IllustrationTHERE WAS SMOKE COMING OUT FROM UNDER DASH AND ALL EQUIPMENT PANELS QUIT WORKING-NO INTERIOR LIGHTS, BLINKERS, HAZARDS, RADIO,SPEEDOMETER. WHEN STOPPED CAR IDLES DOWN LIGHTS GO DIM AND STALLS. WHEN THIS HAPPENS AND YOU START TO GO THE FAN BELT SQEALS. NLM
1996 Geo Tracker
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Tracker years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 0 of 71 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 22 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Air Bags. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
15 crash reports1 fire reports9 injury reports
Electrical System complaints
5 reportsAIR 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
HAD PARKED VEHICLE. RETURNED TO START IT. VEHICLE FAILED TO START. HAD POPPED FUSE TO FUEL PUMP. TOOK TO MECHANIC & WAS SHOWN THE RUBBER INSULATION PRONGS FOR FUSE HAD BURNT OUT. THESE WERE CONNECTED TO THE FUEL PUMP. *AK
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STALLS FOR NO REASON, PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT. CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK CONSUMER STATES THAT THE ENGINE MISSES AND HAS A LOSS OF POWER. FUEL MILEAGE HAS DROPPED, AND VEHICLES RMPS WILL DROP. THE LIGHTS DIM AT NIGHT WHEN THE IDLE DROPS. *SLC
EXPERIENCED ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WHEN TRYING TO START VEHICLE. ELECTRICAL WIRING HARNESS BURNED TWICE. HAD IT REPLACED BY THE DEALER TWICE. AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON & THE LIGHT REPLACED. HIGH BEAMS DON'T WORK DUE TO WIRES AFFECTED BY AIR BAG MODULE. *AK
Official recalls
196V121001 · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly
Jul 1, 1996
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 & remedy
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.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.