RoadVitals

1994 Geo Prizm Electrical Problems

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

Data refreshed

Electrical 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.
8
Latest Sep 8, 2004
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.
6%
of 134 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.
0
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 electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1994 Geo Prizm submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 8 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 electrical

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

Electrical
Filed Sep 8, 2004

ON 5/1/03 I WAS DRIVING MY CAR AT LOW SPEEDS AND IT FELT LIKE IT WAS LOSING POWER AND WAS GOING TO CUT OFF. I APPLIED THE GAS AND THE CAR CONTINUED TO RUN. I DROVE TO MY HOME AND TURNED OFF THE IGNITION. WHEN I TRIED TO START THE CAR AGAIN, IT WOULD NOT START. ON 05/02/03, THE CAR STARTED BUT NOT AS QUICKLY AS NORMAL. I TOOK THE CAR TO A LOCAL AUTO REPAIR SHOP AND DESCRIBED THE ABOVE SITUATION. THEY DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS A DEFECTIVE BATTERY. THEY REPLACED THE BATTERY. ON 5/6/03, I HAD THE SAME INTERMITTENT STARTING PROBLEM. I TOOK THE CAR TO ANOTHER SHOP. THEY TOLD ME THE PROBLEM WAS A BAD ALTERNATOR. THE CAR HAS ABOUT 65,170 MILES ON IT. PRIOR TO THAT ON 07/31/00, THE ALTERNATOR WAS REPLACED AT 47,662 MILES. PRIOR TO THAT THE ALTERNATOR WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY ON 08/06/98 AT 28,515. THIS SEEMS EXCESSIVE. *NLM THE CONSUMER IS HAVING ALTERNATOR PROBLEMS WITH HER VEHICLE. *TC

NHTSA ID
10017136
Incident
May 1, 2003
Mileage
65,135 mi
Electrical
Filed Feb 26, 2001

THIS IS THE SECOND ALTERNATOR TO FAIL, THE PREVIOUS ALTERNATOR WAS REPLACED AT 53,000 MILES, 4 YEARS AGO. THIS IS NOT A STANDARD MAINTENANCE ITEM AND SHOULD NOT REQUIRE REPLACEMENT EVERY 3 TO 4 YEARS.M *AK

NHTSA ID
741538
Incident
Feb 25, 2001
BrakesElectricalSuspension+2 more
Filed Nov 30, 1999

TWO TIRES NEEDED REPLACING. YH

NHTSA ID
549763
Incident
Oct 12, 1998
ElectricalEngineFuel system
Filed Oct 13, 1998

WHILE DRIVING AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS,THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL OUT FOR NO REASON. HAS TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALER 4 DIFFERENT TIMES. HAD COIL/CARBURATOR & STARTER REPLACED. *AK

NHTSA ID
828862
Incident
Jan 15, 1997
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Aug 26, 1997

TURN SIGNAL WORKING IMPROPERLY, FLASHING RAPIDLY WHEN ENGAGED. DURING NORMAL DRIVING IT WOULD ALTERNATE BETWEEN THE RAPID FLASHING AND NORMAL FLASHING. RADIO WOULD COME ON AT TIMES WHILE TURN SIGNAL WAS IN USE.

NHTSA ID
521434
Incident
Jul 18, 1997
ElectricalInterior & seats
Filed Nov 20, 1996

A SHORT IN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, CAUSING MALFUNCTIONING OF THE TAIL LIGHTS, DASH LIGHTS AND MARKER LIGHTS, WHEN DRIVING THE LIGHTS WILL NOT STAY ILLUMINATED. *AK

NHTSA ID
805342
Incident
Nov 2, 1996
ElectricalEngine
Filed Nov 5, 1996

ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED.

NHTSA ID
511006
Incident
Sep 8, 1996
BrakesElectricalVisibility
Filed Sep 16, 1996

PURCHASED CAR NEW, THE BRAKE LINE WAS OVERHEATING AND THE ALTERNATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE POWER WINDOW BROKE . PLEASE DESCRIBE .

NHTSA ID
802474

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

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .