Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full
Data refreshed
Complaints on fileComplaints 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.
77
Latest Jul 26, 2007
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
23
Filed in the last 12 monthsReports filed with NHTSA in the trailing 365 days. Recent volume reflects attention and vehicle age as much as anything else.
0
Reports on file since Feb 15, 1995
What this page shows
Our database holds 77 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1993 Geo Prizm. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Complaints, most recent first
Showing 1–25 of 77 · page 1 of 4
Brakes
Filed Jul 26, 2007
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 GEO PRIZM. WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE VEHICLE WOULD TRAVEL LONGER THAN EXPECTED BEFORE COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE FRONT WHEEL SENSOR FAILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ABS LIGHT CONSTANTLY REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 183,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000.
NHTSA ID
10197554
Incident
Feb 10, 2007
Mileage
180,000 mi
Interior & seats
Filed Dec 1, 2006
1993 PRIZM HOOD UNLATCHED AND OPENED HITTING THE WINDSHIELD. *TS *JB
NHTSA ID
10175398
Incident
Oct 4, 2006
SteeringSuspension
Filed Mar 3, 2006
Crash reported2 injuries reported
1993 CHEVROLET PRIZM WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. *TS THE DRIVER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE AND WHEN HE APPLIED THE BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN THE VEHICLE TURNED AROUND AND TRAVELED OFF THE ROADWAY AND INTO A DITCH. BOTH PASSENGERS IN THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THEIR HEAD AND BACK. *NM
NHTSA ID
10166960
Incident
Jan 23, 2006
Airbags
Filed Dec 19, 2005
DT: THE CONTACT STATES THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN 96V107000 CONCERNING THE AIR BAG SENSOR CONTROL MODULE. THIS VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL, BUTIT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK.
NHTSA ID
10145613
Incident
Nov 1, 2005
Mileage
160,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Jun 16, 2004
PURCHASED A 1993 GEO PRIZM FROM A PRIVATE PARTY, BEFORE THE PURCHASE WE NOTED THAT THE NHTSA DESCRIBED A RECALL OF THIS VEHICLE FOR THE AIR BAG SENSOR MODULE. WITHIN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME OF OUR OWNERSHIP OF THIS CAR THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON. WHEN I CONTACTED THE CHEVROLET CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPARTMENT, I WAS TOLD THAT MY CAR DOES NOT QUALIFY FOR THE RECALL REPAIR BECAUSE MY VIN NUMBER IS NOT PART OF THE DEFECTIVE SERIES OF CARS. HOWEVER, IN REVIEWING THE NHTSA WEBSITE I FIND THAT MANY OTHERS EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM AS I HAVE, AND IN ADDITION, THE 1993 TOYOTA COROLLA, WHICH THE GEO PRIZM IS ITS COUNTERPART, HAVE ALSO HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS. WHAT MAKES CHEVROLET SO SURE THAT MY CAR'S AIR BAG SENSOR MODULE IS NOT DEFECTIVE? I HAVE NOT HAD A REASONABLE EXPLANATION FOR THIS PROBLEM, OTHER THAN "MY CAR'S VIN NUMBER DOES NOT MATCH." *AK
NHTSA ID
10078311
Incident
Jun 16, 2004
Electrical
Filed Mar 5, 2004
Fire reported
WHILE DRIVING SMOKE CAME FROM UNDER THE HOOD. DRIVER PULLED OVER, AND FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED. THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS UNKNOWN. *AK
NHTSA ID
10061505
Engine
Filed Nov 24, 2003
