GEO STORM · model year

1992 GEO STORM

107 NHTSA complaints, 19 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1992GEOSTORM carries 107 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 19 crashes, 0 fires, 19 injuries, and 2 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 1992 STORM is air bags:frontal with 15 filings, followed by electrical system:ignition:module (13) and engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline (9). 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 1992 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.

107
Complaints
19
Crashes
0
Fires
19
Injuries
2
Deaths

Total Complaints

107 filings

Crashes Reported

19 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:FRONTAL15
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE13
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE9
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL6
UNKNOWN OR OTHER6
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL5
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM4
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM4
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE2
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR2
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE2
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION2
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION2
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE2
STEERING1

Recent Complaints

20031118ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

I HAVE A 1992 GEO STORM 2+2 WITH A 12 VALVE MOTOR AND A 5 SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION THE CAR CONSTANTLY OVERHEATS EVEN AFTER ENTIRE COOLING SYSTEM WAS REPLACE. CAR STALLS, IDLES ERATICALLY DUE TO GM'S FAULTY ECM INSULATIVE SPRAY. AND JUST RECENTLY LOSS OF REAR TAIL LAMPS AND DASH LAMPS. BRAKE TURNING AND HAZARD LAMPS STILL WORK. ALL FUSES AND RELAYS ARE GOOD. *LA

Mileage: 131,680

20031013UNKNOWN OR OTHER

ECM CAUSES ENGINE RPM TO INCREASE DURING WARM/HOT WEATHER WHICH WILL NOT DROP TO NORMAL WHEN THE CLUTCH IS ENGAGED UNLESS THE THROTTLE IS PHYSICALLY MOVED (BLIPPED). THIS DANGEROUS AS IT DOESN'T ALWAYS HAPPEN AND CAN CAUSE THE CAR TO NOT DECELERATE WHEN THE THROTTLE PEDAL IS LIFTED. THIS IS NOT A ONCE A YEAR DEFECT AS YOU ASK BELOW; (HAD TO FILL IN THE BLOCKS OR I COULDN'T CONTINUE). IT IS PREVALENT ON ALL FWD ISUZU BUILT AUTOMOBILES FROM 1989 THROUGH 1994. *LA

20031013ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL

ECM CAUSES ENGINE RPM TO INCREASE DURING WARM/HOT WEATHER WHICH WILL NOT DROP TO NORMAL WHEN THE CLUTCH IS ENGAGED UNLESS THE THROTTLE IS PHYSICALLY MOVED (BLIPPED). THIS DANGEROUS AS IT DOESN'T ALWAYS HAPPEN AND CAN CAUSE THE CAR TO NOT DECELERATE WHEN THE THROTTLE PEDAL IS LIFTED. THIS IS NOT A ONCE A YEAR DEFECT AS YOU ASK BELOW; (HAD TO FILL IN THE BLOCKS OR I COULDN'T CONTINUE). IT IS PREVALENT ON ALL FWD ISUZU BUILT AUTOMOBILES FROM 1989 THROUGH 1994. *LA

20030513ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

CAR IDLES ERRATICALLY, IT ALSO IDLES ABOVE 2000 RPM SOMETIMES IT LACKS POWER AND SOMETIME IT DOES NOT. THE CAR STALLS WHILE AT IDLE, OR SOMETIMES IT PUMPS GAS IRREGULARLY CAUSING A PULSING.....*JN

Mileage: 5,000

20030501ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

FAULTY ECU IN MY CAR CAUSE ERRATIC IDLE, MISFIRING, AND ELECTRICAL SHORTS IN MY CAR AS WELL AS OTHER OWNERS OF THIS VEHICLE. PLEASE HAVE THE PROBLEM CORRECTED. *JB *SCC ***DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS******734340

Mileage: 191,498

20030427ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

ECU CAUSING ERRATIC IDLE IN MY 1992 GEO STORM. IT IS WORSE IN WARM WEATHER. IT HAS ALMOST CAUSED ME TO RUN INTO A TRAIN WHEN R.P.M JUMPED UP TO OVER 2000 RPM. SINCE IT WAS AN AUTOMATIC IT LURCHED FORWARD. GM SAID IT WAS BECAUSE OF INSULATING SPRAY CONTRACTING CAUSING SHORTS IN ECU. MY CAR HAS SHUT OFF IN TRAFFIC CAUSING TRAFFIC JAMS ALSO. PLEASE MAKE GM RECALL THESE CARS FOR ECU REPAIR BEFORE SOME ONE GETS KILLED. *NLM

20030424ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

THE CAR SHUT OFF WITH NO WARNING AT VARIOUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SEVERAL MECHANICS AND THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE LAST INCIDENT HAPPENED 4/22/03. *JB

