Owners filed 46 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the structure › body › door. It has been recalled 2 times.
What fails
Component
Reports
Crashes
Fires
Injuries
Structure › Body › Door
12
0
0
0
Engine and Engine Cooling › Exhaust System › Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe
8
0
0
0
Seat Belts › Front › Buckle Assembly
3
0
0
0
Tires
2
1
0
0
Latches/Locks/Linkages › Hood › Latch
2
0
0
0
Wheels › Lugs/Nuts/Bolts/Studs
1
1
0
0
Visibility › Power Window Devices and Controls
1
0
0
0
Tires › Tread/Belt
1
0
0
0
Steering › Gear Box › Shaft Sector
1
0
0
0
Seat Belts › Front › Webbing
1
0
0
0
2 safety recalls
Part 573 reports
Suspension10E002000
Filed Feb 11, 201012,657 vehiclesRide Control, Llc
Defect. RIDE CONTROL IS RECALLING CERTAIN FRONT STRUT MOUNTS BRANDED AS GABRIEL RIDE CONTROL OR ARVINMERITOR, P/NOS. 142435, 142193, 142305, 142303, SOLD AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE AFFECTED FRONT STRUT MOUNTS DID NOT CONTAIN A WELD JOINT BETWEEN THE BEARING HOUSING AND THE RATE PLATE.
Risk. THE ABSENCE OF THE WELD CAN ALLOW THE STRUT TO COME OUT OF ITS MOUNTING POSITION UNDER CERTAIN EXTREME DRIVING CONDITIONS WHICH COULD CAUSE DAMAGE TO SURROUNDING VEHICLE COMPONENTS INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy. RIDE CONTROL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS OF RECORD AND REPLACE THE AFFECTED PARTS FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 15, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT RIDE CONTROL AT 1-248-458-1396.
Wheels › Lugs/Nuts/Bolts/Studs90V191000
Filed Nov 9, 1990654 vehiclesGeneral Motors Corp.
Defect. LUG NUTS THAT RETAIN WHEELS AND WHEEL COVERS MAY HAVE BEEN TORQUED TO LOWER THAN RECOMMENDED SPECIFICATIONS.
Risk. INSUFFICIENT CLAMPING OF LUG NUTS RETAINING THE WHEELCOVER AND WHEEL COULD RESULT IN A LOOSE WHEEL THAT COULD FALL OFF WITH POTENTIALFOR LOSS OF CONTROL AND AN ACCIDENT.
Remedy. REMOVE ORIGINAL WHEEL COVER, TORQUE LUG TO SPECIFICATION, AND INSTALL FULL WHEEL COVERS THAT ARE RETAINED BY SPRING CLIPS.
What owners reported
Newest filings
Exterior Lighting
Filed Dec 13, 2010170,000 milesFL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 GEO PRIZM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRYING TO DECELERATE, THE BRAKE LIGHTS FAILED AND WERE DIM. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY THE DEALER WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT HE NEEDED TO REPLACE THE WIRING. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED FOR THE WIRING AND THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 170,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Engine and Engine Cooling › Exhaust System
Filed Nov 17, 2010190,000 milesFL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 GEO PRIZM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, CARBON MONOXIDE WAS PRESENT BECAUSE THE MANIFOLD HAD BEEN FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED TWICE BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 190,000.
Latches/Locks/Linkages › Doors › Latch
Filed Nov 17, 2010190,000 milesFL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 GEO PRIZM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PLASTIC USED FOR DOOR KNOBS DISINTEGRATED AND WERE INOPERABLE FOR THE PASSENGER DOORS. THE GEAR SHIFT ALSO FRACTURED AND WAS DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE PARTS HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN REPLACED BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 190,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
TiresCrash
Filed Sep 16, 2009OH
1991 GEO PRISM HAD A TIRE BLOW OUT AND SHE LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE, BEFORE HITTING THE MEDIAN WALL. *KB OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT # 10-0738-90.
