1995 Geo Metro

Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.

72/100

Worth a look

AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.

What owners actually report

Owners have filed 121 complaints with NHTSA about the 1995 Geo Metro, 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.

Complaints by area, from NHTSA records for this model-year
Area	Complaints	Share
Air bags	29	24%
Structure	14	12%
Service brakes	11	9%
Latches/locks/linkages	8	7%
Steering	8	7%
Electrical system	6	5%
Seats	6	5%
Suspension	5	4%
Seat belts	5	4%
Power train	4	3%

In owners' own words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.

REAR DOORS ON MY GEO METRO (1995) WILL NOT OPEN FROM OUTSIDE OR INSIDE! IT STARTED WITH REAR LEFT AND NOW BOTH ARE EFFECTED. *TR
NHTSA complaint: Latches/locks/linkages

TL*- THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 GEO METRO WITH AN ODOMETER READING OF 108000 MILES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HAD PITTING IN WINDSHIELD WHICH CAUSED THE WINDSHIELD TO HAVE A GLARE AND VISIBILITY PROBLEMS WHEN THE SUN SHINED
NHTSA complaint: Visibility

I HAD 95 GEO METRO, THE DAY I WRECKED IT WAS RAINING. I WAS COMING UPON A CURVE, AND I HIT MY BRAKES. IT HAD ANTI LOCK BRAKES. THEY LOCKED UP, AND THE CAR STARTED SPINNING AROUND. I COULDN'T GET CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, A
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes

BACK DOORS W/CHILD SECURITY LOCKS FAIL TO UNLOCK ONCE PLACED INTO CHILD PROTECTION MODE. DOORS TAKEN APART AND "REPAIRED" HOWEVER CHEVY DEALER ONLY SPRAYED WD-40 INTO LOCKS. DOORS OPENED ONCE AND HAVE NOT OPENED FOR THE
NHTSA complaint: Latches/locks/linkages

WHILE DRIVING AT 20 MPH VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION, AND AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK
NHTSA complaint: Air bags

MY GEO METRO WENT DOWN A HILL FLIPPED A COUPLE OF TIMES AND HIT A TREE. NEITHER AIR BAG EVER CAME OUT.
NHTSA complaint: Air bags

THE DASH IN MY 1995 GEO METRO IS DISINTEGRATING IN SMALL PARTICLES THAT BLOW INTO MY FACE WHILE DRIVING AND IS PARTICULARLY AGGRAVATING WHEN THE HEATER OR AIR CONDITION ARE ON. I COMPLAINED AS EARLY AS 1998 TO NO AVAIL.
NHTSA complaint: Structure

IN A REAR COLLISION NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED ON IMPACT. BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER SUSTAINED INJURIES. *AK
NHTSA complaint: Air bags

Recalls on record

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 1995 Geo Metro. 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.

Service brakes 94V213000

THE REAR BRAKE DRUMS WERE NOT CORRECTLY MACHINED. AS THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN, LOSS OF WHEEL CLAMP LOAD CAN RESULT FROM THIS CONDITION. ONCE CLAMP LOAD IS LOST, ALL TIRE LOADS ARE DIRECTLY TAKEN BY THE WHEEL STUDS. THIS LOADING CAN CAUSE FATIGUE FAILURE OF THE WHEEL STUDS.

Risk: IF THIS OCCURS, A WHEEL COULD SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE, AND A CRASH COULD OCCUR WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.

Fix: REPLACE REAR BRAKE DRUMS.

The seven scores

Reliability raw	80	excellent
Longevity est.	78	good
Maintenance	90	excellent
Depreciation	60	average
Performance	34	below average
Efficiency	63	average

How it compares in its class

Percentile ranks against other compact cars in the catalog.

Reliability: better than 33% of compact cars
Longevity: better than 47% of compact cars
Running costs: better than 100% of compact cars
Value retention: better than 56% of compact cars

Which of these numbers are measured

What stands behind each score for this car:

Reliability 80: from NHTSA recalls and complaints. This one is a raw count: we do not have a sales figure for this model, so a high-volume car looks worse here than it should.
Longevity 78: an estimate from powertrain and brand record. No 200,000-mile population exists for a 1995 car yet, so this is a prior, not evidence.
Maintenance 90: repair-cost data where we have it for this model, otherwise a mechanical-complexity estimate from engine size, cylinder count and drivetrain.
Safety: no score. NHTSA crash testing thins out for older vehicles and we would rather show nothing than guess.

Common questions

What goes wrong with the 1995 Geo Metro?

Owners have filed 121 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and air bags is the most reported area with 29 of them (24%). There is 1 recall on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.

Is the 1995 Geo Metro reliable?

AVOIR scores its reliability 80/100 (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.

How long will a 1995 Geo Metro last?

AVOIR scores its longevity 78/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 1995 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.

Should I buy a 1995 Geo Metro?

AVOIR's read: worth a look, because a solid ownership case with specific caveats below. Its overall ownership score is 72/100. 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.