1999 Chevrolet Prizm Owner Complaints

AT 70 MILES/HOUR MY GENERAL MOTORS POWER STEERING ASSIST WAS ON FULL ASSIST AND CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. GENERAL MOTORS SECRETLY REMOVED THE POWER ASSIST, REPLACED IT AND THEN JIMMIED THE ENTIRE CAR TO PRESENT FALSE EVIDENCE THAT THE ACCIDENT WAS CAUSED BY BAD DRIVER CAR MAINTENANCE. THEY THEN DENIED THE CLAIM BASED ON PHOTOGRAPHS THEY HAD TAKEN OF MY CAR AFTER THEY HAD CHANGED EVERYTHING. THE ACCIDENT ON 7/20/2018, OCCURRED ON A HIGHWAY DURING A SUNNY LATE MORNING. THE CAR WAS TOTALED. *TR *JS *JS *TT CONSUMER STATED I SENT ONE LETTER TO THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION ON 12/3/2018 WITH 7 QUESTIONS AND ANOTHER LETTER ON 9/27/2019 WITH 3 MORE QUESTIONS TO YOU. I HAVE SENT COPIES OF THESE LETTERS, PER ATTACHMENT. CAN I GET SPECIFIC ANSWERS TO EACH QUESTION FROM YOU AND YOUR PHONE # SO I CAN CALL YOU AFTER MY REVIEW. IT SEEMS TO ME GENERAL MOTORS HAS ALWAYS DESIGNED ITS' VARIABLE POWER STEERING ASSISTS, WHEN THEY BREAK, TO GO INTO FULL, OPEN POWER ASSIST , ALL THE TIME AND AT ALL SPEEDS. THIS IS SOO MUCH MORE DANGEROUS THAN MANUAL STEERING ESPECIALLY WITHOUT LOW SPEED WARNING THAT THE POWER STEERING ASSIST HAS BROKEN. WHAT HAS NHTSA DONE TO PREVENT THIS SAFETY RISK TO DRIVERS OF EXCESS, INAPPROPRIATE MAGNIFICATION OF HIGH SPEED STEERING. *JB

NHTSA ID

11155706

Incident

Jul 20, 2018

Mileage

240,000 mi

HI, I AM WRITING TO REPORT A TIRE BRAND, SOLD BY WALMART THAT COULD BE ILLEGAL FOR SALE IN THE U.S. THE DOT INFORMATION IS COMPLETELY MISSING ON THESE TIRES. THEREFORE, ALL THE CLAIMS MADE IN UTQG SPECS COULD BE FALSE AND/OR DO NOT MEET US STANDARDS. THESE ARE TIRES SOLD ON WALMART.COM AND BOUGHT AND USED BY MANY PEOPLE. I RECENTLY EXAMINED A PAIR OF THESE TIRES WHILE I WAS PICKING UP AN ORDER FROM WALMART. THESE TIRES MADE A RATTLING SOUND WHEN BOUNCED ON THE FLOOR. WHEN WE TESTED OTHER TIRE BRANDS FROM OTHER MANUFACTURERS, THEY DID NOT MAKE THE RATTLING SOUND. IT SOUNDED AS IF THE STEEL BELTS ARE LOOSE UNDER THE TREAD. ONLY A FATAL CRASH DUE TO TREAD SEPARATION MIGHT REVEAL THIS FAULT, WHICH MIGHT BE TOO LATE A LESSON TO LEARN FOR SOMEONE. I AM NOT SURE IF ALL TIRE SIZES OR TIRE TYPES HAVE MISSING DOT INFORMATION. AS I AM NOT AN EXPERT IN TIRES, I COULD BE WRONG ABOUT DEFECTIVE STEEL BELTS TOO (THE RATTLING SOUND), BUT, I WANT TO BRING MY OBSERVATIONS TO THE ATTENTION OF EXPERTS. IT'S WORTH LOOKING IN TO THESE TIRES TO MAKE SURE THAT US CUSTOMERS ARE NOT BEEN SOLD UNSAFE TIRES. IF THIS COULD PREVENT AN AVOIDABLE ACCIDENT, IT'S WORTH THE EFFORT. I CONTACTED WALMART AND BROUGHT THIS TO THEIR ATTENTION. FROM THEIR EMAIL RESPONSE, IT SEEMS THAT THEY ARE IGNORING THE ISSUE. THE TIRE IN QUESTION IS, BRAND: CROSSWIND HP010 MANUFACTURER: LINGLONG MADE IN: THAILAND SIZE: 185/65R14 WALMART PRODUCT PAGE: HTTPS://WWW.WALMART.COM/IP/CROSSWIND-HP010-185-65R14-86H-TIRE/765720344 THANK YOU PS: I ENDED UP RETURNING THE TIRES

