RoadVitals

1992 Geo Prizm Engine Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Engine reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
15
Latest Jun 5, 2001
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
30%
of 50 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
1
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1992 Geo Prizm submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 15 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming engine

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

BrakesDriver assistanceElectrical+2 more
Filed Jun 5, 2001
Crash reported

ON JUNE 4TH, 2001 VEHICLE ACCELERATED RAPIDLY FOR APPROXIMATELY 10 FEET, CAUSING IT TO RUN HEAD-ON INTO A TREE AFTER THE CONSUMER HAD JUST SLOWED VEHICLE DOWN TO 2 TO 5 MPH. BODY SHOP IS IN POSSESSION OF THE VEHICLE AND HAS NOT BEEN EXAMINED BY AN INSURANCE ADJUSTER. *AK INDEPENDENT ADJUSTER EXAMINED VEHICLE AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE INSURANCE COMPANY WOULD MOST LIKELY NOT UNDERTAKE AN EXAMINATION AS IT WOULD NOT BE COST EFFECTIVE. IGNITION SWITCH WOULD NOT ALWAYS TURN, DEALER FOUND NO PROBLEMS, HOWEVER LUBED THE SWITCH. EXHAUST SYSTEM REPLACED. BATTERY REPLACED. STARTER REPLACED. TIMING BELT REPLACED. RADIATOR REPLACED. BRAKE PADS REPLACED, ROTORS TURNED TWICE, BRAKE SPRING KIT INSTALLED. ROAD SALT AND DEBRIS CORRODED AXLE WHOSE COVER HAS BEEN DESTROYED, NEEDS REPLACED. *SCL

NHTSA ID
889820
Incident
May 1, 1999
Engine
Filed Aug 11, 2000

NO SUMMARY

NHTSA ID
727630
Incident
Oct 1, 1999
EngineFuel system
Filed Jul 11, 1999

WHILE VEHICLE WAS IDLING A HELICOPTER-LIKE BLADE SOUND CAME FROM CAR. CHARGED FOR FUEL PUMP ALTHOUGH FUEL PUMP WAS NOT THE PROBLEM. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

NHTSA ID
838826
Incident
Apr 18, 1999
Engine
Filed Jul 7, 1999

ENGINE MANIFOLD HAS A CRACK SINCE AUG OF 1996. WOUL;D LIKE TO KNOW IF IS IT NORMAL WEAR FOR ENGIN E MANIFOLD TO CRACK AT 35,000 MILES. CAN NHTSA PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION IN THIS MATTER. *AK

NHTSA ID
841846
Incident
Aug 15, 1996
Engine
Filed Apr 17, 1999

ENGINE GASKET BLEW, CAUSING COOLANT TO MIX WITH OIL, CAUSING ENGINE TO OVERHEAT; 30000 SERVICE DONE. *AK

NHTSA ID
705717
Incident
Apr 15, 1999
Engine
Filed Oct 27, 1998

EXHAUST MANIFOLD BOLT BROKE.

NHTSA ID
781406
Incident
Oct 15, 1998
ElectricalEngineInterior & seats+1 more
Filed Dec 2, 1997

RIGHT SIDE TAIL LIGHT MELTED WHERE THE SCREWS CONNECT WITH WIRING TAB TO TRANSMIT CURRENT TO THE BRAKE LIGHT.

NHTSA ID
525607
Heating & air conditioningElectricalEngine+1 more
Filed Oct 21, 1997

AIR CONDITIONING PROBLEM, REPLACE EVAPORATOR COIL.

NHTSA ID
523739
Incident
May 5, 1995
Engine
Filed Jul 11, 1997

CRACKED EXHAUST MANIFOLD CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO FAIL THE TEXAS STATE INSPECTION. *AK

NHTSA ID
518064
Incident
Jan 1, 1995
Engine
Filed Jan 2, 1997

EXHAUST MANIFOLD CRACKED, CAUSING A LEAK. *AK

NHTSA ID
513357
Incident
Jun 1, 1995
Engine
Filed Dec 13, 1996

THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD: THE ENGINE MAKES A LOUD NOISE WHEN STARTING DUE TO POOR QUALITY MATERIAL AND DESIGN, VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN AND REPAIRED. *AK

NHTSA ID
806325
Incident
Dec 6, 1996
Engine
Filed Aug 13, 1996

EXHAUST MANIFOLD CRACKED IN TWO, CAUSING VEHICLE TO FAIL.*AK

NHTSA ID
507358
Incident
Jun 1, 1995
Engine
Filed Jul 30, 1996

EXHAUST MANIFOLD BROKE IN HALF. PLEASE DESCROBE. *AK

NHTSA ID
800196
Incident
Jun 30, 1996
Body & structureEngineVisibility
Filed Jul 9, 1996

BLOWER MOTOR FAILED. *AK

NHTSA ID
506075
Incident
Jun 30, 1996
Engine
Filed Dec 11, 1995

CRACK MANIFOLD IN EXHAUST SYSTEM CAUSING FUMES TO COME INTO VEHICLE THROUGH AIR SYSTEM. TT

NHTSA ID
976412

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Body & structure17

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .