GeoMetro1993Overview/geo/metro/1993/base/

1993 Geo Metro

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1993 Metro.

Body PASSENGER CARTransmission Automatic 3-spd

Defined as a passenger car, the 1993 Geo Metro pairs a 3-speed automatic transmission with an engine requiring 3.5 quarts of 5W-30 API oil to deliver EPA fuel economy ratings of 31/36/33 mpg. Documentation for this model year indicates 52 total owner complaints centered on structure as the top complaint area, along with a single recall. Situated within a model history spanning 1990-2001 where owner complaints peaked at 121 in 1995 and dropped to 6 in 2001, the 1993 iteration represents a moderate standpoint in the vehicle's overall reliability history.

Model year199719961995199419931992199119901989

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity3.5 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type5W-30 APIOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy31/36/33 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses OE oil filter 25325406. Note the factory engine oil filter, engine air filter, fuel filter, serpentine belt and thermostat are now discontinued — plan on a superseded or quality aftermarket equivalent, which the part pages below list where known. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter25325406 discontinued · alt 25322837
Engine air filter25099249 discontinued
Fuel filter25121585 discontinued
Spark plug19302733 alt 19354423
Front wiper blades12344992 alt 12344993
Serpentine belt30010310 discontinued · alt 96058052
Thermostat96067938 discontinued · alt 96060140

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic 3-spd

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined31 / 36 / 33 mpg
DrivetrainFront-Wheel Drive
Recommended fuelRegular Gasoline

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 3.5 qt of 5W-30 API engine oil, DOT 3 brake fluid.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake FluidDOT 3
Engine CoolantETHYLENE GLYCOL
Engine Oil5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity3.5 qt
Engine Oil5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity3.5 qt
Power Steering FluidUSE GM PART NO. 1052884 OR EQUIVALENT

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 7,500 mi; spark plugs every 30,000 mi; coolant every 30,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 30,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

At 7,500 miTire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 7,500 miBody Latches, Locks & Hinges (inspect) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Weatherstrip Seal (inspect)
Every 15,000 miFuel Line (inspect) · Fuel Tank (inspect) · Fuel Tank Filler Cap (inspect) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 30,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Spark Plugs (replace)
Every 45,000 miTransmission Oil Cooler Line (inspect)
Every 60,000 miBrake Hydraulic System (drain, refill & bleed) · Spark Plug Wires (replace) · Timing Belt (replace) · Vehicle Wiring Harnesses (inspect)
Every 100,000 miTransmission Fluid & Filter (replace)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 1993 Geo Metro occupies a mid-cycle position in its generation, with federal complaint volume declining from the 1992 peak (74) to 52—still above the 1990 baseline (43) but well below the 1994–1996 surge (87–121). Recalls and investigations both fell to a single recall and zero investigations, suggesting either resolved early-build issues or reduced regulatory scrutiny compared to 1990–1992. Structural and latch complaints dominate the 1993 breakdown, mirroring broader generational trends, while crash-related reports (6) and zero fire complaints indicate no acute safety outliers for the year. The data doesn’t specify root causes, but the drop in investigations and steady TSB count (3) implies fewer systemic defects than in later years, where TSBs ballooned to 15–54. This positions the 1993 Metro as a relatively stable choice within the generation, offering lower complaint volume without the rising repair complexity of post-1994 models. **Takeaway: 1993 is a favorable year to buy, balancing reduced early-cycle issues with fewer late-cycle reliability risks.**

1
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
3
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
52
Owner complaints
6 involved a crash · 0 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Rollover★★★★★
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 52 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Structure11
Latches/Locks/Linkages8
Air Bags3
Seat Belts3
Seats3
Engine & Engine Cooling3
Service Brakes, Hydraulic3
Visibility3

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 1 of 1 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

93V189001Latches/Locks/Linkages:Hood:LatchReported 23/11/1993

MISLOCATED ATTACHING SPOT WELDS OF THE HOOD STRIKER ASSEMBLY CAUSE CRACKS TO START ON THE HOOD INNER PANEL. IF CRACKS OCCUR, THE HOOD STRIKER ASSEMBLY MAY NOT PROPERLY ENGAGE THE HOOD LATCH WHEN THE HOOD IS CLOSED. Remedy: GM DEALERS WILL (A) INSTALL TWO BOLTS AND NUTS TO SECURE THE STRIKER ASSEMBLY TO THE HOOD INNER PANEL, AND (B) ENSURE THAT THE HOOD LATCH ASSEMBLY FASTENERS ARE PROPERLY TIGHTENED.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 3 of 3 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
1300890092013-09-01Engine And Engine CoolingExpanded Availability for Remanufacture and Return (R&R) Electronic Control Modules
4365081994-12-01Engine And Engine CoolingMOISTURE MAY BECOME TRAPPED IN THE ENGINE VACUUM LINE BETWEEN TBI UNIT AND MAP SENSOR AND…
014131994-12-01Engine And Engine CoolingREVISED VACUUM HOSE ASSEMBLIES TO CORRECT A HARD/NO START CONDITION. *TW

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Metro. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 1993 Metro take?

3.5 qt of 5W-30 API, per the factory manual.

Does the 1993 Metro have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the Metro get?

EPA figures are 31 city / 36 highway / 33 combined mpg.