NHTSA ID

11128198

Incident

Sep 7, 2018

THE TREAD ON THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SKID THROUGH THE NORTHBOUND LANES AND THEN INTO THE DIRT MEDIAN AND FINALLY BECOMING CAUGHT ON THE CABLE DIVIDER, TOTALING THE VEHICLE. THE TIRE THAT SEPARATED FROM IT'S TREAD WAS A FIRESTONE FR380 E26L 38B. THE TIRE WAS PURCHASED IN 2009 WITH A 55,000 MILE LIMITED WARRANTY. WHEN THE TIRE WAS PURCHASED THE ODOMETER WAS AT 88,088 MILES. THE ODOMETER WAS AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT WAS 140,629 MILES. THIS MEANS THE TIRE WAS STILL 2,459 MILES UNDER THE WARRANTY. THE MINIMUM TREAD DEPTH RECOMMENDED BY FIRESTONE TIRES IS 2/32 DEEP OR 0.0625. THE TREAD DEPTH ON THE TIRE IN QUESTION WAS 0.175, MORE THAN TWICE THE REQUIRED DEPTH. THE STATE TROOPER WHO INVESTIGATED THE CRASH DETERMINED THAT I WAS NOT AT FAULT. THE MECHANIC WHO EXAMINED MY VEHICLE AGREED THAT THE INCIDENT WAS CAUSED BY THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE'S TREAD SEPARATING FROM THE TIRE.

NHTSA ID

10838498

Incident

Aug 19, 2015

Mileage

140,629 mi

MY CAR TURNED OFF WHEN PICKING UP MY DAUGHTER FROM SCHOOL. WHEN MY HUSBAND AND DAD TOOK THE CAR TO GET CHECKED, THEY WERE TOLD THAT IT WAS ELECTRICAL. THE COMPUTER BLEW OUT TWICE. THEY WEREN'T CHARGED WHICH WAS A GOOD THING BECAUSE THOSE ARE EXPENSIVE. EVERY TIME YOU SWITCH THE A/C ON OR TURN THE HEADLIGHTS ON THE CAR TURNS OFF. I CAME ON THIS WEBSITES HOPING TO SEE IF THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE MY FAVORITE CAR IS JUST SITTING THERE COLLECTING DUST. I DON'T WANT TO JUNK THE CAR BECAUSE IT IS GREAT! I DON'T WANT TO DRIVE IT NEITHER BECAUSE I HAVE TWO KIDS AND DON'T WANT NOTHING BAD TO HAPPEN. PLEASE GET A RECALL DONE. I DON'T WANT TO JUNK THIS CAR.

NHTSA ID

10749307

Incident

May 20, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHEVROLET PRIZM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SERVICE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND FLASHED INTERMITTENTLY. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL TANK NEEDED TO BE REFUELED ON A HALF TANK IN ORDER FOR THE FUEL TANK NOT TO LEAK FUEL. ON ONE OCCASION, ANOTHER DRIVER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WERE SPARKS COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE AND WAS VIBRATING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 10E002000 (SUSPENSION). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

NHTSA ID

10693698

Incident

Dec 3, 2012

Mileage

140,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHEVROLET PRIZM. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED, THE ENGINE REVVED AND THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED TO 80 MPH. THE CONTACT HAD TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL SEVERAL TIMES TO SLOW DOWN THE VEHICLE. OVER A YEAR AGO, THE IGNITION WIRING HARNESS CAUGHT FIRE WHICH SPREAD TO THE ALTERNATOR. THE IGNITION, WIRING HARNESS, AND ALTERNATOR WERE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,000.

