Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 98 complaints with NHTSA about the 1992 Geo Storm, 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 17 | 17% |
| Air bags | 17 | 17% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 16 | 16% |
| Vehicle speed control | 8 | 8% |
| Power train | 5 | 5% |
| Unknown or other | 5 | 5% |
| Seat belts | 3 | 3% |
| Structure | 3 | 3% |
| Service brakes | 3 | 3% |
| Suspension | 3 | 3% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
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 INSULATIV
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
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 CAU
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
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
NHTSA complaint: Electrical 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
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
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
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
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 T
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
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 ADDITI
NHTSA complaint: Power train
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
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 1992 Geo Storm. 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 STEERING WHEEL CENTER HUB CAN FRACTURE DURING CERTAIN FRONTAL AND NEAR FRONTAL VEHICLE COLLISIONS.
Risk: FRACTURING OF THE STEERING WHEEL HUB CAN DECREASE THEDRIVER'S CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND COULD REDUCE THE CRASH PROTECTION OF THESTEERING SYSTEM AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG.
Fix: A STEERING WHEEL REINFORCEMENT PLATE AND NUT WILL BE ADDED TO THE STEERING WHEEL HUB.
| Reliability raw | 84 | excellent |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 79 | good |
| Maintenance | 90 | excellent |
| Depreciation | 60 | average |
| Performance | 41 | below average |
| Efficiency | 50 | average |
Percentile ranks against other compact cars in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 98 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and electrical system is the most reported area with 17 of them (17%). There is 1 recall on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 84/100 (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 79/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 1992 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 73/100. 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.