIATELY HIT THE BRAKES -- VERY DANGEROUS WHEN I'M HEA

Compare 1991GEOSTORM to Similar Vehicles

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1991 GEO STORM have?
The 1991 GEO STORM has 109 NHTSA complaints, 32 crashes, 1 fires, 22 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1991 GEO STORM?
The most-complained component for the 1991 GEO STORM is AIR BAGS:FRONTAL with 13 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE and VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL.
Is the 1991 GEO STORM safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.