NHTSA ID

10617680

Incident

Jul 28, 2014

Mileage

78,000 mi

I WAS DRIVING TO HELP A FRIEND MOVE ABOUT 4 BLOCK FROM MY APARTMENT COMPLEX ON THURSDAY 18TH JULY AT APPROXIMATELY 12:20PM. ABOUT TWO BLOCKS FROM MY APARTMENT, I LOOKED OVER TO MY RIGHT SHOULDER TO CHECK MY BLIND SPOT TO MERGE INTO THE NEXT LANE AND WHEN I TURNED BACK THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME SLAMMED ON THEIR BRAKES AND STOPPED SUDDENLY. BY THIS TIME I WAS WITHIN TWO CAR LENGTHS AWAY AND SLAMMED MY BRAKES. MY CAR BEGAN SLOWING DOWN BUT SLID STRAIGHT INTO THE BACK OF HER VEHICLE. AFTER I REAR ENDED HER I LOOK AHEAD AND NOTICE A 4 CAR BUILD UP WITH THE 5TH CAR AHEAD MAKING AN ILLEGAL U TURN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET. MY ENTIRE FRONT OF MY CAR WAS PRETTY MUCH DESTROYED WITH ALL NEW PARTS HAVING TO BE BOUGHT. BECAUSE MY CAR IS FRONT WELL DRIVE THE FRONT DIPPED AND DID NOT DO MUCH DAMAGE TO THE OTHER PERSONS VEHICLE (1999 HONDA ACCORD COPE) EXCEPT SCRATCHED HER BUMPER. I ONLY HAVE LIABILITY SO HER CAR IS BEING FIXED AND I HAVE TO PAY FOR MINE OUT OF POCKET. BECAUSE THE LEFT FENDER WAS BADLY DENTED, IT HINDERED THE FRONT DOOR FROM BEING ABLE TO OPEN AND I REMAINED PINNED INTO MY CAR FOR A WHILE. I NOTICED THAT MY AIR BAGS NEVER EVEN WENT OFF WHICH COULD HAVE PREVENT THE LITTLE WHIP LASH I RECEIVED. I AM CURRENTLY EXPERIENCING SLIGHT PAINS BEHIND MY NECK. *TR

NHTSA ID

10525904

Incident

Jul 18, 2013

Mileage

70,000 mi

1999 CHEVROLET PRISM HAD EQUIPMENT FAILURE. WHEN CONSUMER WENT TO RESTART THE VEHICLE IT CAUGHT FIRE AND WAS EXTINGUISHED BY PASSING MOTORISTS. *KB OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT # 10-0029-90 UPDATED 04/15/10 *BF UPDATED 05/24/10 *BF

NHTSA ID

10312110

Incident

Jan 9, 2010

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHEVROLET PRIZM. THE CONTACT STARTED THE IGNITION AND HEARD AN EXCESSIVELY LOUD GRINDING NOISE. SHE TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE, BUT THE STARTER WOULD NOT DISENGAGE AND CONTINUED TO RUN UNTIL THE BATTERY WAS DRAINED. THIS WAS A CONTINUOUS FAILURE. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. CURRENTLY, THE VEHICLE IS INOPERABLE AND HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED OF THE SAFETY RISK INVOLVED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 60,040.

NHTSA ID

10243443

Incident

Sep 9, 2008

Mileage

60,040 mi

AT 80,000 MILES, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON INDICATING PO 441: EVAP PURGE FLOW. THIS IS GETTING WAY TO COMMON AMONG THESE CARS, PLEASE ADMIT IT IS A DESIGN FLAW AND FIX IT. (TOYOTA HAS ADMITTED THE PROBLEM ON 1998 MODELS, AND HAS CUT A DEAL WITH THE GOVERNMENT TO RETROFIT OLD TRUCKS AND BUSES NOT EVEN MADE BY TOYOTA TO MAKE UP FOR THE POLLUTION THEY'VE CAUSED, BUT THAT STILL LEAVES ME PAYING TO HAVE THIS DESIGN FLAW FIXED). *TR