DANGEROUS LEVELS OF CARBON MONOXIDE LEAKING INTO PASSENGER COMPARTMENT DUE TO CRACKED EXHAUST MANIFOLD. REPLACED CRACKED MANIFOLD TWO TIMES, THE SECOND ONE LASTED 16 MONTHS. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE DUE TO THE CARBON MONOXIDE!! EXHAUST REPAIR SHOPS TOLD ME THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH GEO PRIZM AND TOYOTA COROLLA MODELS. AT OVER $300 TO REPLACE EACH TIME, I CAN NOT AFFORD TO KEEP REPLACING. THE MAIN CONCERN I HAVE THOUGH IS WITH THE CARBON MONOXIDE ISSUE. IS THIS BEING INVESTIGATED? *LA
NHTSA ID
10047466
Incident
Nov 22, 2003
Mileage
95,000 mi
Engine
Filed Oct 18, 2003
WHILE DRIVING CAR HOME FROM WORK I NOTICED ENGINE NOISE GETTING LOUDER. UPON CLOSER INSPECTION THE FOLLOWING MORNING I FOUND THAT THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD WAS CRACKED COMPLETELY INTO TWO SEPERATE PIECES.ALSO NOTICED ODOR FROM EXHAUST LEAKING INTO PASENGER COMPARTMENT.APARENTLY I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM AND WOULD THINK THAT EXHAUST FUMES ARE A LARGE PROBLEM FOR MY EIGHTEEN MONTH OLD SON.I WANT TO KNOW IF ANYONE HAS OR IS INVESTIGATING THIS AND WHAT IF ANYTHING WAS OR WILL BE DONE ABOUT IT. *LA
NHTSA ID
10043140
Incident
Oct 17, 2003
Airbags
Filed Nov 20, 2002
CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING THE AIR BAG LIGHT STAY ILLUMINATED. TS
NHTSA ID
8023029
Incident
Oct 17, 2002
Airbags
Filed Nov 15, 2002
WHEN DRIVING 60MPH THE AIR BAG LIGHT STAY ILLUMINATED. TS
NHTSA ID
8022839
Incident
Oct 17, 2002
Engine
Filed Dec 9, 2001
DEAR SIR OR MADAM: I OWN A 1993 GEO PRIZM. TWICE, I HAVE HAD THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD REPAIRED BY A WELDER BECAUSE IT WAS CRACKED AND LEAKING EXHAUST FUMES INTO THE VEHICLE. DESPITE THE WELDER'S BEST EFFORTS, THE MANIFOLD KEEPS DEVELOPING MORE CRACKS. I WANTED TO REPLACE IT WITH A USED MANIFOLD. HOWEVER, A CALL TO SEVERAL SALVAGE YARDS REVEALED THAT IT'S VERY HARD TO OBTAIN A GOOD, USED MANIFOLD FOR THAT VEHICLE. THE REASON IS THAT SO MANY OF THE 1993 PRIZMS THAT ARE IN SALVAGE YARDS ALREADY HAVE CRACKED MANIFOLDS. IT SEEMS TO BE COMMON AMONG THAT MAKE AND MODEL. SHOULDN'T YOUR ORGANIZATION BE CONCERNED WITH WHAT MAY BE A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE IN THESE VEHICLES? I THOUGHT SO, AND THAT'S WHY I'M WRITING, TODAY.*AK
NHTSA ID
755450
Airbags
Filed Jul 3, 2001
Crash reported1 injury reported
CONSUMER STATES SHE HIT THE BACK OF ANOTHER VEHICLE WHILE COMING TO A STOP AT A RED LIGHT, AFTER THE INCIDENT CONSUMER LEANED OVER THE STEERING WHEEL TO LOOK AT THE BACK OF THE OTHER VEHICLE TO SEE IF THERE WAS ANY DAMAGE, AFTER A FEW SECONDS OF LOOKING, THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHIN THREE INCHES OF CONSUMERS NECK, THERE WAS NO DAMAGE DONE TO EITHER VEHICLE, HOWEVER CONSUMERS AIR BAG DEPLOYED ABOUT SEVEN SECONDS AFTER THE INCIDENT, CONSUMER SUFFERED MINOR INJURIES. *JB
NHTSA ID
561895
Seat belts
Filed May 14, 2001
DRIVER'S RESTRAINT DOES NOT RETRACT OUT. DEALER HAS REPLACED RETRACTOR PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT,AND PROBLEM HAS REOCCURRED WITHIN 12 MONTHS.*AK
NHTSA ID
888146
Incident
Mar 30, 2000
Airbags
Filed May 4, 2001
AIR BAG LIGHT HAS COME ON AND STAYED ON. CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THERE WAS RECALL 96V107000 ON THIS FOR THIS MAKE/MODEL/YEAR OF VEHICLE, HOWEVER,THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL DUE TO VIN. SENSOR IN AIR BAG WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.*AK
NHTSA ID
887490
Incident
Apr 25, 2001
Airbags
Filed Mar 21, 2001
AIRBAG LIGHT STAYS ON. THERE IS A RECALL ON AIRBAGS , BUT THIS VEHICLE NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN. *AK
NHTSA ID
883671
Incident
Nov 1, 2000
Airbags
Filed Jan 17, 2001
