Total Complaints
35 filings
GEO TRACKER · model year
1997 GEO TRACKER
35 NHTSA complaints, 6 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1997GEOTRACKER carries 35 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 6 crashes, 1 fire, 1 injury, 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 1997 TRACKER is air bags:frontal with 5 filings, followed by power train:axle hubs (3) and equipment:appliance:air conditioner (3). 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 1997 TRACKER 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.
35
Complaints
6
Crashes
1
Fires
1
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
6 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| AIR BAGS:FRONTAL | 5 |
| POWER TRAIN:AXLE HUBS | 3 |
| EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER | 3 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:GAS RECIRCULATION VALVE (EGR VALVE) | 2 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 2 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP | 2 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER | 2 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS | 1 |
| PARKING BRAKE | 1 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY | 1 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 1 |
| VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM | 1 |
| SUSPENSION | 1 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20080528AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON WHEN TEMPERATURE REACHES ABOVE 90 DEGREES. DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG OUTER SHELL BECOMES VERY SOFT. *TR
Mileage: 36,000
20040201SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER
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. *JB
Mileage: 119,672
20040201SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER
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. *JB
Mileage: 119,672
20040201ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:GAS RECIRCULATION VALVE (EGR VALVE)
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! *JB
Mileage: 134,259
20030611ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
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. *AK *CB *NLM
Mileage: 65,000
20030611EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
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. *AK *CB *NLM
Mileage: 65,000
20030611ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
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. *AK *CB *NLM
Mileage: 65,000
20020808EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
CANNOT SEEM TO KEEP CAR OUT OF SHOP DUE TO NO AIR. I AM AN ELDERLY LADY AND CANNOT KEEP ON NOT KNOWING IF MY CAR IS GOING TO KEEP ME COOL.*AK
20020304FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
MY WIFE WAS TRAVELING 5-7 MPH ON ICE, THE CAR SPUN AND HIT THE CURB (IT DID NOT GO OVER THE CURB, JUST HIT IT). NO DAMAGE WAS INITIALLY DONE TO THE VEHICLE, OTHER THAN THE FACT THAT IT STALLED. WHEN SHE TRIED TO RESTART IT, IT WOULD NOT START. AFTER 5 MINUTES, SHE GOT OUT, WALKED AWAY, AND THE VEHICLE EXPLODED AND CAUGHT ON FIRE. THIS SHOULD NEVER HAPPEN! IF SHE WERE TRAVELING ANY FASTER, SHE MAY BE DEAD.
20010822SUSPENSION:FRONT
WHEN DRIVING CONSUMER HEARD A FUNNY NOISE COMING FROM FRONT END OF VEHICLE, ALSO WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED, THERE WAS A BIG THUMPING NOISE COMING FROM FRONT END, CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER, THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DETECT CAUSE.*AK CONSUMER STATES THE BRAKES, ROTORS, CATALYTIC CONVERTER WERE REPLACED, BUT THE NOISE CONTINUED, THE DEALER DETEMINED THE PROBLEM TO BE THE RIGHT HUB ASSEMBLY.*JB
20010201POWER TRAIN:AXLE HUBS
THERE WAS A FUNNY NOISE LIKE WHEN PUTTING FLAPPING CARDS ON A BICYCLE, AND WHEN PUTTING ON BRAKES, THERE WAS A LOUD THUMP.*AK THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO USE 4 WHEEL DRIVE BECAUSE IT GRINDES THE GEARS( SOUNDED LIKE MARBLES WERE ROLLING IN THE HUB). *YH
20010201SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
THERE WAS A FUNNY NOISE LIKE WHEN PUTTING FLAPPING CARDS ON A BICYCLE, AND WHEN PUTTING ON BRAKES, THERE WAS A LOUD THUMP.*AK THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO USE 4 WHEEL DRIVE BECAUSE IT GRINDES THE GEARS( SOUNDED LIKE MARBLES WERE ROLLING IN THE HUB). *YH
20010131POWER TRAIN:AXLE HUBS
4 WHEEL AUTO LOCKING HUBS FAILED, DEALER STATED THAT BOTH SIDES NEED REPAIRED EVEN THOUGH IT'S ONLY THE LEFT SIDE THAT IS DEFECTIVE. *SLC
20001003POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WOULD SLIP WHILE CHANGING GEARS. RPMS WOULD REV UP EXCESSIVELY HIGH. WOULD JERK INTO GEAR. FILTER WAS CHANGED TWICE/OIL PAN HAD METAL CHAFINGS IN IT/ABS BRAKES MAKE NOISES & HAD ROTORS TURNED.*AK
20001003VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WOULD SLIP WHILE CHANGING GEARS. RPMS WOULD REV UP EXCESSIVELY HIGH. WOULD JERK INTO GEAR. FILTER WAS CHANGED TWICE/OIL PAN HAD METAL CHAFINGS IN IT/ABS BRAKES MAKE NOISES & HAD ROTORS TURNED.*AK
20001003SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WOULD SLIP WHILE CHANGING GEARS. RPMS WOULD REV UP EXCESSIVELY HIGH. WOULD JERK INTO GEAR. FILTER WAS CHANGED TWICE/OIL PAN HAD METAL CHAFINGS IN IT/ABS BRAKES MAKE NOISES & HAD ROTORS TURNED.*AK
20001003SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WOULD SLIP WHILE CHANGING GEARS. RPMS WOULD REV UP EXCESSIVELY HIGH. WOULD JERK INTO GEAR. FILTER WAS CHANGED TWICE/OIL PAN HAD METAL CHAFINGS IN IT/ABS BRAKES MAKE NOISES & HAD ROTORS TURNED.*AK
20001003ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WOULD SLIP WHILE CHANGING GEARS. RPMS WOULD REV UP EXCESSIVELY HIGH. WOULD JERK INTO GEAR. FILTER WAS CHANGED TWICE/OIL PAN HAD METAL CHAFINGS IN IT/ABS BRAKES MAKE NOISES & HAD ROTORS TURNED.*AK
20000202CrashAIR BAGS:FRONTAL
CONSUMER'S DAUGTHER WAS DRIVING ABOUT 20 MPH AND SHE REAR ENDED A VEHICLE THAT WAS IN FRONT OF HER, BUT AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK
19991028STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR IS VERY LOOSE DUE TO MISSING HINGES ON THE DRIVER'S DOOR, ALSO, THERE IS ONE HINGE HOLDING THE DOOR IN PLACE,THE LOWER HINGE, THERE IS A TSB LISTED FOR THE SAME TYPE OF PROBLEM, DEALER REFUSES TO CORRECT PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
Compare 1997GEOTRACKER to Similar Vehicles
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1997 GEO TRACKER have?▼
The 1997 GEO TRACKER has 35 NHTSA complaints, 6 crashes, 1 fires, 1 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1997 GEO TRACKER?▼
The most-complained component for the 1997 GEO TRACKER is AIR BAGS:FRONTAL with 5 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include POWER TRAIN:AXLE HUBS and EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER.
Is the 1997 GEO TRACKER 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.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.