NHTSA ID

10202874

Incident

Sep 1, 2007

THE THROTTLE ON MY CAR STUCK AT FULL OR NEARLY FULL WHEN I ACCELERATED TO PASS A VEHICLE. I FIRMLY DEPRESSED AND HELD THE BRAKE PEDAL, THEN TOOK THE FOLLOWING ACTIONS: CHECKED THAT CRUISE CONTROL WAS NOT ACTIVE; CHECKED THAT NOTHING WAS DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR; PULLED BACK ON THE ACCELERATOR; WHILE CONTINUING TO PRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL MOVED THE SHIFT LEVER TO NEUTRAL AND TURNED THE IGNITION SWITCH TO ACC; PULLED OFF THE HIGHWAY AND CALLED FOR A TOW TRUCK. THE MECHANIC AT THE GARAGE STATED THAT A PIN HAD COME OFF OF THE THROTTLE ASSEMBLY, EXCESSIVE MOVEMENT CAUSED A DAISY CHAIN LINK TO JAM IN THE CORNER EDGE OF THE ASSEMBLY HOLDING THE THROTTLE OPEN. AN AFTERMARKET CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEM INSTALLED ON THE CAR IN 2000 BY THE DEALER WAS NOT WORKING FOR AT LEAST TWO DAYS PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. THE MECHANIC INSERTED A COTTER PIN ON THE END OF THE THROTTLE CONTROL ARM, TEST DROVE THE CAR AND REQUESTED THAT I DRIVE VERY LITTLE UNTIL I COULD RETURN FOR A BRAKE CHECK WHEN THE GARAGE REOPENED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10192374

Incident

Jun 2, 2007

Mileage

89,090 mi

THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT FAILS TO CLOSE. NO AMOUNT OF JAMMING THE TONGUE INTO THE RECEPTOR CAUSES ENGAGEMENT. THE CAR HAS APPROXIMATELY 75,000 MILES. THE DEALER IS REPLACING AT A PARTS CHARGE OF $125 PLUS LABOR. *JB

NHTSA ID

10163753

Incident

Jul 19, 2006

Mileage

75,000 mi

THE RIMS OF THE 1999 CHEVROLET PRISM BEND AND PUNCTURE THE TIRES. THEY WERE BRAND NEW TIRES. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR WITH WHAT A MECHANIC HAS SAID ARE "SOFT RIMS." THE TIRES COULD FAIL WITHOUT ME KNOWING IT. I ASKED THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT FOR HELP IN SOLVING THE PROBLEM. THE MANAGER SAID :"WHAT DO YOU WANT ME TO DO TAKE THE MONEY OUT OF MY POCKET." MY MAIN CONCERN IS TO MAKE THE CAR SAFE. I TRAVEL WITH MY GRANDCHILDREN. MY SON IN LAW SUGGESTED THAT THE RIMS BE EXCHANGED FOR A SAFER RIM. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING FOR MORE THAN 30 YEARS AND I HAVE NEVER HAD A PROBLEM WITH BENT RIMS IN THIS MODELS. I MAINLY AM SEEKING A SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM. *NM

NHTSA ID

10161415

Incident

Jul 1, 2006

Mileage

74,000 mi

IN APPROXIMATELY JANUARY 2005 I DETECTED A GAS SMELL WHEN USING THE HEATER IN MY 1999 CHEVY PRIZM (70K MILES). THE SMELL WAS OVERWHELMING AND I HAD TO ROLL DOWN THE WINDOW WHEN DRIVING OR I WOULD GET HEADACHES. I DETERMINED THAT THE SMELL ONLY OCCURRED WHEN USING OUTSIDE AIR FOR THE HEATER A/C UNIT AS I COULD NOT SMELL GAS WHEN THE INSIDE AIR SWITCH WAS ACTIVATED. USING ONLY THE INSIDE AIR SWITCH, I FOOLISHLY WAITED NEARLY 12 MONTHS BEFORE TAKING IT TO A MECHANIC. IN JANUARY 2006 THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE FUEL RAIL WAS LEAKING AT A SIGNIFICANT RATE AND HE INDICATED THERE WAS HIGH RISK OF FIRE FROM THE LEAK. HE ALSO INDICATED THAT WHEN HE PURCHASED A NEW FUEL RAIL FROM A DENVER, CO DISTRIBUTOR HE WAS TOLD THAT MANY NEW FUEL RAILS WERE BEING PURCHASED BECAUSE OF THE SAME FAILURE. WITH THE NEW FUEL RAIL INSTALLED THERE IS NO MORE LEAKING GAS AND NO GAS SMELLS WHEN I AM USING EITHER OUTSIDE OR INSIDE AIR. PLEASE INVESTIGATE OTHER CHEVY PRIZM/TOYOTA COROLLAS TO SEE IF THERE IS A PATTERN IN FUEL RAIL FAILURE. *JB

