2001 Chevrolet Prizm Problems

MY 2001 CHEVROLET PRIZM HAS BEEN BURNING OIL SINCE AROUND 60-70K MILES AND HAS ONLY GOTTEN WORSE. CHEVROLET DIDN'T BUILD THE ENGINE RIGHT AND THE RINGS/HEADS I THINK NEED REPLACED (WHAT I READ ON). AND CHEVROLET HAS NOT FIXED THIS PROBLEM AND ITS COSTLY AS IT BURNS AROUND A QUART EVERY 200 MILES.

I GOT THIS CAR A YEAR AND HALF AGO AND IT WORKED OK. BUT NOW IT IS EATING OIL LIKE CRAZY. AND ALSO WHEN I TRY TO ACCELERATE IT HESITATES AND WONT MOVE FORWARD. IT HAS ALMOST CAUSED ME TO HAVE 3 WRECKS. THIS IS COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE. WHY PAY FOR THIS CAR IF ITS GOING TO KILL ME.

THE CAR WAS HIT ON THE BACK BUMPER CAUSEING THE CAR TO GO OFF THE ROAD AND CAUSING A IT TO ROLL OVER TWICE WHICH TOTALLED THE CAR TO THIS DATE THE AIRBAGS HAVE NEVER DEPLOYED

WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH VEHICLE WAS HIT FROM THE SIDE AND ALSO ON THE FRONT. UPON IMPACT THE FRONT AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES AND WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM. *AK

RIGHT FRONT TIRE BLEW OUT UNEXPECTEDLY WHILE DRIVING. HAD NOT YET ANYTHING. TIRE WAS SPLIT RADIALLY FROM BEAD TO BEAD. THE NOISE WAS SO LOUD THAT I ORIGINALLY THOUGHT IT WAS THE SUSPENSION FAILING. TIRE WAS A SIGMA TEMPEST BY COOPER SIZE: P185/65R14. YOUR DATABASE DOES NOT INCLUDE THIS PRODUCT / SIZE COMBINATION. I PUT A PLACEHOLDER IN THAT WAS CLOSEST. *GEM

I HAD A 180 DEGREE TURN ACCIDENT CAUSED ON THE MORNING OF 5/16/05 AT I-96 EAST, LIVONIA MI WITH MY CHEVY PRIZM THAT HAD ALL THE FOUR TIERS REPLACED ON 11/04. ONE OF THE BF GOODRICH TIERS (REAR) WAS THE CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT. THE RELATIVELY NEW TIER (HAD ONLY 9,000 MILES ON IT) KIND OF HAS BURST INTO TWO OR MORE PIECES AND HAD MADE ME SLID FROM ONE LANE TO ANOTHER, HITTING THE MEDIAN AND TURNED 180. THE REAR OF THE CAR IS GREATLY DAMAGED. THE CAR WAS TOWED AND TAKEN TO THE SAM'S CLUB WHERE THE TIER WAS REPLACED. WE HAVE FILED COMPLAINTS WITH BF GOOD RICH, AND GM. THE REAR TIER SEEMS TO BE THE LEADING CAUSE FOR THE FAILURE. WE STILL HAVE NOT FIXED THE CAR EXCEPT THE REAR TIER. WE HAVE THE OLD TIER WITH US

