GeoMetro1995Overview/geo/metro/1995/base/

1995 Geo Metro

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1995 Metro.

Body PASSENGER CAR

The 1995 Geo Metro is a passenger car whose engine takes just 3.5 quarts of 5W-30 API oil, a figure that underscores the straightforward engineering at the heart of the platform. It stands out in the model's 1990–2001 complaint history as the single most problematic year, logging 121 owner complaints—far above the six recorded for 2001—with air bag issues leading the tally alongside a single recall. For a researcher, that means 1995 marks the peak of the Metro's documented reliability concerns, making it a pivotal data point rather than a representative snapshot of the model's overall trajectory.

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
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 Note the factory engine air filter is now discontinued — plan on a superseded or quality aftermarket equivalent, which the part pages below list where known.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 belt30005359 alt 30010310
Thermostat96069300

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. Torque lug nuts to 45 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-3-4-2.

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

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
Spark Plug Gap0.039-0.043 in
Spark Plug Torque21.0 ft-lbs

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 Test12.8 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief12.8 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature190 °F

Brakes

Brake ApplicationWITH SOLID ROTOR / WITH VENTED ROTOR
Torque Caliper to Bracket18-26 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle29-43 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) · Fuel Filter (replace) · Spark Plugs (replace) · Timing Belt (inspect)
Every 45,000 miTransmission Oil Cooler Line (inspect)
Every 60,000 miBrake Hydraulic System (drain, refill & bleed) · Spark Plug Wires (replace) · Vehicle Wiring Harnesses (inspect)

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 federal record for the Geo Metro generation shows a distinct complaint trend, rising from 43 in 1990 to a peak of 121 in 1995, before steadily declining to just 6 by 2001. As the apex of this arc, the 1995 model year bears the brunt of the generation's reported issues rather than benefiting from later-cycle refinements; notably, its 121 complaints and 15 Technical Service Bulletins represent a sharp spike compared to the 87 complaints and 6 TSBs of the preceding 1994 model. The data does not specify the root causes, but the 1995 model's 51 crash complaints are heavily concentrated in the Air Bags (29) and Structure (14) categories. Given that this target year is the statistical outlier for both overall and crash-related complaints across the entire generation, it is not a recommended year to buy.

1
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
15
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
121
Owner complaints
51 involved a crash · 0 a fire
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 121 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Air Bags29
Structure14
Service Brakes, Hydraulic11
Latches/Locks/Linkages8
Steering8
Electrical System6
Seats6
Suspension5

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 1 of 1 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

94V213000Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:DrumReported 26/10/1994

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… Remedy: REPLACE REAR BRAKE DRUMS.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 15 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

How much oil does the 1995 Metro take?

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

Does the 1995 Metro have open recalls?

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