2000 Chevrolet Prizm

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2000 CHEVROLET PRIZM. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND FAILED TO RESPOND; HOWEVER, THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO PREVENT A CRASH. THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

NHTSA ID

10672152

Incident

Jan 12, 2015

Mileage

130,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 CHEVROLET PRISM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE AIR BAG AND AIR BAG SENSOR WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 56,000. UPDATED 11/14/14*CN UPDATED 7/28/2015*JS

NHTSA ID

10583199

Incident

Apr 1, 2008

Mileage

56,000 mi

THE PISTON SKIRTS ON THE 2000 MODEL WERE TOO SHORT (THEY WERE REPLACED WITH APPROPRIATE SKIRTS IN A LATER YEAR MODEL). THE VERY SHORT SKIRT ALLOWS THE PISTON TO TILT IN THE CYLINDER MUCH SOONER THAN WOULD HAPPEN IN NORMAL ENGINES. THIS CAUSES THE RINGS TO FAIL TO SEAT PROPERLY MUCH EARLIER THAN WOULD HAPPEN IN AN ENGINE WITH NORMAL SKIRT LENGTHS. THIS CAUSES EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION WHERE THE AMOUNT OF OIL CONSUMED RISES EXPONENTIALLY WITH THE NUMBER OF MILES DRIVEN. AT SOME POINT, THE ENGINE COULD MALFUNCTION WHILE THE DRIVER IS DRIVING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10468023

Incident

May 3, 2010

Mileage

90,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 CHEVROLET PRISM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE DRIVERS DOOR WOULD LOCK, THE DRIVER WAS UNABLE TO EXIT THE VEHICLE FROM INSIDE. IN ORDER TO EXIT THE VEHICLE, HE WOULD HAVE TO OPEN THE WINDOW TO ENGAGE THE EXTERIOR DOOR LATCH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED BY A DEALER NOR WAS IT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 99,000.

NHTSA ID

10381117

Incident

Feb 8, 2011

Mileage

99,000 mi

CHEVROLET PRIZM...COROLLA IN DISGUISE. CAR DRINKS OIL BAD. HAVE OWNED A 2000 MODEL BOUGHT IN 2008 WITH 44,000 MILES CAR LOOKED AND DROVE LIKE NEW SO I THOUGHT CAR IS MADE BY TOYOTA NO NEED TO CHECK UNDER THE HOOD. WRONG!!! GOT HOME WITH THE CAR AND MY DAD WANTED TO DRIVE IT,HE'S A MECHANIC.GETS BACK HOME MAD. HE HEARD A TICKING NOISE,( I DIDN'T NOTICE CAUSE LAST CAR WAS WORE OUT AND NOISY...THIS WAS QUITE FOR ME) CHECKED OIL AND THERE WAS LESS THAN A QUART IN THE OIL PAN IT ONLY HOLDS A LITTLE OVER 3QTS. HE PUT OIL IN IT AND IT WAS SUPER QUITE MOTOR. DROVE THE CAR TIL BOUT 94000. AT FIRST THE CAR NEEDED ONLY 1 QT EVERY 600-800 MILES. THAT WAS OK I WAS USED TO THAT. THEN IT GOT WORSE AND WORSE. 1 QT EVERY 50 TO 100 MILES. MY DAD TORE IT APART LOOKED EVERY WHERE FOR A LEAK. NONE NOTHING!!! IT WAS BURNING OIL HE FOUND OUT BUT COULD NOT TELL WHERE IT WAS COMING FROM. THIS IS VERY BAD BECAUSE THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER CAN ONLY HOLD SO MUCH BEFORE IT CLOGGED AND BURNT SLAP OUT!!! ALMOST 7000$ I PAID FOR THAT CAR SUPPOSEDLY OF TOYOTA QUALITY, NOT COUNTING ALL OF THE OIL NOW IN OUR O-ZONE. BESIDES THE OIL PROBLEM THAT ALMOST EVERY ONE FACES WHEN OWNING THESE VEHICLES INCLUDING COROLLAS SAME MOTOR, BEST CAR I HAVE EVER OWNED. I JUST BOUGHT ANOTHER ONE HOPING IT WOULD BE CLEAR OF ENGINE ISSUES. WRONG... MY DAD HAS LOOKED IT ALL OVER CAN'T FIND OUT STILL WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. PLEASE RESEARCH THIS REALLY GOOD AND HELP US PRISM OWNERS HAVE RESTITUTION TO SEE THAT RECALL ENVELOPE IN THE MAIL. LOOK AT EVERY CAR REVIEW SITE AND YALL WILL SEE THAT 9 OUT OF 10 COMPLAINTS ARE OIL USAGE. MAYBE THAT'S THE REASON YOU DON'T SEE THEM MUCH ANYMORE. BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY US PRISM OWNERS( THAT ARE LEFT LOL) NEED OUR CARS FIXED WHERE THE EARTH DOES NOT HAVE SUFFER ANY MORE NETHER THE LESS OUR WALLETS. OIL, DIAGNOSTICS. CATALYTIC CONVERTERS..ETC.YOU HAVE TO CHECK OIL CONSTANT. OIL LIGHT NEVER WORKS FOR ANYONE THAT'S WHY THEIR ALL GONE. YOU WILL SEE ON ALL REVIEW SITES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10376751