20030403ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

FOR WELL OVER A YEAR NOW, MY 1992 GEO STORM-4 CYL., HAS EXHIBITED RPM'S ABOVE 2000 WHEN IDLING AT A STOP WHEN THE AMBIENT TEMPERATURE IS ABOVE 60 DEGREES F. I MUST KEEP THE BRAKE PEDAL FIRMLY PRESSED TO THE FLOOR SINCE THE AUTO. TRANSMISSION WANTS TO ENGAGE. THIS SYMPTOM ALSO CAUSES MY VEHICLE TO ACT AS IF IT IS ENGAGED IN CRUISE CONTROL, ACCELERATING TO ABOUT 30 MPH, ONCE THE BRAKE PEDAL IS RELEASED. CRUISE CONTROL WAS NOT OPTION INSTALLED IN THE CAR AT PURCHASE. I HAVE COME TO REALIZE THIS IS ALSO A PROBLEM WITH ISUZU'S, (THE GEO STORM ENGINE IS AN ISUZU PRODUCT), ALL DUE TO THE FAILURE OF THE INSULATIVE SPRAY ON THE ECM. I CERTAINLY HOPE THE MANUFACTURERS CAN BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR FIXING THIS POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS CONDITION.

20030403TIRES

FOR WELL OVER A YEAR NOW, MY 1992 GEO STORM-4 CYL., HAS EXHIBITED RPM'S ABOVE 2000 WHEN IDLING AT A STOP WHEN THE AMBIENT TEMPERATURE IS ABOVE 60 DEGREES F. I MUST KEEP THE BRAKE PEDAL FIRMLY PRESSED TO THE FLOOR SINCE THE AUTO. TRANSMISSION WANTS TO ENGAGE. THIS SYMPTOM ALSO CAUSES MY VEHICLE TO ACT AS IF IT IS ENGAGED IN CRUISE CONTROL, ACCELERATING TO ABOUT 30 MPH, ONCE THE BRAKE PEDAL IS RELEASED. CRUISE CONTROL WAS NOT OPTION INSTALLED IN THE CAR AT PURCHASE. I HAVE COME TO REALIZE THIS IS ALSO A PROBLEM WITH ISUZU'S, (THE GEO STORM ENGINE IS AN ISUZU PRODUCT), ALL DUE TO THE FAILURE OF THE INSULATIVE SPRAY ON THE ECM. I CERTAINLY HOPE THE MANUFACTURERS CAN BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR FIXING THIS POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS CONDITION.

20030103POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

WHILE DRIVING, CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES AND VEHICLE WENT INTO NEUTRAL AND ALL RPM DROPPED AND VEHICLE SHUT OFF. DEALER STATES THAT THEY CAN NOT REPAIR VEHICLE BECAUSE IT IS OLDER THAN 10 YEARS. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. TS

20020911ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM

AFTER I PURCHASED THIS CAR ON APPROX. 5/20/2002,I NOTICED A SMALL RUMBLING SOUND ACCOMPANIED WITH THE SMELL OF EXHAUST FUMES INSIDE THE VEHICLE.ON 9/1/2002 I WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT WHEN I HEARD AN ENORMOUS RUMBLE I PROCEEDEDBACK HOME APPROX.2 BLOCKS. I THEN PUT THECAR UP ON CAR RAMPS AND SAW THE PIPE FROM THE MANIFOLD TO THECONVERTER WAS IN GOOD SHAPE EXCEPT AT THE FLANGE BY THE MANIFOLD IT WAS SHEARED (NO RUST)I THEN INSPECTED THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD AND DISCOVEREDA 5 INCH CRACK.I THEN CALLED REPAIR SHOPS ,THEY TELL ME THIS IS CONSTANT ON ALL GEO,S I CALLED 30 USED AUTO PARTS YARDS THEY TELL ME ALL GEO EXHAUST MANIFOLDS CRACK AND THERE ARE NONE TO BE FOUND.AS THIS IS AN EXHAUST AND POTENTIALY FATAL FLAW I WILL AWAIT YOUR RESPONSE BEFORE WRITING THE NEWSPAPERS.*AK

20020826ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE

RPMS REV UP AND DOWN... CAR DIES... INSULATIVE SPRAY THAT MANUFACTURER USES ON THE COMPUTER SHINKS AND CONTRACTS WITH CHANGING TEMPERATURES AND BREAKS THE SOLDER AT THE COMPUTER CAUSING MISFIRES AT IDLE AND THOUGHOUT ALL DRIVING SPEEDS AND RANGES, ENGINE REVVING UP AND DOWN, ENGINE DYING, AND RPM HOLDING AT 2000 RPM GM KNOWS ABOUT THE FAULT IN THERE COMPUTERS...THEY REFUSE TO FIX IT AT THEIR EXPENSE... THEY USED THIS SPRAY ON INSULATORS ON 85-93 DELCO COMPUTERS... THEY USE A NEW SPRAY ON 95 AND UP, BUT DON'T ON FACTORY RECONDITIONERD ECU'S PRIOR TO 1995. *AK

