RoadVitals

2002 Geo Prizm

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints 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.
3
Latest Nov 3, 2003
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
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InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
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.
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Overview

Our database contains 3 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2002 Geo Prizm, most frequently naming the fuel system, interior & seats and visibility categories. 57 manufacturer communications are on file.

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

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Fuel system133.3%
  • Interior & seats133.3%
  • Visibility133.3%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

No recalls in our database for this model year

That does not guarantee a specific vehicle is unaffected — recalls are issued against VINs, and new campaigns are announced regularly. Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov.

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

Interior & seats
Filed Nov 3, 2003

THE POWER LOCK SYSTEM JAMS SO THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR IS IMPOSSIBLE TO OPEN, MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR A DRIVER TO ESCAPE IN AN EMERGENCY. *LA

NHTSA ID
10045367
Incident
Oct 22, 2002
Fuel system
Filed Jul 12, 2002

IN ADDITION TO THE VEHICLE NOT STARTING PROPERLY (EXCESSIVE CRANK TIME) THE VEHICLE HAS SUDDEN REDUCTIONS IN SPEED (NOT NORMAL SLOW DOWN) WHEN RELEASING GAS PEDAL. IT IS AS IF THE FUEL IS SUDDENLY CUT OFF SIGNIFICANTLY,CAUSING CAR TO SLOW ERRATICALLY. DEALERSHIP CONFIRMED THE PROBLEM AND REPLACED FUEL PUMP AND REGULATOR. CAR STILL HAS INTERMITTENT PROBLEMS RELATING TO JERKING WHEN RELEASING PEDAL. I RETURNED TO THE DEALERSHIP A SECOND TIME WITH ONLY 1,230 MILES ON THE CAR AND THEY INDICATED THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE PROBLEM. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM OCCURRED AGAIN THIS MORNING. I NOW HAVE 4,035 MILES ON THE CAR. THE PROBLEM IS MOST NOTICEABLE BETWEEN 30 AND 40 MPH.*AK

NHTSA ID
764122
Incident
Jun 15, 2002
Visibility
Filed Apr 19, 2002

CONSUMER STATES REARVIEW MIRROR IS DISTORED AND CAUSES POOR VISIBILITY WHEN USED, DEALER NOTIFIED. NLM

NHTSA ID
8008052
Incident
Apr 1, 2002

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

PIP5601C

This PI communicates the requirement to provide a pico file to receive diagnostic assistance from TAC.

PIP5358D

This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have an unusual noise and is difficult to identify, isolate or pinpoint. Technician should get record a sound clip or take a video of the noise for assessment by engineering. Technician will need to call General Motors Technical Assistance Center for further assistance.

General Communication

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

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.

18-NA-099

This bulletin provides information for use on a Product Assistance Claim (PAC), which is formerly known as a Product Allegation Resolution (PAR) claim.

24-NA-098

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

This service bulletin provides information for dealers/technicians on Service Programming System (SPS) Error Codes E4398, E4399, E4401, E4403, M4404, M4413, M6954, M6955, E4414, E4423, E4491, E4492, or E6961 and resolution information.

10-08-45-001H

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

This bulletin provides information for electrical ground repairs using new General Motors replacement fasteners with conductive finish.

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Geo Prizm by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2002Viewing300
2001600
2000700
1999240044.9
1998110038.6
1997502056.9
1996611159.7
1995963165.2
19941343167.4
1993772162.4
1992501040.9
1991462051.7
1990371046.6
1989010

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. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.