RECALL 96 V 107 000/PASSIVE RESTRAINT AIR BAG: VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A PROBLEM WITH AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT REMAINING ON DURING NORMAL DRIVING. DEALER/MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED, AND BOTH INFORMED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE WAS NOT COVER UNDER RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK
NHTSA ID
878389
Incident
Jan 25, 2000
Visibility
Filed Jul 5, 2000
REGULATORS FAILING, CAUSING POWER WINDOWS TO BECOME INOPERATIVES. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND SHARE IN HALF THE COST ON THE 1ST. INCIDENT(DRIVER SIDE); 2ND INCIDENT(PASSENGER SIDE); CONDITION REOCCUR AGAIN, AND INFORMED TO CONTACTED MANUFACTURER. MANUFACTURER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY, AND NOTHING COULD BE DONE.*AK
NHTSA ID
864775
Incident
Oct 15, 1999
Engine
Filed Jun 4, 2000
THE ENGINE EXHAUST MANIFOLD CRACKED DUE TO A MANUFACTURER DESIGN DEFECT FOR THE SECOND TIME AT THE SAME PLACE. I HAVE OWNED SEVEREAL VEHICLES DURING MY LIFE AND THIS IS THE ONLY ONE THAT HAS HAD A CRACKED MANIFOLD. THE FIRST TIME IT BROKE IT WAS REPLACED BY THE DEALER. THE SECOND TIME THEY REFUSED TO REPLACE IT BECAUSE OUT OF WARRANTY. ESITMATED COST TO REPAIR THE DEFECTIVE PART OVER $300.00. *AK
NHTSA ID
723566
Incident
Jul 28, 1999
Airbags
Filed Mar 9, 2000
AIRBAG LIGHT HAS BEEN ON FOR A YEAR . CONSUMER IS CONCERNED THAT AIRBAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY. *AK
NHTSA ID
858258
Incident
Dec 21, 1999
Body & structureVisibility
Filed Feb 8, 2000
CONSUMER STATED THAT WEIRD THINGS HAPPENED TO HER VEHICLE. SHE WAS PARKED INSIDE OF A PARKING LOT. WHEN SHE CAME OUT, SHE NOTICED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WAS SMASHED IN, IT WAS BLACK. ALSO, CONSOLE WAS BURNED OUT. *AK
NHTSA ID
856521
Incident
Dec 12, 1999
Interior & seats
Filed Jan 21, 2000
THE DRIVER INSIDE DOOR LATCH BROKE. OCCUPANT CANNOT OPEN DRIVER'S DOOR FROM THE INSIDE OF VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
NHTSA ID
855309
Incident
Jan 18, 2000
Interior & seats
Filed Dec 16, 1999
Fire reported
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
NHTSA ID
716110
Incident
Dec 9, 1999
Engine
Filed Oct 12, 1999
A CRACK DEVELOPED WITHIN EXHAUST MANIFOLD AT 90,000 MILES. *AK
NHTSA ID
850485
Seat belts
Filed Sep 28, 1999
1ST COSCO CAR SEAT--ARM PIECES CRACKED AND ONE OF THE ARMS BROKE OFF---I CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY RELUCTANTLY SENT A REPLACEMENT. THIS SEAT HAD ONLY BEEN USED FOR 1 YEAR...THE REPLACEMENT COSCO CAR SEAT WAS USED FOR LESS THAN A YEAR AND THE SAME THING HAPPENED. BOTH ARM PIECES CRACKED COMPLETELY AND THEY ARE METAL PIECES STICKING OUT OF THEM.. I AGAIN CONTACTED COSCO VIA EMAIL THIS TIME REQUESTING MY MONEY BACK--NO WAS MY RESPONSE AND THEY SAID THEY WOULD SEND REPLACEMENT PIECES TO FIX THE ARMS...THE ARMS ARE NOT FIXABLE!!! I WANT SOMETHING DONE ABOUT THIS---THESE CAR SEATS WERE 2 DIFFERENT MODELS AND STILL APPEAR NEW, WHEN THE ARM PIECES HAD BROKEN. I WOULD LIKE A REFUND FOR THIS PRODUCT BUT IF NOTHING ELSE I WANT THEIR SEATS CHECKED INTO FOR SAFETY...I WOULD APPRECIATE ANY HELP YOU CAN GIVE ME IN GETTING A REAL RESOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM--INSTEAD OF SORRY BUT TO BAD!!!! THANK YOU....
NHTSA ID
712398
Incident
Jul 1, 1998
Seat belts
Filed Sep 15, 1999
INTERMITTENTLY THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT RESTRAINT BECOMES INOPERATIVE. THE DEALER HAS REPLACED THE RESTRAINT PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. *AK
NHTSA ID
842292
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.
Narrow this down by component
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own