20020826VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

RPMS REV UP AND DOWN... CAR DIES... INSULATIVE SPRAY THAT MANUFACTURER USES ON THE COMPUTER SHINKS AND CONTRACTS WITH CHANGING TEMPERATURES AND BREAKS THE SOLDER AT THE COMPUTER CAUSING MISFIRES AT IDLE AND THOUGHOUT ALL DRIVING SPEEDS AND RANGES, ENGINE REVVING UP AND DOWN, ENGINE DYING, AND RPM HOLDING AT 2000 RPM GM KNOWS ABOUT THE FAULT IN THERE COMPUTERS...THEY REFUSE TO FIX IT AT THEIR EXPENSE... THEY USED THIS SPRAY ON INSULATORS ON 85-93 DELCO COMPUTERS... THEY USE A NEW SPRAY ON 95 AND UP, BUT DON'T ON FACTORY RECONDITIONERD ECU'S PRIOR TO 1995. *AK

20020726ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

CAUSES MOTOR TO REV HIGH WHEN HOT AND DIE AT IDLE WHEN HOT HAS CAUSED AN OVER HEATING PROBLEM BEFORE. *AK

20020722ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE

FAULY ECU IN MY CAR CAUSE ERRATIC IDLE, MISFIRING, AND ELECTRICAL SHORTS IN MY CAR AS WELL AS OTHER OWNERS OF THIS VEHICLE. PLEASE HAVE THE PROBLEM CORRECTED.*AK

20020624CrashELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE

THE FAULTY ECU COMPONENT ON MY CAR HAS AGAIN MADE MY CAR TO STALL, BUT THIS TIME I WAS IN A BAD SITUATION, W/THE ENGINE STALLING OUT I HAD NO POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES, THUS CAUSING ME TO DRIVE INTO A 10FT DEEP DITCH. AS METIONED BEFORE, THIS HAS NOT BEEN THE ONLY TIME MY CAR HAS STALLED DUE TO THIS PROBLEM (IE IN THE MIDDLE OF BUSY INTERSECTIONS AND SO FORTH) THIS IS A VERY DAGEROUS DEFECT THAT, IZUZU UAND NHTSA ARE AWARE OF, I'M HOPING THAT THIS INCIDENT ALONG W/THE MANY OTHERS IS ENOUGH FOR NHTSA TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM . THANK YOU. *AK

20020624CrashSTEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM

THE FAULTY ECU COMPONENT ON MY CAR HAS AGAIN MADE MY CAR TO STALL, BUT THIS TIME I WAS IN A BAD SITUATION, W/THE ENGINE STALLING OUT I HAD NO POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES, THUS CAUSING ME TO DRIVE INTO A 10FT DEEP DITCH. AS METIONED BEFORE, THIS HAS NOT BEEN THE ONLY TIME MY CAR HAS STALLED DUE TO THIS PROBLEM (IE IN THE MIDDLE OF BUSY INTERSECTIONS AND SO FORTH) THIS IS A VERY DAGEROUS DEFECT THAT, IZUZU UAND NHTSA ARE AWARE OF, I'M HOPING THAT THIS INCIDENT ALONG W/THE MANY OTHERS IS ENOUGH FOR NHTSA TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM . THANK YOU. *AK

20020514CrashAIR BAGS:FRONTAL

THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE WAS HIT DUE TO A MOTORIST WHO FAILED TO YIELD THE RIGHT OF WAY, DRIVERS AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT AIR, CAUSING CONSUMER TO SUSTAIN INJURIES, CONSUMER CONTINUES TO BE UNDER DOCTORS CARE, ANOTHER PERSON WAS INJURED IN THE ACCIDENT AS WELL. *SLC

20020426CrashAIR BAGS:FRONTAL

THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE WAS HIT DUE TO A MOTORIST WHO FAILED TO YIELD THE RIGHT OF WAY, DRIVERS AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT AIR, CAUSING CONSUMER TO SUSTAIN INJURIES, CONSUMER CONTINUES TO BE UNDER DOCTORS CARE, ANOTHER PERSON WAS INJURED IN THE ACCIDENT AS WELL. *SLC

20020425ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE

I APOLOGIZE IF SOME OF MY DATA ENTRY SEEMS ILLOGICAL. MY ECM WAS BAD SINCE THE FIRST DAY I PURCHASED MY USED GEO STORM GSI. I HAD EVERY ERRATIC IDLE/DRIVEABILITY PROBLEM POSSIBLE. WHEN PULLING UP TO LIGHTS THE CAR WOULD IDLE AT 3000 RPMS. IN TRAFFIC, T. *AK

Compare 1992GEOSTORM to Similar Vehicles

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1992 GEO STORM have?
The 1992 GEO STORM has 107 NHTSA complaints, 19 crashes, 0 fires, 19 injuries, and 2 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1992 GEO STORM?
The most-complained component for the 1992 GEO STORM is AIR BAGS:FRONTAL with 15 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE and ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE.
Is the 1992 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.