I OWN A 2001 CHEVY PRISM LSI. IT HAS ALWAYS EXPERIENCED A NUMBER OF ANNOYING ISSUES THAT I'VE HAD MECHANICS INSPECT/DIAGNOSE THAT NEVER SEEMS TO GET CORRECTLY DIAGNOSED. IT USES ABOUT A QUART OF OIL A MONTH (BUT NEVER SMOKES OUT OF THE EXHAUST PIPE), HAS ALWAYS HAD A HESITATION PROBLEM, AND HAS A WEIRD PROBLEM WITH NOISY 'EXHAUST' SOUNDS THAT SOUND LIKE THEY ARE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE CAR AND ARE WORSE (VERY LOUD) IN WET CONDITIONS. UPON COLD START, THE ENGINE HESITATES PRETTY BADLY WHEN PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE HESITATION GETS MUCH BETTER ONCE THE ENGINE HAS WARMED UP, BUT STILL HAS MINOR HESITATION UPON INITIALLY PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. MECHANICS HAVE SAID THEY THINK THE FUEL PUMP MAY BE STARTING TO GO OUT (I WAS TOLD THAT 5 YEARS AGO AND IT HAS NEVER GONE OUT) AND THEY SAID THERE WAS A 'LEAN MIXTURE CODE' WHEN MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON AT ONE POINT BUT WERE UNABLE TO DETERMINE WHAT THE OFFICIAL CAUSE OF THAT CODE WAS AND IMPLIED IT WAS PROBABLY THE FUEL PUMP SLOWLY GOING BAD. THEY RAN A CARBON CLEAN WHICH SHUT OFF THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT BUT THE HESITATION AND OIL CONSUMPTION HAS ALWAYS REMAINED. NUMEROUS TIMES, THE HESITATION HAS BEEN AN ISSUE IN TRAFFIC WHEN I PRESS THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND THE ENGINE DOES NOTHING UNTIL I PUMP THE PEDAL A FEW TIMES TO GET IT GOING...LEADING TO A POSSIBLY SAFETY HAZARD IN CERTAIN TRAFFIC CONDITIONS. NOBODY HAS BEEN ABLE TO FIGURE OUT WHY IT HESITATES AND FIX THE HESITATION PROBLEM AND I'VE READ THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM ALONG WITH THE OIL CONSUMPTION PROBLEM FOR CHEVY PRISMS/TOYOTA COROLLAS (ESPECIALLY THE 2001 MODEL). MECHANICS HAVE ALSO INSPECTED MY EXHAUST SYSTEM TO TRY TO FIND THE ISSUE WITH THE NOISY EXHAUST BUT HAVE FOUND NO LEAKS. I'M HOPING A RECALL CAN BE ISSUED TO HELP FIX SOME OF THESE ISSUES SINCE MECHANICS CAN'T SEEM TO FIGURE OUT THESE COMMON PROBLEMS. IT SEEMS THAT TOYOTA AND GM ARE BOTH AWARE OF MOST OF THESE ISSUES AND HAVE DONE NOTHING TO RESOLVE THEM. *TR

FAILED EMISSION TEST. RAN AUTO THROUGH A CODE SCANNER, AND TALKED IT OVER WITH A FRIEND ABOUT CODE THAT CAME UP. FINALLY, CAME UP WITH PURGE CANISTER AS THE PROBLEM. DID A SEARCH ON THE NET ABOUT THAT CODE, CAME UPON QUITE A FEW FORUMS WITH IT MENTIONED. NOW THE CARS INVOLVED WERE 1999-2002 CHEVY PRISMS AND TOYOTA COROLLAS. WHICH ARE THE SAME VEHICLE SOLD UNDER THE COMPANIES NAMES. MY WIFE'S CAR IS A 2001 PRISM. ALMOST ALL THE CARS HAD LESS THEN 100,000 MILES. TO REPLACE THIS CANISTER COSTS ABOUT $300.00, PLUS WHATEVER THE PRICE TO INSTALL IT. I BELIEVE THIS TO BE A DEFECT. *TR

HOOD ON VEHICLE RAISED UP AS CAR WAS GOING ABOUT 55 MPH, SHATTERING WINDSHIELD AND DENTING THE ROOF. HOOD JAMMED IN THE UPRIGHT POSITION. *TR

THE 36 MONTH OLD 2001 CHEVROLET PRIZM HAD AN ELECTRICAL FIRE IN THE DASH AREA. MY SON WAS INSIDE A STORE AND SOMEONE TOLD HIM THAT THE CAR WAS ON FIRE. THE FIRE WAS CONFINED TO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. IT STILL HAD THE FACTORY INSTALLED RADIO/CD WITH NO MODIFICATIONS. CHEVROLET INSPECTED THE CAR AFTER HAVING IT TOWED TO A LOCAL DEALERSHIP. THEN THEY DID ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. THE USUAL RESPONSE?

I HAVE HAD A 2000 CHEVROLET PRIZM AND NOW SOMEONE THREATENED MY LIFE TO FORCE ME TO BUY A 2001 CHEVROLET PRIZM. THE WINDOWS OF THESE CARS FOG UP TOO SEVERE TO DRIVE IN MINOR OR MAJOR RAIN AND FREEZING RAIN. WHEN IT RAINS WE HAVE TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD ON HIGHWAYS AND IN CITIES AND TOWNS AND WAIT FOR IT TO STOP RAINING FOR THE CAR TO BE SAFE TO DRIVE. MOST ALL OTHER CARS HAVE WINDOWS THAT ARE SAFE TO DIVE WITH BUT THESE CARS ARE NOT SAFE FOR DRIVING IN THE RAIN.

