1992 Geo Prizm

Routine

Owners filed 50 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the structure › body › door. It has been recalled 1 time.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Structure › Body › Door13
000
Engine and Engine Cooling › Exhaust System › Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe5
000
Power Train › Automatic Transmission3
000
Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer2
000
Seat Belts › Front › Retractor2
000
Seat Belts › Front › Buckle Assembly2
101
Engine and Engine Cooling › Exhaust System › Emission Control2
000
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline2
000
Visibility › Glass, Side/Rear1
000
Visibility › Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System › Fan/Motor1
000

1 safety recall

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.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Child Seat
Filed Oct 31, 2008KY

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1992 GEO PRIZM AND A 2008 DOREL JUVENILE GROUP SAFETY 1ST RESTRAINT SEAT, MODEL NUMBER 22147-MDR. THE SEAT WAS MANUFACTURED ON MARCH 13, 2008. WHILE THE CHILD WAS PROPERLY SECURED IN THE REAR-FACING CONVERTIBLE CHILD SEAT, THE RESTRAINT BUCKLE FAILED TO RELEASE AND ENABLED THE CHILD TO BE REMOVED FROM THE SEAT. THE CONTACT MADE SEVERAL UNSUCCESSFUL ATTEMPTS TO DISENGAGE THE HARNESS BUCKLE; HOWEVER, THE HARNESS STRAPS AND CHILD WERE PULLED OUT OF THE RESTRAINT SEAT WITH A STRUGGLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE CONTACT WAS IN THE PROCESS OF NOTIFYING THE MANUFACTURER. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Disc › Rotor
Filed Dec 20, 2004CA

WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKE PEDAL CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD SQUEAKING NOISE, AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP COMPLETELY. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE ROTORS/ PADS, AND CALIPERS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*AK

Vehicle Speed ControlCrash
Filed Jun 5, 2001RI

ON JUNE 4TH, 2001 VEHICLE ACCELERATED RAPIDLY FOR APPROXIMATELY 10 FEET, CAUSING IT TO RUN HEAD-ON INTO A TREE AFTER THE CONSUMER HAD JUST SLOWED VEHICLE DOWN TO 2 TO 5 MPH. BODY SHOP IS IN POSSESSION OF THE VEHICLE AND HAS NOT BEEN EXAMINED BY AN INSURANCE ADJUSTER. *AK INDEPENDENT ADJUSTER EXAMINED VEHICLE AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE INSURANCE COMPANY WOULD MOST LIKELY NOT UNDERTAKE AN EXAMINATION AS IT WOULD NOT BE COST EFFECTIVE. IGNITION SWITCH WOULD NOT ALWAYS TURN, DEALER FOUND NO PROBLEMS, HOWEVER LUBED THE SWITCH. EXHAUST SYSTEM REPLACED. BATTERY REPLACED. STARTER REPLACED. TIMING BELT REPLACED. RADIATOR REPLACED. BRAKE PADS REPLACED, ROTORS TURNED TWICE, BRAKE SPRING KIT INSTALLED. ROAD SALT AND DEBRIS CORRODED AXLE WHOSE COVER HAS BEEN DESTROYED, NEEDS REPLACED. *SCL

Tires › Valve
Filed Jan 3, 2001MI

VALVE STEM LEAKS CAUSED THE 3 OF 4 MICHELIN TIRES TO GO FLAT THE DAY AFTER THEY WERE INSTALLED. NLM

Structure › Body › Door
Filed Oct 10, 2000NY

3 OUT OF 4 DOOR HANDLES HAVE BROKEN WHERE PLASTIC HOUSING IS LOCATED, CAUSING DOOR HANDLES TO BE INOPERATIVE. DRIVER WILL HAVE TO ROLL DOWN WINDOW TO USE OUT DOOR HANLDE TO GET OUT OF VEHICLE.*AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline
Filed Aug 11, 2000OK

