Chevrolet Prizm

Owners filed 155 complaints across 8 model years of the Chevrolet Prizm. The 2001 drew the most (45).

Model years8
Complaints155
Recalls5
Fires7
Deaths0

Which Chevrolet Prizm years should you avoid?

Not enough of the record to single a year out. Fewer than 4 Chevrolet Prizm model years have at least 25 complaints and are old enough to judge, so any ranking would be noise. The table below has every year as filed.

How this is worked out: each year is compared with a typical year of the same model, which takes most of the difference in sales out of it, and its share of serious failures is compared with every other car of the same model year, because older cars were complained about differently. A year needs 25 complaints to be judged at all. Complaints are unverified owner reports. Full method →

Every Chevrolet Prizm model year compared

Complaints per year
YearComplaintsRelative volumeRecallsFiresCrashesMost reportedStatus
200219
1—2SteeringRoutine
200145
117Engine and Engine CoolingRoutine
200024
124Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited SlipRoutine
199936
128Air BagsRoutine
199827
1—6TiresRoutine
19961
0——TiresRoutine
19912
01—Seat Belts › Rear/OtherRoutine
19901
01—Electrical System › Wiring › Front UnderhoodRoutine

Data: NHTSA complaint and recall files, October 2026. Complaints are unverified owner reports.