HOOD ON VEHICLE RAISED UP AS CAR WAS GOING ABOUT 55 MPH, SHATTERING WINDSHIELD AND DENTING THE ROOF. HOOD JAMMED IN THE UPRIGHT POSITION. *TR

BRAKE FAILURE, TOTAL LOST ALL BRAKES - BOTH BRAKE LINES TO REAR FAILED SIMULTANEOUSLY. *TR

WHILE DRIVING THE REAR WHEEL CYLINDER LEAKED BRAKE FLUID WHICH RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT.*AK REAR WHEEL CYLINDER HAD TO BE REPLACED. *TT

THE DRIVER'S POWER WINDOW WILL NOT RAISE IMMEDIATELY AFTER IT HAS BEEN FULLY RETRACTED (SUCH AS AT A DRIVE-IN WINDOW, OR WHEN THE "AUTO" FEATURE FULLY RETRACTS IT BEFORE I CAN STOP IT). IT WILL EVENTUALLY RAISE AFTER A FEW MINUTES OF INOPERATION; SOMETIMES ONLY PARTIALLY AT A TIME. IF I HAVE INTENTIONALLY HAD THE WINDOW DOWN FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME, THERE IS NO PROBLEM - YET. THIS ONLY OCCURS WHEN THE WINDOW IS FULLY RETRACTED, AND REGARDLESS OF WEATHER CONDITIONS. *TR

1. MY DAUGHTER WAS ON HER WAY TO WORK IN MY 2001 CHEVY PRIZM AND THE HEAD LIGHTS WENT OUT WITH NO WARNING. 2. BOTH HEAD LIGHT BULBS, FUSES, BULB SOCKETS WITH WIRING, AND HEAD LIGHT RELAY BURNED UP. THERE WAS NO WARNING WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED AND THE HEAD LIGHTS BECAME DISABLED. COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT WITH NO WARNING AND THE LIGHTS FAILING AFTER DARK. THE VEHICLE COULD HAVE COMPLETELY BURNED UP CAUSING INJURY. 3. I TOOK THE CAR TO GATES CHEVY WORLD IN MISHAWAKA, INDIANA TO HAVE THEM DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. AFTER 5 TRIPS TO THE DEALERSHIP THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT TOLD ME THAT HEAD LIGHTS AND WIRING COMPONENTS TYPICALLY BURN UP ON VEHICLES WITH DAYLIGHT RUNNING LAMBS. THEIR OPINION IS THAT THE FAILURE WITHOUT WARNING IS NORMAL AND VERY COMMON. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET PRIZM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SUDDENLY MALFUNCTIONED AND CAUSED THE CONTACT TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. AFTER STOPPING THE VEHICLE THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE AXLE WAS FRACTURED AND BOTH WHEELS WERE POINTED IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED FROM THE SCENE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET PRIZM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR STRUTS WOULD EXHIBIT A RATTLING NOISE WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. THE FAILURE HAD NOT CAUSED ANY BRAKING PROBLEMS. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS OR REPAIRS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN, BUT THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

1. MY DAUGHTER WAS ON HER WAY TO WORK IN MY 2001 CHEVY PRIZM AND THE HEAD LIGHTS WENT OUT WITH NO WARNING. 2. BOTH HEAD LIGHT BULBS, FUSES, BULB SOCKETS WITH WIRING, AND HEAD LIGHT RELAY BURNED UP. THERE WAS NO WARNING WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED AND THE HEAD LIGHTS BECAME DISABLED. COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT WITH NO WARNING AND THE LIGHTS FAILING AFTER DARK. THE VEHICLE COULD HAVE COMPLETELY BURNED UP CAUSING INJURY. 3. I TOOK THE CAR TO GATES CHEVY WORLD IN MISHAWAKA, INDIANA TO HAVE THEM DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. AFTER 5 TRIPS TO THE DEALERSHIP THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT TOLD ME THAT HEAD LIGHTS AND WIRING COMPONENTS TYPICALLY BURN UP ON VEHICLES WITH DAYLIGHT RUNNING LAMBS. THEIR OPINION IS THAT THE FAILURE WITHOUT WARNING IS NORMAL AND VERY COMMON. *TR