Tires › Tread/Belt
Filed Jan 21, 2005FL
TIRES HAVE BELT SEPARATIONS AND AS WELL AIR BUBBLES WHICH CAUSED THE TIRES TO BLOW. WHEN TAKEN TO GET SERVICED, SHORTLY AFTER THE SAME THING HAPPENED. *NM
Electrical System › Wiring › Fuses and Circuit Breakers
Filed Nov 29, 2001MN
I HAVE HAD A PROBLEM WITH MY VEHICLES /BRAKELIGHT BURNING OUT AFTER A FEW DAYS OF REPLACEMENT. EVERY GEO PRIZM I SEE ON THE ROADS TODAY HAVE THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM. I HATE THE FEAR OF WONDERING WETHER OR NOT THEY BLEW WHILE I'M DRIVING MY VEHICLE. ALSO THE RISK OF GETTING A TICKET FOR SOMETHING THAT IS OBVIOUSLY A MANUFACTURE DEFECT. *AK
Engine and Engine Cooling › Exhaust System › Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe
Filed May 24, 2001LA
JAN/01 - DISCOVERED CRACKED EXHAUST MANIFOLD. WAS TOLD BY SALVAGE YARD THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH GEOS AND THEY CAN'T KEEP MANIFOLDS IN STOCK BECAUSE OF THE FREQUENCY. NEW MANIFOLD INSTALLED TO REPLACE CRACKED ONE. THE NEW ONE CRACKED APPROX. 1-2 MONTHS LATER.*AK
Structure › Body › Door
Filed Mar 21, 2001WI
DOOR HANDLES CONTINUOUSLY BREAK OFF, THUS FAR CONSUMER HAD TO HAVE 3 DIFFERENT DOOR HANDLES REPLACED.*AK *JB
Engine and Engine Cooling › Exhaust System › Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe
Filed Nov 8, 2000MA
EXHUAST MANIFOLD CRACKED, CAUSING CARBON MONOXIDE FUMES TO LEAK INTO PASSENGER'S COMPARTMENT. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED.*AK
Seat Belts › Front › Buckle Assembly
Filed Apr 12, 2000MN
DRIVER SIDE LAP SAFETY BELT WILL NOT LATCH/ I RECENTLY PURCHASED THE VEHICAL AND I CAN CONTACT THE ORIGINAL OWNER TO FIND OUT THE EXACT DATE OF AND MILEAGE OF FAILURE PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF IT IS PERTINATE. *AK
Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Feb 9, 2000WV
TRANSMISSION SLIPS OUT OF GEAR, AND VEHICLE HESITATES AND MAKES LOUD NOISES. *AK
Wheels › Lugs/Nuts/Bolts/StudsCrash
Filed Oct 27, 1999CA
WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20MPH HEARD A SOUND & WAS NOT ABLE TO STEER VEHICLE. THE WHEELS WOULD NOT TURN EITHER LEFT OR RIGHT. IT FELT LIKE VEHICLE HAD A FLAT. LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE & HIT A POLE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. THERE WAS A RECALL #90V191000. HOWEVER, VEHICLE IS NOT COVERED UNDER RECALL. *AK
Fuel System, Gasoline › Carburetor System
Filed Sep 25, 1999VA
EXHAUST MANIFOLD CRACKED-2 PLACES REPLACEMENT WAS OF DIFFERENT DESIGN.
Exterior Lighting › Tail Lights
Filed Sep 24, 1999TX
NO SUMMARY
Seat Belts › Front › Buckle Assembly
Filed Jul 3, 1999OH
THELEFT REAR SEATBELT WILL NOT UNFASTEN. *AK
Visibility › Power Window Devices and Controls
Filed Mar 8, 1999TX
RIGHT REAR WINDOW IS VERY HARD TO ROLL UP OR DOWN. YH
Fuel System, Gasoline › DeliveryFire
Filed Mar 3, 1999NC
AS I STOPPED AT A GAS STATION AND ATTEMPTED TO FILL UP WITH GAS, MY JACKET SLEEVE CAUGHT ON FIRE FROM FLAMES COMING OUT FROM THE TANK. THE TANK NEVER EXPLODED, ADN WE WERE ABLE TO PUT THE FIRE OUT WITH AN EXTINGUISHER.
Structure › Body › Door
Filed Aug 19, 1998KS
INTERIOR DOOR HANDLES BROKE. QCAW
Structure › Body › Door
Filed Jul 16, 1998TX
THE DEFECTIVE INTERIOR PASSENGER'S DOOR HANDLE AND BOTH REAR DOOR HANDLES BROKE OFF, MAKING THE DOORS NOT OPERABLE FROM THE INSIDE. *AK
Seat Belts › Front › Retractor1 injured
Filed May 15, 1998CA
SHOULDER BELT DID NOT LOCK DURING A REAREND COLLISION.
No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.
Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.
Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.
Most recent recall on file: Feb 11, 2010. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.