Incident

Mar 1, 2008

Mileage

94,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 CHEVROLET PRIZM. THE VEHICLE BEGAN BURNING A QUART OF OIL PER MONTH AND CURRENTLY USES THREE QUARTS OF OIL PER WEEK. WHEN DIAGNOSTIC TESTS WERE INITIALLY PERFORMED, THE RESULTS INDICATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. THE LINES WERE TESTED AND THE RESULTS INDICATED THAT THERE WERE NO LEAKS AND THE PRESSURE WAS NORMAL. CURRENTLY, A MECHANIC HAS CONCLUDED THAT THE OIL RING IN THE ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED, WHICH WOULD COST $2,000 - $3,000. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 104,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 74,000.

NHTSA ID

10205503

Incident

Oct 1, 2004

Mileage

74,000 mi

2000 PRIZM LEFT FRONT TIRE BLEW OUT. *TS THE BLOWOUT CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE LEFT FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. *NM UPDATED 07/20/06 *JB

NHTSA ID

10163681

Incident

May 29, 2006

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT SEAT BELT WILL NOT LATCH. THE SERVICE DEALER REFERRED THE CONTACT TO CHEVROLET CONSUMER HOTLINE; THEY INFORMED HIM THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED TO HAVE A DIAGNOSTIC TEST RAN BEFORE THE SERVICE MANAGER WOULD BE AUTHORIZED TO PERFORM THE WORK ON THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS NO SPECIFIC SEATING POSITION THAT KEPT THE SEAT BELT FROM LATCHING. *AK

NHTSA ID

10133087

Incident

Dec 2, 2004

This Preliminary Information communicates to the dealer the process for downloading or updating operating software for the Tire Pressure Monitor, Active Fuel Injector tester, multi media tester, PICO Scope, GR8 starting/charging tester  and Vehicle Data Recorder tools, giving website address and step by step instructions to complete the update.

This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that the Heater-Vent-Air Conditioning blows warm air. Before calling General Motors Technical Assistance Center technician will need to have high and low pressures, outside temperature, humidity, and vent temperature.

This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that the Heater-Vent-Air Conditioning blows warm air. Before calling General Motors Technical Assistance Center technician will need to have high and low pressures, outside temperature, humidity, and vent temperature.

Vehicle Wide Programming (VWP) is a new process to update software on GM Vehicles. It provides the ability via a single selection within Techline Connect to first identify which modules need updating and then proceed to updating affected modules (with some exceptions). The updating of modules is completed in parallel instead of the technician needing to update one module at a time. This allows a more streamlined approach for dealers and customers.

GM is receiving damaged (cracked or broken) transmission cores returned to the reman facilities. The damage is being caused either in the removal process by the technician, or inadequate packaging or shipping. This bulletin advises the dealers to be more careful not to damage the transmissions during removal and to package the core properly for return.

This service bulletin advises of a new fuel injection cleaner kit used for decarbonizing the intake valves to correct conditions of rough idle, Crank no start, extended crank or misfire, MIL with DTCs, and explains how Top Tier fuels should be used to reduce carbon build-up.