NHTSA ID

10147223

Incident

Jan 20, 2005

Mileage

70,000 mi

AIRBAG LIGHT ON AND HORN NOT WORKING

NHTSA ID

10121889

Incident

May 12, 2005

DRIVER'S INSIDE DOOR HANDLE HOUSING AND PIN BROKE; DOOR COULDN'T BE OPENED FROM INSIDE. PARTS DEALER STATED A NUMBER OF THESE HAVE BROKEN ON THIS MODEL.*AK

NHTSA ID

10090547

Incident

Aug 16, 2004

Mileage

78,500 mi

CONSUMER NOTICED ENGINE CONSUMED EVERY 1000 MILES ONE QUART OF OIL. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO INDEPENDENT SHOP THEY DIDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

10087706

Incident

Aug 11, 2004

THE AIR BAG LIGHT HAS BEEN FLASHING INTERMITTENTLY SINCE PURCHASE OF THE (NEW) VEHICLE. I BROUGHT IT IN TO THE DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES, BUT AT BEST THE PROBLEM WILL GO AWAY FOR A FEW MONTHS AND THEN RECUR. NOW THAT THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY, GM REFUSES TO COVER THE COST OF DIAGNOSING THE PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ID

10056689

Incident

Jan 1, 1999

WHILE DRIVING ON ICY ROADS, THE VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED. THE VEHICLE WAS PUSHED INTO A EMBANKMENT AND HIT A TREE. THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT FAILED TO RESTRAIN THE CONSUMER. UPON IMPACT, THE FRONTAL AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE DRIVER'S HEAD WENT THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD AND THE CONSUMERS CHEST HIT THE STEERING WHEEL. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED SPINAL/FACIAL, AND HEAD INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED, IT WAS NOTED THAT FRONTAL AIR BAG SENSORS HAD BEEN DAMAGED IN THE CRASH. *AK *SCC *JB

NHTSA ID

10046395

Incident

Feb 20, 2003

Mileage

51,000 mi

I WAS IN A CAR ACCIDENT DRIVING A 99 CHEVY PRIZM GOING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH. I WAS REAR-ENDED ON THE PASSENGER RIGHT SIDE REAR CORNER AND THEN IMMEDIATELY AGAIN ON THE PASSENGER FRONT RIGHT CORNER. THE DRIVER'S SEAT BROKE. IT WAS ALL THE WAY BACK IN THE RECLINED POSITION. THE ONLY INJURY I EXPERIENCED WAS WHIPLASH. *JB

NHTSA ID

10018903

Incident

May 9, 2003

MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY DURING MY MVA,CAUSING ME EXTENSIVE PROBLEMS. *NLM

NHTSA ID

10018721

Incident

Mar 5, 2003

Mileage

100,000 mi

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION. UPON IMPACT, AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, RESULTING IN MINOR INJURY. *AK

NHTSA ID

884681

Incident

Mar 6, 2001

ANY TIME CONSUMER STARTS VEHICLE HEADLIGHTS WILL COME ON AUTOMATICALLY AS DAY TIME RUNNING LIGHT WILL WORK. WHEN HEADLIGHTS ARE ON CONSUMER ASSUMES THAT TAIL LIGHTS ARE ALSO ON. BUT, IN REALITY, THEY DON'T COME ON. COMSUMER HAS BEEN STOPPED BY POLICE DUE TO TAIL LIGHTS NOT BEING ON.*AK TAIL LIGHTS DO NOT COME ON BUT HEAD LIGHTS TURN ON WHEN THE ENGINE START RUNNING. *YH

NHTSA ID

882485

Incident

Mar 8, 2001

TIRES ARE GETTING DEEP NASTY CRACKS IN MY OPINION TOO SOON FOR SUCH A NEW / LOW MILEAGE CAR, WOMAN DRIVING LITTLE BABY . *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 185/65/14 )

NHTSA ID

726950

Incident

Jul 1, 2000

CAR SHOOK VERY HARD AND HEARD A DISTINCT RUBBING NOISE FROM THE REAR END, AFTER INCIDENT BRAKES WERE NOISY AND PULSATED WHENEVER THEY GOT HOT, DIFFICULT TO CONTROL CAR,PAD AND ROTORS ARE DEFECTIVE AND WARPED.

NHTSA ID

9001833

Incident

May 29, 2000