Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 26 complaints with NHTSA about the 1990 Geo Tracker, and it carries 1 recall. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Seat belts | 12 | 46% |
| Service brakes | 5 | 19% |
| Seats | 2 | 8% |
| Structure | 2 | 8% |
| Tires | 1 | 4% |
| Steering | 1 | 4% |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 1 | 4% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 1 | 4% |
| Visibility | 1 | 4% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
WIFE INVOLVED IN A REAR END COLLISION. HER VEHICLE WAS STOPPED. UPON INPACT THE DRIVERS SEAT BACK FELL ALL THE WAY BACK, SHE SUFFERED A CONCUSSION AND WHIP LASH INJURY AND WAS TRANSPORTED TO CHELSEA COMMUNITY HOSPITAL. T
NHTSA complaint: Seats
PE00 020 ;WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 61MPH ON HIGHWAY AND HEARD A NOISE VEHICLE STARTED TO VIBRATE AND SHE LOST CONTROL. VEHICLE ROLLED OVER FOUR TIMES AND WHEN DOWN INTO AN ENBANKMENT. FLIPPED UPSIDE DOWN. THERE WERE TW
NHTSA complaint: Tires
BOTH SAFTEY BELTS IN THE FRONT "LOCK-UP" AND YOU ARE STUCK IN THE VEHICLE. YOU GET OUT ONLY WHEN THE THE SEAT BELT FINALLY POPS OUT OF IT'S HOUSING. THE MORE YOU STRUGGLE, THE TIGHTER IT GETS. THESE SEAT BELTS WERE ONCE
NHTSA complaint: Seat belts
SOMETIMES WHEN TRYING TO STOP AT EITHER HIGH SPEEDS OR LOW, BRAKES WILL NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY. PEDAL CAN BE PRESSED ALL THE WAY DOWN, VEHICLE WILL SLOWLY STOP. THIS HAS ALMOST CAUSED SEVERAL ACCIDENTS. OCCURS MOST OFTEN
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
NEITHER THE CHEVROLET DEALER NOR CHEVROLET HEADQUARTERS WILL FIX THE DEFECTIVE SEAT BELTS. CLAIM IT IS NOT PART OF A RECALL, ALTHOUGH THE SEAT BELT LATCH FAILED EXACTLY AS DESCRIBED IN RECALL CAMPAIGN ID # 95V103007. A
NHTSA complaint: Seat belts
CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALER IN REFERENCE TO RECALL NUMBER 95V103007. DEALER ONLY REPLACED THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE. PASSENGER'S SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE ALSO BROKE, BUT DEALER REFUSED TO REPLACE IT. PASSENGER'S SI
NHTSA complaint: Seat belts
BEFORE VEHICLE IS WARMED THE BRAKES ARE EXTREMELY HARD TO APPLY, EXCESSIVE PRESSURE IS NEEDED WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKE PEDAL, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE LOST CONTROL. LOSS OF CONTROL WAS DUE TO CORROSION OF THE STEERING GEAR, AS WELL AS THE STRUCTURE RUSTING AWAY FROM FRAME. MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT NOTHING COULD BE D
NHTSA complaint: Steering
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 1990 Geo Tracker. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.
THE FRONT SAFETY BELT BUCKLE RELEASE BUTTONS CAN BREAK. THESE RED PLASTIC RELEASE BUTTONS ARE MARKED "PRESS." IF A BUTTON BREAKS, PIECES CAN FALL INTO THE BUCKLE ASSEMBLY CAUSING THE BUCKLE TO OPERATE IMPROPERLY.
Risk: THE SAFETY BELTS WOULD NOT PROVIDE ADEQUATE PROTECTION TO AN OCCUPANT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Fix: OWNERS SHOULD PROMPTLY CHECK THE CONDITION AND OPERATION OF BOTH FRONT SAFETY BELT BUCKLES AND CAREFULLY INSPECT THE RED RELEASE BUTTON FOR ANY BREAKS OR CRACKS. THEY SHOULD ENSURE THAT BOTH BUCKLES A
| Reliability raw | 89 | excellent |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 82 | excellent |
| Maintenance | 82 | excellent |
| Depreciation | 60 | average |
| Performance | 51 | average |
| Efficiency | 45 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other other in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 26 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and seat belts is the most reported area with 12 of them (46%). There is 1 recall on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 89/100 (excellent) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.
AVOIR scores its longevity 82/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 1990 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: worth a look, because a solid ownership case with specific caveats below. Its overall ownership score is 74/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.