THIRD TAIL LIGHT IN BACK WINDOW PROBLEM ,I NOTICED A SMELL OF PLASTIC , THOUGHT IT WAS TURNING BECAUSE I TURNED ON THE HEAT ( DUE TO WEATHER CHANGING). I WENT INTO THE VEHICLE TO GET SOMETHING AND THE SMELL WAS VERY STRONG . I CHECKED THE BACK LIGHT ( WINDOW TAILLIGHT) ,IT WAS COMPLETELY MELTING THE PLASTIC LIGHT TAIL , REMOVED THE LIGHT. *JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET PRIZM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR, THE VEHICLE WOULD HESITATE BEFORE MOVING AT A NORMAL PACE WITH THE ILLUMINATION OF THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE BUT PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE TO THE CONTACT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

2001 CHEVY PRISM; CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CONTINUES TO BE ON. I HAVE PUT TWO OXYGEN SENSORS ON AT A COST OF OVER $200.00, AND LIGHT STILL COMES ON. MECHANICS TELL ME THE CODE SAYS "LEAN MIXTURE" BUT DON'T KNOW WHAT IS CAUSING IT. CAR HESITATES WHEN COLD, ALMOST THROWING YOU INTO THE WINDSHIELD, UNLESS YOU REPEATEDLY PUMP THE ACCELERATOR. MECHANICS TOLD ME THAT MAYBE FUEL PUMP IS GOING BAD, BUT IT'S BEEN THREE YEARS NOW, AND THIS HASN'T HAPPENED. THE HEAD LINER IN VEHICLE HAS TOTALLY TORN AND DISINTEGRATED, EVEN THO IT HAS BEEN GARAGE KEPT. GM WILL NOT EVEN CONSIDER INVESTIGATING THIS PROBLEM. NO MORE CHEVY'S FOR ME!! THE HESITATION IN TRAFFIC COULD CREATE A REAL SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

LEAK FROM TRANSAXLE VALVE DIFFERENTIAL - PLASTIC PLUG FEEL OUT. RUINED TRANSMISSION AND ENGINE. ENGINE BURNING OIL LIKE MAD. LEAKS OIL ALL OVER THE PLACE. STARTED AT ABOUT 65,000. *TR

IN MID DECEMBER WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED THE VEHICLE SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL. THE VEHICLE SHIFTED GEARS AFTER THE SHIFTER WAS VERY LIGHTLY BRUSHED WITH MY HAND AS I REACHED FOR SOMETHING. THIS INCIDENT HAS HAPPENED TWO OTHER TIMES SINCE THEN WHILE IN SIMILAR CIRCUMSTANCES.

THIS CONCERNS A 2001 CHEVY PRISM WITH 138K MILES. THE ENGINE WAS IRREPARABLY DAMAGED DUE TO OIL DEPRIVATION. THERE WAS NO WARNING OTHER THAN THE KNOCKING SOUND AND BY THEN IT WAS TOO LATE. OIL WAS CHANGED EVERY 3K MILES USING HIGH QUALITY CONVENTIONAL OIL & FILTERS. *TR

WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY ALSO THE SEAT BELTS DID NOT RESTRAIN THE CONSUMER. AS A RESULT, THE CONSUMER WENT THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK. THE CONSUMER SON WAS RUN OFF THE ROAD WHILE TRYING TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT AND LOSS CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO A CEMENT WALL. *JB

THE DRIVER'S POWER WINDOW WILL NOT RAISE IMMEDIATELY AFTER IT HAS BEEN FULLY RETRACTED (SUCH AS AT A DRIVE-IN WINDOW, OR WHEN THE "AUTO" FEATURE FULLY RETRACTS IT BEFORE I CAN STOP IT). IT WILL EVENTUALLY RAISE AFTER A FEW MINUTES OF INOPERATION; SOMETIMES ONLY PARTIALLY AT A TIME. IF I HAVE INTENTIONALLY HAD THE WINDOW DOWN FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME, THERE IS NO PROBLEM - YET. THIS ONLY OCCURS WHEN THE WINDOW IS FULLY RETRACTED, AND REGARDLESS OF WEATHER CONDITIONS. *TR