NO SUMMARY

Structure › Body › Door
Filed Jul 11, 2000NC

INSIDE DOOR HANDLE HAS BROKEN OFF. ALSO, FRONT WINDSHIELD DOES NOT BECOME CLEAN IN FOG.*AK

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Mar 15, 2000GA

I WAS ON MY WAY TO A FRIENDS HOUSE AND ON THE WAY I STOPPED FOR GAS AND AFTER I GOT BACK ON THE ROAD I HEARD A LOUD NOISE. ABOUT 2 MILES DOWN THE ROAD THE CAR LOCKED UP ON ME. IT WAS LIKE THE CAR SLAMMED ON BRAKES AND I COULDN'T CONTROL THE CAR. MY FATHER HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO A PLACE WHERE THE TRANSMISSION COULD BE CHECKED. THEY PUT A TRANSMISSION IN THE CAR. I GOT THE CAR BACK AND IT WAS RUNNING PRETTY GOOD BUT AFTER A WEEK OR SO THE CAR BEGAN TO MAKE NOISES. MY DAD TOOK MY CAR FOR A TEST DRIVE AND ON HIS WAY HOME ,THE TRANSMISSION THAT WAS JUST PUT IN THE CAR LOCKED UP ON HIM. I DID NOT FILL OUT THE DEALER INFORMATION BECAUSE I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM THE OWNER. THE PREVIOUS OWNER BOUGHT THE CAR FROM THE DEALER. *AK

Structure › Body › Door › Hinge and Attachments
Filed Jan 10, 2000PA

I CAN PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THESE FAILURES. NO DEFECT(S) LISTED IN THE SUMMARY. *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline
Filed Jul 11, 1999MD

WHILE VEHICLE WAS IDLING A HELICOPTER-LIKE BLADE SOUND CAME FROM CAR. CHARGED FOR FUEL PUMP ALTHOUGH FUEL PUMP WAS NOT THE PROBLEM. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Exhaust System › Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe
Filed Jul 7, 1999MI

ENGINE MANIFOLD HAS A CRACK SINCE AUG OF 1996. WOUL;D LIKE TO KNOW IF IS IT NORMAL WEAR FOR ENGIN E MANIFOLD TO CRACK AT 35,000 MILES. CAN NHTSA PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION IN THIS MATTER. *AK

Fuel System, Gasoline › Storage › Tank Assembly
Filed May 25, 1999MD

THERE IS A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE FUEL TANK, AND DEALER DETERMINED THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM IN THE FUEL PUMP OR TANK, WHICH MAY CAUSE A FUEL LEAK AND MAYBE A FIRE. BUT MANUFACTURER DOES NOT WANT TO SEND A TECHNICIAN TO FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Apr 17, 1999MD

ENGINE GASKET BLEW, CAUSING COOLANT TO MIX WITH OIL, CAUSING ENGINE TO OVERHEAT; 30000 SERVICE DONE. *AK

Structure › Body › Door
Filed Jan 5, 1999KY

NO SUMMARY. *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Exhaust System
Filed Oct 27, 1998TX

EXHAUST MANIFOLD BOLT BROKE.

Steering › Linkages › Tie Rod AssemblyCrash1 injured
Filed Oct 19, 1998KY

WHILE THE DAUGHTER OF THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING THE INNER TIE ROD BROKE, CAUSING THE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE RAN INTO A DITCH, FLIPPED OVER TWICE, AND LANDED INTO A TREE. THE DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED. WHEN THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, THEY INSTRUCTED THE CONSUMER TO CONTACT THE AUCTION PLACE FROM WHICH THE DEALERSHIP PURCHASED THE CAR . *AK

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed May 14, 1998TX

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE ABOUT 60 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION LOCKED UP WITHOUT ANY INDICATION. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO AVOID A CRASH AND GET OFF ROAD SAFELY. THE TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE, BOTH WITH LESS THAN 30,000 MILES. THE TRANSMISSION IS BEING REPLACED A THIRD TIME BY DEALER. *AK

Electrical System › Wiring › Interior/Under Dash
Filed Feb 4, 1998UN

WIRING HARNESS FAILED.

Latches/Locks/Linkages › Doors › Latch
Filed Jan 13, 1998AR

INTERIOR DOOR LOCKS ON THREE DOORS FAILED.

Visibility › Glass, Side/Rear
Filed Dec 2, 1997FL

DRIVING THE VEHICLE DOWN THE ROAD AND THE REAR BACK WINDOW BURST OUT FOR NO APPARENT REASON. *AK

20 of 50 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 1994
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20023000Routine
20016000Routine
20007000Routine
199924010Routine
199811000Routine
199750220Routine
199661120Routine
199596310Routine
1994134362Fatalities reported
199377220Routine
1992 — this page50100Routine
199146230Routine
199037110Routine

Compare every Prizm year →

Reading this record

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.