The 1996 Geo Tracker has 1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting an estimated 18,121 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 103 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the engine and engine cooling. Last updated July 5, 2026.
THE FUEL TANK ON THESE VEHICLES CAN BECOME PUNCTURED BY A FUEL TANK FLANGE ATTACHMENT REINFORCEMENT DURING REAR-END COLLISIONS. THIS DOES NOT COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 301, "FUEL TANK INTEGRITY."
Consequence
CONSEQUENCE OF NON-COMPLIANCE: IF AN IGNITION SOURCE WAS PRESENT, FUEL LEAKAGE RESULTING FROM THIS PUNCTURE COULD RESULT IN A POST-CRASH FIRE.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL INSTALL TWO NEW SHIELD GUSSETS BETWEEN THE FUEL TANK AND ATTACHMENT BRACKETS TO PREVENT THE REINFORCEMENT FROM PUNCTURING THE FUEL TANK WALL.
Complaints by component
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
17
1fires
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
9
9crashes6injuries
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
5
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
4
1crashes1injuries
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:GAS RECIRCULATION VALVE (EGR VALVE)
3
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
3
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
3
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
3
1crashes1injuries
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
3
1injuries
SUSPENSION:FRONT
3
Total complaints103
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“While the vehicle was parked consumer noticed liquid underneath the vehicle. Consumer had the vehicle towed to the dealer for inspection, and mechanic determined that the engine needed to be replaced. Consumer informed the mechanic that this problem occurred more than once. *ak”
“The front seat mechanism broke on the driver side seat causing it to fall back. This is not only very dangerous, but a serious defect in this vehicle and I feel that it should be fixed at no cost to me as it a mechanical defect that seems to have been happening since the vehicle type was made.”
“The hardware that held the driver's seat in an upright position failed, resulting in the driver's seat back to be unstable and continuously fall backwards. *ak”
“Air bag light on instrument panel has been on, and horn has failed to operate. Dealership informed consumer that problem had to do with the clockspring. Please provide any additional information / attachments.*ak”
“Air bag light on instrument panel has been on, and horn has failed to operate. Dealership informed consumer that problem had to do with the clockspring. Please provide any additional information / attachments.*ak”
“Service engine light on after 50,000 miles, took to mechanic said computer said problems with the torque convertor, couldnt find any problems. Reset light, left. Same day speeds of over 55 mph light came back on. Now having shifting problems. Shifts at high speeds. Makes high whiny noise (almost…”
“Service engine light on after 50,000 miles, took to mechanic said computer said problems with the torque convertor, couldnt find any problems. Reset light, left. Same day speeds of over 55 mph light came back on. Now having shifting problems. Shifts at high speeds. Makes high whiny noise (almost…”
“Door on passenger's side is rusted to point where hinges and bolts are coming right through door.*ak”
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1996 Geo Tracker as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
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