GeoMetro1996Overview/geo/metro/1996/base/

1996 Geo Metro

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1996 Metro.

Body PASSENGER CAR

The 1996 Geo Metro is a passenger-car entry in the 1990–2001 Metro run, and owner-reported data shows it generated 98 complaints with air bags as the top concern and no recalls filed. That total sits just below the model-line peak of 121 complaints recorded for 1995 and well above the 2001 low of 6, placing the 1996 model near the top of the Metro's documented complaint curve. For researchers, that positioning makes it one of the more heavily reported model years in the lineup and a useful focal point for air-bag-related owner feedback.

Model year199719961995199419931992199119901989

Quick specs

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

Lug nut torque45 ft-lbsOEM · verified

Fitment & sizes

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

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 26R · 390 CCA battery, OE oil filter 19468075. Note the factory engine air filter is now discontinued — plan on a superseded or quality aftermarket equivalent, which the part pages below list where known.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.

Battery groupBCI 26R · 390 CCAOEM · verified
Tail / brake / turnFUSEOEM · verified
Tire sizeP155-80R13OEM · verified
Wheel / rim4.5-B inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter19468075 alt 25325406
Engine air filter25099249 discontinued
Fuel filter12366545
Spark plug19302733
Front wiper blades15757007 alt 91171295
Serpentine belt30020418 alt 30005359
Thermostat96069300

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

This engine DOT 3 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 45 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-3-4-2.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake FluidDOT 3

Engine torques

Crankshaft Position (CKP) Sensor Bolt(s)7.5 ft-lbs
Crankshaft Position (CKP) Sensor Bolt(s)7.4 ft-lbs
Camshaft Position (CMP) Sensor Bolt(s)7.4 ft-lbs
Camshaft Sprocket and/or Gear Bolt(s)44 ft-lbs
Camshaft Sprocket and/or Gear Bolt(s)43 ft-lbs
Engine Coolant Temperature (ECT) Sensor Bolt(s)8-14 ft-lbs
Oxygen (O2S) Sensor Bolt(s)29-36 ft-lbs
Engine Coolant Temperature (ECT) Sensor Bolt(s)11 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts45 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-3-2
Cylinder Firing Order1-3-4-2
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)MT: 800, AT: 850 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)50 rpm
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)MT: 800, AT: 850 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)50 rpm
Ignition Coil Primary Resistance1.35-1.65 ohms
Ignition Coil Secondary Resistance22,100-29,900 ohms

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity1.33 lbs
Oil GroupPAG
Oil TypeGM part number 12345923 or equivalent.
Oil Capacity3.30 oz
Standard BCI Group Number26R
Standard BCI Cranking Performance390 cca
Standard BCI Group Number26R

Service checks

Pressure Test13 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief12.8 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature190-197 °F
Pressure Test15 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief15 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature188-206 °F
RPM13-20 @ Idle rpm
Injector Primary Resistance0.5-1.5 @ 68 degreesF ohms

Brakes

Brake ApplicationWITH SOLID ROTOR / WITH VENTED ROTOR
Torque Caliper to Bracket29-43 ft-lbs / 18-26 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle45 ft-lbs / 29-43 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.039; Rear: 0.039 specification
Brake ApplicationWITH SOLID ROTOR / WITH VENTED ROTOR
Rotor Max Parallel Variation0.0005 in
Rotor Runout Limit0.004 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness From0.394 in / 0.67 in

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.

Every 7,500 miBody Latches, Locks & Hinges (inspect) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate) · Weatherstrip Seal (inspect)
Every 15,000 miFuel Line (inspect) · Fuel Tank (inspect) · Fuel Tank Filler Cap (inspect)
Every 30,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Spark Plugs (replace) · Timing Belt (inspect) · Transmission Assembly (drain & refill)
Every 60,000 miBrake Hydraulic System (drain, refill & bleed) · Spark Plug Wires (replace) · Vehicle Wiring Harnesses (inspect)
Every 100,000 miFuel 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 1996 Geo Metro recorded 98 federal complaints, a decline from the 121 complaints reported in 1995 but still above the 72 complaints logged in 1997. It incurred no recalls or investigations during the year, whereas 1995 and 1997 each had one recall, indicating a relatively clean regulatory record for 1996. The complaint concentration was dominated by air‑bag concerns (27 reports), followed by electrical system issues (9) and engine‑cooling problems (7), with seat‑related complaints also noted (7). Crash‑related complaints numbered 29 and fire‑related complaints 5, both lower than the peak 1995 figures but still present. Consequently, 1996 emerges as a comparatively stable model year, suggesting it is a sensible choice for a used purchase.

0
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
14
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
98
Owner complaints
29 involved a crash · 5 a fire
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 98 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Air Bags27
Electrical System9
Engine & Engine Cooling7
Seats7
Visibility5
Tires4
Vehicle Speed Control4
Service Brakes, Hydraulic4

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

No recall campaigns on record with NHTSA for this vehicle as of the last data refresh.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 14 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
PIP4723F2022-01-14Service Brakes, HydraulicThis Preliminary Information communicates to the dealer the process for downloading or…
PIP4723D2020-01-31Electrical SystemThis Preliminary Information communicates to the dealer the process for downloading or…
PIC4696E2019-11-22EquipmentThis Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician on how…
17NA0732019-09-18EquipmentThis warranty administration bulletin provides information regarding the field action…
PIC4696D2019-09-05EquipmentThis Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician on how…

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

Does the 1996 Metro have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 0 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.